Do I Need a Music Studio Website?

This post was originally published on the Plucky Violin Teacher Blog on January 11, 2016 so links and resources may not be current.

The short answer is yes. You most definitely do need a music studio website.

It’s a brand new world out there. These days, if you don’t have a significant internet presence, then well, it’s almost like you don’t exist. A website is the new business card. When did you last see a business card? It’s been a long time for me. When was the last time you handed one out? I actually found 300(!) business cards languishing in the back of a closet a few days ago. Business cards are over.  A website is today’s business card.

A website can help potential students find you.
Probably 30-40% of my new student emails or calls come from people who have found my website. That’s a lot of students that I would have missed out on if I didn’t have a website.

A website legitimizes your business.
If referred to you, many people will google your name before they call you. Having a website and social media profiles shows that you take your business and yourself seriously. That’s a good thing.

A website can serve as an information hub for your current students.
I keep vital information like my teaching schedule, student contact info, and much more on my website. I keep some of this information on password protected pages so only my current students can see it. I also keep all of my policies and guidelines on my website. That way I can refer students there if there are any questions or concerns.

A website can showcase your unique teaching style so you can attract your ideal student.
If you want to specialize in teaching very young children, play that up in the description of you and your studio. Talk about your unique offerings to young students. If you want to teach more advanced students, you can do the same thing. If adult learners are your favorite, talk about that.

A website can filter out the students that you don’t want.
The language you use on your website can attract the students that you want, and it can also weed out the ones you don’t. There’s something to the old adage, “If you try to make everybody like you, no one will.” Use your website to market to your ideal student, and let it filter out the ones you don’t want for you.

If you list your email on the Suzuki Association website, or other teacher listing directories, it opens you up to receive scam emails from people who want to take advantage of you. By directing people from my listing on the SAA website directly to my website, I get so much less spam. I use a contact form on my website for potential students to email me.

In today’s world, a website is crucial to running your music studio like a business. And your studio is a business! We are in the business of sharing music with a new generation. It’s the business of teaching grit, hard work, the pursuit of excellence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. That’s pretty amazing, and it is worth taking seriously.

Do you have a studio website? Why or why not?