Quick & Effective Marketing Plan for Local Yoga Studios, Fitness Trainers, and Gyms

Educating people on specific exercises is an easy way to cultivate interest and appear approachable

This is a great and easy way to produce content to attract more visitors and customers. You have an opportunity to explain a few key concepts that empower customers and helps people 'prepare to attend' since we all want to know we're able to do the exercises taught in the class.

• What is the exercise called and what muscles or body parts does it benefit?
• What does doing it the right way look like and what are common mistakes to avoid? Use pictures wherever you can.
• Why is this an exercise you recommend and what other exercises does it replace i.e. they have similar benefits?
• Is there a modified version people can do if they're not prepared for the standard? What about an advanced version?
• Do you have a quote from a student about this exercise that you can use to share their perspective - and add some social proof?

Don't forget to link to any upcoming classes you can that include this exercise or position.

If you're a nutritionist, you can replace the exercise with a recipe or ingredient and follow the same formula as above.

Highlighting instructors and employees in a blog post is an easy way to reward them for a job well done while helping people get to know your business.

You have a few options to recognize employees. You can recognize employees regularly as an employee of the month, you can recognize them in an ad-hoc way when customers report a great experience to you or even celebrate new hires or work anniversaries.

This is also an opportunity to identify any unique skills or experience they bring to the team and, if relevant, ways you are using their know-how to train up other members of your team.

Not only does this make the people at your business feel more approachable but, in many cases, your instructors also promote themselves and this gives them more to share with their audience - a win-win!

If you're hiring or looking for new instructors, including a note at the end of each Employee Recognition post alerting and linking readers to your job openings is a great way to use marketing to build your team - there are, after all, 3 reasons to do marketing.

What better way to attract customers than to celebrate how you helped deliver value?

This can be as simple as helping a wayward customer find what the class or group they've been looking for (those of us who are less informed can be intimidated by a yoga studio or gym and showing you know how to help us can be valuable).

Removing fear and uncertainty is ALWAYS a path to new customers.

Your service and classes are one-thing but telling a human-interest story is another.

People love to see that you provide a unique and personal experience while showing your appreciation to those who benefit from your business. Inspire people with how you have helped people on their weight-loss trek or assisted in someone meeting their muscle-gain quest.

If the person looks like me, has similar physical challenges or goals, has similar limitations (like a job, family, etc), and you're able to articulate how you helped them achieve success then I feel more comfortable that you'll likely be able to help me.

Ask your customer if they'd mind if you tell their mini-story. If they agree, take a picture with them in the front of your business or working out in a notable backdrop and ask them:

• Where they're from (local or visitor),
• What brought them in or why they've become a customer,
• Did they participate in person or connect in remotely and are there any COVID-specific adjustments that you've made to accommodate people?
• What's something they'd say to someone looking to get in shape or become healthy... or who wants to support local,
• What did they buy and how do they feel about their progress with you.

This can be short, sweet, and to the point, as it reinforces what makes you unique and valuable.

Businesses in health, wellness, and fitness realms tend to be quite well networked.

Whether we're talking about recommending complementary services providers or simply highlighting other local businesses you support and endorse there's an opportunity to leverage these relationships to mutual benefit.

Are there businesses that regularly send you referrals or to whom you regularly refer people? In particular, if you just got a referral that paid off from another business this is a great time to show them your appreciation.

Tell their story.

A simple post explaining the nature of your relationship and a simple Q&A with your partner is fast and easy. A few questions we recommend include:

• How did you get into the [business type]?
• What do you specialize in and what are your ideal types of projects?
• What role do referrals play in your business and how you work with clients?
• How did you meet [your business name]?
• What about [your business name] made you want to refer people to us?
• Do you have a motto or way of thinking about customer service for your business?
  

When you do this, you're showing you're a team player when it comes to the community, you get to share why other businesses think you're great, and you tap into your partner's audience all without breaking a sweat.

Surely your health, wellness or fitness business has seasonal considerations.

Whether we're talking about staying healthy during flu season, finding a time to work out while enjoying fun-in-the-sun, or tips to get ready for swimsuit season there's often an opportunity to make your insights and expertise more relevant.

What seasons considerations do you find yourself sharing with customers, friends, and family? 

Those should be turned into content and distributed online.

Let's face it, how we look working out matters (to most us)

A lot of people are uncertain of what to wear to look appropriate and to get the best results - see the comment above about removing uncertainty.

You can give people permission to participate when you make recommendations about clothing and attire:

• What is your studio or gyms required attire?
• What is the best outfit for a good workout session? Are there alternatives you'd recommend at different price-points? Explain the benefits and tradeoffs.
• Is there other useful equipment like gloves, shoes, mats, etc?
• Maybe you partner with some athletic brands, which do you can recommend or sell and why?

Feature these on your website as well to keep people informed and prep them for visiting your studio or gym. 

You most likely teach your own classes or perhaps you host free ones or open-houses as well.

In all cases, these classes should be listed on your website.

In fact, you should have a page on your website about classes, you should have a calendar on your website featuring upcoming classes (it should be sortable to show past classes too).

You can even do articles after classes highlighting an attendee or two - what they learned, what they did, what they thought of the experience etc.