Dance Fitness Pro
Internet Marketing & Business for Dance Fitness Pros
Dance and Fitness Instructors – this one’s for you!
Jul 12th
If you are a Dance and Fitness instructor, chances are:
- You came into the business driven by your passion.
- You are well trained in your technique and style.
- You teach BANG OUT classes.
- Your students love you!
But…
- Did you have any business training?
- Are you filling enough ‘billable’ hours each week to make the financial success you desire?
- Do you run from location to location with very little time for business and networking?
- Do you want to have an internet presence that works for you while you do what you love?
I get it! I’ve been teaching Dance and Fitness group and private lessons for over 20 years. A few years ago, I set out to supplement my income with some internet marketing. I learned loads of information and I love it!
I want to share all that I’ve learned with you. There were many roadblocks along the way that I’d like to remove from your path if you’d allow me.
I’ll be sharing information on topics like:
- Blogging
- Keyword Research
- Video Marketing (I love this for our industry!)
- Affiliate Marketing
- and MUCH more.
Weather you are a complete newbie or consider yourself well established with internet marketing you are welcome here. I am excited to provide great resources for free solutions as well as pay-for products that I find valuable. You can rest assured that I will not recommend anything that I have not used satisfactorily myself first.
Thanks for stopping by and hearing my story. Why not join my community so I can get to know you a bit as well. Simply click on the top right of this home page or post some comments.
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
5 Bucks a Day: Ebook review
Feb 22nd
Every now and then, I come across something that is so fantastic, so wonderful, so enjoyable, that I want to shout it from the rooftop and share it with everyone.
Here is my SHOUT:
I recently read, 5 Bucks a Day, Jr by Dennis Becker and I was very, very, (did I say very?) inspired.
In this easy to read, inexpensive, inspirational ebook, Dennis lays out a system he created for his online success. It came to him as an “Ah-ha” moment and changed his life. His system is now changing the lives of so many business minded entrepreneurs working to build additional income on the internet. It has effected me in an enormously positive way.
Would you like to be moved to a new level in business? Read on…
One of my favorite aspects of the book, is Dennis Becker’s authentic telling of his struggles with internet marketing. It’s quite refreshing when someone is brave enough to tell the truth, a truth that so many have experienced as well. There are many so called “gurus” online that are not necessarily telling you the truth (not all, but many). This book talks about these messages, and shares a simple, yet, powerful message to help you get out of the downward spiral of page shuffling, web surfing, chasing your tail lack of productivity. The result is a system that teaches a FOCUSED, time effective, efficient method to your success.
I guess you can tell, I highly recommend you check out the 5 Buck a Day, Jr ebook. It’s an absolute steel, and you can read it in a few days!
Here’s to inspiring you to take the control you KNOW you have within you, make the changes you want to see and realize the success for your online (and offline) businesses.
Other 5 Buck Products by Dennis that you need to check out:
Full 5 Bucks a Day Ebook (bigger and more detailed than, Jr.)
Full version of the system: 5 Bucks a Day System
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Disclaimer
Some products on this site may be affiliate links. I may receive a commission on some of the links you click on. This does not effect the amount you pay. You can rest assured that I will not recommend anything that I have not reviewed or used myself first.
Building an Online Business: It’s Takes A Village
Jan 31st
I’d like to share with you a scenario that I’ve seen happen to many colleges, and I have also experienced myself. As an entrepreneur bringing your business online, you will find that as in any business, you will be wearing many hats.
These hats could include anything and everything from being a writer, researching keywords, managing outsourcing, and learning the technological end – even if you swore you never would. As this process forms itself into your daily life and activity, you can become isolated. I hear the stories over and over, which I mentioned, I can relate to. The beauty of having an online business is that you can work from home, make you own hours, work in your PJ’s and build a business of your dreams while enjoying your leisure, your family, your life.
