Inside The Big Corp Gyms? Marketing Ideas For Trainers

[TJB85]

Ok. Im going to give a list of all the things ive done and am doing inside of the big corp gyms to build possable new clients.

1. Floor Pulls "offer free pt sessions"
2. Dry erase board. "phases like free pt week sign up for your session TODAY!!!"
3. Drop box "enter to win" 1 week free pt training ext.
4. Current client referrels "ask the clients" they want to help! well most of the time.
5. Tables "Body Fat/Nutrition" talk to people show them where they are and how you can help them.
6. Drawing " EVERYONE WINS 1 FREE PT SESSION" i do 45 free pt sessions

These are my main 6 that i use and have had great success with. Hope this helps out some of you.

Lets see what others are doing to get these clients up there!!!

[gordonleroy14]

these look like great ideas!

[JoeCannonMSCSCS]

Try this tip that I usually mention in the classes I teach.
Get a blood pressure cuff and offer "free blood pressure readings". sit at the front door at a table with a sign that offers this
Everybody will sit down.
You will get to know them.
If you are the only trainer doing this, you will be seen as the smartest trainer in the gym. They will also get used to seeing you.
If they are seeking a trainer, they are likely going to hire the people they know, rather than strangers.

Do this for a few weeks and see what happens.
Good luck!

[RealXtrav]

Put up flier saying" First 5 to Sign-up this week for a discount on Personal Training" or Thanksgiving Fat Buster with a Personal Trainer or Make your New YEars Resolution COunt those pounds away" lol..they sound cheesy but It will work lol.

the discount will be let say save $120 if the session is $60. Pretty much you will give them one-week free of PT at the end of their package. They will forget about it anyways and if your an excellent, lovable PT they will re-invest plus refer clients to you!

[Simmo0508]

Those are great ideas if you're looking to give your time away for free, with no guarantee of a pay-off afterwards after those free sessions have concluded.

People will just eat it up if it's something they don't have to pay for and with no obligation. You're putting your time and effort into something, yet you aren't getting paid for it. Bad idea if you're looking to create an income here. There's only so many hours in the day, and only so much unpaid work can you do before it gets a bit too much.

A quality trainer does not give away free training sessions, sorry to say. By giving your services away for $0, you're essentially saying your worth and your business is $0. That's what it translates to onlookers.

If one's conversion rate is generally good and there's a pre-screening qualifying process, then by all means great go for it, but don't just give away free training to any tom dick jane or harry, because chances are they are just gonna take the free session and you'll never hear or see them again. Your time is valuable. Your time is money. Your time in the workplace is how you're supposed to make a living and pay the bills.

The prospects come when you've created a reputation and a brand, not necessarily by just handing out some free sessions.

[TJB85]

Those are great ideas if you're looking to give your time away for free, with no guarantee of a pay-off afterwards after those free sessions have concluded.

People will just eat it up if it's something they don't have to pay for and with no obligation. You're putting your time and effort into something, yet you aren't getting paid for it. Bad idea if you're looking to create an income here. There's only so many hours in the day, and only so much unpaid work can you do before it gets a bit too much.

A quality trainer does not give away free training sessions, sorry to say. By giving your services away for $0, you're essentially saying your worth and your business is $0. That's what it translates to onlookers.

If one's conversion rate is generally good and there's a pre-screening qualifying process, then by all means great go for it, but don't just give away free training to any tom dick jane or harry, because chances are they are just gonna take the free session and you'll never hear or see them again. Your time is valuable. Your time is money. Your time in the workplace is how you're supposed to make a living and pay the bills.

The prospects come when you've created a reputation and a brand, not necessarily by just handing out some free sessions.


I agree with you 100% on devaluing the product that you are selling. The name of the game inside of the big corporate gym is the more people you can sit down with the better chance your going to have on getting a sale.

Its like playing basketball the more shoots your team takes at the hoop your gonna score. I own a PT studio and i can not market that way because of slow traffic. I also work with pro fit one of the biggest pt companys in the us on marketing idea inside of the big gyms.

With you saying that A quality trainer does not give away free training sessions, sorry to say. By giving your services away for $0, you're essentially saying your worth and your business is $0. That's what it translates to onlookers.

