10 Ways to Generate More Leads at Your Fitness Business

If you own a fitness business, you know that clients come and go. They move, change jobs, take breaks—the list goes on. And while retention should always be your top priority, keeping a steady flow of new faces coming through your front door is equally important.

How do you continue to generate new leads for your studio or gym? Here are some ideas.

1. Optimize your intro offer

The idea of offering an enticing intro offer is nothing new, but it's important to reiterate again and again. An intro offer gives prospective customers a taste of what you offer and increases the chances of converting them into paying customers. Here are five considerations to make when creating, or revamping, your intro offer.

Mindbody customer? Opt into Promoted Intro Offers for maximum visibility on the Mindbody Marketplace—where millions of fitness, wellness, and beauty consumers are looking to book services like yours. Make sure to optimize your Marketplace listing as well.

2. Increase leads—and revenue—with ClassPass

Are you using ClassPass to boost leads and revenue? Listing your business on ClassPass automatically connects your business with thousands of prospective customers. You’ll meet new clients, fill spots that might otherwise go unfilled, and boost revenue. This blog breaks down exactly how ClassPass works to gain new leads.

The best part? We’re so confident ClassPass will increase leads and revenue, we guarantee it. (Terms apply.) In other words, there’s nothing to lose.

3. Promote your referral program

A referral program will help with both the acquisition of new customers and the retention of existing members. Offer incentives such as discounts, free sessions, or exclusive swag to encourage your community to spread the word about your business. If you’re a Mindbody customer, you can even discount a member's monthly fees for referring new clients to your business. Here's how.

Don’t forget to promote your referral program as much as possible. Highlight it on your website, social media, email marketing, and at your front desk. Use automated campaigns in Marketing Suite to remind members on a regular basis, without extra work on your part.

4. Ask for reviews

Want to boost your reputation, improve SEO, and attract new customers? Encourage satisfied members to leave online reviews on Google My Business, Yelp, or directly on the Mindbody app right after they take a class at your studio.

Get your front desk team on board to get the timing right and to make the ask as personalized as possible. Address them by their name and mention any specific details about recent milestones at your studio.

5. Lean into content marketing

Start a blog that provides valuable information, workout routines, healthy recipes, or motivational stories. Optimize your content with relevant keywords (check out these SEO best practices) to attract organic traffic and capture leads. Search engine algorithms favor websites that regularly provide fresh, valuable content. As a result, your website's visibility and rankings in search engine results pages can improve, leading to increased site traffic.

Remember: SEO is a long game. It takes time, thought, and consistency to create and maintain. That said, the results are well worth it.

6. Get creative on social

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok (check out these TikTok ideas), Facebook, and YouTube showcase your brand and expertise. Commit to regularly sharing valuable content, success stories, on-the-go workouts, form tips, and transformations to engage your audience. Offer exclusive promotions for social media followers, too.

Looking to take your social game up a notch? Invest in paid social media ads. Set clear goals, create compelling ad content, and keep tabs on performance. Test different ad variations, targeting options, and audience segments to further optimize your results.

7. Partner with local influencers and businesses

No matter where your business is located, there are sure to be local influencers who can increase your studio’s visibility. Have them visit and promote your fitness business through sponsored posts, guest appearances, or joint events. Doing so will help you tap into their follower base and gain exposure to potential leads.

Similarly, collaborate with complementary businesses in your area, such as athletic apparel retailers, health food stores, physical therapy clinics, or other wellness businesses. Cross-promote each other's services and provide exclusive offers to customers referred by your partners.

8. Develop corporate wellness partnerships

Corporate partner relationships are a win-win-win. They open your business up to a large number of new leads, provide a valuable benefit for employees, and lead to a healthier, more motivated workforce.

As with any relationship, a corporate partnership requires a genuine commitment to collaboration and clear communication. Here are 5 steps to build a successful corporate partnership.

9. Get creative with challenges

Fitness challenges should encourage participation from prospective clients—not just existing members. Offer prizes or discounts for winners and promote these events through social media, at local events, and on your website. Read this blog post for a fresh perspective on fitness challenges.

10. Host an event

Events give you the opportunity to showcase your facility and services to potential customers in a fun, social environment. Whether you host an open house, pop-up event, or workshop, be sure to collect contact information from attendees and follow up with them afterward.

As always, keep a close eye on the effectiveness of any of these strategies and adjust your approach accordingly. Your next challenge? Retaining all those new leads. This list outlines 30+ ideas to keep clients coming back again and again.