SCHREECH! What happened then? Why are you stuck behind your computer, not engaging in activity, often not leaving your home for a day or two…and leisure, what’s that?
I call it the Online Entrepreneur Rut. This rut can leave you feeling down, lacking energy, lost, alone, and questioning your reasons for starting this business.
Here’s how you can avoid that:
Immediately, reach out to build your community, your village, your tribe. Surrounding yourself with the support of others that you can share successes with, support, and can call on in a time of need will make your experience as an Online Entrepreneur a much more rich, fulfilled and satisfying experience. Because you can gain vast knowledge, feedback, creative ideas, it will also help your business flourish more quickly and smoothly.
There are many ways to reach out, join, or build a community. I highly recommend in the process of discovering what will work best for you that you step out, perhaps pushing beyond your comfort zone a bit by meeting people in person – off-line.
By attending various networking meeting, business trainings, weekend events, you will begin to build relationships that can become vital to not only your success, but also to the joy you experience on the journey.
Here are two groups that I have been an active participant in. They are both online and offline. I’ve build some wonderful relationships and alliances with experts that are just plain good people. Feel free to check them out as a place to start. Perhaps you and I will get to meet and network live one day. Hey, you never know.
Helen Rappy’s 30 Day Productivity Challenge: ActionBasedBusiness.com
Jarom Adair’s Internet Marketing for Business Owners: Basic Membership for $1
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Some products and services recommended may be affiliate links and I may receive a commission, a basic referral thank you. You can rest assured that I will not recommend anything that I have not reviewed or used satisfactorily myself first.
Getting Started with Twitter
Sep 23rd
Using Twitter has become a great way to grow and expand your business.
By cultivating stronger relationships and keeping your name and your expertise in front of prospects and customers you will stand out in your marketplace. In a previous post I talked about Build Relationships on the Internet. Twitter is great platform that allows you to add more value to the lives of people you would most like to serve and build those ever important connections and relationships. Learning Twitter is much easier then you think and is a site that offers many possibilities and opportunities.
It has become a necessary business tool because it allows you to connect with your prospects and your clients in an informal and friendly way. You can get their feedback and opinions more openly and they will tell you exactly what they want and need. You can find out by asking directly or by watching the conversations and finding out what the biggest challenges or hurdles are. You will be there with a resource or an idea to offer hat will help them move forward.
Think of Twitter as your opportunity to be of service.
Make your connections and interactions more about them and less about you. Be authentic and really want to help them whether they are spending money with you or not. Do you like pushy sales people? Do you like doing business with someone who has shown no effort to get to know you or your situation? If you answered no to both of those questions, realize that you are not alone and you would do well to behave the way you’d like to be treated.
Twitter is not a place where you go to build your business today and tomorrow it will be much bigger. It happens, that is for sure, but it takes time. You need to be involved with people and connect with conversations. Twitter is a marketing tool as well as a social hangout. Mix business with pleasure and you’ll do well. Your list will grow, your followers will be fond of you and you will see an increase in sales. Go ahead and expand you reach and watch your business grow.
Are you ready to move your business forward?
I recently reviewed a twitter video program by Helen Rappy that is perfect for the beginner! If you feel confused, you really don’t know how to get going, you know the importance of twitter, and hey, let’s face it, maybe it even scares you a little…this program is for you!
For a free video that shows you an overview of how to use Twitter as well as a few tips about maximizing your time for better results go Helen Rappy’s Free Twitter Video
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Some products may be affiliate links and I may receive a commission. You can rest assured that I will not recommend anything that I have not reviewed or used satisfactorily myself first.
Showcase your work with a Website: How to get started
Jun 5th
Years ago, the internet was used primarily for big businesses. Today the world wide web is used in many homes and by all walks of life around the world. I liken having a webpage for your business to having a business card. It seems almost a must.
As professionals in the dance and fitness business this web presence brings and extraordinary opportunity to showcase your work, skill, and talent. You can offer video, photos, writings, and muses as well as a combination of these on a blog or website.
