You might think that your small gym isnt newsworthy. Think again! Do something to help others, and you in turn will reap rewards. Your health club marketing opportunities are only limited by your own imagination.
1. Establish a food drive
Promote an offer of something like, "Bring in 3 canned goods and pay no enrollment". Not only are you driving traffic, you're also helping those less fortunate. Local media such as news stations and newspapers love writing about positive things. Let them know that you're working with a local homeless shelter and donating all canned goods to them.
2. Write for your local newspaper
If your town's newspaper doesn't have a weekly fitness write up, volunteer to write for them. Try to find other types of print media, smaller papers, community newsletters, etc that you can contribute to. There might also be local websites that are specific to your area that you could contribute to. If by chance you are not much of a writer, pay a staff member or use a service like Elance to find someone who will write for cheap.
3. Run a contest with a local radio station
The DJ can be your main contact person and they can help you promote a 2 month weight loss program to their listeners, who just happen to be local prospects for your fitness business. The DJ can make announcements regularly over the air, can get lots of listeners to send in applications, and form two teams to compete against each other to make the announcements more exciting. Make sure as part of the contest all contestants receive a complimentary membership. This will be a benefit to the radio station since they get to offer this bonus to their listeners. You can even give something to the people who weren't selected for the contest and/or ask for their contact information to follow up with them.
4. Run a contest for charity
Your members can get people to pledge money for the amount of exercising that you do. I.e. A dollar for every step you take on a stairclimber. You may not even have many people take part in the program, but it really doesn't make a difference. The radio station will still make a story out of it. Anything that puts some good news on the air is always welcome in our times of gloom and doom typical of media these days.
5. Provide free seminars
These can either be onsite at your facility or at a community center. If you call or visit your local Chamber of Commerce and ask about a listing of presentations, you will be amazed. People give presentations on anything from basketweaving to coding HTML. If they dont already have someone regularly presenting on fitness-related topics, just ask them to put you on the schedule. They announce all upcoming presentations to their member and email list.
6. Promote one of your members as local hero
Media loves success stories, especially ones that involve someone overcoming incredible odds. You probably know someone like this in your club, but why not allow members to submit applications to be SmithTown Fitness Hero. Have everyone submit a 300 word article on how they have overcome the odds and how your club has helped them. Once you select a winner, send a press release to the newspaper, Local SmithTown citizen wins Hero award. Of course, give something to everyone who submits an application. Perhaps frame and post all of the success stories and create a SmithTown Fitness Wall of Heroes at your club to let all of your members be inspired. Think of how powerful this would be to show a prospect as youre touring them!
Free publicity opportunities are everywhere. You just have to recognize or create opportunities for positive press. Come up with unique ideas and you will find that the local media will look forward to the next story they can do on you. - 16928
1. Establish a food drive
Promote an offer of something like, "Bring in 3 canned goods and pay no enrollment". Not only are you driving traffic, you're also helping those less fortunate. Local media such as news stations and newspapers love writing about positive things. Let them know that you're working with a local homeless shelter and donating all canned goods to them.
2. Write for your local newspaper
If your town's newspaper doesn't have a weekly fitness write up, volunteer to write for them. Try to find other types of print media, smaller papers, community newsletters, etc that you can contribute to. There might also be local websites that are specific to your area that you could contribute to. If by chance you are not much of a writer, pay a staff member or use a service like Elance to find someone who will write for cheap.
3. Run a contest with a local radio station
The DJ can be your main contact person and they can help you promote a 2 month weight loss program to their listeners, who just happen to be local prospects for your fitness business. The DJ can make announcements regularly over the air, can get lots of listeners to send in applications, and form two teams to compete against each other to make the announcements more exciting. Make sure as part of the contest all contestants receive a complimentary membership. This will be a benefit to the radio station since they get to offer this bonus to their listeners. You can even give something to the people who weren't selected for the contest and/or ask for their contact information to follow up with them.
4. Run a contest for charity
Your members can get people to pledge money for the amount of exercising that you do. I.e. A dollar for every step you take on a stairclimber. You may not even have many people take part in the program, but it really doesn't make a difference. The radio station will still make a story out of it. Anything that puts some good news on the air is always welcome in our times of gloom and doom typical of media these days.
5. Provide free seminars
These can either be onsite at your facility or at a community center. If you call or visit your local Chamber of Commerce and ask about a listing of presentations, you will be amazed. People give presentations on anything from basketweaving to coding HTML. If they dont already have someone regularly presenting on fitness-related topics, just ask them to put you on the schedule. They announce all upcoming presentations to their member and email list.
6. Promote one of your members as local hero
Media loves success stories, especially ones that involve someone overcoming incredible odds. You probably know someone like this in your club, but why not allow members to submit applications to be SmithTown Fitness Hero. Have everyone submit a 300 word article on how they have overcome the odds and how your club has helped them. Once you select a winner, send a press release to the newspaper, Local SmithTown citizen wins Hero award. Of course, give something to everyone who submits an application. Perhaps frame and post all of the success stories and create a SmithTown Fitness Wall of Heroes at your club to let all of your members be inspired. Think of how powerful this would be to show a prospect as youre touring them!
Free publicity opportunities are everywhere. You just have to recognize or create opportunities for positive press. Come up with unique ideas and you will find that the local media will look forward to the next story they can do on you. - 16928
About the Author:
Curtis Mock has quickly become the go to person for gym marketing advice. You can sign up for his gym marketing strategy of the week and be sure to take advantage of your trial membership to the powerful gym marketing resource site created specifically for fitness center owners.
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