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đŸ’„ The Leads Aren’t Bad—Your Follow-Up Is Weak

Lead with clarity, market with purpose, and start converting like a pro—no more blaming the leads.

Author

Kelly Murray
April 29, 2025

Hello, kickers!

🚀 The Kick is Here: No More Excuses—Time to Convert Like a Pro

This week’s issue is for the school owners who are ready to stop blaming the leads and start owning the follow-up. In our feature article by Kelly Murray, “The Leads Aren’t Bad—Your Follow-Up Is Weak,” we’re calling out the common excuses and showing you exactly how to fix your lead conversion game. Combine that with this week’s What’s Kickin’ on Social, a powerful book on intentional leadership habits, and real wins from RMA clients, and you’ve got everything you need to stop waiting and start executing.

đŸ’„ The Leads Aren’t Bad—Your Follow-Up Is Weak

By Kelly Murray

Look, I get it. It’s tough out there.
But if I hear “The leads aren’t great” one more time
 I might actually lose it.

Seriously—are we still using that line in 2025?

🚹 Newsflash: It’s not 2021 anymore. The competition is fiercer than ever. Everyone is fighting for attention. You can’t expect to just throw an ad up and have perfect, pre-qualified people lining up to throw their credit cards at you.

Let’s break this down...

📉 Response Time = Everything

Data shows that if you wait more than 5 minutes to follow up on a new lead, your chances of getting a response drop by 400%.
Yeah, you read that right. 400%.

If you’re waiting hours—or worse, a full day—to reply, that lead is already gone.
You didn’t lose the lead. You gave it away.

📞 Most Conversions Happen Between the 2nd and 14th Call

Not the first call. Not even the second.

Between the 2nd and 14th. That’s where the money is.

If you’re giving up after one or two attempts, you’re not serious about growth. You’re hoping, not working.
The best closers are persistent and professional. They follow up, they stay consistent, and they win.

💬 SMS Shouldn’t Suck

Can we all agree to retire this line:
"Hey, it’s me again from Kelly’s Martial Arts. Just wondering if you’re still interested..."

BORING. Snooze fest. đŸ„±

You want to stand out? Be better. Be human. Be engaging.
Text like you’d talk to someone in real life. Be personal. Be playful. Build trust. Make them want to text you back.

And let’s be clear:
đŸ“Č The text is a tool to get the call.
If you’re using text as your only method of communication, you're just delaying the inevitable. Pick. Up. The. Phone.

💡 Stop Blaming the Leads

This isn’t some fantasy world where people magically show up and convert with zero effort. Every lead is an opportunity. If you’re treating them like a problem, you’re already behind.

Want to win? Great.
Earn it.
Follow up like it matters—because it does. And if you’re not willing to? Maybe this industry isn’t for you.

But if you’re ready to show up, do the work, and stop complaining—we’ve got the tools, systems, and strategies to help you dominate.

It’s time to get serious.
It’s time to stop making excuses.
And it’s time to kick some ass. đŸ‘ŠđŸ”„

#StopComplaining #GetToWork
(Or hey—keep whining and let the competition out-work you. Your call. đŸ€·â€â™€ïž)

đŸ”„ What’s Kickin’ on Social

The Kick’s pick of the hottest headlines in social this week:

Short, sharp, and straight to the point—this week’s lineup is full of actionable advice on leadership, loyalty, and staying clear-headed under pressure.

đŸ”„ Leila Hormozi – Accountability Builds Culture
Leila explains why holding team members accountable isn’t harsh—it’s a sign you care.
👉 Watch Here (Facebook Reel)

đŸ”„ Dave Kovar – The Secret to Loyal Clients
Want students who stay for years? Dave shares the mindset that keeps clients coming back.
👉 Watch Here (Facebook Reel)

đŸ”„ Dan Martell – When to Fire Someone
Not sure when to cut someone loose? Dan breaks down the signs and the mindset behind tough calls.
👉 Watch Here (Facebook Reel)

đŸ”„ Ryan Holiday – Clarity in Motion
Taking a walk won’t solve everything—but Ryan reminds us it’s never a bad idea.
👉 Watch Here (Facebook Reel)

đŸ”„ Robert Kiyosaki – Build Your Network
Kiyosaki’s reminder: employees look for jobs—entrepreneurs build networks.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)

⚡ Take what hits home, apply it this week, and keep raising the bar in your school.

😂 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 featured? Send them to us at [email protected] or tag our instagram account @thekicknewsletter.

📚 What We’re Reading: Small Acts of Leadership by G. Shawn Hunter

Leadership isn’t built in grand gestures—it’s forged in the small, intentional actions you take daily. In Small Acts of Leadership, G. Shawn Hunter lays out 12 powerful behaviors that elevate your influence, build trust with your team, and create lasting organizational impact.

For martial arts school owners, this book is a reminder that the way you show up—in conversations, in decisions, in your consistency—matters far more than your title or belt rank.

💡 Key Takeaways for School Owners:

✅ Lead by example in the small things – Being on time, following through, and acknowledging your team consistently builds loyalty and trust.

✅ Courageous conversations shape culture – The conversations you avoid are often the ones that could create real change. Lead them with clarity and empathy.

✅ Celebrate wins, even the small ones – Recognition doesn’t need to be elaborate—it just needs to be consistent and sincere.

If you’re looking to become the kind of leader that people choose to follow—not because they have to, but because they want to—this is a must-read.

📖 Grab your copy here: Small Acts of Leadership on Amazon

What’s one small act you can take this week to lead more intentionally? đŸ‘‡đŸ”„

📈 Relentless Results: Real Wins From Relentless Media Agency

Relentless Media Agency helps martial arts school owners grow their schools by running done-for-you marketing campaigns that actually bring in leads—without the guesswork. Each campaign is built and optimized by experts who understand your audience and your industry.

Here are two real wins from this week:

đŸ„‹ Mark – Kids Martial Arts Campaign
✅ 24 leads generated
✅ $5.52 per lead
Mark’s campaign is pulling in consistent, high-quality leads at a super low cost—exactly what every school owner wants.

đŸ„‹ Robert Robaldo – Campaign Hitting Hard
✅ 18 leads in just 7 days
✅ Only $9 per lead
Robert’s campaign is off to a fast start and proving that a well-structured strategy brings real, repeatable results.

Whether you're running kids martial arts, fitness kickboxing, or summer camps, RMA builds custom campaigns that work. We handle the strategy, creative, tracking, and optimization—so you can stay focused on running your school.

👉 Ready to fill your calendar with quality leads?
Book your free discovery call today

📬 Have Something That Is Kick Worthy?

We know our readers have great ideas, insights, and stories to share! If you’ve got something that’s "kick-worthy"—whether it’s a success story, a marketing tip, or something that’s helping your school thrive—submit it to us at [email protected]. Your content could be featured in an upcoming edition of The Kick and shared with martial arts school owners around the world!

đŸ”„ That’s a Wrap for This Week!

Whether you’re optimizing your outreach, rethinking your leadership habits, or finally dialing in your marketing strategy, the truth is this: growth favors the consistent, not the lucky. The resources are here. The roadmap is in front of you. Now it’s time to take action.

Until next week—stay focused, stay sharp, and keep kicking it forward. đŸ‘ŠđŸ”„ #TheKick