We were lucky to catch up with Jillian Wilkins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jillian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

Throughout the country and more specifically in the Florida, there is an underlining theme that we have to teach children to swim so they don’t drown. Parents sign up for swimming lessons out of fear. Most lesson programs are developed around this fear of water that parents have. This lesson programming that has been developed is be stressful for most children and families.

At Lane 4 Swim School, our goal is to address the whole child, setting a strong foundation not only as a comfortable, relaxed swimmer but foremost creating an opportunity to help foster a well adjusted, happy human being. It is truly a special time, a special place for your child.

Teaching a method called the “Gentle Journey”, we teach children to swim through games and play. This method was developed over years of witnessing children coming from other programs with complete fear in their eyes. By moving at the child’s pace, we create a safe space for children to learn to love the water. Once a child (and parent) feels safe and confident in the water, the true magic happens.

Lane 4 Swim School is known for developing some of the best swimmers in Central Florida. Parents come to me and tell me they can look at a pool and know which children have gone through the gentle journey programing and those who have not. They are the ones who are swimming, jumping, diving and playing freely in the pool compared to their friends.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Lane 4 Swim School was established in 2005. I have been involved in the swimming world since 1991 and has been an instructor for the past 23 years. Locally, I competed for Team Orlando and Trinity Aquatic Team (now Trinity Prep Aquatics). While attending school at Bishop Moore Catholic High School I was a two-time Florida state champion in the breaststroke events. At the University of Maryland, College Park, I swam competitively for the varsity swim team from 1999-2003. I was extremely successful during her college years. I earned, among many other achievements, NCAA Division Martin All-American Honors in the 100- and 200-yard Breaststroke, was an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion in the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard medley relay and earned All-ACC honors in nine events.

I was fortunate to undertake community service projects with the University of Maryland Varsity Swim Team to teach swimming to under privileged children in College Park, Maryland. These projects helped me realize how much I enjoyed sharing her love of water with children. This is where it all started for me.

After college, I continued competitive swimming with the Ft. Lauderdale Swim Team (currently named Ft. Lauderdale Aquatics). My competitive swimming career ended on a high note at the 2004 USA Olympic Swimming Trials in Long Beach California.

Currently, I have focused all of my energy to building the best swimming program available to parents in the Central Florida area. Teaching children how too swim based on games, songs and play is an amazing and joyful way to share my love of the water with all families. Over the past 18 years of business, I have developed a series of group, semi-private and private lessons that can fit any family’s budget.

What sets Lane 4 Swim School apart from all other swimming programs is that no matter what teacher you have, Jillian (with over 20 years of teaching experience) or Maliea ( in her first year of teaching) you will receive the same lesson, same attention and skill set. I pride myself on being able to create “mini-me’s” in the pool. A teacher that can handle any situation and any child.

I am most proud of the students and teachers that I have developed over the years.

I am most thankful for the parents who have trusted me with their children over the years.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Being a small business that works out of my own home, marketing has always been tough for me. I have done a ton of different types of marketing over the years, but continually the most successful is word of mouth from current clients.

I will run specials for my clients to include them in the social media marketing, for example:

Make a post on social media and tag Lane 4 Swim School: $5 credit
Post a positive Google review $10 credit
Send a friend for lessons: $20 per family member that signs up
(I have had families pay for multiple months of lessons with this one)

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What has helped me build my reputation in the Central Florida area, is that we have developed the best learn to swim program available. Children learn to swim while they are having fun. The children look forward to coming to classes and the parents look forward to coming to classes. When you develop a fun, safe place for children to be learn, the local families feel safe and you start building a community around you and your business that everyone knows about and wants to be a part of.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lane4swimschool.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lane4swimschool/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lane4swimschool