Whether we like it or not, Facebook is here to stay and it is a major player in the lives of our potential students and their parents. If you are a Suzuki teacher, I strongly suggest creating a business Facebook page for your studio.
Here are a few reasons why you may want to create a Facebook page for your Suzuki studio:
- Increased Exposure. More than one billion people are active on Facebook. That’s a whole lot of people. Very few people are likely to see your flyer at the grocery store, but (with some effort, and targeted paid advertising) you can make sure your Suzuki studio is seen by thousands of people in your area.
- Lower Marketing Costs. Printing flyers and business cards is expensive, and frankly, not terribly effective for building your studio. Ads in print, tv, or radio are pricey, and you can’t target them the way you can a Facebook ad. You can decide exactly who you want to see your Facebook ads: By location, age, interests, etc.
- Data! You can use Facebook Insights to show you which of your posts or ads are getting a good response. The stats are easy to understand and interpret, which lets you know how to proceed in your marketing efforts. There’s really know good way of knowing whether your poster at the library brought you any actual students.
Creating a Studio Facebook page is really pretty simple, and doesn’t cost you a cent. I’ll walk you through the whole thing:
Then add your information and photo. Pretty simple. You can use Canva.com to create a cover photo with the right dimensions.
Once you’ve created your Facebook page, what should you be posting? Information and inspiration relevant to your target market of potential (or your current) Suzuki parents. I think sharing a mixture of your own original content and other people’s helpful content (sharing my posts is always appreciated) is ideal. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- pictures and videos of you playing
- information about your philosophy and background.
- pictures and videos of your students playing (provided you have had your parents sign a photo release.)
- pictures or videos of your teaching space.
- quotes you find inspirational
- information on local music performances or other local events
- my personal favorite: celebrate your students’ accomplishments on your page (photo release dependent.)
Do you have a Studio Facebook page? Share the link in the comments, I’d love to follow you!
Hi Brecklyn,
I love posting things that inspire me. I also post videos that I want to refer my students to at some time. That way they are all collected there. Some that I refer to frequently are Kreisler, Heifetz, and Elman playing Humoresque; the Sesame videos on open mind set (Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae), and a funny video on holding tension in your face while playing. I mostly only post something if I know I’ll want to go back to it. Also, if there is a student I want to see something from way back, I pin it to the top of the page.
Anne Marie
Suzuki Community Strings
https://www.facebook.com/Suzuki-Community-Strings-897004387118491/?ref=bookmarks
Hi Anne Marie, thanks for commenting and sharing your Facebook page. I’m excited to follow it! So smart to collect good resources for your students on your Facebook page. I’m going to add that to my own Facebook strategy!
–Brecklyn
Hi Brecklyn,
I enjoy your weekly emails even though my Suzuki kids are now big (16 and 12). I was a Suzuki kid, so it’s particularly interesting to experience the method as a parent.
I have been the volunteer maintainer of one teacher’s studio Facebook page for years. We mostly post concert ads, recordings, and accomplishments of the students, although I share appropriate news and humor when I can. You’ve inspired me to catch up on some delayed posting!
https://www.facebook.com/Mary-Ann-Saylors-Studios-ValLEy-and-YOUniversal-Suzuki-Strings-215230211864609/
And thanks for encouraging us to share our links — I’m following Ann Marie’s page, too (we met at the Ithaca institute when our kids were much younger and we enjoy catching up every year! It’s been great to watch her journey into teaching.)
–Audrey, Allentown PA
Hi Audrey, thanks so much for your comment. That is so cool that you are maintaining your teacher’s studio Facebook page. That’s a lot of work, they are so lucky to have you! I’m excited to follow everyone’s pages too!
–Brecklyn
Audrey!
I’m so happy to see you here! I’m hoping to see you in Ithaca again this year, and for sure, I’ll be chatting you up about your facebook ideas.
Thank you, Brecklyn, for encouraging us to share.
Anne Marie
I love that people are reconnecting with old friends here! Thanks, Audrey and Anne Marie!