The Internet is not everything when it comes to marketing your Yoga business. You cannot achieve 100% marketing penetration by using Email marketing and having a top-ranked site on every possible search engine. What do I mean?

When it comes to advertising, and marketing, your web site is only part of your marketing mix. You should always remember there is no single magic bullet. Spread your area of influence, with the money you save, by advertising on the Internet. You can do this by testing offline methods that are cost effective for your Yoga business.

Lets look at another way to get more business for your Yoga teaching services, without breaking the bank. Develop an inside referral program for new Yoga students, and create referral incentives among your regular Yoga students.

This is low cost and you only pay for results. Instead of waiting for referrals to just happen, you encourage them to happen frequently, with rewards for bringing in new members. Give away guest passes to all your Yoga students. Have them sign their name on the back, so you know where the referral came from. When the new referral signs up for at least an 8-class package, you reward the person whose name is on the back of the card.

You dont have to give away the store. Give your referring Yoga students free classes, a T-shirt, strap, block, mat, $10.00, or whatever you can afford. Most of all, say, thank you to each active Yoga student who gives referrals. Some of your students just wont take a reward, but all of them want to be thanked.

Student retention is one area that most Yoga teachers do not give enough consideration. You have to protect, satisfy, and keep, your active Yoga students. In any other business, these are called repeat customers, and your Yoga students should be treated like gold, since they are much more than customers.

Your students are loyal and will allow you to remain a Yoga teacher for years to come. You will have time to pursue Yogic knowledge, due to the loyalty of your Yoga students. Never take your Yoga students for granted, abuse them in any way, or adopt an air of superiority. Everyone is good at something, and we have to keep the big picture in perspective: A Yoga teacher should be humble at all times.

Copyright 2006 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He?s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches that along with fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who want to be a teacher. www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html