15-Step Instagram Execution Plan for Martial Arts Studio Owners
Nick Dougherty • March 10, 2025

“Fix Your Instagram. Get More Students. Dominate Locally.”

Nick D here…


Most martial arts studio owners are winging it on Instagram—and it shows.


❌ Random class pics with no strategy.
❌ Boring content no one engages with.
❌ No system for turning followers into students.


That stops today.


Here’s a 15-step execution plan to fix your Instagram and start using it as a real student-generating tool.


📌 PHASE 1: FOUNDATION (Days 1-3)

🔥 Fix the Core Issues FIRST.


✅ Step 1: Clean Up Your Profile


Profile picture = Your logo or a high-quality image of your school.

Bio = Clear, strong, and action-based. Example: 🚀 "Helping [Your City] Build Confident, Disciplined Kids 💪"🔥 "DM 'INFO' for a Free Trial Class!"

Link in bio = A simple, mobile-friendly landing page (not a messy website).


✅ Step 2: Audit & Delete Weak Content


Scroll your page. If it doesn’t represent your brand well—delete it.

No low-quality photos, boring text posts, or generic stock images.


✅ Step 3: Define Your 5 Core Content Pillars


Every post must fit into one of these:
1️⃣ Student Success Stories (Builds trust & authority)
2️⃣ Instructor Leadership Content (You = the expert)
3️⃣ Behind-the-Scenes Training (Shows what makes your school different)
4️⃣ Community & Culture (Why people want to be part of YOUR tribe)
5️⃣ Direct Call-to-Actions (Leads & trials—without sounding desperate)


📌 PHASE 2: BUILD ENGAGEMENT (Days 4-7)

🔥 Start Getting People to Pay Attention.


✅ Step 4: Post Your “Why Our School” Video


30-60 seconds: Show your students, energy, and unique vibe.

End with a CTA: “DM me ‘TRIAL’ if you want your child to experience this.”


✅ Step 5: Post an Authority-Building Testimonial


Parents trust other parents. Post a short video or text quote from a real student or parent.

Use the caption: “If you want results like this, DM me ‘CONFIDENCE’ and let’s talk.”


✅ Step 6: Engage with Your Followers (Like, Comment, DM!)


Instagram rewards engagement. Spend 15 minutes/day responding to comments & DMs.

DM new followers: “Hey [First Name], thanks for following! What’s your biggest goal for your child in martial arts?” (Start conversations!)


✅ Step 7: Use Instagram Stories DAILY (Behind-the-Scenes Content)


Show real training, parent testimonials, and daily energy in your school.

Use polls & questions to get followers interacting:

“Would you let your child spar in class? Yes/No”

“What’s the #1 thing you want your kid to learn from martial arts?”


📌 PHASE 3: DOMINATE LOCALLY (Days 8-11)

🔥 Become the Go-To Martial Arts School in Your Area.


✅ Step 8: Use Local Hashtags & Location Tags


Every post should have:
📍 Your city’s name (#[City]MartialArts, #[City]SelfDefense, #[City]Parents)
📍 Tag your gym location in every post! This boosts visibility.


✅ Step 9: Create an Instagram Highlight Reel for New Parents


New to Your Page? They should see:
🔹 “Start Here” – Welcome + About Us
🔹 “Student Wins” – Success stories
🔹 “Behind the Scenes” – Class energy, instructor advice
🔹 “Free Trial” – How to sign up


✅ Step 10: DM & Engage with Local Businesses and Influencers


Follow & interact with local businesses (schools, parent groups, sports teams).

DM them: "Hey [Name], love what you’re doing! We’d love to do a community collab—interested?"


📌 PHASE 4: CONVERT FOLLOWERS INTO STUDENTS (Days 12-15)

🔥 Turn Engagement into Real Sign-Ups.


✅ Step 11: Drop an Offer Post (Urgency + CTA)


Example Post:
🎯 “3 Free Classes for the Next 10 Parents Who DM Me ‘FOCUS’ Today! 🚀”

Use an image of kids training hard or an instructor working with students.

Make it LIMITED. Urgency drives action.


✅ Step 12: Post a “Common Martial Arts Myths” Video


Example: “Myth: Martial arts makes kids violent. Reality: It builds self-control.”

