by jimthomas | May 12, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, fitness management webinar, gym business, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Independent Health Club Survey, jim thomas on demand webinar, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
If you have built your fitness center business from the very beginning, chances are good that you have put in a lot of hard work and money to get it going and make it successful. Unfortunately, this can make it hard for you to look at your gym in a neutral way. This is one of the benefits of hiring a gym consulting firm to help you.
Even though your fitness center might be a labor of love, there is a chance that there are some improvements that could be made. If you haven’t updated the look of your gym on the inside or outside in a while, for example, it might be time to do so. If you have been marketing your fitness center in the same way for years, it might be time to try something new. If you haven’t made any major changes, it might be time to invest in some new equipment or start up some new classes.
An experienced consultant can look at your fitness center in an unbiased way and can help determine if there are any changes that need to be made. Then, you can work together to come up with a plan to update and improve your facility. This can help your business grow and improve and can even boost your bottom line. It can also help you ensure that your gym is successful in the long-term. If you are looking for a consulting firm that you can count on, contact us at Fitness Management and Consulting to find out how we can help.
by jimthomas | May 4, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, fitness management webinar, gym business, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Independent Health Club Survey, jim thomas on demand webinar, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
It is kind of surprising that there are still fitness clubs that do not have an active blog. In today’s social media environment, blogging is essential for attracting potential members. Regardless of how well your website is designed, an active blog is often the difference between 10 website visitors a day, and 500 visitors per day. Is that something you could use in your situation?
Ultimately, every blog entry creates a new web page and a new opportunity for a future member to find you. The typical business website will have 5-10 web pages, maybe even a few more depending on the design. While this may sell a prospect that is ready to buy a fitness club membership today, it is likely not enough to get the person to your website in the first place. Every blog post is a new page for the search engines to index, for visitors to share on social media, and for other websites to reference and link back.
While you can provide the same, generic information that so many other fitness clubs produce, in order to stand out you must create content that is uniquely valuable to your ideal fitness club member. While some of this may include the standard “How to Burn More Calories” articles, you must branch out with fresh and relevant content, and treat blogging as a creative work. With this in mind, here are some great blogging ideas to boost fitness club sales.
Blogging Ideas for Fitness Clubs
- Why you became a fitness professional and opened your club.
- Expose the bad advice or praise the good advice of a celebrity trainer.
- Share information about a successful fitness club event, consider adding photos or a video.
- Recommend a local restaurant and talk about your favorite menu item as a cheat meal.
- Demonstrate the use of a funny piece of fitness equipment.
- Write about a local charity or cause that your fitness club supports.
- Share healthy recipe versions of local or regional favorite foods.
- Answer real customer questions. If one person asked, there are many who wonder silently.
- Share behind the scenes stuff, such as celebrating an employee’s birthday or a baby shower.
- Review other local (non-competing) health and fitness businesses.
What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you like to talk about blogging ideas to boost fitness club sales, or a related topic, please contact us.
by jimthomas | Apr 27, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, fitness management webinar, gym business, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Independent Health Club Survey, jim thomas on demand webinar, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
Running a fitness center is a dream for many people. The work is rewarding, and you are your own boss. Having success is harder than many people realize. Although your work is important, you must make a profit when running your business. If you want to have success running a fitness center, you need to follow three key principles.
- Put Customers First
- Reduce Expenses
- Market to New Clients
Put Customers First
A lot of fitness centers are difficult for customers to enjoy. Building a quality experience for customers is first on your priority list. There are many fitness options that your customers can choose from. If it is not fun for customers, they will choose somewhere else for their fitness needs.
Reduce Expenses
When starting out in business, the expenses get increase quickly. As a business owner, reducing expenses leads to higher profits over time. Always make sure to think about the financial payback of every decision you make. It is tempting to upgrade your facility to the nicest one in town. However, you really need to market to your core customers in your local area. Spend money where it matters, but never spend so much that you go out of business.
Market to New Customers
Marketing is essential for any new business to have success. A lot of business owners struggle in this area. People who own a fitness center would rather be working with clients on their diet and exercise program. However, there are a lot of benefits to marketing. Especially when starting out, make sure to spend a considerable amount of time marketing to new clients. Starting a fitness center is not easy, but we are here to help in this process.
by jimthomas | Apr 21, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, fitness management webinar, gym business, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Independent Health Club Survey, jim thomas on demand webinar, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
When I first started as a sales person in the gym business, I was terrible. Every Monday when the sales standings would come out for the 4 clubs, I was dead last. I was so uncomfortable in the sales process, my mouth would actually get so dry that I could barely get any words out.
It’s amazing that I was not fired, but as long as I was still there, I wanted to get better. I was talking to a “seasoned” salesperson and he gave me a 2 inch thick 3-ring binder and told me me to go memorize it and I would be fine. I said fine, I’ll memorize it.
