Marketing at workout places

[pureinsomniac]

I currently have some brochures at a local Curves workout place.  I have gotten two clients (not regulars) from it, which was just enough to pay back my costs. The brochures are being taken, so I know that the interest is there.  I just can't seem to tap into it.  All other marketing that I do is pretty successful.  So I don't know why this hasn't been more successful.I wrote a letter to the owners and offered my services for any open houses or member appreciation days that they may offer.    I had offered chair massage at a workout place like Curves in a town nearby, but the members didn't seem to want a massage after working out.   For anyone with experience marketing in workout places like Curves ect., please share any experiences or tips you have.Thanks so much!

 

[gregory s]

Marketing at workout places

I have seen very few gyms successfully market massage, whether an internal program or referrals.You would think it - along with yoga studios - are natural places for massage clients.I think a lot of it has to do with the economics/demographics. Gym memberships are one of the first uses for disposable income - everyone wants to look good and will pay a modest amount to do so. Not everyone wants to pay to feel good - your average massage is more than a monthly membership fee at Golds or Ballys.If you want to pursue it further, approach the staff and personal trainers who actually talk to the members and get to know them. Most of them probably have a friend who is an MT who they refer clients to.

 

[Chase E]

I have marketed in a few of these type places with moderate success.  I think the key is to have an owner/manager who is enthusiastic, as well as to get yourself in there and get your hands on the people and have them be able to see your face.  I've done a few "stress chats" at these types of places.  I had a drawing for a free massage to encourage attendance.  At one place it was a dud.....moderate turn-out, but no appointments or g.c.'s sold at all.  Another place, the owner has become a regular client and is very enthusiastic.  I've gotten a few clients from this one.  I'm doing a little "learn how to give your loved one a massage" thing this coming weekend......just some quick tips how they can relax a loved one without hurting the loved one or themselves and without getting tired too fast.  At another place I did chair massage before the holidays and sold gift certificates......that was a very successful visit......and the key was that the owner was very excited about it all and was telling everybody and anybody that I was coming to the place for chair massage.  If you are going to do a chair massage event at one of these places, the timing is crucial......around a gift giving holiday is perfect....Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Christmas.   Also, if you want to encourage appointments to be made, then offer a special of some sort for anybody who books an appointment that day.  How many times have we heard them say that they were definitely going to call for an appointment......you give 20 chair massages and at least 15 of them are definitely going to call and you're lucky if you hear from one of them.  If you have a promotion that encourages them to book the appointment right then and there, then you have a better chance of more appointments actually happening.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Marketing at workout places

My treatment room is located in a fitness center.  What I have found is that very few people want to come in after working out -- all sweaty -- and get a massage.  Probably one of the best types of marketing you can do is to work on the staff and offer an incentive to them to refer to you.  Once they know what type of work you do they will be more likely to refer their customers to you.Another way I've successfully marketed to gym members is by offering a drawing for a free 30 minute massage. This is good to get names for future marketing promo's because the people putting their names in the hat are interested in getting massage, albeit a freebie.  I always posted the name(s) of the winners in the gym and tried to get them on my appt book within a week or two of pulling their name.  (Having a polaroid or digital camera available to take their picture and post it with their name on a winners board helps the other members to identify the winner and ask them how it felt).  This helps keep excitement generated within the gym itself.  I also offered to make it an hour for additional $$ so they could experience a whole session rather than a teaser.  My experience in doing the 30 minute freebie is 1/3 will reschedule, 1/3 will buy GC's from you that day or down the road and 1/3 you will never hear from again.    (((FWIW, when I did this I pulled more than just one name out at a time because this a numbers game more than anything.  I generally pulled 15 names out at a time.  The more people coming in for a session, the more your name gets out amongst the club members and the more they will talk about you amongst themselves.)))

