You may have noticed that the Master Retreat Planning Checklist begins with First Things First.
(If you didn’t get your copy yet you can do that here!)
The Checklist includes all the overarching pieces that you should have in place before jumping into planning - things like defining your mission, identifying your target market, exploring collaborations, and clarifying outcomes so that you can measure success. But (if you are anything like me) those things can feel overwhelming. They take a lot of time and feel so BIG.
Maybe it's my never-ending quest for hits of dopamine, but sometimes I just want to do things that make me feel accomplished RIGHT NOW. If that's you too, read on!
Setting the Stage to Sell Out
Did you know that you can start marketing your retreat immediately, without having ANYTHING ELSE DONE? That's right - you do not need to have a bit of planning done to begin marketing with what I like to call, "Pre-Retreat Content". Using this strategy is a way to score some quick wins - and set the stage for the long-term win of a sold out retreat with an engaged community.
So what is Pre-Retreat Content? It is content that primes your audience for interest in your potential event, without ever mentioning your potential event.
For example:
Top 10 unexpected gifts/results people get out of carving out time to step away from daily life
Inspirational quotes for trying something new, getting out of your comfort zone
Have a possible location? Highlight how awesome it is! What makes it special? What is there to see? Then when you share your retreat your audience will feel a sense of familiarity with this place.
The value of friendships and how to nurture them.
The introvert's guide to trying something new – or just people who feel awkward doing something new alone.
Quotes about the power of self reflection with the support of a community.
How to save money for investments that are important to you - or a story of when you saved money for something that was important to you.
How to harness the power of a special date to set intentions and reach your goals.
Obviously, these are just examples that won't work for every audience. But you can use this strategy to come up with ideas unique to your business and audience (and you should use this fancy-shmancy worksheet that I made for you because it's always more fun to brainstorm in a beautiful space):
Write down the benefits/results your guests will walk away with if they invest in attendance (connection, clarity, friendship, yoga practice, confidence, time for self-reflection, food that they don't have to cook, mid-day naps)
Write down the objections you anticipate hearing (or have heard in the past) from people about why they can’t make it or why you imagine they are resistant (no money, fear of doing something new alone, unsure what to expect, nervous about yoga, unsure if they have the right wardrobe, not feeling “good enough” or “worth” the experience, etc.)
Create content that highlights those benefits/results
Create content that addresses/solves those objections
That's it! You will fill your content calendar AND get your audience ready to invest. Better still, all of this content can be repurposed when you DO launch your retreat.
This is an exercise that we do in my Retreat Roadmap Express group coaching program. It always seems to get people excited and moving. I hope it does the same for you!
