11 WAYS TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR CROSSFIT MEMBERSHIPS IN 2016.

1. TAKE A GAZILLION PICTURES. Sure, it might not seem like the best use of your time

when you have a million other things to do, but it’s an

opportunity to capture the essence of your box, how the

workouts challenge your members, and the community that

experience creates.

Make sure to capture these great moments on camera and

encourage your members and coaches to send you their

best pics too. You can use these photos to your benefit on

social media because people love to see themselves doing

cool things and you know they’re going to share it, their

mom might even share it too.

It’s important to keep your gazillion photos in files and

tagged with keywords that will be useful later. Like maybe

the member’s name, the movement, the year, etc. That way

when you need a photo for a marketing promo you can

easily find the best one.

Do you post daily WODs on your website? Great! Now post that link to

Facebook. One post down, three to go! You’ll reach your members and

followers who are potential members. But don’t forget about Instagram. You

can post pics of the day there. Get in your members’ social space as much

as possible. Soon they’ll be checking FB and IG just to see if there’s anything

they missed from you. Post often and post positively… No negative tones

or shaming. It’s also important to mix up your subjects. Don’t post about the

same person or thing too often. Figure out who your best referral sources are.

Those are the people that shouldn’t be missed.

To make sure you don’t run out of ideas or miss any great opportunities,

try using a promo calendar. You can create this calendar to note any

relevant happenings/holidays that you might do something creative for and

competitions/events/challenges you anticipate members to get involved with.

Then also schedule themes for each week/month that coincide with those

events or stand alone as their own little promo.

For example: Nutrition tips, yummy member recipes , CrossFit moms who

are stronger than ever, how people use their fitness outside the gym, masters

athletes kicking butt, ex athletes, ex couch potatoes, etc. Make sure to write

a blog for every promo theme and share it. The extra links to your website are

excellent for SEO (search engine optimization).

2. BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

It’s incredible how many people try CrossFit or a new gym for the first time

just because their friend or family member invited them. But how do you get

your current members to love their experience so much that they not only stay,

but bring new people with them? Keep your members engaged in your gym

community as much as possible online and off.

Online: Start a members only Facebook group where they can post and get to

know members that work out at different times. Our gym’s FB group has about

7-10 posts every day and range from Lulu re-sales, to looking for competition

partners, to food finds, to funny memes. It’s also a great place for you to post

announcements to members.

Offline: When your members aren’t checking your social media pages, make

sure they’re planning to attend the next gym event. Every time they turn

around there should be another reason to get involved. Remember, any reason

is a reason to party. Is everyone talking about the big fight? Get it at the gym

and have a pot luck. Taco Truck Tuesday for the month? Yes please! Members

can chow down after their workout and fellowship. Host a hike or excursion,

sponsor a members only softball team, you get the idea… do it ALL!

3. FOSTER MEMBER FRIENDSHIPS.

4. RESPOND TO INQUIRIES FASTER THAN YOU CAN DO FRAN.

No matter how big or small the question, your

promptness makes people feel important. And following

through seels the deal. Also, if you have the chance, use

the phone often. That adds an even more impressive

level of customer service and sets you apart from the

“take it or leave it” owners out there.

If you have a lot of walk-in traffic, be sure you have

a front desk area set up that is in the coaches or

admin’s view at all times. Remember walk-ins are not

interruptions, but opportunities. Engage with that person,

make sure there are take-aways and invite them to watch

the class for a bit if you’re doing double duty as coach

so you can divide your attention between your class and

this possible new member.

They are trying to hide it, but they are intimidated. They are doubtful of their

abilities. Everyone has super powers compared to them. Depending on what fits

best, try carving out some time to give new crossfitters your undivided attention…

You might set hours where a coach can be available for more personalized skill

sessions or even to just talk it out.

5. TAKE SPECIAL INTEREST IN NEWBIES.

Member retention (and their probability to refer),

have a lot to do with what you know little about.

It’s amazing what comes to the surface in member

surveys. Being able to take criticism and turn it into a

positive is a tactic that will give you an edge.

Survey Monkey is a great, easy to use, online tool

that will make creating and analyzing the survey

very easy. Make sure to keep it short, around 10

questions, so that members aren’t overwhelmed and

actually participate. Ask specific questions if you want

specific answers (you do) and don’t forget to ask for

testimonials (although this shouldn’t be required).

6. FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE.

7. FLAUNT WHAT YOU’VE GOT.

Ah testimonials. Often overlooked, but not to be

underestimated. Testimonials are excellent content

for your website or promotional items. You might

even go as far as asking some of those who left

testimonials on their survey to post their words as

a review on Google Places, Yelp, and elsewhere.

Google loves reviews. They play a big roll in how

you’re ranked against competitors in a search.

This is the class time that busy business people

attend. Make it your most profitable class. Use your

resources and contacts to find out if there’s a nearby

corporate business that might be looking to offer a

fitness perk to it’s employees. A corporate account

can be very profitable. Some companies even

encourage physical fitness to increase productivity,

morale and decreased sick time. In fact, many even

pay their employees’ gym fees. Target a fitness

oriented CEO or decision maker, offer up your ideas,

a free trial, and the rest is history.

8. NOONERS WITH WHITE COLLARS.

Encouraging your coaches to keep learning and growing is important if you

want to keep growing as a gym. This could include sending them for additional

certifications or occasional refreshers of past course materials. Coaches may

also be provided with new research or studies that align with your box’s goals

or niche and then meet as a group to discuss practical ways the information

applies to coaching and member benefits. Kind of like a weird book club.

9. MAKE SURE YOUR COACHES KNOW THEIR SH*T.

CrossFit borrows from so many disciplines, you’ll

find people who want to specialize or get better at

specific modalities. For reference, a larger gym might

have speciality coaches for olympic weightlifting,

strength training, endurance, gymnastics, yoga

and even CrossFit Kids. Depending on your target

market, you might start with one or two of these and

go from there.

Lest we forget your competitive members. This

isn’t going to be a huge target market, but the right

combination of competitive athletes could put a

spotlight on your box and entice people who want

to train with the best. Appointing a coach/manager

for these athletes is a great way to keep the team

accountable and also delegate responsibility for

targeting specific competitions throughout the year.

It’s important for this person to also play an active

roll in encouraging members of all levels to also

participate. This will help the gym as a whole play a

supportive role for people looking to compete in the

sport of fitness.

10. TAP INTO SPECIALITIES.

You can do all this awesome

stuff, but if you make a bad first

impression on your website you

don’t even have a chance.

Your website shouldn’t just exist,

it should freakin’ make it rain. It

should reflect your ideal image

and help potential members make

a decision to visit you in person

by checking out your workouts,

coaches, specialities/expertise,

pricing, and even the ability to sign

up for a free trial or drop-in.

Developing a professional look is

growing more and more important

as CrossFit boxes become as

abundant as coffee shops. Show

people what sets you apart.

11. THINK LIKE A MARKETER.

DOES YOUR WEBSITE NEED A LIFT?

C O N T A C T U S

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