🚨 EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT…

The 2024 Relentless Membership Summit: What You Missed (and Why You Should Be Kicking Yourself)

Missed the 2024 Relentless Membership Summit? Here's why you'll be marking your calendar in ink for the next one.

Adam Kifer's Opening: A Lesson in Resilience Adam Kifer didn't just speak; he captivated and moved us all with his deeply personal account of the trials faced in 2024. From personal loss to navigating through heart-wrenching challenges, Adam shared how he transformed pain into power, keeping his leadership and companies not just surviving, but thriving. His narrative wasn't just a recount; it was a masterclass in fortitude.

Jason Fladlien: Mastering Objections Imagine a room so engaged, you could hear a pin drop—this was Jason Fladlien’s session. The marketing maestro behind giants like Alex Hormozi, Jason dissected common sales objections with the precision of a seasoned samurai. His strategies for overcoming "I need to talk to my spouse," "You are too expensive," and "I don’t have time," were not just insightful—they were revolutionary.

Brady Edwards: Storytelling Secrets Revealed With credentials like directing for Mr. Beast, Brady Edwards knows a thing or two about capturing attention. His session turned every attendee into a storyteller, armed with techniques and tools to elevate their business narratives online. And yes, he gave away his top tool for generating storytelling ideas for free to those lucky enough to attend!

A Bold New Direction: The IMPAKT Mastermind In an unexpected twist, Adam announced the retirement of the Relentless CEO Mastermind and introduced its evolution: the IMPAKT Mastermind. This pivot reflects a renewed mission to not just succeed but to significantly impact the martial arts community worldwide. Over 60 school owners have already pledged to join this new journey, ready to expand their influence and inspire change.

Why This Summit Was Different This wasn't just another industry meet-up; it was a transformative experience that reshaped perceptions and set new benchmarks for what a summit can be. It was a fitting farewell to the Relentless era and a powerful commencement of the IMPAKT chapter.

Make sure you're part of the next chapter as we continue to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in the martial arts business landscape.

SAVE $100 W/CODE PRE2024

🙌 Top 5 Marketing Mistakes & How To Fix Them

When it comes to growing a martial arts school, marketing can either be your secret weapon or your biggest headache. I've worked with countless school owners, and I've seen the same mistakes repeated time and time again. The good news? These mistakes are avoidable, and when you fix them, your school’s growth can skyrocket.

Here are five of the most common marketing mistakes martial arts schools make—and how to fix them:

1. Focusing Too Much on COLD Marketing

A lot of school owners spend all their time trying to reach new people who’ve never heard of them—this is cold marketing. While it’s important to bring in fresh leads, relying solely on cold marketing will burn through your budget quickly and might not yield the best results.

The Fix: Warm up your audience! Create marketing campaigns that focus on people who already know you—like past students, parents, or friends of current students. Use retargeting ads to reach those who have visited your website or engaged with your content. Building relationships with a warm audience leads to higher conversions and more loyal students.

2. Relying on Word of Mouth Alone

Word of mouth is great—it’s free and builds trust. But relying solely on it is a huge mistake. With competition rising, you can’t afford to wait for referrals to trickle in.

The Fix: Get strategic about your outreach. Invest in paid ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram where you can target your ideal audience. Set up referral programs that incentivize students to bring in friends and family. And most importantly, be proactive with your marketing instead of waiting for people to come to you.

3. Ignoring Local SEO

If potential students in your area can't find you online, you're missing out on a huge opportunity. Many martial arts schools neglect their local SEO, meaning they’re invisible to people searching for martial arts in their city.

The Fix: Optimize your website and Google Business Profile for local searches. Include your location in your website’s meta tags, content, and blog posts. Encourage your students to leave reviews on Google, which helps you rank higher in local searches. Don’t forget to list your school on local directories and community boards as well.

4. Poor Follow-Up with Leads

You’ve spent time and money generating leads, but if you’re not following up quickly, you’re losing opportunities. Leads lose interest fast, and if you wait too long, they’ll move on to other options. The key? Speed.

The Fix: 5 Minutes to Win-It
Your goal should be to get each lead on the phone within 5 minutes of receiving their information. This dramatically increases your chances of converting them into students. Set up a system that notifies you or your team the moment a new lead comes in, and have someone ready to reach out immediately.

But don’t stop there—automate your follow-up with text and email sequences that engage leads even if they miss your call. These automations keep your school top of mind and ensure consistent communication until you close the deal.

5. Not Tracking Results

One of the biggest mistakes I see is school owners running marketing campaigns without tracking their leads or knowing which efforts are paying off. If you’re not tracking your leads, you’re operating in the dark and missing opportunities to improve.

The Fix: Lead Tracking 101
The most successful schools use a lead tracking spreadsheet to keep accurate track of all their leads and what stages each lead is in. Think about segmenting your leads like this:

• Hot Lead: Received in the last 24 hours OR interacted with you in the last 24 hours

• Warm Lead: Received in the last 7 days

• Cold Lead: More than 7 days old

• Trial Sold: Purchased a trial

• Appointment Booked: Scheduled their first class

• Appointment Showed: Showed up for their first class

• Appointment No Show: Did not show up—keep calling them

• Enrolled: Is currently a member

By segmenting your leads this way, you’ll know exactly who needs follow-up and when.

Here’s what’s Kickin’ on Social This Week…

Dive into the pulse of the martial arts community with "What's Kickin on Social?" In this feature, we spotlight five of the week’s most impactful and insightful social media posts from industry leaders and influencers. From groundbreaking techniques and training tips to motivational insights and business strategies, stay connected and inspired with the best content curated just for you. Join the conversation and bring fresh ideas back to your mat.

1. 10 Thing I have Learned From Running a Martial Arts School - Dave Kovar

2. Why Every Business Owner Should Be In a Mastermind - Donovan Rider

3. Own Your Weaknesses - Adam Kifer

4. The 7-11-4 Rule - Matthew Brenner

5. 3 Exercises for Better Side Kicks - John Gardiner

💪 What’s Inspiring Us This Week

Enter Jason Wilson - if you haven’t started following this man, what are you waiting for? He is an expert in helping kids to overcome fear, develop emotional intelligence, and learning valuable life lessons. This video will give you great insight into how to help your students overcome challenges while also hitting your right in the feels. (I’m not crying, you’re crying 🥹).

😂 Martial Memes

These memes hit home for all of us martial artists and gave us a good chuckle. Click on the image to view the original account that posted each meme. Enjoy!

Have a MEME that you want feaured? Send them to us at [email protected] or tag our instagram account @thekicknewsletter.