As the festive season approaches, many Yoga and Pilates teachers wind down their schedules and look forward to a well-deserved break. However….. I think this final phase in the year is a brilliant opportunity to get your ducks in a line (is that the phrase?) before a potential rush in January. You’ll feel so much more relaxed over the Christmas period if you have a clear plan and you’ve prepped for a flurry in Janurary. Yes, we absolutely wish yoga and pilates weren’t New Year’s fads (and we hope for the influx of the new students it won’t be!) but there’s no denying that January has a special hold over people setting intentions for a healthy year ahead. It’s a time when people feel inspired to start fresh, embrace healthier habits, and join classes like yours. But….to make the most of this surge in interest, preparation is key.

By organising your courses and marketing activities before Christmas, you can hit the ground running in January without scrambling to put everything together. Here’s your step-by-step guide to getting ready.

1. Plan and Set Up Your Courses Now

Don’t wait until January to create new offerings or schedules. Use the quieter weeks before Christmas to:

• Decide on Your Offerings: Will you run beginner courses, workshops, or a New Year challenge?

• Set Dates and Times: Plan your schedule for January and beyond.

• Update Your Booking System: Ensure your class times, prices, and availability are updated. Are you offering any extra incentive passes or bundles? Don’t only consider new customers, also think about what you could offer for your existing, loyal customers. What about people who have drifted away, could you have a refresher pop-up?

• Create Supporting Content: Write descriptions for your classes or workshops that appeal to the “New Year, new me” mindset. Highlight how your sessions help with common goals like reducing stress, improving fitness, or boosting flexibility.

2. Audit Your Website and Customer Journey

I know I’m always telling you this…. but imagine a potential client finding your website for the first time in January. Is their experience easy? Can they immediately identify who you are, what you teach, where it is and how much it is? Ask friends/family, how quickly can they find this info on your site? If it’s more than 15 seconds then think about how you can make it clearer.

Check these points:

• Homepage: Does it clearly show your January offerings?

• Booking Process: Is it easy to find, book, and pay for classes? Test the system yourself to identify any issues. I want to write this in SHOUTY CAPS…. do you know what the customer checkout looks like? Have you gone through it yourself? What emails do they receive, check what automation you have set up.

• Mobile Experience: Ensure your website works well on mobile devices – most visitors will be using their phones. In fact if you look at your traffic it’s probably 70-80% mobile. This can’t be an afterthought, it’s the default!

• FAQs: Update your FAQ section with common questions new clients may have, such as what to bring or wear to class.

• Out of Date Pages: Is anything past its sell-by? Have a quick clean up of your website so everything in January is current and relevant. This includes your Link Bio Site on Instagram, how many out of date links are there?

3. Schedule Email Campaigns to Stay Connected

Your current clients are your biggest asset, and email is a great way to encourage them to rebook or recommend your classes.

• Before Christmas: Send a festive email thanking your clients for their support and teasing your January offerings, or offer an early bird, or an incentive. Do you offer gift vouchers, remind everyone! And if you don’t offer gift vouchers think about how you could, you need a way to take payment and you need a canva account. There are tons of templates. You need space for a message to the recipient, an expiry date, what is included in their voucher, how they redeem it (this could just be emailing you).

• Between Christmas and New Year: Send a follow-up email promoting your courses, workshops, or special offers. This is when people are likely to be planning their resolutions. The weird few days between Christmas and New Year are a good time for emailing as people will be in a chocolate coma on their phones!

• Automate Reminders: Use your email marketing software to schedule reminders about early-bird offers or start dates.

4. Create and Schedule Social Media Content

Social media will be buzzing in January with people looking for ways to stick to their resolutions. Prepare content now to save yourself stress later.

• Write Posts in Advance: Share benefits of Yoga and Pilates, client testimonials, and details of your January schedule.

• Use Visuals: Design eye-catching graphics that highlight your offerings.

• Plan a Challenge or Giveaway: Run an Instagram or Facebook challenge to engage your audience and attract new clients.

5. Prepare Marketing Materials

Having everything ready to go means you won’t feel rushed come January.

• Flyers and Posters: If you still use physical marketing, get these printed and distributed now.

• Online Ads: If you’re planning any ads, make sure you know your conversion metrics, your audience is setup, graphics and copy good to go.

• Special Offers: Decide on any discounts or free trials to encourage sign-ups.

6. Organise Your Admin

January can get hectic, so take some time to fix your admin now.

• Client Records: Ensure your contact list is up-to-date.

• Payment Systems: Check your payment processes are working smoothly.

• Automated Responses: Set up auto-replies for common questions via email or social media.

7. Set Personal Boundaries

While January is a busy time, it’s important to avoid burnout. Plan your schedule so you have time to rest and recharge, and set boundaries around your availability. Over the Christmas period try to actually relax. People who email over this period can wait. You don’t owe anyone a response on Boxing Day!

Your Pre-Christmas Checklist

Here’s a quick summary to keep you on track:

• Plan and set up courses and workshops.

• Update your website and booking system.

• Schedule email campaigns.

• Prepare and schedule social media posts.

• Organise marketing materials.

• Streamline your admin.

• Set personal boundaries for January.

By taking action now, you’ll not only ease your January workload but also maximise the opportunity to attract new clients and retain existing ones. A little preparation this side of Christmas will go a long way in setting you up for a successful New Year.

If you’d like support with planning your marketing or optimising your website for the January rush, get in touch with me at Santosha Marketing – I’m here to help you grow your business with ease.