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In today’s episode of the She’s Wild & Radiant Christian Business Podcast, we’re talking all about retreat planning. I thought it was the perfect time for this discussion since I am currently in North Carolina, having a blast at my student retreat! I have planned a lot of retreats, and have come up with a pretty good system that keeps costs down, gives an ease to the planning process, and helps create and foster a sense of community. There are lots of ways to build retreats, but today, I want to share with you the system that works for me.
DIFFERENT APPROACHES- STUDENTS VS. NON-STUDENTS
Just a disclaimer- events don’t make a lot of money. Any live event or retreat is naturally going to be more expensive than an event you host online. Make sure to go in with realistic expectations. Hopefully you won’t be in the “red”, but just don’t expect to make a large profit.
The typical model for hosting retreats or events is to invite non-students. The concept with this is that you’re going to bring in potential clients and pitch your higher ticket programs with the goal of gaining new clients on the back end.
I personally do more events for my students. I enjoy creating an experience for those in my paid community. This approach has worked well for me and it has really created a community culture within my business. And I’ve found that I don’t have to market or advertise my events very much. My students look forward to it and I have some that sign up as soon as registration opens. That being said, I’d actually love to plan a retreat in Costa Rica for non-students at some point.
TOP 5 TIPS
Whatever approach you take with your retreat, student or non-student, the tips I have to share in terms of planning will work either way. But before we get into these tips, I recommend planning your retreat 5-6 months out so that you can fill the retreat. If you’re having to go through an official marketing process to attract non-students, you may want to start planning 10 months out. Here are my top 5 tips:
- Allow enough free time– don’t overwhelm your attendees, put down the firehose! Make time for relaxation and rest.
- Share responsibilities– it helps keep costs down having the attendees pitch in and have small jobs. That way my helpers aren’t overloaded and no one has to try to do it all.
- Plan an excursion– this gets everyone out to have a fun adventure together, it creates deeper connections.
- Make details clear– create a packing list, an agenda, sleeping arrangements, meal plan. This helps everyone know what to expect and creates a feeling of comfort for your students.
- Bring helpers– I have a handful of helpers who come with specific roles- photographer, videographer, 1-2 ladies as coordinators to make sure everything is running smoothly.
I use these tips every time I plan a retreat and it helps to keep everything flowing like it should. It inspires confidence in my guests and it takes some of the pressure off of me when I plan in advance, so I’m not having to scramble at the last minute to figure things out.
LAST MINUTE THOUGHTS
I love retreats, they fill my soul. I love connecting with the community I’ve built with like-minded women. There is so much connection that we experience together. We pray and laugh together, we share our hearts. There’s nothing like it. If you’re thinking about planning a retreat, I hope you’ve found some helpful tips and insights here today. Happy planning!
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