Plan an Attendance Contest To keep your summer classes packed, plan an attendance contest that awards prizes each month and a grand prize winner for the entire summer.
Set a standard number of classes each student must attend weekly to be eligible for an attendance award. You can create an award certificate on your computer to keep expenses down.
Run a contest to see who can attend the most classes each month and award several levels of prizes (like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place).
To avoid high costs, ask local businesses to donate prizes or certificates that your students might like, such as free pizza, haircuts, nail services, video/game rentals, massages, or movie passes.
In return, offer these businesses free training certificates at your school; you may get a few new students out of it.
1. Open House Summer is a great time to plan an open house with dynamic demonstrations. Make it an all-day fun event for all your students, along with their friends and family. Include carnival-style games, face painting, raffles, demos, and other fun activities.
2. Buddy Weeks Hold a Buddy Week in early May and again in late June. This strategy brings a steady flow of prospects into your school during typically slow months. Be sure to work these leads immediately for a better chance of enrollment.
3. Mothers Only Day Before Mother’s Day, hold a special class where all students can bring their moms. Offer all moms a free month of classes just for coming. Announce this offer in front of their children to add a bit of positive pressure.
4. Fathers Only Day Similar to Mothers Only Day, hold this event for dads around Father’s Day.
5. Summer Training Camps Run intensive 2 or 3-day training programs, each session lasting 3-5 hours. Give attendance credit to participants and allow students to test for promotion if ready. Charge $99 per session and limit participation to ensure personal attention. Camps can gross around $4,000 per week when sold out.
6. Record-Setting/Breaking Day Host a Record-Setting/Breaking Day to get students and parents together for fun. Start with a Record-Setting Day and then turn it into a Record-Breaking Day annually. Recognize record holders with their names on a plaque in the waiting area.
Keep Lessons Fun and Exciting Compete with the summer weather by making your classes more fun than the beach or amusement park. Excite both students and parents with engaging lesson plans and activities.
By implementing these strategies, you can make summer a season of growth and excitement for your martial arts school.