Local yoga studios and health and wellness businesses are a mainstay in most local communities.
Participating drives physical wellness but also creates a sense of community.
While competition has grown, local yoga and fitness businesses are in a great position to add value to local customers/ students and trainers alike.
This simple marketing and content plan is based on our Marketing 3-4-5™ approach and shows how every local yoga studio, fitness trainer, gym and nutrionist can clearly and effectively market themselves online without requiring much time or expense.
As we always say, content drives marketing, and it's surprisingly easy for local businesses to follow a repeatable process for creating impactful content.
Below are simple ways for you to rapidly create content that is relevant, compelling, yet requires zero creativity for your yoga studio, gym, or fitness center.
Don't forget to link to any upcoming classes you can that include this exercise or position.
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.
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.
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:
This can be short, sweet, and to the point, as it reinforces what makes you unique and valuable.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Those should be turned into content and distributed online.
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:
Feature these on your website as well to keep people informed and prep them for visiting your studio or gym.
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.
Like sharing specific exercises, poses or approaches, sharing tips and suggestions for people to create an environment for success when they're away from the gym especially during COVID-19 helps people who are in need of guidance.
These are great ideas to showcase!
Let's face it, where you live matters to you - and it should. Why not highlight a local cause you support?
This makes you look good - it's ok to make yourself look good - and it shines a light on a local organization you care about in real life.
Go further by highlighting Local Connections™ and feature local events in a community calendar, we have an app for that ;)
Don't forget that the blog lives on your website and follow our suggested approach to post and distribute content online.
