You already know you should be using YouTube in your dance studio marketing mix, right? If not, consider that we’re a visual art form AND YouTube has crazy amounts of traffic…and Google owns them. ie use YouTube!

Now, I do see some studios uploading videos to YouTube and that’s great. Here’s 3 tricks to maximize every upload you do:

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

PS Here’s the video I was uploading.

PS I’m thinking of doing a small, underground group run of a new system I’m *thinking* of developing to help you get your dance studio ranked in Google. ie type in ‘dance studio [yourtownhere]‘ and you’d be at or near the top. Don’t know if I’ll do it yet but if you’re interested, check it out and let me know.

PPS If you liked this and would like to see more stuff like it, be sure to leave a comment below. Keeps me encouraged.

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve been a little behind in updating my site here and what I’d doing that’s working with dance studios but I’m really close sharing. Facebook has some really big stats going on and it’s only getting bigger. If you’d like to learn more about this type of stuff, head on over to this other site I created and sign up on the early bird list.

http://www.FacebookForDance.com

PS If there’s anything you’d like to learn about using Facebook to grow you dance business, post a comment below and let me know. I can try to work it in that way.

First of all, this is a very “slice of life” type interview. He didn’t even really know I was recording and it’s not because I tricked him. It’s just because we were talking, I thought it was cool, and then just hit the Record button so you’d get to be on the ‘inside’ of our conversation. Basically, he was talking to me about it, I thought it was super cool, and wanted to pass it along. Hence, the quick record interview below:

Click here to check it out >>

Dance.com

Dance.com did an article on dancing and social media, specifically Twitter. It’s on the heels of a New York Times article with ballerinas and Twitter. The article profiles a few tech savvy ballerinas but then turns the corner and shows how other dancers and studio owners are using Twitter for success. They interviewed me and a few high profile Tweeters in the dance world like @metroDance.  Here’s a quote from me:

According to online marketing expert Chad Lawson, owner of Real Deal Dance Marketing, Twitter is all about maintaining relationships, creating new ones and getting people interested in your work. “It’s like going to a party, being yourself, relaxed, cool, whatever, and have people get interested in you,” he says. “Eventually, they’ll ask, ‘What do you do?’” Lawson contends that it’s different from walking into a party and simply handing someone your business card—on Twitter, it’s all about the social interaction.

And, here’s a nice quote from MetroDance:

Kristie Wyler, artistic director of Metro Dance in Plymouth, MI, is an avid tweeter. With nearly 800 followers and over 1,000 tweets, Wyler is one of the most popular teachers on the site. She uses Twitter not only to spread awareness about general dance related issues, but also to stay connected with her students and students’ parents. For Wyler, who goes under the handle MetroDance (http://www.twitter.com/MetroDance), Twitter is a great way to keep her studio connected to the broader dance community. It’s also a way for the dance community to feel connected to her.

All in all, great little article that you should check out in full.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter if you’re not already. @danceMarketing

Ok. So I made a quick little video about what we can learn as dance studio owners from iPad marketing from Apple. It’s a *great* skill to learn and will really take your marketing to the next level.

Secret Confession: Ok. So I started shooting and was opening the box and then  I got a notice that my camera was out of space. Whoops!  So, I figured I’d roll again and try “re-create” opening my box up. The only thing, it looks kinda silly ’cause you can totally see that the box is already open. lol! Anyway, I figured it was more entertaining this way watching me try to fake opening a box and that’s not really the point of the message anyway, right?! 

Click here to check out her site now >>>

“But as my belly dancing instructor has taught me, you don’t have to build a personal brand on being an egomaniac. You can build your brand on simply being human. Or better yet, you can build your brand on being your favorite version of yourself.

….

Trying to teach everything would undermine what she’s about and the tribe she’s looking to attract. She sticks to what she does better than anyone else.”

Original article here

Make sure to read the whole article on Copyblogger’s site. It’s a nice intro to niche marketing, which is really what owning a dance studio is all about whether you know it or now. Good advice on stressing you ‘unique selling proposition’ (adspeak for what you do that other studios don’t or why you’re better.)

I found a nifty little service called ‘twhanel‘ and despite to too cute name is a nifty little tool for organizing groups on Twitter.

So, for us, there are TONS of dancers joining Twitter every day and there’s not reall good way for us to find them and encourage them or connect with them, etc….until now.

