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Fitness Club Marketing Idea: Incorporate Video — Part 2

In Part 1 of this two-part series on fitness club marketing ideas, we discussed demonstrating fitness equipment and conducting a video tour of your facility. Here in Part 2, we’ll cover the tips 3 and 4 on using video to market your business.

3. Encourage clients to post live Facebook videos.

As you continue to foster a friendship with your clients, you can enlist their help in attracting even more new clients. One effective way to do this is to encourage them to post live Facebook videos of themselves using the equipment and interacting with the staff and other patrons. Of course, many people are self-conscious about their physical appearance, so you might have to provide an incentive for them to post a video. Offering a monthly prize or other bonus for the Facebook video with the most likes or shares is one idea. For others, just ask some of your clients what it would take for them to post such a live video. There might be a goldmine in one of their answers.

4. Publish a Vlog on YouTube.

A vlog (aka. video blog) is simply a blog that contains primarily video content. Video publishing sites like YouTube enable people to express themselves in a whole new way. Virtually anyone can create and publish their own show where they sit down in front of their web cameras and record themselves talking about anything from politics to pop culture . Then they upload the video to their YouTube channel, and share it with the world. Of course, the difference between a vlog and a television talk show is that the vlog can be viewed by anybody, anywhere, anytime. Vlogs also cost much less to produce.

You can get started vlogging by posting your equipment demonstration and facility tour videos. Then, on a regularly scheduled basis, create and post other videos that are relevant to your existing and prospective clients. These could include interviews with fitness and dietary experts, and stretching and other exercise videos that people can use at home on those occasions when they can’t make it to the gym. For more ideas, consult your staff and current clients. You’ll be amazed at the number of great ideas you’ll get.

If you’re thinking that publishing a vlog would be more trouble than it’s worth, consider this: More than a billion people visit YouTube every month, and more than seven billion videos are viewed every day. Of course, you’ll want to do it right or it probably will be a waste of time. To bend the learning curve in your favor, check out this comprehensive piece on how to create a successful vlog. That will help you get off on the right foot.

In a world where other fitness businesses are using the same old ideas and tactics to attract new clients, you can differentiate your facility by incorporating video and H2H marketing. Contact us today for more help with your inbound marketing strategy.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net orwww.jimthomasondemand.com.

Fitness Club Marketing Idea: Incorporate Video — Part 1

The fitness industry is huge and continues to grow. One of the biggest challenges facing individual business owners in such a growing and competitive industry is attracting a steady stream of new clients. One of the best ways to do that is incorporating video into your marketing strategy. Consider the following statistics on user interaction with video:

• 90 percent of users say product videos are helpful in the decision process.
• 75 percent of online video viewers have interacted with an online video ad this month.
• 36 percent of online consumers trust video ads.
• 33 percent of all online activity is spent watching video.
• Video ads increase purchase intent by 97 percent and brand association by 139 percent.

In this two-part series we’ll discuss 4 ways you can use video to effectively market your fitness business. The first two tips are covered here in Part 1; the last two will be covered in Part 2.

1. Demonstrate various pieces of fitness equipment using “real” people.

A staple of fitness industry TV commercials and online videos is footage of people using a facility and a voice-over extolling the features and benefits of that particular establishment. But these videos typically feature people (probably actors) who are already in pretty good shape. If you really want to attract new clients, you’d be better served showing people who are more like the typical new client in terms of their physical makeup and condition. When out-of-shape people see other out-of-shape people using fitness equipment, it gives them a sense that they can use it too, and they’ll be more inclined to try it.

2. Conduct a video tour of your facility, including interviews with staff.

Most marketing videos target B2B (Business To Business) or B2C (Business To Consumer) prospects. By creating a video tour of your facility, including interviews with members of the staff, you’re creating a H2H (Human To Human) relationship before the prospective client ever sets foot in your gym. When that new customer enters your facility for the first time, they’ll feel less intimidated and more at home, and the H2H relationship grows.

Stay tuned to our blog for Part 2 of this series on using video to market your fitness business. Meanwhile, we invite you tocontact us today for more ideas and help with your fitness club marketing strategy.

Statistical reference: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/video-marketing-statistics#sm.001m9si451di3dudue22jbuxgrgdh

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net orwww.jimthomasondemand.com.

Managing a Gym: Quick and Easy Updates

Attention to details matter a lot to guests. When managing a gym, consider the entire gym experience, from the looks of the interiors to how the equipment functions. If you’re on a budget, then it can be a bit more challenging to find ways to make your gym look polished.

Here are some suggestions for keeping your gym looking fresh and up-to-date:

1. New carpet

Laying down a new carpet can take a gym from looking less-than-spectacular to looking newly cleaned. Pick a carpet color that’s relevant and that makes the surroundings look fresh.

