EP.21: 13 Powerful Local Marketing Ideas That Work For Gyms- Fitness marketing Blueprints

Andrew: Are you looking for more ways to market your gym or fitness studio locally? In this episode, I'm going to outline 13 powerful marketing ideas that work for gym and studio owners.

Hi, if we’ve never met before, my name is Andrew Wallis and I help empower fitness business owners to make an impact doing what they love and I do that by helping them grow and monetize their visibility so they can get clients on demand.

1. Start a blog and write weekly posts about health and fitness 

If you're in the business of fitness, one local marketing strategy you can't afford to overlook is starting a blog. By creating weekly blog posts about health and fitness, you'll be able to reach a wider audience and promote your business at the same time. 

Plus, regular blogging can help improve your website's search engine ranking, making it more visible to potential clients and members.

Of course, not just any old blog will do. To be effective, your posts must be well-written, informative, and relevant to your target audience. 

But if you put in the effort, a fitness blog can be a great way to attract new clients and members and grow your business.

2. Create social media profiles for your gym and populate them regularly

Creating social media profiles for your local gym is a great way to not only increase awareness of your business, but also to engage with potential and current clients and members. 

When potential clients and members search for local gyms online, your social media profiles will be one of the first things they see. Populating your profiles regularly with relevant, engaging content will help to create a strong online presence for your gym. 

In addition to increasing brand awareness, regular postings on social media can also help to generate leads and drive sales. 

When local clients and members are looking for a new gym, your social media profiles can help you stand out from the competition. By investing in social media marketing, you can take your local fitness business to the next level. 

3. Hold regular events, such as group workouts, talks by local health experts, or charity events 

As a business owner, it's important to localize your marketing efforts in order to attract new clients and members from the surrounding community. 

One great way to do this is to hold regular events that are open to the public. Group workouts are a great way to get people interested in your fitness business, and you can also invite local health experts to give talks on various topics related to health and wellness. 

Charity events are also a great way to localize your fitness business and give back to the community. By holding regular events, you'll be able to attract new clients and members and build goodwill with the local community.

4. Give away free trial memberships to attract new clients and members 

As a local fitness business, one of the best ways to attract new clients and members is to offer free trial memberships. 

This allows potential clients and members to come in and experience all that your business has to offer without any upfront costs. Free trial memberships also create a sense of urgency and encourage people to sign up for a full membership before the trial period ends. 

To maximize the impact of your free trial memberships, be sure to market them heavily to your local community. Place ads in local newspapers and websites, distribute flyers in local businesses, and post signs in high-traffic areas. 

By making potential clients and members aware of your free trial offer, you'll be able to attract new business and grow your fitness center.

5. Partner with local businesses to offer discounts to their employees 

As a local business, you are always looking for ways to market your company and bring in new clients and members. One way to do this is to partner with other local businesses to offer discounts to their employees. 

For example, if you own a fitness business, you could offer a discount on memberships to employees of local businesses. This would not only help to get your name out there, but it would also help to build relationships with other local businesses. 

In addition, it would show employees that their employer is interested in their health and wellbeing. 

As a result, partnering with local businesses to offer discounts is a great way to market your company and build relationships with other local businesses.

6. Sponsor a local sports team or event 

As a local fitness business, one way you can marketing your company is by sponsoring a local sports team or event. 

This is a great way to get your name out there in the community and show your support for local athletes. Plus, it's a great way to build relationships with other local businesses. 

When you sponsor a team or event, you can provide banners or signage with your logo and contact information. You can also distribute promotional items like water bottles or t-shirts. 

And of course, you can offer discounts on your products and services to team members and attendees. 

By taking advantage of local marketing opportunities like this, you can help to grow your business and create a positive image in the community.

7. Distribute flyers in high traffic areas near your gym 

If you're looking for a way to market your local fitness business, distributing flyers in high-traffic areas near your gym is a great option. 

Flyers are an inexpensive and effective marketing tool that can help you reach a wide audience. Plus, if you distribute them in areas where people are already working out, you'll be able to target your ideal customer. 

When designing your flyer, be sure to include information about your services, special offers, and contact information. 

