Your Guide to Martial Arts Marketing [+ 5 Ideas]

Last Updated on 23 May, 2024

The martial arts industry shows no signs of slowing down. From karate to judo to mixed martial arts, about 28% of adults in the US alone say they practice some form of martial arts whenever they can.

If you feel like you’re struggling to keep up with this fast-growing space, we’ve got you covered. A clear and strategic martial arts marketing plan will help you win over new clients and grow your business.

In this guide, we offer five actionable martial arts marketing ideas. With these, you can transform your martial arts business into a champion in this competitive space.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• How to create a martial arts marketing plan
• 5 marketing ideas for your martial arts business
  • Make use of digital marketing
  • Build and leverage your email list strategically
  • Host special events and open houses
  • Start a referral program
  • Offer family, friends, and couples’ classes
• Tips for improving your martial arts marketing
• Start marketing your martial arts studio with an all-in-one solution

How to create a martial arts marketing plan

A well-thought-out martial arts marketing plan is vital to your success. The following processes are the foundations of a strategic marketing plan:

Identify your target audience

Before you promote your products and services, you need to know who you’re selling to. Start with some market research to find out who your current clients are.

Since martial arts training appeals to a range of people, you’ll also want to segment your audience. Segmentation can be based on purchasing habits, other behaviors, or demographics. With this information, you’ll understand when and where your martial arts marketing will perform best.

Define and track your goals

To really drive business growth, make sure your goals are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound or SMART. Then, focus your marketing efforts on achieving those goals. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to keep an eye on your progress too. For example, if you want to garner 10% more clients from social media referrals, you might track social media engagement metrics. If those metrics aren’t progressing the way you want them to, you’ll know it’s time to change your marketing approach.

Build a budget

Figure out how much you want to invest in martial arts marketing every month. In general, small B2C companies spend 5-10% of their revenue on marketing.

You might increase your budget to support product launches and more ambitious goals. Or you might tighten it to focus on profitability. Either way, it’s a good idea to see how your content and ads perform within your current budget before making changes.

Develop a strategy

With a strategic approach, your marketing efforts won’t go to waste. An effective martial arts marketing strategy covers your approach to marketing. It’s also informed by your goals, budget, and target audience. Your strategy should:

• Support your long-term goals
• Focus on your customers’ needs
• Give you a competitive advantage

Use your strategy as a guide to create the types of content your audience wants on the channels they engage with most often.

5 marketing ideas for your martial arts business

Once your marketing plan is in place, you’ll need some inspiration. Here are five martial arts marketing ideas to bring in new clients:

1. Make use of digital marketing

When it comes to martial arts advertising, digital marketing is one of the most effective methods. There are so many useful channels at your disposal, from social media to search engines. Create content that draws clients in like videos featuring student testimonials and sneak peeks into your classes.

More traditional digital marketing spaces like landing pages and digital ads are also helpful. Remember to optimize your website for SEO so people see it when they search for martial arts studios in your area.

Make sure your landing pages are optimized, too, and include all the information visitors need to sign up for their first class. You can also try out paid, targeted martial arts ads on Facebook and Google to put your business in front of more people who are itching to join your martial arts community. For maximum effectiveness, you’ll want to have a solid digital ad strategy to guide your placement, schedule, and budget.

2. Build and leverage your email list strategically

Be sure to keep your email list healthy and growing with new and engaged subscribers to maximize your marketing efforts. Offer email sign-ups through your website, social media, and client app so your messages reach more clients.

You can use marketing emails to tell current and potential students about promotions, referral programs, and upcoming events at your studio.

Emails can also be part of your automated marketing campaigns. WellnessLiving’s email feature uses customized messaging and triggers to take the manual worries out of your marketing campaigns. With that support, you can deliver the right content directly to the people most likely to engage.

3. Host special events and open houses

Consider hosting events or workshops. These special events showcase your studio and your community so you can attract new students.

Here are some examples of events and activities that can create buzz about your martial arts school and show potential students what you have to offer:

• Open houses at your studio
• Community outreach programs
• A booth at street fairs and festivals
• Self-defense seminars
• Partnerships with local youth groups

Showing your dedication to your community is a great way to find new students and meet other business owners who could become referral partners. Most importantly, it shows that your organization cares and helps you stand out from the competition.

WellnessLiving can help you host events with comprehensive features, including promotions, wait lists, attendance tracking, and even virtual events.

4. Start a referral program

If you haven’t launched one already, referral programs are proven ways to bring in new clients and show appreciation for your current students. They work via word of mouth, which is the best way to land new sales.

Most referrals come from social media and email (29% and 23% respectively). However, most conversions (32%) come from good old verbal referrals.

Referral programs transform loyal students, other local businesses and even influencers into brand promoters who make referrals to your business. People are far more likely to make a purchase when the recommendation comes from someone they trust. In return, you’ll give these brand promoters something like a cash reward or discount for their efforts. You can promote your program through email, social media, SMS, push, or your website.

Referral programs benefit your business by:

• Building trust
• Boosting your brand
• Increasing client loyalty
• Helping you reach ideal clients

5. Offer family, friends, and couples’ classes

Starting martial arts for the first time can be daunting, especially for adults. You can encourage these students by getting their family and friends involved. By offering parent and child classes, guest passes for friends, and couples’ sessions, you’ll encourage more first-timers to try and stick with your martial arts school. These offerings also show that you care about creating a welcoming environment.

Offering classes for kids and parents is an effective way to attract new students, since many parents are looking for activities to do with their children. Martial arts provide a unique way for them to bond and get active. Offering these types of classes will also help you reach a wider range of students and foster a sense of community.

Classes for couples work in a similar way. Martial arts can be a great way for partners to connect, spice up their quality time, and challenge themselves together. By marketing classes specifically tailored for couples, you can attract martial artists who want to share their passion with their significant or are looking for a unique way to spend time together.

Tips to improve your martial arts marketing

The marketing ideas above have proven to be effective for many business owners. Try them out along with these tips to stand out from competitors even more:

• Focus on community – Martial arts studios are unique spaces that foster a sense of community and support student growth. Students who feel encouraged and enjoy attending your classes are more likely to spread the word about your studio.
• Create a concrete brand – When people interact with your business, they should immediately recognize your brand. Develop a brand book that lays out the guidelines for your brand’s tone and voice. A branded mobile app also creates recognition, cohesion, and consistency for your clients.
• Consider influencer marketing – Martial artists are passionate about their sport. Team up with influencers who practice your specific martial arts and live in your local area. This is an effective way to reach your local audience and attract new clients through referral programs.

Start marketing your martial arts studio with an all-in-one solution

Ready to get the word out about your studio? Our software is fully equipped to support marketing for martial arts schools.

With features for automated marketing, virtual classes, loyalty programs, and more, we’re ready to help your business grow. Book a WellnessLiving demo today.