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In the wake of COVID-19, businesses had to face lock downs and drastically reduce in-person services. The martial arts industry was no different. Many studios had to hold Zoom classes or no classes at all. It has been a few years since the height of COVID-19, but many martial arts schools have kept Zoom or online classes as an additional resource, adding value to students who are training. Today, we will delve into some of the benefits of providing an online curriculum and how you can turn it into a lead magnet and revenue generator.

The Retention Benefits of an Online Curriculum

Martial arts is a discipline-heavy sport. Repetition is required in almost every drill that instructors teach. The biggest value in martial arts lessons is the wisdom of many years of training available to students of all ages. For many students, martial arts becomes more than a hobby, and they want to practice and learn outside of the studio. This is where an online curriculum library can be a huge retention tool for students looking to practice at home.

Whether you film from a smartphone and host it on Facebook or hire a video production team to record your lessons and host them privately on your website or another platform, you can provide your students with breakdowns of the drills and lessons you are teaching in class. This is by no means an alternative to attending class; in fact, in the schools that offer an online curriculum, students are still required to attend class to move up in belt rank. The library is simply a tool for them to practice, prepare for the next belt test, and enjoy the benefits of martial arts at home. It's also an excellent way to get families involved, as some drills require a second person to help hold pads or provide other assistance. This can build a bond between a friend or family member and help them see how beneficial and important martial arts is to the student.

Generating Leads with Online Karate Lessons

Online video lessons can also be a great lead magnet if marketed properly. For many, a "free lesson" is the cornerstone of trying out a martial arts class and is considered one of the most effective marketing tools to attract new students. However, what if a lead doesn't show up to their appointment? This is where a free video lesson can be beneficial. A nurture sequence can be initiated if a lead misses their free class, and you can offer them a link to an introductory lesson online. While this is by no means a substitute for the free class, it can at least show them some value in the classes. You can also use the free video lesson as a Call to Action (CTA) to collect contact information. If you are running an ad or have an optimized blog page or program page on your website, you can have people provide their info in return for a link to the video lesson. This is not the best way to get them into the school, but it is a low-risk, low-cost way to show them a taste of what martial arts has to offer. Uploading free lessons on YouTube can also be beneficial, especially for brand awareness. Many young children spend their time on video streaming platforms, so having introductory videos that cover basic drills for practicing at home can attract potential students. While this is more for brand awareness than a local lead generator, it can lead people to your website if your school happens to be in their town.

Check out this video from Dojo Go that has over 3 million views on YouTube! This is a perfect example of a free online lesson.

Turning Online Martial Arts Lessons into Revenue

Finally, there is a way to turn the online library into a new source of revenue for your school. We only recommend this if you decide to invest in the production of your video lessons and create added value for your students. If you have a platform that can host your videos and has the capabilities to add a subscription or price to the program, then you can begin to charge a small fee for the videos. Whether you want a one-time payment or set it up as a subscription, there is value in these guided resource videos that can warrant a small price.

We usually see schools implement this when they have a large enough demand for extra lessons. It allows you to still offer private lessons and other one-on-one lessons but also gives parents the choice to try and help their students learn at home before signing up for private lessons or even use a combination of the two to help students get extra lessons. Most CRMs that are built for martial arts studios often come with a video hosting feature, so you can host these videos on your CRM companion app or even on a members-only page of your website. Below, we have a list of software companies that offer video hosting for martial arts school members:

• Market Muscles: Can host videos on a members-only portion of your website.

• Spark Membership: Can host videos on the Spark-built website and their companion app.

• MyStudio: Can host videos on the member website and the companion app.

In conclusion, the shift towards online martial arts curriculum has proven to offer various advantages, including improved student retention by providing valuable practice resources outside the studio. It also serves as an effective lead magnet, allowing potential students to experience introductory lessons remotely. Finally, with the right investment in production and content, online martial arts lessons can become a lucrative revenue stream for schools, offering flexibility and added value to students. Whether through retention benefits, lead generation, or revenue generation, embracing the online dimension of martial arts education has become an essential strategy for martial arts schools, offering both practical and strategic advantages in the evolving landscape of martial arts instruction.