How A Yoga Studio Can Use Instagram Stories

Today we talk about:

• Using stories to promote the pictures or videos that are on your feed.
• Showing things outside of yoga, for example food.
• Behind the scenes of prep for a class.

Christian: [00:00:16] Hey.How's it going? Today we're going to talk about how a yoga studio can useInstagram stories to build their business. We're talking about promotingpictures and videos from your feed on stories. We're talking about expandingyour reach and knowledge of yoga into other categories and areas and some BTS.Do you know what BTS is?

Aaron: [00:00:37] BTSis a big- TS. No. What does that mean?

Christian: [00:00:43] Behindthe scenes.

Aaron: [00:00:45] Awesome.I always love behind the scenes, and this is pretty cool because we've talkedabout- I feel like we've talked about yoga quite a few times on our podcast.We've talked about goat yoga.

Christian: [00:00:56] Goatyoga.

Aaron: [00:00:56] We'vetalked about yoga being- Something for a fitness company, but yes, this is kindof a theme of throwing in some yoga. So pretty cool. And using Instagramstories to promote a yoga business. So a lot of the people that- I don't followa lot of people who are yogis. Is that the right word?

Christian: [00:01:18] Ithink so.

Aaron: [00:01:19] Yeah.I don't follow a lot of them. However, my wife has a bunch of theircontraptions that look like they hurt people, and I can tell from the storiesthat they put out they're always using- So there's multiple types of yogaactually, but they're using their stories to kind of tell new routines or likenew ways to do things. Like there's certain moves that you can do and thendifferent settings that you can use them, but I feel like a really good waywould be to teach people, if you're good at yoga, to tell them like some basicmoves, some intermediate moves, some more advanced moves. And like if they havesomething like there's like this wheel that I have no idea what it is, butthere's a wheel that you can use. And you roll your back up on it, and that'slike a yoga move.

Christian: [00:02:05] That'slike a new thing though.

Aaron: [00:02:06] Whatexactly- Do you know what that does?

Christian: [00:02:08] No,I've seen it though. I've seen it on videos and stuff, but I don't know exactlywhat it does.

Aaron: [00:02:15] Sothat would be something really good to tell people on Instagram stories isputting on the hands-free mode and just going back and forth and just talkingto the camera and showing people how to use those new items, especially if thatrolly thing- We can't use our hands here because it's a podcast, but imaginehere it's just this big circle thing and you roll your back up on it. So it'dbe cool for somebody to do an Instagram story or picture or the stop-motion abouthow to use it.

Christian: [00:02:45] Yeah.And I mean there's things like yoga blocks. Obviously, there's different typesof yoga mats and different things, different equipment that you can use foryoga - it's not just using your body - that you can definitely, you know, dothat like a how-to series in your, you know, Instagram stories.

Aaron: [00:03:06] Right.And then as you say, for example, if the video is super long on your Instagramstory and you have like a recap to post or if you have something that relatesto it, you can send them back over to your feed. So you kind of tell the storyon the Instagram story, hence the name, and you tell them about this new toolor this new move. And you send them back over to your feed and using the feedto kind of drive the engagement and the traffic. Instagram stories, those aremainly- If people respond, it's going to be a direct message that's private toyou, but if you can send them back over to your feed and start a conversationthat will really boost up your Instagram profile.

Christian: [00:03:45] Yeahor vice versa. I think the idea that we had here on this first point was, youknow, when you post pictures and videos on your regular feed that you go backto your story and make sure you tell people hey, I have a new picture. I have anew video, and I'm talking about this, this, and this. So you can definitelyuse your regular Instagram feed as almost like a blog post. You know, you candefinitely include the details in there, and use the stories to, you know, givethem a hint or incentivize them to actually go to your feed and like andcomment in that post.

Aaron: [00:04:20] Right.You do see a lot of it. If you've been looking at Instagram stories, you seepeople who will post a picture of like their timeline, and then they'll coverup the most recent posts and say hey, go check out my recent post. And youknow, it just kind of adds that FoMO fear, the fear of missing out. You don'tknow what that post is going to be.

Christian: [00:04:38] Well,I mean, I like when did they give you a little hint or clue on what it isthey're going to talk about because sometimes they're just like oh, check outmy new post, and they don't say anything. I'm like no.

Aaron: [00:04:49] Right.

