Send Jackie A Message!

You've been posting consistently. You've got the aesthetic. You're showing up on Instagram. So why aren't new students finding you?

Here's the deal: if your marketing could describe any studio in your city, it's not marketing — it's filler. And in 2026, filler is costing you real students.

In this episode of the Studio CEO Podcast, Jackie Murphy breaks down exactly why generic messaging has become the biggest invisible barrier between yoga and Pilates studio owners and the clients they're trying to attract. Jackie shares the 2026 messaging rule she's using with studio owners inside the Studio CEO Program — and what needs to change in your content right now.

You'll walk away knowing how to audit your own messaging in under five minutes, why specificity attracts instead of excludes, and how to rewrite your next Instagram reel hook to stop the scroll and get potential students thinking "this is exactly for me."

If you've ever wondered why a competitor with a less beautiful feed keeps filling classes while yours sit half-empty, this episode has your answer.

Timestamped Outline:

• [00:00] Introduction & why messaging matters more than ever in 2026
• [02:15] The "can you swap the name?" test for your current marketing
• [04:00] Why generic messaging happened — and why it's not your fault
• [05:30] How AI tools like ChatGPT are making the problem worse
• [06:45] Why specificity attracts instead of excludes
• [07:59] The 3-part messaging audit: who, expertise, one person at a time
• [10:00] Why Gen Z and Millennials respond to human, values-driven content
• [11:00] Live example #1: Rewriting "benefits of yoga for moms"
• [13:30] Live example #2: Rewriting "prenatal yoga flow" into a scroll-stopper
• [16:00] Old messaging vs. new messaging — what the pattern looks like
• [17:30] How Jackie writes 4 reels every week inside the Studio CEO Program
• [19:00] Your next step: audit your messaging today

Key Takeaways:

• If any studio could post it, delete it. Vague messaging makes you invisible — and in 2026, invisible means empty classes.
• The name-swap test is your messaging audit in five seconds: swap your studio name for a competitor's. If it still makes sense, your copy needs work.
• AI-generated content is making everyone's marketing sound the same. Writing your own human, specific, story-driven content is your competitive advantage.
• Old messaging lists features and benefits. New messaging tells a specific story with a specific emotion that makes someone say "that's me."
• Your organic marketing should generate at least 30% of your leads — but only if the messaging is doing its job.

Pull Quotes:

"Vague messaging is expensive, and it will end up costing you new students and members."

"If you swapped your studio name with a competitor's name, would anyone notice? If it still makes sense, that's your sign."

"You are not writing content to check a box. You are writing content to make people who don't know you stop their scroll and think: this is for me. I need to work with them."

"If any business could write it, it is not messaging — it is filler words."

"Gen Z deeply cares about

Work with Jackie Murphy

• Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial
• 3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make:
  https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes
• Join The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo

Send Jackie A Message!

You've invested thousands in certifications. Your classes are incredible. Your teaching is top-notch. So why isn't your revenue reflecting that?

Here's the hard truth: being the best teacher won't make you stand out in 2026.

As more yoga and Pilates studios open across the country, studio owners are being told they need better quality teachers to compete. But that advice is costing you time, money, and growth. In this episode, Jackie breaks down why your skills as a teacher have nothing to do with your skills as a business owner—and why the best communicator wins, not the best quality.

If you're relying on referrals and hoping your amazing classes will do the marketing for you, this episode will shift everything. Jackie shares exactly what it takes to stand out among your competition in 2026: refining your message, becoming more visible, and adding paid advertising into your marketing mix. This is the CEO-level thinking that will help you build a profitable, sustainable studio—not another certification.