Parents need EDUCATION. This builds trust.


✅ Step 13: Run a Story Giveaway (DM Strategy)


“Want to win a FREE trial class for your child? DM me ‘WIN’ and I’ll pick a winner tonight!”

This fills your DMs with warm leads and triggers the Instagram algorithm to show your page to more locals.


✅ Step 14: Repost & Tag Every Student Who Posts About You


If parents/students tag your school, share it to your Story immediately.

Message them: “Thanks for sharing! Appreciate you!” (Creates loyalty + more engagement)


✅ Step 15: Announce Your Next “IG-Exclusive” Special


Example: “🚨 IG-ONLY DEAL: 50% Off Our Starter Program for the Next 5 Sign-Ups! DM ‘START’ to Claim!”

This keeps people checking your page for exclusive offers.


🔥 Execution Time:

💀 No excuses. No half-measures. If you execute this 15-step plan, your Instagram will be unrecognizable in 15 days.


📌 Next Step: Join the Instagram WAR ROOM Challenge

If you’re serious about turning Instagram into a REAL student-generating tool, I’m running the Instagram WAR ROOM Challenge—5 days, live, on Zoom.


This is the fastest way to dominate Instagram without wasting time or money.

You Are Your Own Media Company: The Wake-Up Call Every Entrepreneur Needs

By Nick Dougherty • April 21, 2025
Let me tell you a truth bomb that might just change your entire business trajectory: “The wake-up slap algorithm is not your enemy. Your silence is.” That one line says it all. In an era where attention is currency, the speaker behind this game-changing insight—a marketing and media strategist who’s partnered with some of the most influential entrepreneurs in the world—reveals exactly what it takes to stand out, grow fast, and stay relevant. This isn’t theory. It’s war-tested strategy. The Game Has Changed. Here's How to Win It. 1. You’re not just a brand. You’re a media company . Let that sink in. Your job isn’t to run ads and hope for a few likes. Your job is to show up every damn day with content that: Builds trust Builds identity Builds community The speaker’s been through the grind. He didn’t “go viral”—he built value . He didn't chase trends—he created a movement by leveraging three weapons: Consistent content creation Strategic partnerships Relentless differentiation “You don’t want to look, sound, or feel like anyone else. That’s the brand.” Be Different, Or Be Forgotten The worst thing you can be in business today is forgettable. “If your heart were set on building a real vibe , you’d be sickened by looking like everyone else.” Too many entrepreneurs copy. They blend. They water down their message. And they wonder why they get ignored. This speaker flipped that script. He built something bold. Raw. Personal. Because that’s what connects. And connection = currency. Collaborate with Killers Want to shortcut success? “Collaborate with killers. I don’t know if anyone’s doing it at the level I am.” This isn’t just about who you know—it’s about who you create with . Strategic partnerships amplify your message, fast-track your reach, and embed your brand in new audiences. He’s done it with names like Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, George Bryant, and Randy Garn. Why? Because alignment matters more than algorithms. Content Is the Frontline of Your Brand “You are your own media company and it’s just the scale or the level of where it is right now.” So, what’s the level you’re playing at? This isn’t optional. This is your new job description: Wake up Document Publish Repeat And don’t rely on organic growth alone. That’s amateur hour. You have to invest in attention, in strategy, in systems that scale. Stuck in the Same Place? That’s a Choice. Here’s the slap: “If you're stuck in the same environment, you need to invest your time and energy and fly out and hang out with me for a day. If you're not willing to get out of that environment, you're going to stay in it.” Translation: if you want to grow, get uncomfortable. Get in the room. Get around people who stretch you. Final Takeaways (The "Kicker Quotes" You Need to Tattoo on Your Brain) “It's like we all know that. But they don’t have a solution. I do.” “The wake-up slap algorithm is not your enemy. Your silence is.” “Collaborate with killers. It’s not cocky—it’s the truth.” What to Ask Yourself Next: Are you creating consistent, high-impact content—or just blending in? Who are you collaborating with that elevates your brand? What do people feel when they interact with your business? What environment are you stuck in—and are you brave enough to leave it?