2. Fresh coat of paint

Consider a fresh coat of paint to freshen up interior spaces. Paint color trends change over time, so you might be surprised at how different your gym spaces look with a different color of paint on the walls. It could help to choose colors that open up spaces and make rooms look light and clean.

3. Updated mats and new hand weights

Guests notice how gym equipment looks — such as hand weight and stretch mat condition. These items tend to show telltale signs of how well a gym is maintained. Keep your gym equipment looking nice with regular cleaning, and consider buying fresh sets of hand weights and mats if yours look beyond repair.

4. A few new exercise machines

If necessary, spend some extra money on a few new exercise machines. While you may not need to buy entire new sets of machines, two or three new options could show guests you care without breaking the bank.

If you would like more personalized advice about running a gym, contact us.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net orwww.jimthomasondemand.com.

Is Your Gym Social? Some Simple Social Media Marketing Tips

Social media is integral to many fitness center marketing plans. Well-considered social media strategies can help attract new guests and retain current members. While some gyms create generic posts with lackluster photos, it helps to really take the time to customize your posts. Providing engaging content that offers value to viewers takes social media for your gym to the next level.

Here are a few social media suggestions:

1. Don’t Limit Your Options

Besides Facebook, consider posting on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube as well. Videos, spontaneous photos, and well-planned blog posts can all be part of your social media strategy. Brainstorm how you would online viewers to view your gym and consider creating posts that inform or entertain viewers.

2. Motivate

Social media provides opportunities to post about awards, recognition, and articles by your fitness instructors. Many gyms use social media to motivate people to keep going to the gym and reach their personal goals. By encouraging fitness and health, you are offering a platform of support and creating a culture of excellence.

3. Remind

If your gym has annual membership specials or weekly contests, you may want to post that information on social media. Pay attention to the quality of the graphics and the copy. Work with your marketing and/or creative team to make sure your posts reflect the brand of your gym as best as possible.

4. Keep a Social Media Calendar

Strive to have a good mix of posts consistently posted, ranging from memes to in-depth posts about specific fitness topics. Don’t forget the hashtags or the brief descriptions. You might also post well-designed infographics or fun, silly photos during the holidays. By planning some of your posts in advance, you can ensure that you always have something recent online to remind people of your gym.

To learn more about how to make your gym more successful, contact us.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomasondemand.com.

Passionate about Fitness? Try a New Gym Start Up

For people passionate about fitness and business, nothing could seem better than a new gym start up. But when the rubber meets the road, starting your own gym could be harder than you think. Depending on the market in your city, there is probably a lot more to having a successful gym then opening the doors of a new gym and people just flooding in and signing up. If you have plans to create a new gym or have a gym start up that is struggling, you need to contact us at Fitness Management & Consulting.

Fitness Management & Consulting is made up of Jim Thomas, a fitness industry consultant who has been featured on a number of new networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox News. Through his consulting business, you can start your own gym with a number of unique advantages. To start, there are no royalties or franchise fees like you would encounter opening a gym through a franchise. Sure, a franchise comes with an established brand. But it is important to do the research and see what percentage of your revenue would have to give back to the parent company. The earning potential is a lot greater when you open your own gym.

Using Fitness Management & Consulting, you pay for the services you want, but aren’t stuck paying monthly royalties. Need equipment, sales training, or general advice and consulting? Pay for those services, not for more. For more information on how Fitness Management & Consulting can help you start your own gym, contact us today.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomsondemand.com.

Fitness Club Sales: Making Memberships Count

As the New Year approaches, many people may want to lose that extra holiday weight. In addition, it’s common to want to make those New Year’s resolutions happen. So how can fitness club sales keep old members coming back, and gain new members? Here are some helpful tips:

Carefully Tailored Membership Options

Will your gym demographics prefer membership specials or a flat rate all year round? Some members may prefer month to month plans so that they can stay within their budget on a short-term basis.

Perks and Rewards

Consider how a gym membership benefits someone, their friends, and/or their family. Some gyms offer rewards for referrals or discounted memberships to family members. In addition, think about how tangible benefits, as well as intangible qualities, make your gym unique. Some gyms have smoothie bars, while other gyms have childcare on site.

Community

A strong selling point for many gyms is the sense of community. Gyms can be a place for people to meet up with friends or members of their sports team. A sense of local enthusiasm for a gym helps retain members and attract new people. Try to pinpoint loyal groups that prefer specific classes or trainers. What gives people that extra reason to keep coming back?

Free Personal Training Starter Sessions

To increase the safety of gym members and to encourage new connections, consider offering a free personal training session at your gym to new members. That way, people can learn how to use the equipment safely and feel a sense of belonging. In addition, this can help encourage people to sign up for more personal training sessions.

Branding

It often helps to increase the visibility of your gym in the community. Consider promotional t-shirts, gym bags, and other items to give out as rewards or to sell. Make sure the branded products are in-line with your overall vision for your gym.