What if you don’t have a website?
If you do not yet have a website and are not ready to pay the fees to hire a professional web designer, it can seem like a giant leap to take. Fortunately, there are many options for someone just starting out. It’ll just take a little reading and comparison research to make the choice that is right for you and your dance and fitness business.
Here, I’ll lay out some of the basics that can help you get on your way to making those decisions and setting up your website ASAP.
To grow your presence on the web there are a few things you’ll need look into to get started. A webpage is a really good place to start.
There are several options to chose from when deciding to create a website. There are software programs like Website Wizard, Weebly, and Homestead. You can even use programs at GoDaddy.com and Vistaprint. These programs will vary in the monthly fees as well as the nuts and bolts included. Programs like these offer all-in-one solutions like, templates, hosting, file and photo storage, as well as program specific extras the company may offer. The downside to using programs like these is that they can sometimes be somewhat limiting in what you can create. The templates may be standard and not easily customizable.
A very popular solution that many people are currently using is WordPress. WordPress is an open source application that is free to use. If you’re brand new to building a website, you’ll find the many pages of documents and forums helpful. WordPress offers a great solution allowing a blog and a webpage in one location. Blogs are known for having better results with the search engines which in turn can increase traffic. But, that’s a lesson for an other day.
Here is a list of the things you may want to consider when you begin looking at possible options:
The monthly fees involved:
Are there any hidden fees? Can you save money by paying for a longer duration? (many companies offer a discounted annual rate).
The amount of technical knowledge necessary:
The best route to go is to be mindful or your current level, how much time you have to invest in learning and how soon you need to have your website up and functioning.
The limitations of the program:
It is very common for “newbies” to have thoughts of grander when dreaming of the site they want to have. I know, I did it too! But, those super highly functioning site are built by the developers and big budgets. It’s best to simply take one step at a time, (just like you tell you students in dance and fitness classes) and start with a basic site.
If you are brand new to this – get ready to have some fun! Learning technology, how to use it to enhance your business, and to share your art and passion can be an exciting process. For more advice on running your dance and fitness business both on and off the web, check out my other posts.
You can follow my step by step outline to get your website up and running!
My next post will be on Web Hosting, what it means and how to get it.We’ll look at companies like BlueHost and Network Solutions and DreamHost.
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Some products may be affiliate links and I may receive a commission. You can rest assured that I will not recommend anything that I have not reviewed or used myself first.
Does a Dance Teacher Need to Workout?
Sep 17th
I received an email question from a dance teacher about what she could do to keep fit after a full day of teaching.
The Question:
My question is I am a dance teacher, and as I’ve gotten older it is harder to keep the weight off. Any suggestions? It’s getting harder to work out after spending my energy teaching 5 classes a day. – G
My Answer:
First and foremost I feel lit is important to assure you that you are not alone in this…
Many dance instructors around the world go through similar challenges as they mature and /or their teaching schedules change. In fact, I just wrote about my personal challenges regarding this very topic in a post on my Dance Meets Fitness blog I called, Practice What You Preach.EUR
Step One: Cardiovascular training:
You mentioned that you teach 5 classes a day. This is a heavy teaching schedule going on the assumption that is several (commonly 5 to 6 days) a week.
But the amount of actual physical activity you are getting from teaching classes will vary greatly depending on the technique, the level, the age of the students and the time of year.
General guidelines call for cardiovascular / endurance training 5 days a week, for 30 minutes or more. You will need to determine how much additional cardiovascular activity you’ll want to incorporate to meet the guidelines.
It is important adjust this program several times throughout the year.
As dance instructors our activity levels can change often because of factors such as the holiday seasons, when school is out and the complete shift we go through for the summer months. Even the shift into the second term can create change as our classes may require less demonstration and more walking around making corrections because our students are familiar with the warm – up and various routines.