Why Your Social Media Still Sucks (And How to Fix It in 90 Days or Less)

By Nick Dougherty • April 10, 2025
Let me get this out of the way… Your content doesn’t suck because you’re lazy. It sucks because no one ever gave you the damn blueprint. Until now. I’m Nick. I’m not a “guru,” and I’m not here to sell you some TikTok trend that dies in two weeks. I’m a marketing personal trainer for martial arts school owners — the real ones, the ones fighting every day to build something that matters. And I’m going to show you how to turn your broken content into a reality show that prints leads like clockwork. The Truth: You’re Not in the Martial Arts Business Anymore You’re in the attention business. And attention goes to the loudest, most consistent, most relatable brand in the room. Right now, there are little league coaches, youth pastors, and Zumba instructors outposting you… …because they’ve figured out something most martial arts schools haven’t: 🎥 Your content IS your perception. And your perception IS your business. If your social media looks like an afterthought… Your school feels like one too. The TV Show Framework That Changes Everything What if instead of random posts, you built a show ? Not fake. Not scripted. A raw, unfiltered, “this is what we stand for” kind of show. Here’s the formula I gave away in my recent training that had even Alex Hormozi , James Walker , and Boogie-Down Simpson saying: “This is the future.” Build Your Show: Daily themes. (So you’re never guessing what to post) Reels as commercials. (80/20 value-to-offer ratio) Instagram = Magazine cover. Make it clean. Stories = Behind the scenes. Make it human. Facebook = Your value vault. Email = Where you program their subconscious. AI = The assistant that never lets you down. This isn’t just strategy. This is how you create a movement around your brand . Final Thought (Read This Twice) Stop waiting for permission. There is no everybody. The schools that win from here on out will be the ones who show up bold , authentic , and relentless . You are the show.  Now build it like you mean it.

THE ANTI-CANCEL PROCESS™ 2.0 "How to STOP Students from Quitting Cold… Even If They Already Said They’re Done"