And don't forget to include a call-to-action, such as "Come in for a free workout!" By following these tips, you can make sure that your flyer is effective and gets results.

8. Place ads in the local newspapers or online directories 

While there are many national fitness companies that have the marketing budget to plaster their ads all over the place, as a local business, you need to be a little more strategic with your marketing efforts. 

One great way to market your fitness business is to place ads in local newspapers or online directories. 

This will ensure that your target market see your ad and knows about your business. Another benefit of local marketing is that it is usually less expensive than national campaigns. 

So if you are on a tight budget, local marketing may be the way to go. Whatever marketing strategy you choose, make sure you are strategic about it and that you are reaching your target market.

9. Provide free consultations with personal trainers to help people get started on their fitness journey 

Getting people engaged in their local fitness community can be difficult. You have to find the right mix of providing value and not seeming too salesy.

One way to do this is by offering free consultations with personal trainers. This helps people get started on their fitness journey by getting professional advice and customized workout plans. 

It also gets them in the door of your business, where they can see firsthand the great environment and services you provide. 

To make this work as a local marketing strategy, be sure to promote the free consultations heavily through local channels like flyers, posters, and social media. 

You can also offer a discount on personal training services for those who sign up for a consultation. 

By making it easy and affordable for people to get started on their fitness journey, you'll create a loyal base of clients and members who will keep coming back for more.

10. Offer classes at different times of the day so that there is something for everyone's schedule 

Staying fit and healthy is important for everyone, but it can be hard to find the time to go to the gym or participate in group fitness classes. 

That's why it's important to offer classes at different times of the day so that there is something for everyone's schedule. 

Offering a variety of class times also helps local marketing your fitness business. You can target a specific audience with each class, whether it's working mothers who need an early morning workout or retirees who are looking for an afternoon activity. 

By offering different times for different groups, you'll be able to local market your fitness business and attract more clients and members.

11. Make it easy for people to sign up for membership online or in person 

Marketing your fitness business membership can be a local or online endeavor, or a combination of both! If you have a physical location, make sure potential members know all the details about signing up for membership. 

This includes putting up signs in visible locations with clear instructions on how to sign up, as well as making sure staff are familiar with the process and can answer any questions potential members may have. 

You can also promote membership through local events and meetups related to fitness, health, and wellness.

If you're marketing your membership online, make sure your website is clear and easy to navigate, and that there is a clear call to action to sign up for membership. 

You can also use social media, email marketing, and online advertising to reach potential members. 

No matter what approach you take, the important thing is to make it easy for people to sign up for membership so they can start taking advantage of all your fitness business has to offer!

12. Have a clear pricing structure that is easy to understand 

Setting the right price for your fitness business is critical to its success. If you charge too little, you may not be able to cover your costs or make a profit. 

However, if you charge too much, you may discourage potential clients and members from signing up. The key is to find a pricing structure that is easy for clients and members to understand and that aligns with your local market. 

For example, if your competitors are charging $50 per month for unlimited classes, you may need to consider a similar price point in order to remain competitive.

 However, if there is little competition in your area, you may be able to charge more. 

Ultimately, the best way to determine the right price for your fitness business is to do some research on your local market and make sure your pricing reflects the value you offer.

13. Reward loyal clients and members with special offers and discounts

As a local fitness business, one of the best ways to reward your loyal clients and members is with special offers and discounts. 

This not only shows your appreciation for their patronage, but also helps to keep them coming back. 

Many businesses make the mistake of offering the same deals to all of their clients and members, regardless of loyalty. 

However, this can often be perceived as unfair, and may even lead to clients and members taking their business elsewhere. 

By offering loyalty discounts, you are sending a clear message that you value your clients and members' ongoing support. This not only helps to build goodwill, but can also lead to increased repeat business. 

So if you're looking to show your appreciation for your loyal clientele, consider offering them some exclusive deals and discounts.

Conclusion:

These thirteen local marketing ideas are a great place to start when you’re looking to drum up business for your gym. 

But remember, the key to success is always testing and measuring what works best for your specific location and target market. 

So get creative, have fun with it, and watch those membership numbers grow! 

Do you have any favorite local marketing techniques that we didn’t mention? Share them in the comments below – we would love to hear from you.