If you’re not showing up on Google, you’re losing students—period.

In today’s world, parents don’t drive around looking for a martial arts school. They Google it. And if your Google Business Profile (GBP) isn’t fully optimized, you’re leaving money on the table and letting competitors get the students who should be walking through YOUR doors.

Here’s what you need to know to make sure your school dominates local search and gets more leads every single month.

Step 1: Claim & Verify Your Google Business Profile

If you haven’t claimed your profile yet, you’re already behind.Go to Google Business and claim your school NOW. Google requires verification (usually by mail), so get this done ASAP.

Step 2: Nail the Basics

✅ Business Name– Use the exact name of your school (no keyword stuffing, Google penalizes that).
 ✅ Category– Your primary category should beMartial Arts School—DO NOT list “Gym” or something unrelated.
 ✅ Address & Service Areas– If you have a physical location, add it. If you also travel or do mobile training, list service areas.
 ✅ Phone Number– Make sure it’s thesameas what’s on your website and social media.

Step 3: Optimize Your Description for SEO

Your description isn’t just a place to talk about yourself—it’s an SEO powerhouse.Use keywords people are ACTUALLY searching for in your city.

Example:
 “At [Your School Name], we help kids develop confidence, discipline, and self-defense skills in a fun, structured environment. We offer karate, taekwondo, and jiu-jitsu classes for kids, teens, and adults in [Your City]. If you’re looking for the best martial arts training near [Your City], book a free class today!”

Notice how it includes Martial Arts, Karate, Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, and the city name? That’s intentional.

Step 4: Photos & Videos—DON’T SKIP THIS!

Google favors profiles with fresh content. If your profile looks dead, parents will scroll right past you.

✅ Upload at least 10+ high-quality photos
 📸 Class in session
 📸 Students earning new belts
 📸 Instructors working with kids
 📸 Parents watching class

✅ Post videos
 📸 A 30-second welcome message from you
 📸 Kids in class having fun
 📸 A student testimonial

Step 5: Reviews—The Secret Weapon

Google prioritizes businesses with strong reviews. If you’re not actively getting them, you’re falling behind.

✅ How to get more reviews:
 👉🏼 Ask every parent after a belt promotion
 👉🏼 Send an automated follow-up email to new students
 👉🏼 Incentivize staff to get5-star reviews every month
💡 Pro Tip:When a parent leaves a review, REPLY. Google sees this as engagement and ranks you higher.

Step 6: Post Weekly Updates

Your Google profile isn’t a “set it and forget it” thing. You need topost weekly updates, just like you do on Facebook or Instagram.

✅ Post class updates, promotions, and events
✅ Use keywords like “Martial Arts in [Your City]”
✅ End with a CTA: “Book a free class today!”

Step 7: Track Your Results

Google gives you free analytics to see how people find you.

📊 Log into Google Business → Click Insights
 ✅ See how many people searched for martial arts in your area
 ✅ Track how many people called your school
 ✅ Watch how many clicked for directions

If your numbers aren’t growing, you need to optimize your profile further.

Final Thoughts: Make Google Work for You

Your Google Business Profile is your #1 free marketing tool. If it’s not optimized, you’re letting leads slip away.

Inside Core, we have a full training on how to dominate local search. We even give you templates for your description, posts, and review requests.

The doors to Core Operating System opened TODAY at 9:00 AM PST. If you’re serious about getting more students while spending less on marketing, don’t miss it.

Make sure your Google Business Profile is doing the heavy lifting for you—because your competitors already are.

#MartialArtsMarketing #GoogleBusiness #LocalSEO #CoreOperatingSystem 

What’s Kickin’ on Social This Week 👊🔥

This week’s social highlights are packed with leadership lessons, mindset shifts, and must-know strategies to help you run a stronger, more successful school. Check out what’s making waves and bring these insights back to your team!

🔥 You’re Instructors Will Leave If You Make This Mistake – Matthew Brenner
Keeping a solid team isn’t just about hiring the right people—it’s about keeping them engaged, valued, and motivated. Matthew breaks down a key mistake that drives great instructors away and how you can avoid it.
👉 Read Here

🔥 Not Everyone is Cut Out to Run a Business – Kelly Murray
Owning a school isn’t for everyone, and that’s a fact. Kelly lays out the hard truths about what it really takes to run a successful business—and why some people just aren’t built for it.
👉 Read Here

🔥 Drop the Armor & Communicate for Real – Adam Kifer
Great leadership isn’t about always being the toughest person in the room—it’s about being real. Adam shares why dropping the act and having genuine conversations is the key to building stronger relationships and a better culture.
👉 Watch Here

🔥 Be Like a Weed – Dave Kovar
Growth doesn’t happen overnight, but persistence is everything. Dave explains why we should all take a lesson from weeds—yes, weeds—when it comes to resilience and success.
👉 Read Here

🔥 Every Martial Arts Class Improves Your Life – Roland Osborne
Martial arts is more than just a workout—it’s a lifestyle that shapes every part of your life. Roland reminds us why every single class is a step toward becoming the best version of yourself.
👉 Read Here

Take a few minutes to check these out, share your thoughts, and bring these lessons to your school! 💪🔥 

#TheKick #MartialArtsBusiness #Leadership

😂 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!

combat_memelord

View more on Instagram

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