By Nick Dougherty • March 31, 2025
Let me be brutally clear: People don’t cancel because they’re “busy.” They cancel because they forgot why it mattered. They lose the fire. They forget the fight. They drift — like sheep — back into the herd of mediocrity. And if you let that happen on your watch? You’re not running a martial arts school. You’re running a daycare with punching bags. But not anymore. Because today, I’m handing you the nuclear codes to flip the script on cancellation culture and install: ❌ THE UN-QUITTABLE CULTURE™ SYSTEM Not a pep talk. Not a strategy. A hardwired identity shift that makes quitting feel like betrayal. STEP 1: BECOME A MOVEMENT, NOT A MEMBERSHIP People don’t quit tribes. They quit gyms. They quit hobbies. But not tribes. 🔥 BUILD THE WALL OF THE COMEBACK. Student almost quit and stayed? Their name goes up. With pride. With a story. With proof. This wall becomes sacred. A symbol. A signal. You don’t abandon your tribe. You fight for it. STEP 2: THE INCEPTION SEED (DAY 1) Don’t say "Welcome." Say this: “Most students hit a wall around 30–60 days in. That’s normal. Life gets busy. Doubts creep in. But that’s the moment where everything changes — if you push through.” You’ve just future-proofed their commitment. You gave the pain meaning. They’ll remember this when the quitting voice shows up. STEP 3: THE MONTHLY LOOP Subject: "Do You Remember Why You Started?" "We do. And it’s working. Here’s what we’ve noticed: [Insert specific progress]." Attach a win. A photo. A quote from class. This triggers the original emotional WHY. Motivation fades. Vision sticks. STEP 4: THE DDS™ — DISAPPEARANCE DETECTION SYSTEM Two absences in a row? That’s DEFCON 1. Send this: "Hey [Name], I’m worried. Two missed classes usually means a slump is starting. Can I call you for 2 minutes today to help get you back on track?" You noticed. That alone may save them. STEP 5: THE "IF YOU QUIT NOW" LETTER They say they want to quit? You don’t process it. You print this and hand it to them: IF YOU QUIT NOW… You’ll miss the moment you were about to break through. You’ll teach your kid quitting is acceptable when life gets hard. You’ll walk away from the version of you that was finally showing up. This isn’t meant to be easy. It’s meant to change you. Then say: "Read this. If you still feel the same way, I’ll respect it." Most never go through with the cancel. STEP 6: THE COMEBACK CONTRACT Offer this: "Come back for 30 days. No pressure. If you still want out after that, I’ll process it and even give you a shirt for giving it one last shot." You look like the hero. And 95% of the time? They don’t quit again. STEP 7: PSYCHOLOGICAL PAYOFF SYSTEM Belts don’t keep students. Progress does. Ask: "What does success look like to you in 90 days?" Then: Track it. Measure it. Show them the finish line. Progress = Retention. Visible progress = Loyalty. STEP 8: THE WALL OF THE COMEBACK This is the heartbeat of the entire Anti-Cancel Culture. You want retention? Don’t post cheesy slogans. Post proof that real people felt weak and stayed anyway. 🔥 THE WALL OF THE COMEBACK 🔥 Names. Dates. Photos. Quotes. "I almost quit. I didn’t. Now I’m proud." This wall becomes part of your culture. A student walks by it and knows: "I’m not alone in this fight." This wall makes them believe staying is possible. Because others already did. 🔪 TWO REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS TO SEAL THE DEAL 🔋 IDEA #1: THE BLACK BELT BURNDOWN CEREMONY Once per quarter, do this: Burn a white belt in a fire pit Have black belts share their "I almost quit" story Recognize every comeback student in front of families 🌟 This makes perseverance public and powerful . 💥 It turns your school into a tribe of warriors. 🔋 IDEA #2: FUTURE SELF MIRROR METHOD Day 1: Record a video of the student saying why they joined and what they want in 6 months. Day 60: Show it to them. Let them see the fire in their own eyes. Remind them who they said they’d become. 💥 FINAL WORD FROM NICK D: If you let people quit without a fight, you’re not just losing students. You’re letting families lose the very thing they came to you for: strength, discipline, belief. Fight for them. Challenge them. Show them what they’re really made of. Because most of the world lets people quit. Be the one who doesn’t. 🔫 Want the full Anti-Cancel Swipe File with messages, scripts, posters, and email templates? Lock it in. Light it up. Let’s go to war on quitting. 💣 ANTI-CANCEL SWIPE FILE Messages, Letters, Comeback Offers & Posters By Nick D 1. ✅ Comeback Message (Text/SMS) Message: “Hey [Name], I noticed you’ve missed a few classes. That’s when most people lose momentum — and I’m not letting that happen to you. Can I give you a quick 2-minute call today to get you back on track?” 2. 📞 Parent Intercept Message Message: “Hey [Parent], quick note: when students miss two or more classes, it usually turns into quitting. But that doesn't happen on my watch. Can I give you a quick call today or tomorrow? I’ve got a plan.” 3. 📄 “If You Quit Now” Letter (Print or Email) Subject/Headline: IF YOU QUIT NOW… You’ll miss the moment you were about to break through. You’ll never know the potential sitting just beyond the struggle. You’ll teach your child that quitting is normal when things get tough. This program wasn’t meant to be easy. It was meant to change you . We’re fighting for your growth. Are you? 4. 🎯 Recommitment Bonus Offer Offer: 30-Day Recommitment Challenge Message: “What if you gave it just 30 more days? If you're still not feeling it, I’ll process the cancel — and even give you a free shirt just for the effort. But if you’re like most… you’ll be glad you stayed.” 5. 🧱 “No Quit Zone” Wall Poster (Print-Ready Text) 🔥 THE WALL OF THE COMEBACK 🔥 These are the names of warriors who were tempted to quit… but didn’t. They pushed through. They fought back. They stayed the course. This wall is proof: You’re always one choice away from a comeback. (Add names/photos monthly) 6. 🧠 Day 1 Inception Script “Just so you know — most students hit a wall in the first 30–60 days. They get busy, tired, overwhelmed. Some want to quit. That’s when the magic happens. Push through that wall — and life changes.” 7. 🔁 Monthly “Why You Started” Message Subject: Do You Remember Why You Started? Body: Because we do. And it’s working. Here’s what we’ve noticed: [Insert specific progress] [Attach photo or milestone] This isn’t about where you are.  It’s about how far you’ve come .
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