If you are seeking a partner to help you make your gym more successful,contact us.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomsondemand.com.

Why You Need a New Fitness Center Business Plan for the New Year

If your fitness center was successful in 2016, you might not think that there is any reason to do anything different in the coming year. However, it isn’t a bad idea to work with a consultant to come up with a new fitness center business plan for 2017. These are a few reasons why.

Attract Those with New Year’s Resolutions

As you might already know, many people make New Year’s resolutions that involve things like losing weight or achieving certain fitness goals. You can help attract this clientele in 2017 by coming up with a new marketing plan that helps bring in new clients who are looking to make big changes. For example, it might be time to offer a lower introductory rate for those who are thinking about signing up for the first time, and you might want to start new beginner’s classes and bring in new trainers to help with all of your new customers.

Put Focus on What Works for Your Business

Every fitness center is different. This is why it’s important to look at the successes that your business has had — and the things that might not have worked out quite so well — so that you can start putting more of a marketing focus on what really works. This can be challenging to do on your own, but an experienced fitness club consultant can talk numbers with you and help you tweak your marketing plan for 2017.

As you can see, it’s not a bad idea to start focusing on making changes to your business plan for the upcoming year. If you need help with making your fitness center more successful, contact us at Fitness Management and Consulting today!

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomsondemand.com.

Marketing for Fitness Centers for Fitness Gurus

Working in the fitness industry, you probably know a thing or two about fitness. Possibly it was your love for fitness that got you into the business in the first place. But that doesn’t mean you know very much about marketing. There is no shame in that! We all have our strengths. And that is why it is wise to seek out some help when it comes to marketing for fitness centers.

Fitness Management & Consulting is a business created to help those in the fitness industry thrive in every area. From sales training to consulting for start-ups, we do it all. But one area we love to help our clients is marketing.

We have a number of ways to boost your business with marketing. Does your website need a facelift? We can help you create a website that will draw in new customers and wow your existing ones. This is the age of digital marketing so we can also help you with social media marketing. Social media marketing can be confusing for those just getting their toes wet. But we can simplify it for you and give you keys that will help your online presence be a strong one.

Aside from these online forms of marketing, we have some tried and true things you can do in your fitness center to get people excited about joining and being involved. Ask us about our weight loss challenges that will motivate your customers to come in and bring their friends!

For more information on marketing for fitness centers, contact us today at Fitness Management & Consulting.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomsondemand.com.

Could Your Health Club Benefit from Sales Training?

There are many aspects that go into building a successful health club. One of these that cannot be overlooked is sales training. The fitness industry is competitive so your sales associates need to be ready to present your gym in a way that is going to capture new clients. If you are looking at bringing in outside health club sales training, Fitness Management & Consulting is right for you.

Fitness Management & Consulting has helped hundreds of gyms, from start ups to struggling gyms about to go under. And we know every aspect of the industry. Our FMC Sales Training Academy is designed to motivate your sales team and increase your revenue. Our sales training is one-of-a-kind because it is completely customized to your gym and sales staff. We deliver the training at your club and our professional with over 20 years in gym sales is there presenting the material and helping your staff.

Some of the things we cover in the Training Academy are; how to get guests to buy faster, how to eliminate price objections, deepening trust with your guests, how to get more point of sale referrals, getting more appointments, how to make a successful outgoing call, how to differentiate yourself, and much more.

When you use our proven sales techniques, your gym will see a significant increase in new members each month. What was once normal for new sign-ups will seem small once you put these new skills into practice. For more information on sales training from Fitness Management & Consulting contact us today.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomsondemand.com.

Looking for a Fitness Club Consultant?

In business, you can’t do anything on your own. Smart business people use the knowledge of those around them and take advantage of the experiences of those who have gone before them. So if you are in the fitness industry and are looking for a fitness club consultant, let Fitness Management & Consulting come to your aid.

Fitness Management & Consulting has the experience that you probably don’t have, with a history of helping hundreds of struggling and start up gyms. In fact, our saying is, “when the going gets tough, the smart get help.” We are so confident we can help your situation, we actually offer one free hour of consulting to get you started.

For gym start ups, we offer many services that can get your business started off on the right foot. We help with choosing the best real estate, financing, pre-opening training for you and your staff, build-out of an existing location to maximize your gym’s appeal and efficiency, equipment, and more.

For those already in the industry, we offer sales training, website design and internet marketing, a forum to sell your gym, billing and collections, payroll services, weight loss and nutrition programs and more. Any pitfall that a gym has encountered, we have seen it. And we have the expertise to get you out of it. We know how rewarding the fitness industry can be and we want our clients to experience those rewards, not consider their fitness club to be a burden. For more information on how Fitness Management & Consulting can help, contact us today.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting and turnaround firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars and workshops across the country on the practical skills required to successfully build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomasondemand.com.

