I think I’m going to change the name of my studio to “Still
Enrolling Martial Arts"…

That’s because, despite all the doom and gloom we’ve been
hearing, we’re still seeing a steady stream of new
students come through the front door.

Sure, I keep hearing rumors about my competitors shutting
their doors, but we’re “still enrolling” at a steady pace,
and with no signs of slowing down, either.

It’s pretty simple, really… I just do all the stuff I
tell the guys on the member forums to do.

Well, that’s not exactly true - actually, I only have the
time to do about HALF of what I tell those guys to do!

That’s because I’m too busy running my websites, doing
business coaching, teaching workshops, writing newsletters,
and doing all the other activities that are related to SDBP
and SAMAS to still have time to do a lot of the marketing
activities I tell my site members to do.

So, I just focus on those marketing activities that are
automated and require the least amount to time to
implement.

Now, I know someone is going to email me to ask, “So tell
me Mike… what DO you do to market your school?”

Well, all you have to do is check out the member site, the
member forums, and the manual, and you’ll have your answer.

Of course, whether you add “-Still Enrolling” to the end of
your school’s name after that is purely your own decision…

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com

TESTIMONIAL Recently Posted On Our Member Forums:

“I have been lucky & have followed SDBP and its kept us
growing each year.”

Paul Halme
Peak Performance BJJ
Ft. Worth, TX

Sign-up for our member’s area at:
http://www.starting-a-martial-arts-school.com/join.html

Well, I’m still recovering after doing about three weeks of
preparation in the last three days running up to the
Kickboxing Instructor Workshop this weekend.

Even so, it was well worth it! We all had a great time and
the participants received tons of information on how to
start and run profitable fitness programs in their schools.

And, they got a helluva workout, both days… Saturday, we
did one of my typical kickboxing bag classes, and Sunday I
put them through a hardcore boot camp style workout.

I’m sure they’re all cussing me today.

Since I first announced it, I’ve had a TON of requests from
those of you who couldn’t make it to share the information
on DVD. And, I’ve received even more requests, after the
participants started talking about what a great experience
they had…

Well, I have plans to make that information available very
soon, so keep your eyes peeled for it over the next several
weeks.

—

And for our Veterans and those serving proudly in our Armed
Forces this Veterans Day…

I wish you all a proud and happy Veterans Day. And for
those of you serving overseas, I pray you have a safe tour
and that you get home to your families and loved ones as
soon as possible.

HOO-UH!!!

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com

TESTIMONIAL Recently Posted On Our Member Forums:

“I have been lucky & have followed SDBP and its kept us
growing each year.”

Paul Halme
Peak Performance BJJ
Ft. Worth, TX

Sign-up for our member’s area at:
http://www.starting-a-martial-arts-school.com/join.html

Just a quick update to the schedule for the seminar
this weekend, as well as some last-minute notes
on what to bring with you…

Please make a note that we’re moving the early morning
kickboxing workout on Saturday to 0830.

Also, make sure you bring suitable workout clothes,
including running shoes or cross training shoes, and boxing
gloves or bag gloves if you have them (I have plenty of
loaners if you don’t).

The weather is going to be really nice this weekend, low-
to mid- 70s, sunny, and clear. It should be in the 50s in
the AM, so bring a light jacket in case we take our workout
outdoors.

And don’t forget… Saturday night we’re all going out to
North by Northwest for some good food and drinks. Austin is
pretty much a come-as-you-are town, so casual clothing is
fine for this little outing.

Finally, if you can bring a laptop with a wireless card,
you’ll be putting it to good use. (I’ll have a spare set up
if you don’t own a laptop).

Here’s a break down of the schedule for both days:

SATURDAY

0830 - Early morning kickboxing bag workout

0915 - Break so participants can eat and head back to their
hotels for a quick shower.

1000 - Seminar begins, martial arts fitness programs
overview

1100 - Class content, structure, and formatting

1200 - Group lunch for some authentic Texas BBQ/Field Trip
(Sat. or Sun. TBA)

1300 - Marketing, Day One

1400 - Staff recruitment and training, Q&A, Breakout
sessions

1500 - Day One of seminar ends

1530 - Voluntary informal MA “share and show”

1800 - Meet at studio, then group dinner at NXNW

SUNDAY

0830 - Early morning workout

0915 - Break so participants can eat and head back to their
hotels for a quick shower.

