Successful trainers know that running a thriving fitness bootcamp, while a lot of work, can be very rewarding both financially and personally. You are basically getting paid (oftentimes paid VERY well) to help change people’s lives. Doing what you love to do is a great thing indeed.
The problem however is that getting and maintaining a steady stream of new clients can be tough. Because of that, you have to pay attention to your fitness marketing at all times.
So, to help you here are 5 guaranteed fitness marketing tips that will help keep your clients coming to you year after year:
1. Incentive based referral program. Of course, your clients will want to tell others about you if you do a good job. But to help things along, put some icing on that cake and offer them some rewards to make referrals more likely.
For example, you could offer them a free training session, or even a gift card to a nice restaurant. One client can pay you thousands of dollars over the years, so reward referrals very well!
2. Newsletter. Every good personal trainer needs an online newsletter. This of course can be tied into your website. While its beyond the scope here to go into website marketing in detail, basically you need to get it in front of where your potential clients are surfing online. When you do, make sure they can opt into your online newsletter. This will allow you to stay in front of them on a regular basis so they never forget about your services. Where do you get your newsletter list from in the beginning? From your current clients! Collect all their emails and start by sending the newsletter to them. They, in turn, forward it to others and that's how the list grows. Word to the wise: Make sure your content is valuable. Don't just try to sell people stuff. Include healthy recipes, exercises they can do at home, articles from the web etc. in your newsletter.
You’ve heard of Craigslist? Craigslist started out as a newsletter!
3. Get in the Chamber. Some people think of their local Chamber of Commerce as a stuffy organization of old business people, but it can be a goldmine for you if you commit to it. Join your local Chamber and get involved. Some of the biggest and most successful businesses in your area are members of this organization and many of them would LOVE to send their employees to your fitness boot camp.
Promise fewer sick days and higher productivity out of the employees and you will REALLY pique the interest of the owners and managers who are members.
4. Make them a star. Want to make SURE your clients refer you to others? Just videotape them kicking butt during an intense workout and then email them a little edited video showing them, along with their name underneath and some inspirational music. With today's technology, this is easy to do!
Oh yeah, don’t forget to add YOUR website and info on the video as well. Then encourage your client to show this video to all their friends. You can bet they will and you will know have your own viral marketing campaign being conducted FOR you…pretty cool, yes?
5. Go where your clients go. You can bet it is much easier to talk to people about attending your fitness boot camp if they are already thinking about the subject of fitness. Therefore, simply go to your local sporting goods store and offer to do a demonstration at the store for free. You can do a cross promotion where they will allow you to demonstrate in the store, and you can offer their coupons to your attendees.
Once you get some of the things mentioned above working, DON’T STOP. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are doing well is to stop marketing. They assume that the flow of clients will continue, but they are almost always wrong.
Remember, it is much easier to control the flow of clients than it is to turn the faucet on again once the flow has stopped. Keep your marketing efforts working for you, and you will ensure long term success from your fitness bootcamp for years to come!
Georgette Pann is a self employed personal trainer and successful boot camp trainer and is the creator of The Sure Victory Fitness Bootcamp Kit for trainers
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