Social Media Marketing Tips for Fitness Centers

Today it’s more important than ever before that your social media pack a punch. This very valuable, low-cost form of marketing isn’t only great forrecruiting new members, but it’s also a wonderful way to keep your current members engaged. With everything else you’ve got going on it’s easy to let your social media marketing fall to the wayside though. This is why you need these social media marketing tips for fitness centers:

• Host a social media contest. You’ll find that those who work out regularly are driven to compete. Take advantage of this by hosting a social media contest and giving the winner one free month’s membership. People will find themselves inclined to share this around the web, drawing attention to your fitness center.
• Don’t just share healthy recipes and fitness tips. Make sure you include inspirational images with them as well. Tools like Phonto make this easier to do today. By doing this you’re not making a hard sale, but you are giving your followers valuable information, which is what they really want.
• Put the spotlight on your employees. People want to know who they’re doing business with today. By interviewing your employees you’ll humanize your brand. This entices not only your customers, but also your prospective customers to want to know more about you and what you offer.

For help employing these or other social media strategies for your fitness center, contact us. We specialize in helping both current and potential gym owners improve their bottom line and look forward to helping you with this too.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomasondemand.com.

Fitness Center Consultants Are The Backbone Of Your Gym

Fitness center consultants can make or break the popularity of your gym. Sure, you might have the most advanced work-out equipment, and you might have the biggest facility in town, but when it comes down to it, it’s the people who work in the gym who will keep your customers happy. Happy gym members become loyal, long-term customers, and recommend your gym to their friends.

Most people join a gym for one of two reasons:

1. To use exercise equipment they don’t have at home and can’t afford, or don’t have space for.
2. To take advantage of the fitness center consultants training and experience. They expect the staff to be more knowledgeable than they are.

As a gym owner, you don’t have control over the equipment a potential member is willing, or able to purchase, but you certainly have control over the type of staff you hire.

• Hire certified people who offer something unique. Every gym in town has Yoga instructors. Spice things up a bit by finding that one person in town who teaches something special.
• Seek out people who use a tried-and-true method fun and different way.
• Find fitness experts who speak to a specific niche of clients. Consider finding someone who is super knowledgeable about the training needs of people with neuromuscular disorders, or diabetes, for example.
• Good personal trainers genuinely like people, and want to motivate them to solve their personal fitness problems.
• When you’re interviewing fitness staff, look for a proven track record efforts that help to retain current members, and bring in new customers. What did they do at their previous gym? Look for people who were willing to start a new class, do something unusual, or get members’ kids involved in fitness. These people will likely do the same for you.

The bottom line is that no matter how state-of-the art your facility is, or how many “perks” you offer, exceptional fitness center consultants are the heart and soul of your gym.To find out what else you can to to maximize the happiness of current members, and bring in new members contact us.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomasondemand.com.

Gym Club Management’s Mindfulness of Instructor Burnout

Quality fitness instructors are one of your greatest selling points. High-energy and effective classes bring members into your fitness center and they do tell their friends! Your fitness instructors are passionate about their work and it shows in creative choreography, upbeat music and the smiles on the faces of the participants. However, a fitness instructor’s job may lead to burnout ifgym club management is not mindful of the demands of an instructor’s schedule.

If your instructors are showing the following symptoms, they may be experiencing burnout:

• A loss of passion. If a happy, uplifting instructor begins to show a change of attitude, she may feel overloaded. Most fitness instructors have a lightness and positiveness about them, so if you notice negative comments or a heaviness of mood, your instructor may need a break.
• A lack of variety. When an instructor begins to use the same music over and over or teaches the same routines every week, he is showing a sign of burnout. Many fitness instructors look forward to trying new routines or playing new music — most cannot stop the routines from parading through their minds when they hear a new song on the radio.
• A decrease in attendance. If your instructor or participants are not showing up for class — you have an issue. Your instructor probably needs a little time off to rejuvenate or requires a change in schedule to plan for new types of workouts.
• An increased amount of injuries. An overworked body is more susceptible to injuries. Instructors ensure that participants do not get hurt by offering modifications and a variety of movements, yet the instructors are overusing muscles and joints when teaching a demanding schedule.

Our gym club management team watches for fitness instructor burnout and offers helpful solutions to keep your instructors strong. Group exercises classes are an essential part of a fitness center, so contact us for advice on how to retain quality instructors and reduce their risk of burnout.

Jim Thomas is the founder and president of Fitness Management USA Inc., a management consulting, turnaround and brokerage firm specializing in the fitness and health club industry. With more than 25 years of experience owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Thomas lectures and delivers seminars, webinars and workshops across the globe on the practical skills required to successfully to overcome obscurity, improve sales, build teamwork and market fitness programs and products. Visit his Web site at:www.fmconsulting.net or www.jimthomasondemand.com.