5 Mistakes Pilates Studio Owners Often Make and How to Avoid Them
Starting a business is no easy feat, and while there is technically no right or wrong way to success, there are some common industry mishaps you can avoid. Read on as we outline the 5 most common mistakes Pilates studio owners make and how to avoid them.
Several first-time facility owners go into this exciting venture without a business background. This inevitably leads to several errors and setbacks, as they tend to overlook certain aspects of their companies or focus their attention on elements that are not productive.
We’re not saying that you must have a degree in business to succeed in this industry but taking the time to learn the important elements that go into running a successful company is a wise path to take. The more knowledge you have on your industry and how to manage your facility, the more profitable your venture will be.
From running a Pilates studio business at home to managing your own facility, set yourself up for success by learning from the mistakes of those before you.
Common Pilates Studio Owner Mistakes and Ways to Overcome Them
To help you avoid the most common Pilates studio owner mistakes, we’ve listed them below along with tips of how to overcome them. Get ready to be on the top of your game!
1. Managing your business, the old-fashioned way
One of the most common mistakes new Pilates studio owners make, is using old fashioned business management solutions.
Some business owners record all information using a pen and paper. Certain data like client phone numbers, attendance, and payments are often kept in a logbook and updated whenever new information arises. This method is highly unreliable as these logbooks can get misplaced or damaged, leading to the loss of all your client information and records! And in today’s digital world, this will also appear very unprofessional to your clients.
Some Pilates studio owners also record information using software that aren’t designed for business management. All invoices and income statements are often documented using Excel, and Microsoft Word is usually used to keep a record of different aspects of the business. Though this may seem like the most efficient (and cheapest!) way to keep track of your studio at first, overtime, the time you must allot for the manual input of information will add up.
Having all your business and client information in various places is also not conducive to running an efficient studio. Looking for documents in numerous folders on your computer and remembering where you saved them is a waste of your time and energy. What’s the solution? Invest in an all-in-one business management software to keep all your essential information in one place. This way, you can access any information you need with a few simple clicks on one convenient platform.
2. Not setting up a client focused, user-friendly website
Another common Pilates studio owner mistake is not setting up a user-friendly website. This can lead to a loss of clients and interest in your facility.
It may be hard to believe, but certain websites are not designed with the client in mind. This is because studio owners may rush to build a live website without making sure it caters to the customer. Specific sections may be hard to find, and questions that clients commonly have may not be answered by the information on the website. Make sure your facility’s website is simple and to the point with clear sections about your facility, staff, services and prices, schedule, and contact information.
User-friendly setup aside, make sure your website also has user-friendly information. For instance, instead of stating the different classes your facility offers, explain how your classes will help solve your clients’ challenges and pain points. Always keep the attention on the customer and not just on your facility! This will resonate more with your clients, as they’ll feel like they are your top priority.
In our modern world, convenience and simplicity are what clients crave, so give it to them! For example, instead of having a website that just states the different classes you offer with a brief description, give your clients the opportunity to book online! There are several software programs that can help you set up this option on your website, and you’re in luck because we happen to be one of them!
WellnessLiving’s all-in-one Pilates studio management software is designed with users in mind. From intuitive processes to multi-platform options (desktop or mobile), WellnessLiving has you (and your clients!) covered.
3. Not knowing your ideal client
Some Pilates studio owners feel that if they narrow down their target audience, they may be limiting their business, but unfortunately this is a common Pilates studio owner mistake. Not knowing your ideal client may in fact do more harm to your business than good.
To run a successful establishment, you must have an ideal target audience in mind. The true essence of your brand will disappear when you try to make your Pilates studio cater to everyone. You’ll give off mixed messages and your classes won’t be focused on your students’ best interests.
Is your facility a place for senior citizens, working professionals trying to release stress, or college students? Once you know who your ideal customer is, you can start to cater your services to meet their needs. If you cast a wide net over your business, your classes may become too generic and you’ll blend into the sea of Pilates studios, with nothing special or unique to offer.
Do something to make your business stand out by having it cater to a specific demographic! Your studio will soon become known in your community for its niche classes that can’t be found elsewhere.
4. Not investing in marketing
Not investing in marketing is another prevalent Pilates studio owner mistake. Some business owners feel that they can rely on free advertising such as organic social media posts and word of mouth to stand out, but your business will never reach its full potential if you only use this method.
If you want to promote your business, you must gain followers and attract an audience. The first way to do this is identify your target audience. Once you know who they are, start to study where they spend most of their time digitally and use these platforms to reach them. However, sometimes posting on Instagram and Facebook is not enough to gain prospective clients. This is where investing in your marketing strategies can be helpful.
For example, in addition to having consistent organic content posted on Facebook, invest in Facebook ads. Facebook ads are an effective way to promote your business. They utilize specific algorithms to target your desired demographic, giving your facility visibility in the digital space you actually want to be in. When your prospective clients see these ads, they will be interested to learn more.
Another sure-fire way to gain popularity is by reaching out to local radio stations and TV studios. Talk about your facility on air and let people know how your facility can offer them an experience like no other. Though this may be expensive, the opportunity to reach hundreds of prospective clients will be your reward.
5. Thinking you can do it all by yourself
Our list would not be complete without this common Pilates studio owner mistake: trying to run your entire company by yourself. So many first-time business owners feel like this is a possibility, but the truth is, your studio will only reach success with the help of a team.
As the owner of your own facility, you must keep track of all aspects of your business. This is not to say however, that you must be a customer service agent, a marketing expert, an accountant, and so forth. Hire a dedicated team to work with you and divide all roles equally. You must learn to delegate if you are going to run a successful company.
Starting out on your own is perfectly noble (and definitely a great place to start!), but as your studio grows, so should your team!
Additionally, not only should you delegate roles to your staff, you should also delegate tasks to your Pilates studio management software. Think of your software as a top employee, there to help you manage client and staff schedules, staff payroll, send out automated marketing, track rewards programs, and more. And like any employee, you want to invest in quality.
WellnessLiving’s user-friendly, all-in-one Pilates studio management software is designed for business owners, by business owners. With everything you need to run your studio already built-in, there’s no need to pay for more than one software solution.
In Conclusion…
Whether you are running a Pilates studio business at home or have a separate facility, keep our strategies in mind and take this as an opportunity to learn from the most common mistakes in the Pilates studio industry.
Pave your way to success with WellnessLiving! Discover our all in one management software system and book a free, no-commitment demo with us today!
