If you own or manage a fitness club, you know that getting new members is crucial to your business. However, keeping existing members happy and engaged is just as important so that they keep coming back. Here are some key tips for retaining members at your fitness club.
Introduce New Classes
One of the best ways to keep members engaged is to continuously offer new workout classes. This gives them variety so that they don’t get bored doing the same routines over and over again. Consider hosting classes like yoga, Pilates, boxing, dance cardio, hardcore cycling, and more. For example, you could sign keen employees up for yoga teacher training in Surrey and then provide beginner and intermediate yoga classes. Offering yoga teacher training in Surrey to your employees allows you to have knowledgeable teachers leading popular classes that members will enjoy.
Upgrade Your Equipment
While classes keep people motivated, having the latest state-of-the-art equipment also helps attract and retain members. Set a budget for buying new machines, weights, cardio equipment, and other gear every year or two. Members will appreciate access to new treadmills, cross trainers, free weights, resistance bands, meditation cushions, and more. Consider surveying your members to find out what specific equipment they’d like to see in your fitness centre.
Offer Personal Training
Offer quality one-on-one personal training to members who want more focused attention and customised workouts. Your trainers can help people achieve specific fitness goals like building strength, losing weight, rehabilitating injuries, preparing for races, and more based on each individual's needs. Promote this service through flyers, social media, and your website so that more members take advantage of it.
Incentivise Members to Re-join
If members end up cancelling due to financial reasons, relocation, injuries, pregnancies, or other circumstances, make an effort to get them back when the timing is better. Send emails reminding them about your club and all it has to offer. Consider creating re-join offers, discounts, or referral bonuses to incentivise them to sign back up again. Make it as easy as possible for them by storing their preferences and fitness history so they can more or less pick up where they left off.
Offer Referral Rewards
Your happiest members who keep coming back can become excellent brand ambassadors to help market your facility. Set up a member referral programme where existing members get prizes like free months of membership, personal training sessions, or club swag when they refer friends who sign up. This mutually benefits new joiners and loyal long-time members.
Pay Attention to Feedback
Actively collect member feedback via surveys, comment cards, online reviews, and casual conversations at your gym. Monitor what they like and ways your fitness club can improve. Then actually use that input to implement changes based on member suggestions as much as possible. They will appreciate that you value their opinions.
Creating an engaging, member-centric environment takes effort but helps you build a tribe of devoted gym-goers who renew their memberships year after year. Offering fresh workout programmes, updated gear, personalised training services, and referral perks incentivises people to keep coming to your classes, using your equipment, and bringing friends. Pay attention to what your members want and need to constantly make your fitness club enticing and welcoming.