So here we are
Lockdown in the UK, for the third time. Us parents are back to having to be Mrs Mummy or Mr Daddy, and the juggle with our usual lives begins again. At least this time around, we’re clued up on what to expect and generally lowering our expectations of what can get done. Tough one to come to terms with, but we carry on.
It’s another tough time for British tennis: all courts (indoor and outdoor) are closed again and coaches are having to go without income for another period of time. However, this is where my two worlds kind of collide. With my almost constant use of social media (Instagram particularly - and for work, not for selfies or Reels!), I’ve seen several coaches finally get creative. The video content is starting to level up, both in terms of production value and the content itself. Some have clearly made investments in good cameras, lighting, tripods and have even started to really get to grips with video production software which is awesome! However, not everyone has the inclination to sit and get the hang of creating video content and getting big on the old insta.
And you don’t HAVE to. But there are many other things you can be working on when it comes to the off-court running of your tennis coaching business or tennis club. I’m not an expert on the business side of things AT ALL, but I know a guy who is…
A former player, current coach and very knowledgable business owner, David Martins at The Tennis Business Academy knows his stuff. And guess what? He shares everything he knows on his membership platform, which you can visit here. For less than £20 per month, you have access to his resources and courses which cover everything from creating a website, marketing, Facebook ads and business metrics. You also have access to David himself, as he’s on hand to answer questions you have as and when you need. The key thing is, all of this support and content is specifically tailored to the tennis industry, so you don’t have to worry about terminology that isn’t specific to running your tennis business. He’s also got a brilliant podcast, which succinctly discusses a lot of the content available through the membership. Listen here.
Aside from running the business side of things, which let’s face it, coaches hardly have time to do when you’re not in lockdown, what else can you do? Well, something that I can specifically help you out with - your brand identity. Let’s start with a checklist:
Do you have a logo?
Is that logo visible when you use it on social media, website, printed clothing, on a business card, on a banner, on a flyer or poster?
Do you have colours associated with your branded marketing materials?
Do you have a font or two that you use consistently?
Is there a certain image style that you like to use?
Do you have other graphics that you use to add a bit of life to your marketing materials?
Does your website look consistent with all of the above?
Do your social media profiles also look consistent with all of the above?
Your logo, colours, fonts, image style and additional graphics all come together to create your brand identity. How you use your brand identity across all of the ways your customers come in to contact with you, is your branding. You are your brand.
If you need any help or support with making your brand identity work, so everything follows, that’s what I’m here for. Contact me to arrange a free discovery call and I’d love to chat through how we can work together.