Here are some ideas for movement outside of dance class that may help you stay on track.
Studies have shown that 3 – 10 minute segments of cardiovascular activity in the course of one day can be as effective as one 30 minute training session.
So, try these ideas for shorter durations if you are finding it difficult to get in a full workout: walking, gardening, dancing, hiking, rhythmic movement in your home, (at the risk of repeating myself because I say this all the time, my personal favorite is dancing around your living room to your favorite tunes). Look for opportunities to add in a movement activity, such as a brisk walk during a break or 10 min before you leave for the day
Step Two: Weight Barring Activity
Personally I like to add in small amounts of exercise several times a day. That being said. It is important to gain some lean muscle. It is known that each pound of lean body tissue burns an extra 30-50 calories per day. General guidelines for resistance training suggest 2-3 times per week.
Basically, energy is required from your body to maintain lean muscle mass. By incorporating resistance training you can develop stronger muscles, increase bone density and (an all time favorite) burn additional calories even while you are asleep!
I would recommend that you purchase a few light weights with dumbbells for your home. If you own your dance school leave them there. (If so, I’m guessing, you practically live there anyway, right?)
If you are traveling from location to location, try using resistance bands that you can simply toss in your dance bag because they are extremely light weight.
These products can be purchased at a local sports store.
Step Three: Calories In vs. Calories out:
Our bodies are incredible machines that run on a fuel system that starts with calories.
It’s like your car, you need to put the fuel in, (preferably a better quality of fuel) and it propels the vehicle to move accordingly. When you run out of fuel and are trying to push the vehicle on fumes you don’t get very far.
So, start with looking at your nutrition. Try to find a healthy balance of what you put into your body. To become aware of what you are eating, keep a journal of everything you eat for 7 days.
Once you have the proper fuel / nutrition, you want to be sure to burn calories by adding the activities we discussed above.
The Good News:
As dancers and dance instructors with high levels of activity, it is possible that over the years there was not a great amount of stress regarding maintaining your weight. So as the body changes this can seem like quite a challenge. The important thing is to stay focused on being fit and healthy rather than what the scale reads. You will see that you can combat the current challenges you face without too much difficulty or change in lifestyle. It’s imperative to replenish all that you are giving out. You have the power within, so, make a commitment to give to yourself for a few minutes a day! You’ll be glad you did.
The workout:
This workout is just a brief plan that can help you get started, keep in mind that the same holds true as with cardio routines and you will need to change it often.
I am offering this with the assumption that getting to the gym for an hour workout is not likely for you; if that is the case try this:
Here is a sample workout for a week.
All:
No rest between exercises
: 30 second rest between sets
3 sets before the day is done
Options:
3 sets in a row.
One set: take 3 – 5 minutes between each of your classes and do one set
One set before you leave the house, another set before your classes begin and the last set at the end of your day.
Most important thing to remember is to get 3 sets in before the day in done.
Monday: Legs& Core
Tuesday: Chest
Wednesday: Back
Thursday: Arms & Shoulders.
Monday: Legs & core
Squats
Tondues in second
2 position plies
Planks
Tuesday: Chest
Chest press
Peck flys
Push-ups
Wednesday: Back
Scapula adduction
Rows
Lat pull-downs
Thursday: Arms & Shoulders
Biceps curls/
Tricep press
Shoulder T’s
All Dance and Fitness Educators, Teachers, and Instructors have varying physical demands and stresses on the body. Remember to keep the body balanced with diversity.
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Building Relationships on the Internet
Sep 16th
Building Relationships on the Internet.
When you spend some time within internet marketing circles, people are always talking about the importance of building relationships. That’s because, it is really that important. While it may seem odd to develop relationships without the face to face connection, it works! It is crucial to building an online presence and a solid customer base. It’s just that it seems expected that everyone would know what that means. More importantly, once the concept is really grasped, do you know how to actually implement it into your daily business tasks and goals?
