A lot of fitness centers see a drop in clients during the summer months. As the weather warms up, a lot of people take their workouts outdoors and don’t want to bother with the gym. This is also the time of year when people are making travel plans and adjusting schedules, which means their routines are totally thrown off. So what are you supposed to do as a fitness center owner to keep business up? Here are three ideas to market your fitness center in the summer to increase your client base:
1. Treat this as an opportunity to attract a new client base
The clients who are taking a summer hiatus are of a certain base. They’re probably habitual gym-goers who use machines that replicate the movements they can do outside during the summer months like treadmills or stationary bikes. Now’s the time to dig deep and find a new client base to market to. Maybe you can focus on parents who will have kids out of school for three months by lowering the cost of your childcare center during the summer or by offering “mommy and me” classes.
2. Run a corporate challenge
Not everyone gets the summer off, so this is a good time to offer corporate challenges to local businesses. Give them a discounted price to participate in a corporate challenge that includes training, classes and access to your facilities. A little friendly competition can go a long way toward gaining new clients who will stay on long after the challenge is over.
3. Offer outdoor classes
If you have the space, take some of your classes outside, or reserve a cool spot close by. Yoga at the park, for instance, can be more enticing than yoga inside your gym. Take your spin class out for a real bike ride once a week, or start an outdoor running program that lasts all summer. This idea will be enticing for your current members and will attract new members at the same time.
Running a fitness center has its challenges, including figuring out how to keep people interested in your gym during the spring and summer months. Use these ideas to market your gym to new and returning clients. To find out more ideas on how to market your fitness center, contact us today.