So, every moment that I had, I stood in front of my mirror at home withe recorder on and recited every script and scenario until I knew it perfectly. The results were astounding. Not only did my sales go up, but I became the sales manager of that very gym in 6 months and then at age 23 I opened my first of 6 gyms.
This experience has been the driving force in me putting togetherjimthomasondemand.com. I want to help you shorten the learning curve and improve your earnings.
I would like to invite you to try us out for FREE or 30 days. If you like it, it’s only $39 per month and quit when you like. jimthomasondemand.com
Includes over 600 expert led training modules to help you shorten the learning curve and improve bottom-line profitability. Keep your staff supported and engaged. Help is only a click away.
Here’s what others say; I am a sales professional with over three decades of sales and marketing experience but no experience in the fitness industry; your website is my lifeline and it’s secretly makes me look really really smart. John K. VP sales and marketing.
Your site is invaluable. I just wish I would have found you sooner. I’m making more money personally but now I can better develop my team so I can make bonus. John F. General Manager
Hope to see you there.
Thank you.
Jim
by jimthomas | Apr 21, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, fitness management webinar, gym business, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Independent Health Club Survey, jim thomas on demand webinar, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
You would likely rather have your team speaking to potential customers that sitting through a gym sales training session. However, not every person has a “sales personality” that will allow them to smoothly and effectively deal with potential customers. For many, it is a skill developed only with time and practice. Your gym sales team not only needs to sell your services and products, but also overcome economic forces, market conditions, and the competition. Gym sales training will help your team succeed and increase confidence.
The Value of Gym Sales Training
1. Improved Communication – Many gym salespeople love talking to people. However, that does not mean they have the well-developed communication skills needed to close the sale. Effective gym sales require active listening, and the ability to truly understand the desires and goals of a potential customer. If you ask the right questions, you will receive the information you need to provide customers with the solutions they want.
2. Sales Methodology – Gym sales training can teach your team the proven and successful step-by-step methods of winning. Rather than just improvising, your staff will stay on track with a presentation. Moreover, gym sales training will teach multiple closing strategies and techniques. Your team member should know how to read a consumer’s signals, and almost instinctively know when a person is ready to buy.
3. Product Knowledge – Whether it is gym memberships, personal training sessions, or fitness classes, your team must know your own products and what is offered by your competitors. A gym sales training program is an opportunity to educate your staff. The information must provide complete details, in an explicit and straightforward manner. This is the only way to properly represent your organization.
4. Aligning Solutions to Customer Needs – Identifying a potential customer’s needs and goals, and then providing solutions that properly fit, is the foundation of all sales within all industries. What does this person want to get out of their gym membership? What type of membership, personal training, and classes will help them reach their specific goals?
5. Overcoming Objections – This is the name of the game, and overcoming objections are a fundamental part of the sales process. A poorly trained team member may start agreeing with an objection and stop selling. They must learn to expect and anticipate objections and have the techniques to overcome them. Gym sales training will work and develop these skills.
6. Ensure Ethics – Your sales team is under a lot of pressure to perform and meet their goals. The stress can cause some employees to take risks that could compromise your gym’s reputation, values, and ethics. Gym sales training will help your staff understand the importance of ethical behavior and ensure that they will follow your values and protect your reputation.
What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like to talk about the value of gym sales training, or a related topic, please contact us.
by jimthomas | Apr 13, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, fitness management webinar, gym business, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Independent Health Club Survey, jim thomas on demand webinar, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
In today’s world, fitness center owners need all the help they can get to break through the noise and get noticed. Don’t you agree? Fitness center marketing is key. But, what is the best approach? For many, the first thought is expensive advertising and marketing campaigns. While this is often a good investment, things can start to get a little pricey. Therefore, it is a good idea to balance out your efforts by incorporating effective strategies that are inexpensive or even free.
If you have a limited marketing budget, you have nothing to worry about. There are many fitness marketing strategies that will not break the bank. Today’s article lists five strategies that will help you stretch a dollar.
Fitness Center Marketing Ideas
1. Increase Visibility – Joining the local business association is a great way to increase your visibility and name recognition. Also, consider donating time to large local charities and fundraising events. You will be surprised how much attention this will attract.
2. Public Relations – Reaching out to journalists is one of the oldest tricks in the book. That said, the demands for local columnists to produce new, fresh content has never been higher. Pick a great human interest story and spin your business activity.
3. Become a Social Networker – Fitness centers are ideal for social media marketing. Users on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram love fitness pictures, videos, tips, and advice. You can start with a do-it-yourself approach, and then upgrade to professional SMM as you grow.
4. Reward Customers – A referral program is a great way to encourage word-of-mouth marketing. Offer incentives for referrals. This can be things like a discount, free promotional items, or sweepstakes entries.
5. Meet-up Events – There are many small groups in your community looking for a venue to hold meet-ups. It could be anything from a book club to a support group. Providing a free space is a great way to get new people in the door.
What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like to talk about free and inexpensive fitness center marketing ideas, or related topics, please contact us.
