| If you run a yoga studio, you're lucky in that you have | | | | customer base; or, pick a particular segment your |
| well-defined niche possibilities and an easy-to-target | | | | competitors market to and position yourself as being |
| audience; however, you're also faced with fierce | | | | the best in that arena. |
| competition for that same audience. In order to gain a | | | | Your yoga studio might follow the philosophies of a |
| foothold and elevate your yoga studio above the | | | | specific type of yoga, or you might cater to seniors, |
| competition, you'll have to develop a concrete brand | | | | women, pregnant women, athletes, children or some |
| image with which to promote your business. Here's | | | | other market segment. You might focus on improving |
| what you need to know about branding your yoga | | | | whole lifestyles or flexibility or endurance - or anything |
| studio for success. | | | | else that yoga provides. |
| Importance of a branded image | | | | Make a list of all the things that describe what you do, |
| When you have a well-defined market, branding is | | | | and choose your niche based on what you like to do, |
| critical to success; and few markets are as | | | | what is likely to succeed in the marketplace (based on |
| well-defined as the yoga market. This is good in the | | | | your research), and what you believe you can best |
| sense that you know who you need to market to, but | | | | your competitors in. |
| it can be limiting if you try to be everything to | | | | Now, make a list of all the words that describe your |
| everyone within that market. That's why it's so | | | | specific market segment to come up with a unique |
| important to develop a branded image that | | | | name for your yoga studio. Consider your audience, |
| demonstrates how you are different from the | | | | your techniques and ultimately the results of joining |
| competition, how you are better in one area than | | | | your yoga studio. If, for example, you cater to pregnant |
| anyone else. | | | | women you might want to name your company |
| You can then promote your company with this brand | | | | something such as "Mommy and Me Yoga Studio." |
| image to win over a specific market segment. If you | | | | You can be creative here and even make an |
| can establish your company as the expert in one | | | | acronym: MOMYS (MOmmy and Me Yoga Studio). |
| particular area, you'll do much better than if you try to | | | | Branding through design |
| market to several market segments at once. To | | | | Skilled graphic design can transform your yoga studio's |
| concentrate your efforts is to concentrate your | | | | branded identity from a written concept to a visual |
| wealth. | | | | motivator. This image is what the world will see, and |
| How to identify your branded image | | | | the public will perceive the ideals and emotions that |
| Identifying your branded image takes research and | | | | your image expresses. |
| dedication, but the fruits of your efforts are | | | | Most importantly, you want potential customers to see |
| incomparable. Start by learning as much as you can | | | | your logo at a glance and feel that you're the perfect |
| about your customers and about your direct | | | | solution for their problems. When you achieve this, |
| competition. Seek opportunities that your competitors | | | | you've developed a powerful yoga studio brand |
| are missing and are also highly desired by your | | | | identity. |