Some people attend my workshops and go “that was nice,” and then the really great teachers, like you, take what I say and make it their own.
One of the tips I give in the business sections is
don’t pay for any advertising, it’s often too expensive and too hard to measure.
Instead I recommend
getting in touch with local journalists and getting them to do a story about your school – for free!
Ninja Tip: Journalists are *always* looking for good stories, especially at quiet times of the year like *right now*.
How do you do this?
You just need one “hook” to get them interested. If you are starting a new school year, starting your first class or have an interesting story of why you started the school (hated your last job? Wanted to improve education?) then they’ll come. Or of course if you happen to be using a funky new way of teaching that has had amazing success around the world and you’re now bringing it to your town ….. they like that too! 🙂
Just pick one, only one, give them a ring, follow it up a few times and off you go!
Of course the difference is between those who say “that’s nice” and those that actually do it. 🙂
So full marks to Oksana and Kate for getting in touch with and then getting in their local newspaper just one week after attending my workshop.
And even more marks for doing a better job of explaining Genki English better than I do myself.
These girls are amazing and I’m sure they are going to be super successful with their new school!
Can you do it?
What do you think, do you think you could get your new school into the papers?
Think how many new students that would get, and how happy it would make your existing students!
Do write up your questions or comments in the comments!
Be genki,
Richard
P.S. If you are using Google Chrome it will automatically translate the article into your language, it’s actually a really good read.
P.P.S. Don’t you just love how we now have “Genki” written into the Russian language too now! 🙂
Awesome!! I hope their school year(s) is/are very successful! I never thought about using the newspaper to give yourself free advertising, but it´s genius!! I, on the other hand, started teaching in a small town and the word of mouth advertising was enough for me. I´ve got a waiting list of students every year! Thanks Genki English for the excellent cirriculum to base it all off of!
Well done Amy!
Congratulations Amy! Share the secret of the word of mouth advertising – in my situation this doesn’t work very much 🙁
Well, thinking about it, it might have a lot to do with where exactly you are teaching. The culture has a lot to do with this I think. It is all too common here (Spain) that parents, when picking up their kids from school or meeting up with their friends, talk about their experiences. This means that if their kid is absolutely loving English classes and says to his/her parent that they´d rather sign up for english classes after school than soccer (true story:)well, the other parents are going to listen. Now we as teachers can´t change how the parents are but we CAN teach english in a really genki way, send cool handouts back home with the kids, etc.
Now I think the other thing that has really helped me out is that I live in a small town (30,000). People here in Spain get really excited with the fact that their is a native english speaker in their town. Get out. Make yourself know, socially. The more connects you have, the better. I first started out with adult conversation classes and since then have had many of their kids as my students too.
I don´t know your situation Elvira, but hopefully these things will help you. Be Genki always!! And don´t get down, what works for one, might not work for another (just like we see teaching our kids). Best of luck to you!
Thank you Amy for your reply!It encourages.I live in not so small Russian town and I’m a native Russian speaker.I think it can take time to get known to the people.I must say all of my students have come to my classes exactly through the word of mouth without a bit of advertising from my side.But at present I’m experiencing “a period of silence” – that’s why the time of some new ideas has come.
Love your concept. Really wish to work hard to have success story as you.