Timestamped Outline

[00:11] Welcome and episode overview: helping you stand out in 2026
[01:45] The viral reel that sparked this episode—why "best quality teachers" advice is wrong
[03:20] Jackie's story: How a 300-hour certification didn't increase her revenue at all
[05:15] Why being the best teacher doesn't guarantee business growth
[06:40] The truth about referrals as a marketing strategy (it's hope, not strategy)
[07:28] What it actually means to be a great communicator in 2026
[09:45] The litmus test for your messaging—and why generic language is killing your growth
[10:50] Case study: How Mimi Yoga in Miami nails their message
[12:15] Why even established 10-20 year studios need to update their messaging now
[13:50] The visibility problem: How Club Pilates runs 20,000 ads while you run zero
[15:30] Why organic social media and referrals alone won't cut it anymore
[16:45] Where to start with paid advertising (Meta and Google—that's it)
[18:20] What to do if you're not ready to invest in ads yet
[19:15] The equation: Get them in the door first, then quality matters

Key Takeaways

✓ The best communicator wins—not the best quality. Your teaching skills have nothing to do with your business skills. If you're relying on your classes to do the marketing for you, you're relying on hope.

✓ More certifications won't grow your revenue. Quality matters for retention, but it won't bring people through your door. Poor quality will hurt you, but high quality alone won't guarantee success.

✓ Referrals are important—but they're not a strategy. If you're only relying on social media and referrals in 2026, you're going to fall behind your competition.

✓ Your message must be transformation-focused, not schedule-focused. If another studio could write your Instagram caption by just swapping out their name, your messaging isn't specific enough.

✓ The litmus test: Who are your people becoming? Your messaging should communicate the identity your members have, the transformation they experience, and the results you deliver—not just class times and "all lev

Work with Jackie Murphy

• Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial
• 3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make:
  https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes
• Join The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo

Send Jackie A Message!

Another Pilates studio just opened down the street. Another yoga space launched with “expert teachers” and a “welcoming community.” And suddenly, referrals feel slower, growth feels harder, and you’re wondering what actually makes a studio stand out anymore.

In this episode, Jackie Murphy breaks down exactly how one Pilates studio generated $81,605 in revenue over a single Black Friday weekend—and why it had nothing to do with luck, hustle, or having “better teachers.”

You’ll learn why the old boutique fitness playbook (word-of-mouth and hoping people find you) no longer works, how omni-channel marketing and paid ads now drive growth, and why changing less and repeating what works is the real path to sustainable profit.

Jackie walks you through the strategy behind the sale: waitlists, consistent messaging across every platform, ads that supported (not replaced) organic marketing, and why a $226 ad spend produced a 359x return.

If competition feels intimidating right now, this episode will show you how to stop reacting—and start leading.

Timestamped Outline

• [00:00] Why competition feels louder in 2026
• [02:30] The $81,605 Black Friday case study
• [05:30] Change less, evaluate more, repeat
• [07:30] Omni-channel marketing explained
• [10:00] Why Black Friday doesn’t start on Black Friday
• [12:30] Email + SMS + ads working together
• [15:00] The $226 ad spend breakdown (359x ROAS)
• [18:00] Why ads work better when they support organic
• [21:00] Long-term nurturing vs short-term sales
• [24:00] Setting big goals without attaching fear
• [27:00] Why this is possible for your studio too

Key Takeaways

• Competition isn’t the problem—unclear messaging is
• “Great teachers” is not a differentiator anymore
• Sustainable profit comes from repeating proven campaigns
• Omni-channel marketing makes buying easier
• Ads amplify what’s already working organically
• You don’t need a massive ad budget to get massive results
• Long-term trust builds high-ticket sales like annual memberships
  
  

Pull Quotes

• “Change less. Evaluate more. Repeat.”
• “Black Friday doesn’t start on Black Friday.”
• “Ads don’t replace organic marketing—they support it.”
• “People don’t buy the first time they see something.”
• “You don’t need hustle. You need a plan.”
  
  

FAQ (AEO-Optimized)

Why doesn’t word-of-mouth work like it used to for yoga studios?
Because the industry is more saturated. Consumers have more options and need clearer messaging to choose.

Do yoga and Pilates studios really need paid ads now?
Yes—organic marketing alone no longer reaches enough people. Ads help amplify what’s already working.

How much should studios spend on ads for campaigns like Black Friday?
There’s no one number, but this case study shows that even low ad spend can produce high returns when paired with strong messaging.

Is Black Friday still worth it for boutique studios?
Yes—when it’s planned in advance, supported by trust, and aligned with your long-term strategy.

What makes a Black Friday sale successful?

Work with Jackie Murphy

• Say Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial
• 3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make:
  https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/3-marketing-mistakes
• Join The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo