Yesterday I shared my personal thoughts on why branding isn’t the best way for new and freelance teachers to set themselves apart from the crowd.
If you didn’t catch the post read it here.
At the end of the day, if you are teaching a full schedule you likely don’t have the bandwidth it takes to constantly nurture a brand. So what are some smart and simple things that will help you as a freelance teacher build a name for yourself?
Skip the clever name and expensive logo and keep it simple
While having a brand name and logo is important if you are a yoga studio or a product distributor, you probably don’t need to come up with an umbrella name to encompass your freelance classes. Your students know you by your name but if tomorrow Jane Smith starts calling herself Ahimsa yoga, chances are no one is going to have a clue who they are dealing with suddenly.
Using your name and a picture of yourself is more than enough if you are at the point where it makes sense to build a website or you are committed to growing your following on social media. Cut out any confusion and keep it simple.
Be helpful and caring
The best way to make a name for yourself as a teacher is to be authentically helpful to your students. Caring goes a long way, so simple things like spending a few minutes before or after classes checking in with the people you teach to find out how their day is going can create a bond with your students no flashy website ever could. If you love to write, then blog your heart out answering questions and provide a resource for your community.
Be yourself
The best way to build a name for yourself is to be authentically you. No matter what style of yoga you teach, remember that no one else could possibly do it the same way you do. Many teachers get trapped trying to emulate their own teacher. I have heard Canadian teachers suddenly acquire a Californian accent and lingo when they begin a class.
As much as you may love your teacher, taking on a new personality (especially one that is already in use by the person you learned from) makes classes feel more like a performance and creates barriers between you and your students. For newer teachers this is especially difficult if you are still building your confidence.
However, trusting your voice, owning what you know about yoga and being transparent about what you don’t know will help students trust you and therefore create longtime connections with your students.
At some point you may be ready to invest the money, time and energy into developing a brand for yourself, but if you aren’t ready to take that big and full-time step, try some of these ideas and share your own in the comments below.