Just click one of the links below at any point in time and you’ll be able to see Tweets real time of people how are Twittering about that dance and just add them as a friend. Chances are they’ll add you back and who knows what kind of connect can come of that?

Here are the categories I made so far. If you think of others or add any yourself and want them to be listed here, just let me know.

Click on any of the links below and find kindred spirits right away:

Dance

Ballet

Lindy Hop

Hip Hop

Tap

Contemporary Dance (Modern)

Jazz Dance

Lyrical

Ballroom

Tap Dance

West Coast Swing

Bellydancing

Country Dancing

Hustle Dancing

Some research says that 75% of a buying decision is made at a headline. Others say 50%. If you’ve ever saw something, read a headline, and then said to yourself, “That’s for me!” then you’ll know what I’m talking about. $10 bucks says the person who wrote that spent just a quick second beforehand figuring it all out and you should do the same.

One thing is for sure, headlines are pretty darn important and that’s why I wanted to give you some example to apply in part 2 here. If you missed part 1, be sure to check it out first.

The headlines listed below are not stuff I’ve made it. They’re all headlines that have been proven to work. The person or people who wrote the headline really understood the psychology behind the buyer and that lead to inevitable success.

They are easily adaptable in your market with a little imagination and a little creativity. I’ll try to use a quick example to get your started

Proven headline:

Get rid of your money problems once and for all

Why it works:

It makes you think exactly of the problem you’re having in finite terms. Everyone hates that. No one likes to look at their problem and therefore makes people much more likely to pick up the phone and call you for your solution.

Example adaptations for a dance teacher or studio (e.g. ballroom or adult lessons):

Get rid of your dance phobia once and for all.

Comment:

It’s very real for people who have always wanted to dance even if you can’t relate to it personally. They have this secret fear and if you can tap it with your headline, this one or any other one, it can be gold. These people end up being some of the most passionate dancers around.

+++++++++++++++++++

Proven headline:

Who else wants to look like a movie star?

Why it works:

This plays into the group mentality all humans have inside of them. You secretly figure when a bunch of other people are doing it, it’s OK…or maybe even ‘cool’ you can do it too. Ever stood in a line at the grocery store because there was already one there before you got there but when you looked up you saw there was a smaller line right next to you? That’s social proof and it got you when you weren’t looking.

Example adaptation for a ballroom studio:

Who else wants to look they were just on ‘Dancing with the Stars’?

Who else wants a happy, well adjusted child that loves dance?

Comment:

Be sure to use whatever the parents words are to you. Not your own words. If you’re an adult studio, echo back what the students are saying to you exactly.

+++++++++++++++++++

Proven headline:

A little mistake cost this farmer £20,000 a year…

Why it works:

Because when you’re reading that, and you’re a farmer, you secretly wonder if YOU could be losing that much without even knowing. No one likes to lose money without knowing it so it really presses your curiosity button.

Example adaptation for a performing arts studio:

A little mistake that cost a parent $10,000 a year…

Comment:

Maybe you’re run a special or a package deal where if the parents pre-pay (good for cash flow), they get a discount for their child? See where I’m going there?

+++++++++++++++++++

Proven Headline:

Play the guitar in 7 days or your money back:

Why it works:

Because you, me and everyone else under the sun loves instant gratification. Combined with something you want to do, this should really speak to you. Why it works is because the person is thinking of himself as Jimi Hendrix in his own head but what he’s really gonna get is Kum Ba Ya when it’s all said and done. You can’t get that good that fast but you *can* be playing the guitar.

Example adaptation for a salsa teacher:

Dance salsa in 7 days or your money back

Comment:

Yeah, he might not be a killer dancer at that point but at least he’s dancing salsa. Once he starts, he’s not likely to stop because it’s so fun, right?! It’s your job to get people started and keep their interest going after that and if this little headline helps, more power to it.

+++++++++++++++++++

Proven headline:

See how easily you can learn to dance this new way

Why it works:

Again, everyone likes the ‘easy’ version of something. Instant gratification lives inside of all of us.

Example adaptation for a ballroom studio:

Use it as is. It worked like crazy for Arthur Murray when he was selling home study dance courses in the 1920s and it works now. I tested it with Adwords and was surprised at the results.

Lastly, here are 3 tips to help you in crafting your headline:

1. Use a sentence or a phrase
2. Place it at the head or at the top or at the beginning of your piece
3. Make sure it makes a promise and arouses curiosity

As always, I’d LOVE to hear your success with any of these things or any you’ve crafted or adapted for yourself or your studio.