Top 10 Ways to Get Your Fitness Studio Out in the Community

Getting your fitness studio out in the community is one of the best ways to attract new members and enhance your reputation in your surrounding area. The more people start to recognize your studio’s name, the more trust and interest you’ll build. Plus, getting out in the community is a fun thing to do with your team. To help you get started, we created a list of 10 ways to get out there and meet more people in your area.

1. Local Event Presence

Seasonal festivals, health fairs and fitness events are great places to talk to a large number of people. If the idea of presenting at an event is overwhelming, check out our tips on how to get the most out of setting up a booth at community events.

2. Serve the Underserved

Offer limited and special programs for your local community center, college or YMCA. Most programs run a season or semester and generate enough interest that you’ll bring in a few new members each time you do it. You’ll also generate good will with within your community because these programs bring health and fitness to populations that are often underserved.

3. Corporate Wellness

Connect with big employers in your area and offer to hold corporate wellness workouts and seminars for their employees. Since employers are always looking for ways to bring wellness into their office, your offer will be well received.

4. Host Seminars

Present and host free community seminars and workshops at your studio. You can cover a wide range of topics, like goal setting and achievement, stress management and heart-healthy living. Create an official event on Facebook and ask your current members to share it with their networks. You can also pay to promote the event to bring in a bigger audience.

5. Recreational Sports Teams

Sponsor a sports team. The team will wear your logo and serve as a walking (or running) advertisement. You can also offer a discount for participants, coaches and family members who want to work out at your studio. And better yet, allow them to come in and train for free at least once during their season.

6. Donate Memberships

Donate memberships for school fundraisers and pay to advertise in school programs and yearbooks.

7. Partner with Lululemon

Contact your local Lululemon and offer to hold a free community workout either at their store or your studio. (They will even publicize in-store events for you) You can also leave business cards and post flyers in their store to advertise your own upcoming events.

8. Pick a Charity

Sponsor a charity event. Try getting involved with a big event, like the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon or Be The Match Run/Walk. With big events like these, you can offer to lead a group warm-up and be an exhibitor at their Health and Wellness Expo.

9. Make a Difference

Consider forming an organization to serve a segment of the community you’re passionate about. This suggestion is perfect if you’re motivated purely by the desire to help others. For instance, the organization The Dragonfly Movement puts on workshops for teen girls to promote health, wellness and a healthy body image. Girl Be Whole charges participants to attend, so you don’t have to bear all the costs. But you would have the power to make a big difference in your community.

10. Fitness in Action

Finally, don’t let everyone else have all the fun. Get your team out to run a race like the Tough Mudder or the Spartan Race. Be sure to get decked out in your logo gear and eye-catching costumes to show the community how fun and fit you all are.

Having a social media presence isn’t enough to keep your business on the minds and in the hearts of the people in your local community. The most successful fitness studio owners do a good job of getting their business out around town. Whether it’s by giving back or by being seen, the road to success runs through your local community.

Get ideas on how to better market your studio in our 10 Step Marketing Guide for Fitness Studios. Download your copy today!