If you’re launching a new class or a class in a new venue we have some top tips to fill your baby classes fast.
It’s daunting starting a new class from scratch. First you have to find a venue that works. Then – once you’ve found your ideal venue how do you fill the spaces to make your class a success?
We asked one of our providers, Kate Hughes, a franchisee for Baby College Oxford to write a blog for us, sharing her tips. Kate successfully launched a brand new venue this autumn.
Here are her 11 tips to go from empty to a waiting list in just six weeks:
1. Top tip to fill your baby class: Know your area
Knowing your area is key. If you have an idea whether something will work or not it makes a big difference.
Is there a young community or a new build likely to attract the right clientele? Is there much competition? Remember, competition is not always a bad thing – at least you know there’s a market!
It’s also useful to check out the schools and nurseries in the area. This is jumping ahead a little but Spoiler Alert! I handed some leaflets to the local nursery and got a lot of new bookings from this. I also asked them to put it on their social media pages.
2. Do careful research before choosing your venue
An important tip for filling your baby class is to carefully research your venue.
Don’t just settle for the first one – look around.
Check prices, check for other similar classes and look for venues with a nearby café. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing your class go to the café together afterwards.
3. When it comes to promotion: start early
As long as a couple of months before you start, put up posters or banners nearby.
This is not to start bookings, but instead to get people to notice the branding.
This way, further down the line, when you get to promoting, people will recognise and be familiar with the company logo or the branding.
Marketing like this really does work. We just have to keep going with it – NEVER STOP!
4. Ramp up promotion nearer the time
In the build up to starting a new class it is easy to panic that no-one will sign up. So do everything you can to publicise.
Use local online groups, forums, and different types of social media to get your message out. Go out in person and hand out fliers – this often has instant results as people put a face to the brand. I did this 3 times a week in the start.
TOP TIP: Find other websites to get your classes listed on by Googling!
Search on Google in the same way as a parent or carer would if searching for classes. For example, search for “Baby classes near me”.
There are a number of websites who list classes and appear very highly in search results – for example Happity let you list your classes for free – that will ensure that your classes are seen by far more potential bookers.
5. The final countdown!
During the week before launch you would be hoping to get your first customers coming through.
A great way of marketing is to put out countdowns: “Only 5 places left…” or “Not much space left…” . This makes people want to join up and gives them the safety blanket that there will be other people there.
6. Top tip to fill your baby class: Keep spreading the word
Do not stop advertising – especially not when you first start working.
A lot of people go away at the beginning of September and therefore miss August advertising but want something come October. So keep promoting.
Put out pictures of real classes or venues. Show people what they’re missing. Ask people to invite their friends. Don’t be ashamed to push – it is your venture after all.
GET SEEN BY 1.2 MILLION PARENTS
Don’t forget, if you’re a Happity member – get listed for free – you can get your classes seen by more potential customers with Promoted Listings. Find out how to make your classes stand out from the crowd and be seen here.
7. Get support and help from your network
If you own a franchise make the most of your franchisee forum and network. It is so important and useful. Don’t be afraid to ask anything and everything – we are all in this together. Any problem shared, is a problem halved. I have certainly asked as many questions as I could and have been so grateful to all the wisdom that has been returned in the responses.
If you are independent and run your own classes then do join our Children’s Activity Provider’s Community. There you can connect with other small business owners, all running their own classes for under 5s. You can ask any questions you like and ask for support, tips and advice. There is always someone there to respond. And it’s a lovely supportive community.
8. Respond to queries quickly
I set myself the goal of trying to respond to every query within a maximum of 24 hours. Usually within one hour to be honest – but I know this cannot always be done! This is the best way to ensure your customers feel looked after. Getting onto problems ASAP is also important and can stop things spiralling.
9. Be your own cheerleader
One mantra I have always believed in is that people trust trust people.
SHOW OFF how well you are doing. Tell people, post your reviews and be proud. This is surely the one everyone is worst at – no-one likes to blow their own trumpet – but how else will people know! Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews or posts! Many kind people will want to help!
10. Remember – hard work always pays off
This one should really be top of the list. If you put the hours in, if you put the dedication in and if you are driven to succeed – you will! It’s as simple as that.
11. Provide the warmest welcome
Parents need these classes just as much as their babies. Have a natter, get to know them, be an expert but also a friend, and listen – it’s all part of the service!
A huge thank you to Kate Hughes, who wrote these top tips to fill your baby class fast. Kate is a franchisee for Baby College Oxford. She launched classes in a new venue last autumn.
As Kate makes clear there is no substitution for hard work but in these times of tightening Facebook algorithms and social media noise it is clear that getting out on the pavements and getting in front of people face-to-face is the secret many of us have forgotten over the past few years.
Baby College runs the UK’s leading parent, baby and toddler development classes that inspire and support new parents and their 0-3 year olds across the country. Covering top to toe topics from brain development to potty training through their award-winning sociable activity classes. Parents leave with new friends and new ideas and brimming with parenting confidence.
Find out more about us at www.babycollege.co.uk.
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