Setting the Stage for a Sold Out Retreat

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!

Thinking about co-planning a Retreat? Read this first.

Excited about planning a collaborative retreat or gathering with your new biz bestie? Or maybe you connected with someone local whom you think would make an amazing partner for the in-person event that has been growing inside your heart. That is incredibly exciting! There is amazing value in co-creating retreat experiences, especially for first timers. You can share the workload, making it much more manageable to plan – and since you’ll both be connecting with your separate audiences to find enthusiastic attendees, it can double your marketing reach.

Sometimes we can get caught up in awesome energy, which is obviously important when choosing someone to work with on a big project. But I caution against planning a collaborative retreat based on energy alone, without alignment around other factors. It takes a special combination of energetic spark and logistical compatibility to co-plan an in-person event! Developing a successful and healthy collaboration is something that you need to do intentionally.

As a Retreat Planning Consultant, I get a lot of requests to co-plan events. It makes sense – people see me as successful at what I do and imagine I will be their perfect partner. I also have a lot of clients who are considering co-planning – or who are terrified of it (they had too many group project nightmare experiences in college where they did #allthework)! But that’s not going to be you, because you are here reading this, and I have a solution for you. ;) 

Enter stage right: Collaboration: A Wonderful Workbook for Would-Be Collaborators.

It is a super concise and powerful framework nestled in an 8-page workbook that will help you answer the question, “Is this person going to drive me insane or can I really plan a successful event with her?” It reviews what you need to feel clear on BEFORE you schedule a chat with your potential partner, and outlines the conversation you need to have with them BEFORE you decide to jump into planning a gathering together.

I need to download this workbook!

Collaboration Workbook

This is how to best use the Collaboration Workbook:

1. Sign up to receive Collaboration: A Wonderful Workbook for Would-Be Collaborators.

1. Download the Workbook and send a copy to your potential partner, asking them to fill out the section titled “Questions to Ask Yourself” on page 2 (or send them a link to this page and have them sign up to receive a copy).

2. Fill out “Questions to Ask Yourself” on page 2 with your own answers.

3. Schedule a time to discuss co-planning with your potential co-planner.

4. Let your discussion be guided by the Collaboration Conversation Checklist on page 5. Be sure to make notes so you have something to refer back on when you are assessing your conversation and the viability of your collaboration.

Once you’ve answered the questions for yourself and had this conversation with your potential collaborator, it is time for a GUT CHECK. Pause and listen deeply to yourself. Does this feel like a good fit to you? Does anything feel off? NOW is the time to be sensitive to red flags, and ask hard questions – don’t wait until you have already jumped into planning. Be honest about your own limitations, and get clear on theirs. If it feels aligned, you can begin the next steps such as setting clear expectations, defining roles, choosing an online project management system, hiring a planning mentor to help guide you through the process, scouting locations, securing sponsors, marketing to your peeps - all the fun stuff!

Once you have found your RETREAT PLANNING PARTNER (yay!), it’s time to schedule a 60 Minute Roadmap Intensive. You can split the cost, both show up to the session, and I will help you get clear on your next steps to a profitable, meaningful event.

XO Lizzy