Fitness boot camp marketing isn’t very different from marketing another type of personal training business. In fact, when it comes right down to it- marketing a boot camp is actually a lot less costly than it’s one-on-one personal training counterpart, so that’s something to consider if you’re thinking of starting a fitness business and haven’t decided which business model to adopt.

Marketing is the lifeblood of your business so if you don’t have a very good grasp on it, don’t worry. This post is all about laying down the fundamentals and getting more clients for your business.

But before we get into any of that- there’s one thing that we have to get crystal clear. One important aspect to your business that, if you don’t have it, will make growing your business impossible. And that one thing is RESULTS. You have to know how to get your boot camp clients results. Look, you’re a personal trainer and if you can’t get this one thing right then you’re not cut out to be a fitness business owner.

If your clients aren’t completely raving over their results then that’s your first marketing step. Get results. Now, let’s say that you already know how to get your clients results like the professional you are- are you delivering an awesome experience? That’s fitness marketing step number two. Get results and create exciting workouts that don’t bore your clients.

Once you’ve got these two basic things down pat, you’re ready to roll out with some of these other awesome marketing techniques.

Referral Generation

Referrals are great- they come to you already trusting what you have to offer because they were recommended to you by a loved one and they’re much easier to sell to than someone who just found you off the street. Having referral generation systems in place will help you to get more of the leads that convert.

One way to naturally get clients to refer you is for you to have a banging boot camp, and just like we mentioned earlier- you have to do your part to make sure that you’re getting results and that you’re creating an awesome experience for people to be raving about your boot camp.

Not only should you do all that, but you also need to set the expectation for referrals early on. When a new clients signs on with you, be sure to say something like, “Mrs. Smith, as I help you become more fit and in the best shape possible, can I count on you to help me get what I’m after, which is more awesome clients like yourself?”

By setting up this expectation first and foremost, you’re never going to feel awkward asking for them down the line, should you ever need to. And most will appreciate you being up front about it. And if you’re going out of your way to deliver results and a great experience, your clients will have no problem recommending you to their friends and family.

If you have a boot camp that’s already established then running a referral contest is a great way to get more leads quickly. Make the prize worthwhile like an iPad or something cool, and give out points for referrals. The client with the most points wins the prize. Award the prize in front of everyone and make a big deal out of it so that others will know that you reward referrals. Implement a referral reward system so that every time someone refers a new lead and they sign on- they get some kind of credit.

Reactivate Former Clients

Okay, this one might sound a little intimidating, especially if you’re not a real “people person”, but it’s important that you try to reactivate your former clients- or at least find out why they left in the first place. Figuring out the reason why someone left your boot camp will be the one thing that will help you keep many other clients, so don’t be afraid of approaching past clients.

Start by giving exit interviews for clients who are currently in the process of leaving your boot camp. Ask them why they’re leaving and really listen to what they have to say. Keep a record of what clients say when they leave you so that when you start reactivating you can use what you’ve learned to show that you have listened to clients’ concerns.

If they cite the reason for leaving as strictly financial, then you can hit them up with a great promotion. You can do this through email, phone, or direct mail. If they left because they wanted to try out a different facility- then ask questions to get an idea of what they offer. The most important part is to track answers. It’s true that you can learn the most from your satisfied customers, so don’t be shy- get to the nitty gritty and figure out why people leave.

So, the biggest takeaway here is make sure that your clients are getting the results they paid for and have a good time while doing it. Then, you’ll have a much easier time with referral generation and reactivation.

This entry was posted on January 27, 2014 at 4:20 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Boot Camp Business, Boot Camp Marketing, Boot Camp Strategies, How To Start a Fitness Boot Camp Business by Steve Hochman | No Comments Yet