Fitness Marketing Tips – 4 You’re Not Using Now

A Post On Fitness Marketing Tips By Pat Rigsby

No matter how well one of our students’ businesses is doing, they always want more leads.  If you fall into this category – here are four fitness marketing tips that you’re probably not using that can bring in a steady flow of new prospects to your fitness business.

 Using the Chamber of Commerce

 Hopefully you are already a member of the Chamber of Commerce.  If not, change that as soon as possible.  Once you are a member – reach out to other Chamber members and provide them a special offer for their employees.  Here is an example letter you can use:

 

Business Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Fellow Chamber Member,

As a fellow local business owner, I understand and appreciate your commitment to the success and growth of your business. I also know that to obtain great success, businesses must support their employees in being healthy and active. Therefore, I am offering a very special benefit to my fellow (City Name) Chamber of Commerce members!

(Your Business) will provide all chamber members with a set of free 14 Day Trial Memberships (or other special offer). These memberships entitle your employees to 14 free days of fitness and a great chance to check out what (your business) has to offer. What’s more, this offer extends to their entire family! And, if your employees choose to continue with (your business), I will discount their monthly rate by 25%.

Perhaps the best part of this offer is there is no cost to your company. With (your business) as your partner, you can promote a healthy workplace and not spend a penny! To order your free memberships, simply email me at (email) or call me at (phone number)

(Your business) is the leading local (type of fitness business), helping people throughout (your community) lose weight, improve health and enjoy a better quality of life.  I look forward to helping your team enjoy those same benefits.
I thank you for considering this opportunity! More importantly, your employees will thank you!

 

Yours in Health and Fitness,

(Your Name)

 

Lead Boxes

A lead box program can generate a steady stream of new leads if run effectively. Here’s a fitness marketing strategy to ensure your lead box is a powerful, cost-effective marketing tool.

Starting Your Program – The first step when beginning a lead box program is selecting the type of lead box that you’ll use. Many companies sell lead boxes, so comparison shop before choosing one, and don’t let price alone be your determining factor. There are many cheap lead boxes that look cheap, and there are inexpensive lead boxes that look professional. A cheap lead box will not generate the same lead traffic as a nice-looking one.
The header of the box needs to have an enticing offer, like the opportunity to win a free month of your bootcamp or a free month of training. Remember, you have to have a strong headline and compelling copy to get prospects to enter their information.

Site Selection – Once you’ve decided exactly who your target market is, site selection becomes easy. Box locations need to have good traffic flow to consistently generate enough leads to make a site worth maintaining. They also need to be places where your target market does business. Chiropractor’s offices, spas, dry cleaners, salons and other types of business that cater to your ideal camper good targets.

Site Procurement – Approach either the owner or the manager and offer a service of benefit in exchange for site procurement. This could be a free slot in your fitness bootcamp, a free lunch and learn for the business or a few sessions for the owner. Don’t hesitate to give up something of value so the business owner or manager feels good about what you do. This can help the person better promote your lead box.

Then select a high-visibility area for the lead box. The lead box location must not interfere with the owner’s business in any way, or negative reactions can occur that will reduce your rapport with the business. The importance of maintaining a good relationship with the business is vital.

Lead Box Servicing & Following Up – You need to keep the lead box attractive and well-stocked with lead pads, and have a working pen attached to the box at all times. The impression that the box creates is directly tied to your business. Leads from the lead box must be picked up at least once a week. Once you collect the leads, come back and enter them into your database. Then immediately follow up with the leads.

If managed properly, lead boxes can result in a new group of prospective campers or clients at a minimal cost so don’t ignore this underutilized strategy.

 

Business of the Month

This is one we got from health club marketing gurus Curtis Mock and Chris Batchelor over at Fitness Marketing Group.

Target & Contact Local Businesses – Pick 2-5 per week and call them letting them know that their business has been selected as your business of the month.  Tell them that each employee as well as their family members gets a free month of your services. Follow up with a visit to their location passing out questionnaires and vouchers for their free month.
Develop a ‘Flip’ – Create a special offer for the employees and their families that will encourage them to continue on working with you.

Follow Up – Stay in regular contact with the participants and make sure they know that your special offer will expire at the end of the month.

This strategy is a great way to generate new prospects in your community and build relationships with local businesses that can eventually help you reach their client / customer base as well.

 

Asking For Referrals at the Point of Sale

There is no better time to ask for a referral than when someone is new to your business. They are excited about how you’re going to help them achieve their fitness goals and they’ll probably feel even more confident about coming to work with you if they can bring a friend.  Create a special offer, perhaps giving them 20% off their monthly rate for every person they refer.  Then either ask them for names and contact information of people they’d like to share a 14 day free trial with or provide them with 14 day free trial vouchers.  Our experience is that if you can get the information and do the follow up yourself – you’ll do better.

 

There are four fitness marketing tips that you can put into use immediately if you’re interested in generating some new leads for your fitness business. Tell me what you think below.

 

Dedicated to your success,

Pat

 

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