Gym owners in the United States are looking for ways to improve their bottom line and increase their customer base. With significant competition between gyms and an oversupply of fitness-related services, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. If you’re unable to compete on price or service, you might want to try a few of these eight unique marketing ideas that have been proven effective by other gym owners in recent years.
1. Create a Unique “Membership Card”
As with any other restaurant or store that offers its members some sort of discount or loyalty program, using a rewards card can really help boost your business. The best part is that this marketing trick is close to free because you already have the most valuable product of all—your members’ time.
2. Invest In Video Marketing
Video marketing allows you to reach a wider audience in a more personal way. By creating short, high-quality videos and uploading them to YouTube or other video-sharing sites, your gym will get tons of free exposure that is certain to attract visitors.
3. Provide Free Nutritional Planning or a Meal Plan
By offering nutrition advice at your gym, you are not making any money directly from this marketing trick, but you are greatly improving the odds that clients will stick around for longer. Some gyms choose to go a step further and actually offer a meal plan that is designed by a nutritionist and delivered straight to your door. Although this option may not be worth the cost for smaller gyms, it’s still an excellent idea for larger fitness centers.
4. Offer Personal Training Classes
Personal training is great for attracting customers and making more money per client, but it can also be very expensive for gyms in the long run. By offering personal training classes, you can keep your costs low while still retaining your clients’ attention and loyalty.
5. Use Social Media to Promote Your Gym
With social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, you can reach out to a large number of people without spending too much time or money. Don’t be afraid to do a little bit of bragging about your gym, because, in the end, it will really help improve your business. You can also offer special deals on social media that are not available anywhere else.
6. Sponsor or Attend Local Fitness Events
Sponsoring a fitness event or sending a couple of employees to participate in running and biking events can be a great way to attract new members. It’s also a fun way for your gym to give back to the community.
7. Start a Fitness Blog
There’s no faster way to get your name out there than by pumping out articles on a regular basis. If you are interested in trying this marketing trick, consider hiring a freelancer or website designer to help you.
8. Collaborate with Local Influencers
Reaching out to local artists can be a great way to get your name out there. Try connecting with influential people with a large number of fans on Facebook or Twitter. Not only will this help bring in more customers, but it will also help improve your public image.
If you find that none of these unique marketing ideas are working for you, then it’s time to try something else. Be sure to test out as many different options as possible until you find an option that really sticks. You worked hard to make your gym what it is today, so don’t give up until your business is running at full capacity.