Savvy advertising ideas?

Are you sure you're too small for Groupon-type stuff? I just snagged preschooler dance classes off "wagjag.com" because: wow, cheap! If we like the school we'll stay; if we don't, well, it was cheap. The school is quite small, in a rural town outside the main city "Wagjag" serves, and I think the number of coupons sold was more like 50, not 500. The offer was for an introductory series of six lessons, which was just right. Definitely put pamphlets in the local libraries. If you have a good program and are friendly with the children's librarians they will do a lot of word of mouth for you, if my library is anything to go by.

Some things I don't understand: Why can only a learn-to-skate program go in this very restrictive slot? What is your purpose in having this program? Because if you want to attract kids to this rink in large numbers, you have to give them more rink time, just for casual skating, not just for lessons. Otherwise what are they going to do w/ these skills if they don't want to/can't afford to play hockey? 4-12 is a big age range. Are you segregating classes? I wouldn't want to be in the same class as a preschooler at 12. It really seems like you're trying to shoehorn in skating classes to a rink that's mainly set up for hockey. Seems like it would make more sense to just schedule some more hockey practices if you want to make that time pay.

From what I've read, it sounds as if the rink time is holding you back far more than advertising. If it were me (and you probably did this already, but just in case) -- I might start looking to see if other rinks in a 30? 50? mile radius have more flexibility with times for you . . .

We are listed through the peabody rec, that's our big ad and gets the most people in. And sorry kpht, 4 is our youngest age because we found that younger than that most kids really have trouble and it isn't much fun for them. We've tried younger sometimes and rarely are the parents and kid happy (it does happen, but the kid has to be pretty advanced motorwise) We wanted to make sure everyone was happy with it, so we put that as our limit. However, we will still be here when your kid turns 4, and we'd be happy to have you!

(also, I attend Salem State, but other than the preschool which my son doesn't attend, I don't know of any parents' groups).

Is 4 the youngest you take kids? Because I'm in the area, and I'd totally sign my kid up. But as of now, he's only two and too young. We were planning on starting at 3. If you have LJ, there's a quiet but still read community called b0st0n_parents, feel free to post in there. If I knew anyone with kids a bit older than mine I'd pass it on, but most kids I know are the under-4 set.

I get flyers from the local skating rinks a couple times a year in my kids' folders that they bring home weekly from their public elementary school. There's always a little notation on them that indicates that the business is not affiliated in any way with the school or district, but it's a useful way to know that new sessions are about to start within the next few weeks. Have you tried collaborating with the parks/rec department, especially if the city doesn't have its own rink? You might be able to get the class listed through the parks and rec catalog each season. I frequently see classes in my local parks and rec catalog that are "off site", IE hosted by and taught by non-Parks/Rec staff and facility.

http://ask.metafilter.com/182246/Savvy-advertising-ideas#2622313: "I'm sure I'm too small for a groupon type site. The problem is that while we aren't likely to get more sign ups than we can handle, we have to be SURE that we don't, because we can't do anything about it (we can't put more classes or anything to accomodate overload " One word: Reservations. Can't you tell folks who buy your skating lesson(s) form a Groupony site that places in the class are available by reservation only?

Look for big churches in your area. Many of them would be willing to advertise in their weekly flyer/bulletin/newsletter if you offered something like "10% of all fees for sign-ups on XXX day will go back to the church youth group." That kind of thing would go over well at many of the churches I've attended. Even when they do it at a restaurant (10% of money spent if you show your church bulletin goes back to the church) it is standing-room only.