By Jennifer Michelle

When a New Pole Studio Comes to Town

When you’re no longer the only game in town, you need to make sure your pole studio can stand the competition.

Know what sets you apart.

If they do pole fitness and you are all about the seduction, then this is a piece of cake. If you both do one or the other, though, then you need to start asking yourself some questions. Do you want to be the in-your-face sexy studio or the sexy-comes-from-within-studio? Do you want to be the lose-weight studio or the stay-flexible studio? There are a thousand choices, but the only way to know what’s right for you is to think of your strengths, know what you do best, and put that front and center.

Claim your turf.

If you were there first, claim it. There’s cachet in being able to say “First in Pole Dancing in Tulsa” or “Grove Pointe’s Original Pole Dance Studio.” Say “since 2008″ on your website and class flyers. If you trained the new teachers at the new studio, be sure to say you trained all the other studios in town!

Create partnerships.

Forge connections with other businesses. For instance, if you do pole parties, start networking your bachelorette parties with wedding businesses. Introduce yourself to party planners and let them know you do birthdays.

Think about demos – can you do a demo at health fairs or health clinics? Is there a gym you can partner with, giving a demo to kick things off, then teaching classes or workshops to their clients?

Get Your Students Involved.

Your students already like you best, so help them spread the word. Offer discounts if they sign up a friend. Give group rates to sororities and clubs. Give your students flyers and emails to distribute whenever you have an open house. And don’t forget to ask them what they’d like to see at your studio!

Get Your A Game On

A new studio in town is definitely the time to sharpen your game. Are your instructors as skilled as they could be? Try holding trainings to improve their technique – and be sure to let everyone know that teachers at your studio constantly hone their skills. Liven up your classes with new choreographies and new music. Bring in guest instructors to teach your students how to interweave hip-hop or belly dance into your choreography.

Having competition doesn’t mean the end of the world. Figure out your studio’s strengths, put extra effort into connecting with other businesses, and see how you can improve on what you’re doing.

Jennifer Michelle provides coaching and tools for marketing your pole dance studio. For more information, please visit:  www.JMichelleMarketing.com