Being authentic and genuinely corresponding with people you meet, online or off line is what building relationships is really all about. It happens to be a rather natural process when we meet people face to face. When you talk with someone new, you make a connection, find a common ground, and develop a respect as you learn about them. You may pass business cards, share a website or number and decide to be in touch.
But, what happens when you want to transition this to the world of the internet? For today’s purpose, we’ll focus on the online aspect and how to create new and exciting “friendships” and with people you meet online via the social media mediums of FaceBook, Twitter and Blogs.
Since starting my internet building business, I’ve been fortunate to build relationships with many online entrepreneurs. I refer to them as my ‘online friends’. We communicate on a regular basis, we support one another by congratulating and celebrating each others successes, and we help out with encouragement, ideas, and guidance when needed.
So where do you start?
Here are some things you can do to start nurturing these relationships which can become a crucial part of building your business and even better, bring you to know some fantastic people.
Facebook:
When spending time on Face Book take the time to read the status of and check in with the people you hope to build a relationships with and comment on the things they are doing. Ask specifics and start a conversation.
My internet buddy Helen Rappy once made a recommendation to pick a few different people each day to connect with on FaceBook. I love this idea, it’s a great way to get yourself around in addition to talking with your favorite FB friends.
Twitter:
Twitter is a great tool for building relationships. Find a few friends on twitter that you want to engage with. Set up their tweets with the mobile update, email alert, or be sure to check their timeline often. When you come across something that you like, Re-tweet (RT) it, reply to it and start a conversation, and/or @mention them. A referral is one of the highest compliments you can pay someone. So, why not recommend a fellow tweeter with things such as #FF (follow friday) or simply posting a mention of them with a praise about what they do.
Note:
If any of this twitter talk is new to you see my blog post on Getting Started with Twitter.
Blog Posts:
When you post a comment on a blog be sure to directly address the content you just read. Stay away from general statements, give real opinions, genuinely compliment, and always be professional. I’ve seen comments left by individuals that are so hung up on making a point that they are insulting and rude. Consider that you are in someones home and be polite even if you have a different point of view.
(Well, there’s a little bit of my conservative upbringing coming out.) But, hey, the whole purpose is about building relationships, not burning bridges…better to win friends than create enemies, right?
Here’s one last idea for you to get started:
Build a relationship with me right now 
. Simply post a comment below and say hi. I’ll be sure to respond and we can start a conversation. Let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to help guide you in finding the answers.
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Dance, Move, Live!
Patty Rose
Some products may be affiliate links and I may receive a commission. You can rest assured that I will not recommend anything that I have not used or reviewed satisfactorily myself first.
Summer Dance Teacher Training
Jul 21st
Summer is a time for dance educators to rest, renew and re-educate. It’s a time to learn and plan for the coming year. For this reason there are many Dance Teacher / Dance Educator Training workshops, intensives and conferences during the summer.
I am looking very much forward to attending the Dance Teacher Summit 2010 this August for the first time. It will be jam packed with movement classes, business seminars, exhibits, and performances to inspire, educate and support dance educators. I will be bringing all I learn back to you with new ideas and new programs!
If you are a dance educator you may know that there are so many resources available. Here is a list you may find helpful to get started for this summer.
Dance Teacher Summit 2010 – New York City – Aug 4 -7
Dance as Therapy – Harkness Center at 92 Street Y – June 28 to 30
Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo in Las Vegas August 8-11
New Jersey SummerDance 2009 Program – Kean University, Union, New Jersey 07083
The Pulse and BDC Annual Teacher Workshop – New York City - July 23 -25
Teacher & Adult Student Workshop: The Fundamentals of Ballet
The Ailey Studios in New York City August 7 & 8,
Together we can take the steps to achieving goals and living dreams!
Patty Rose
Meaningful Movement
www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong! ™ Workout DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review
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Jul 13th
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