Christian: [00:04:50] Butif it's something like, you know, hey, these are the seven best things that youneed to be doing right now in yoga, it's like oh, okay. That's what that postis about. Let me go check it out.

Aaron: [00:04:59] Yeah.I think that's a good clarification because there are people that abuse itwhere they'll just type on there and just say new post, new post. Or I've seena lot of people not only new post but more like a younger demographic will justa recent. They'll just type in on a black screen and just put a post that justsays recent, and you're supposed to go check it out. But.

Christian: [00:05:20] Yeah.

Aaron: [00:05:21] Ilike Christian's method better. I like that way. You kind of give them a hintof what they're going to look at, and you'll probably get a lot more people toclick over to your profile.

Christian: [00:05:28] Yeah.Another thing is- And I mean, this could be done in your Instagram stories oryour regular feed, but you know, expand outside of yoga. And some people are doingthis. Some people are not, but for example, yoga you can- You know, a goodexample would be, you know, nutrition-based or food-based examples or hints ortips or recipes to give out to your audience. So don't make it just about yoga.Expand a little bit, share a little bit about you, your company, and just whatwe're trying to say is just don't talk about yoga and yoga alone. Try to findother topics inside of the community of yoga and people who do yoga.

Aaron: [00:06:14] Right.I think that what a lot of people do or- I mean, I guess what we're trying tosay is that people who do yoga have a certain dietary guideline that they mayor may not fall into. We're not saying- We're not trying to put people into abox, but people who like yoga, for example, more than likely like eatinghealthy. A lot of people may be like paleo or some people may be like low carb,or regardless they want to eat healthier. So they show a lot more of the typesof foods that they eat. So I do see a mix and match of some people only do yogaposts and yoga tutorials and some people do a combination of both of them. Ithink the people that do both of them are more interesting because you can getmore about the whole lifestyle, and you get like a full circle of what thisperson does. So this is what they eat. This is how they, you know, stayhealthy. This is also doing yoga because you don't see a lot of people who are,you know, going to eat What-A-Burger and laying that besides their yoga mat anddoing some stretches.

Christian: [00:07:17] Yeah,exactly. But yeah, what we're trying to say is like yeah, if you're a yogastudio, you know, show- Maybe you're not at your studio or your businesscurrently. Maybe you're at your home, and you're getting ready to make somedinner or something. Post that on your Instagram story and let them know, youknow, what you're having, and also try to connect more with your audience thatway just showing, you know, a more raw perspective on you and your company. Imean, that will create some good engagement.

Aaron: [00:07:51] Absolutely.I know that that's what I would engage with because if you can get to a levelwhere people want to have a conversation with you, or it may spark a question.Like I've seen some people that have just said like hey, do you want thisrecipe? And it's like oh, yeah. Actually, I do. It takes 10 minutes to do it,and you're going to share it with me. Absolutely.

Christian: [00:08:09] Andgreat way- I mean, if you're doing recipes, a good way to create engagement isdon't like skip some kind of measurement. So the recipe calls for - I don'tknow - a little bit of salt and pepper. Don't say specifically how much. Imean, that one's kind of weird, but something green that's like something that,you know, you need to have a specific amount, kind of like omit that. So youhave people watching, or they'll ask you like oh, wait. You forgot- You know,how much are we going to do for the salt and pepper? Or how much flour? Justomit it on purpose so you get some engagement from people that are watching.

Aaron: [00:08:44] Right.That reminds me of a post that I saw on Facebook that was misspelled, and thegrammar was horrible. It said like nobody will ever engage with your post, butthey will definitely be the first people to call you out if you mess upspelling or something. It said like we hope you have a good day, but good wasspelled G-U-D. And there was a bunch of people commenting below like youmisspelled good. You misspelled good. Great way to get engagement. Leavesomething out. So I think that kind of falls along with the same lines of hey,you're making cookies, and we're making them without sugar. But we still needsome flour, and then you just leave out how much flour you need. You just throwit in there.

Christian: [00:09:19] Exactly.

Aaron: [00:09:19] Oryou may have some bad people or some people really upset with you because theyfollow the guidelines and then don't put flour in the cookies. Then they tastelike horrible. All right. So next one here is some behind the scenes. So if youhave a yoga studio, this would be great for showing prep behind the class. Likehow does somebody get ready for a yoga, like, set up if they're going to teacha class? Or how does somebody if they are like meeting in a park, what do theydo? What kind of preparation is needed? I would envision that there's a littlebit more to teaching class than just showing up there and having people handout their mats. You need to figure out, you know, are you going to be supplyingthe water? Do people know that ahead of time especially if you're at alocation? And then just how long the workouts going to be or- I guess theworkout. The-

Christian: [00:10:08] Yeah,it's a work out.

