Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

I have a number of ideas on this subject!

A few examples are:

Referral Contest - offer a free year to the person who refers the most new members to the gym over a fixed period of time.

Promotional events - inside the gym - for example:

A Synchronized "Tour De Gym": a stationary bike "race" or races depending on the number of participants...extend to non-members as a way to draw traffic to the gym...then impress their socks off...and offer them a locker to put them in...monthly :).

Start a personal training blog where you coach/advise members, with viewing for potential members
(but not the ability to post questions etc), gaining publicity, and expertise, and creating an enticement. Have people register so you generate email leads, link to the above activities, for further touchpoint utilization.

Happy to discuss with you at length!

Ryan

[Skype address deleted by staff]

Partner with neighboring, complimentary businesses. Do you have a health food store nearby? Create a promotional program that includes the both of you.

By the way, I love Ryan's "Tour de Gym" idea, but insurance issues may prevent you from doing this with non-members. (Keep it in your hat for a member activity.)

Encourage some of your trainers to do some outdoor activities with their clients. When passersby see that they're having fun while getting a workout, they are more apt to inquire about training/membership for themselves.

You may also consider using traditional media along with social media to connect with prospective members. Ask a reporter to go grocery shopping with your nutritionist (if you have one) and take those tips and post them in a blog and on other social media networks. Also inform your area's media if you have a the first-of -kind piece of equipment (that none of your competitors have) or training method and offer to work out the reporter as he/she communicates the story. Again, this can translate into a twitvid and other social media content.

Take your Gym outside - create club outdoor activities (walks, runs, hikes, bike rides, etc.). Have all attendees wear the club t-shirt/vest to become walking/running banners.

you say you have beautiful facilities... and so it seems to me you want more people to come and visit these facilities.

In addition to exercise rooms, do you have any sort of a meeting room or conference room? If so, could you make that room available for community organizations?

Some community facilities (such as libraries) offer free meeting space, but only to certain kinds of organizations (e.g. nonprofits). If you could invite community leaders to use your conference room and be exposed to your facilities, could this increase your exposure and enhance your standing in the community?

This is a pretty common question here so a search of past responses would help.

Cross-pollenation works well for building the database. Find a few local companies that are willing to share.

Referals from Nail techs and wedding consultants helps.

Pick the local hotels that don't have their own exercise facilities. They need you.

High school sports teams...depending on how good your facility is.

Healthcare professionals know they need to belong, but often don't.


Michael

The lead generation that I see used around me are:
- setting up booths at local festivals. Usually invitations to come try the gym for a week or so are given out at these booths.
- leaving door hangers in local areas, also with invitations to come down
- leaving fliers on car windshields in local areas.