1000 - Second day of seminar begins, in-depth proprietary
fitness programs overview

1100 - Proprietary fitness programs content, structure,
and formatting

1130 - Group lunch for some authentic Texas BBQ/Field Trip
(Sat. or Sun. TBA)

1300 - Marketing, Day Two; Q&A

1400 - Seminar ends, Presentation of Certifications

Looking forward to seeing all of you this Saturday!

Sincerely,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com

Well, it looks like Senator Obama will soon become
President Obama…

Although I voted for the other party, and I obviously
disagree with his platform, I will say that…

I am HAPPY that we have a member of a minority holding the
office of President of the United States for the first time
in history.

It’s pretty cool… would have been better if he were a
minority member of the Republican party, but it’s still
pretty cool.

Okay, on to today’s topic -

—

I’ve been getting all my materials ready for the Kickboxing
Instructor Certification seminar this weekend, including
handouts for all the participants.

In gathering the materials for the seminar, I’ve been going
through all the fitness marketing I’ve run for the past
dozen years or so…

And, it occurred to me - I used to be really bad at
marketing.

Not as bad as some folks, but pretty darned bad.

I mean, the difference between the old ads I dug up, and
the ads I have written and designed recently is
astonishing. And the results I get from my marketing
campaigns are definitely MUCH better than ten years ago.

So, what caused the big change in my marketing abilities?

Here’s the secret:

First, I learned to love marketing. Which isn’t hard, since
it’s the one skill that can turn even a mediocre instructor
into a martial arts business success.

Second, I learned to look at everything I put out with a
critical eye, and to admit when I’ve put out a cr@p piece
of marketing.

Third, I’ve realized that the only indicator that you’re
good at marketing is the results you get from the marketing
campaigns you produce.

Heck, I’ve put out some marketing campaigns that I thought
were going to be home runs…

Only to find that they failed miserably. It wasn’t until
after I started studying what good marketers do (not those
Madison Avenue types - real in-the-trenches direct response
marketers) that I began to improve.

What’s interesting is that I see many of the members of
Starting a Martial Arts School going through the same
process.

Many of them are working VERY hard to learn effective
marketing skills and techniques.

Yet, some just can’t seem to accept that what they think
works in marketing, isn’t what appeals to the majority of
consumers.

So, they’ll continue to spend time and money on putting out
ads that they THINK will perform well…

But that will provide only dismal returns.

And it’s a shame - I used to do the same thing, until I
admitted that what I had done in the past wasn’t working.

Guys like Jeff Barnes realized it too. Jeff told me he’s
bought and read tons of books on marketing, but he ended up
just doing what I told him to do.

And it worked - because I’ve already been through the
process of trial and error.

So, if you’re sick of getting dismal returns on your
marketing…

- Then read my business manual ,

- Join the membership site ,

- and be active in the forums…

And then you too will learn the “golden skill” of making
“money on demand” through effective marketing.

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com

TESTIMONIAL:

“The last week of being a member has been extremely
educational.

Thank you so much for the advice. This is gold to someone
like me who is absolutely new to all this.”

Scott Ferreira
Full Instructor in Jeet Kune Do
San Jose, CA

Sign-up for our member’s area at:
http://www.starting-a-martial-arts-school.com/join.html

I just came up with a brilliant idea for a martial arts
school association…

In this model, the wealthiest 5% of school owners will give
50% of their profits back to the association…

This is in order to “spread the wealth” among those school
owners who make less than $250,000 a year.

Unfortunately, I foresee that the profit incentive for
school owners to push their schools past the $250K/year
mark will be eliminated in this model…

But hey - not that many schools make over $250K a year
anyway, and that money will just be a drop in the bucket to
the “average” school owner making $500K to $1M a year,
right?

And, I’m sure that this plan will allow the bottom 20% of
school owners to keep doing the bare minimum to get by,
while they sit back and reap the rewards of the top 5% of
school owners’ hard work.

Heck, I grew up poor as dirt, and I never had anyone give
me any money to help keep my school afloat during tough
times…

But shoot - who needs to work hard to get ahead, once a
great idea like this is put in motion?

…

It’s not too late to vote, people. Polls will stay open
late tonight. Go out and be heard.

Until next time,

Mike Massie
Martial Arts Business Anti-Guru
Author, “Small Dojo, Big Profits”
Email: massie@small-dojo-big-profits.com
Website: http://www.small-dojo-big-profits.com