 

[jaymax173]

I used to work in a health club too and I was VERY busy and so were the other therapists. آ We had 2 or 3 MT's on every shift and were booked most of the time. آ I think my schedule was 90% booked....working 5 days a week. آ (and this is a monthly perceneforum.xxxe average)It's definitely something that can be done but you have to go about it the right way. آ Sometimes it depends who you are marketing to. آ It also takes some time to figure out what works where. آ What might work at one gym will not work at another. آ If what you're doing now isn't bringing you great results, change it up. آ Design some advertising that makes them feel some sense of urgency in getting in to see you. آ  Tell them why they should quit putting it off. آ Motivate them to take action NOW! آ Instead of having some brochures laying around, make up a poster or billboard or a handout that tells them why they should quit procrastinating. آ Make them feel that they can't live without it. آ Give them an incentive to book at a particular time of day or day of the week. آ People who workout are obviously concerned about their health. آ Give them healthy reasons why they NEED to get regular massage. آ Basically, you've got to put in their brains the motivation to do it. آ Just having some brochures lying around doesn't motivate people to pick up the phone and schedule an appointment.  (thought I'm not saying that's all you're doing)

 

[black keys x]

My usual MT works out of a health club. آ I like to go for a swim and sauna to get all loosened, then go for my massage. آ Whenever a new person joins the health club, they are shown around the treatment area, and introduced to the therapies available. آ They are very busy there, and appointments are about 2 weeks in advance. آ Other therapists, working independently in different modalities, also try to break into the membership with promotional leaflets left on the counter at the entrance, and events, such as talks and taster sessions. آ I get the feeling this is less successful, as the treatments are not on site, but I don't have evidence for this either way. آ There is also a massageplanete in the place, a spa, and lots of classes, and I guess that another way to market there will be to hang out, do the classes, meet people and chat.  Maybe even more successful would be to start building relationships with the personal trainers, maybe offer them free massages for recommending your services to their fitness clients.

 

[Diana]

Marketing at workout places

Alrighty....here's a post from a gal who's provided chair massage at several Curves around my metro area. What I did was first contact the owner at each Curves location and asked them if they would like me to come provide chair massage at 50% discount to the members on a one-time basis. If the turn-out was great, I could return once every month. I spoke with the owners via email and/or phone. Sometimes it was difficult to actually reach the owners as they all had very busy schedules. But pesistence did indeed pay off for most and they all were thrilled that I was providing this perk for their members. I believe they thought it was a great way to get additional members in the door to which I would agree.At every single Curves, I distributed my business cards to the owner and the members; a few of them called to set up appointments or to buy gift certificates. Most of them passed up the opportunity but I think this is because they are concerned about removing their clothing (for massage sessions) before they feel thin enough. Having said all this, I think that how the owner introduces your business to her members is crucial for your success. If they don't put much effort into it, the members probably won't show much interest. If I felt the excitement/enthusiasm in the owner's voice, I knew that my presence in her gym would be fairly well-received.Be well,Jen

 

[Anni Apple]

Hey all, Thanks for the replys.

......and the key was that the owner was very excited about it all

I definetly feel that I am lacking the owner's support.

(((FWIW, when I did this I pulled more than just one name out at a time because this a numbers game more than anything.  I generally pulled 15 names out at a time.  The more people coming in for a session, the more your name gets out amongst the club members and the more they will talk about you amongst themselves.)))

This is a good idea too.  I had thought about doing this once before, but never did it.  I felt I was lacking time to do the massages then since I was working for the DC full-time then.  I would be able to accomodate more people now.

Just having some brochures lying around doesn't motivate people to pick up the phone and schedule an appointment.  (thought I'm not saying that's all you're doing)

No offence taken.  This is what I did.  I called and asked to display my brochures there.  After I did, I wrote the owners a thank you letter and offered them a massage so they could understand the benefits and experience one for themselves.  I also offered them coupons off future services for every hour massage that I booked from having my information displayed there.  They have not used the GC and I did all this back in Oct.  Maybe they are busy, maybe not interested.  They are friendly when I drop in to leave more brochures.  Since the interest seems to be there, I will try a drawing.  I did coupons before on the original brochures and that generated most of the calls that I did get.  I run a regular coupon on my website.  I will also get my information to the other Curves that are in the area.  There are 3 more.What doesn't work for one, might work for another.Maybe I will be able to find a more enthusiastic owner.