RETENTION is Key for Growth
Studio Owners:
If you're constantly in need of new clients, the problem isn’t just getting new people in the door—it’s keeping them.
Most businesses focus on marketing to attract new clients but ignore the systems that make people actually stay—which is where the real profit (and consistency) is.
If retention is a struggle, here’s where to look:
Onboarding – Do clients know what to expect and how to get the most from your services? Are you collecting real data (quantitative AND qualitative) here to help you refine your offerings and better serve your best clients? -Or- Are you just getting a name and signing them up for your newsletter?
Messaging – Are you attracting the right people who actually value what you offer? Do they know that you're here for them? Are you just a vendor (one of many) or are you able to say exactly what you do and for whom and illustrate it through your site, your content and your services? If you’re not doing this, it’s time. If you can’t do this, read up on my post about POSITIONING.
Engagement – Is there a structured way to keep clients connected? Do you have markers for progress? Do you have useful ways to keep folks coming back? If you’re building out your onboarding, it’s good to have a series of follow ups too. Quick surveys designed around the data you saw in the onboarding process can be useful for you and your customers.
Retention Is What Separates Scattered Businesses from Sustainable Ones
A predictable business isn’t built on constantly chasing new leads. It’s built on:
Messaging that attracts the right people—not just anyone willing to pay. I know you think you’re for everyone, but it just ain’t true. You know some folks aren’t willing to pay for you. You know some people don’t work out. Use your communication to talk to the people that get the best and most out of your studio.
A structured onboarding experience so new clients feel confident right away. You’ll get a baseline of where they are, what their goals are and how you can serve them. This will come in handy later when you follow up and can show them real progress, even if it’s just in understanding or “how they feel.”
A clear retention strategy that keeps clients engaged long-term.
Marketing brings people in. But if clients leave as quickly as they arrive, you’re just running in place. Don’t spend the ad dollars until you know your audience AND you know your value.
Retention isn’t just about keeping clients—it’s about building a business that works for you, not one you have to chase.
Where’s your biggest retention gap? Let’s talk about it.