Aaron: [00:10:09] Itis a workout because they have that hot yoga that seems like it would be death.

Christian: [00:10:14] Yeah,I've heard about that.

Aaron: [00:10:15] Therooms are like a hundred and something, and you're just like slipping in yourown sweat.

Christian: [00:10:21] Yeah,sounds fun.

Aaron: [00:10:24] Iwas not going to say fun. I was going to say it sounds almost worse than goatyoga. People stepping on you with their hooves. Now they may do hot goat yoga.That may become a thing.

Christian: [00:10:37] No.Because the goat won't be able to withstand the heat, right?

Aaron: [00:10:40] Okay.So you drop it 10 degrees. It's just- I don't know. Goats can stand heat. Maybe100 degree goat yoga. You really get the - I don't know - the impact.

Christian: [00:10:50] Maybe.But yeah, behind the scenes, you can also think about interviewing some of thepeople who are taking your class so that people who are at home watching,debating whether or not they want to sign up for yoga or hot yoga or goat yoga,they can get a better feel for, you know, people who are definitely right thereand then, not just the owner telling them, you know, what to expect, but thisis, you know, real people who are taking your class. Just do a little bit of aninterview. I know there's a day. I don't remember. I think it's like lastThursday of every month or something like that or like every quarter, and youcan check it out. I think it's nationalcalendar.com or something like that, andthere is a day that it's like a customer appreciation day. So that you'resupposed to sort of highlight some of your customers or some of your clientele,and I mean, doing it with Instagram stories, I think it's a great way to, youknow, to do that. And other people can get a feel for, you know, one, the typeof people who will go to your classes and what to expect really.

Aaron: [00:11:55] Allright. And I have one last little throw in. This is the bonus. We need a coolsound for this, and we talked about getting this blow horn and got to find myphone so we can do these cool noises later. But anyway, so the last one that Ihave seen following some people who do yoga is like a morning mantra kind ofthing. Some people wake up, and the first thing they do is go get on the matand just do some downward dog stretches and, you know, kind of do someaffirmations. Some people get out, and they go for a walk. And then they comeback and do yoga, but it's really cool to see the ones who are quote/unquotesuccessful or looked up as being very good with yoga and their kind of routinesbecause it's kind of like, you know, if you mimic the type of routines thatthey have, you may see similar results. So I think showing a little bit behindthe scenes with your stories and just kind of engaging with people in themorning and telling them what you do outside of just getting on the yoga mat.Like what do you do outside of that that kind of separates you and prepares youto be better throughout the day? Even with, you know, something as simple assetting up a class or getting something ready for their yoga.

Christian: [00:13:08] Okay.So sharing the morning routine if what you're talking about.

Aaron: [00:13:12] Yes.I said mantra because it just kind of rolls off the tongue with the morningmantra. I don't know.

Christian: [00:13:17] Gotcha.

Aaron: [00:13:19] Allright. So that is all we have. We were- Hold on actually, Christian. I want totry to find my phone so I can do the ding sound.

Christian: [00:13:28] It'stoo late for that.

Aaron: [00:13:29] Oh,dang. All right. So next episode, guys, you guys will hear potentially thiscool buzzing sound. We want to incorporate it into the show. So this is kind oflike a prelude to that, but we do want to thank you guys for listening to thisepisode. If you love the yoga episodes, please leave us a review and make sureyou leave a comment so we know it and just say goat yoga rules. That way weknow which one- which episode you're talking about, and that would really helpus. We have a lot- We've actually gotten quite a few reviews online, and that'sbecause we've been asking for them. So please, take out your phone. I was goingto say whip it out. Whip out your phone. Go leave those reviews. That helps usreach more people. It's very simple on an iPhone to click those three buttonsin the right hand corner. When you do that, you have an option to share thatwith a friend, share it on Facebook, social media, and if you guys tag us, wewill give you a prize. We have some cool stuff in the office we can send you.It's very simple. Just do that, and then just shoot us a message over onInstagram.

Christian: [00:14:33] Yeah,for sure. All right. We will see you next week or you'll hear us next week.