I disagree with this statment due to that someone who is gonna be a quality client is not gonna pay good money without a test drive. Its just like buying a car. Good bad or ugly your gonna want to make sure that you as a client are getting your moneys worth. A GREAT trainer will always offer to a respectable client the "complementary". I do hate the word "FREE" but FREE attracts people. 100% of trainers Great or ****Y that are looking for clients are going to speak with clients are say can i offer you a session to see what i can do for you and your goals.

[ctgblue]

What about " every first Monday we have free donuts and pizza for you"
Oh wait Planet Fatness already does that, nevermind



Those are great ideas if you're looking to give your time away for free, with no guarantee of a pay-off afterwards after those free sessions have concluded.A quality trainer does not give away free training sessions, sorry to say. By giving your services away for $0, you're essentially saying your worth and your business is $0. That's what it translates to onlookers.


to a degree, this is true, but giving "free consultations and evaluations" is a good idea. SHOW them how much they actually need help, for free, and the sign them up for pay.


and don't forget the donuts.....

[TJB85]

What about " every first Monday we have free donuts and pizza for you"
Oh wait Planet Fatness already does that, nevermind




to a degree, this is true, but giving "free consultations and evaluations" is a good idea. SHOW them how much they actually need help, for free, and the sign them up for pay.


and don't forget the donuts.....


O WAIT ITS YOUR PLANET NOT HIS!!!!!!

THE PF over here gives away free coffie!!!

[Simmo0508]

A GREAT trainer will always offer to a respectable client the "complementary". I do hate the word "FREE" but FREE attracts people.

Agreed, complimentary is the better word to use. But with the word "free", it does attract people - cheap people that is.

It's one goal to attract prospects, it's another to attract quality prospects that turn into champion clients. 9 times out of 10 you won't have a consistent working relationship and a stream of income via a cheap client. Which sucks for big corporate gym franchisee's because their rent fees are generally much higher.

It's all about time management. Work on attracting high quality leads with a high probability for earning potential vs. attracting a mass number of cheap people for low probability of a profitable return.

Even in a big mainstream gym, you don't have to whore yourself out for free in order to build your business. Again like most things in life, it's about presenting yourself as a person the right way, to the right person. Chat with the older members, the members with expensive cars, expensive watches etc. Tell them you run a business. Ask them if they're a busy professional as well etc. Build relationships. Trust. Then request a business relationship re: you training them and improving their quality of life.

Cos at the end of the day, nobody wants a ****ty trainer. And ****ty trainers are the ones who devalue their time because they know they have very little else to offer in terms of attracting and advertising skills.

Rich (or the more well off) people hire trainers for consistent periods of time. They have the money to burn. Disposable income. Not regular joe blow or mother at home struggling to pay off the mortgage. These rich people have a tendency to want the best in life. They're impressionable. They're snobby. They're upper class. With that, you must present your business that same way in terms of acting like your service is the best.

[bigw10921]

I offer all my clients 1 free session for every referral they bring me that signs up...I speak at local business and charitable functions..I write a free article weekly for the local newspaper...And I am pretty much booked

[TJB85]

Agreed, complimentary is the better word to use. But with the word "free", it does attract people - cheap people that is.

It's one goal to attract prospects, it's another to attract quality prospects that turn into champion clients. 9 times out of 10 you won't have a consistent working relationship and a stream of income via a cheap client. Which sucks for big corporate gym franchisee's because their rent fees are generally much higher.

It's all about time management. Work on attracting high quality leads with a high probability for earning potential vs. attracting a mass number of cheap people for low probability of a profitable return.

Even in a big mainstream gym, you don't have to whore yourself out for free in order to build your business. Again like most things in life, it's about presenting yourself as a person the right way, to the right person. Chat with the older members, the members with expensive cars, expensive watches etc. Tell them you run a business. Ask them if they're a busy professional as well etc. Build relationships. Trust. Then request a business relationship re: you training them and improving their quality of life.

Cos at the end of the day, nobody wants a ****ty trainer. And ****ty trainers are the ones who devalue their time because they know they have very little else to offer in terms of attracting and advertising skills.

Rich (or the more well off) people hire trainers for consistent periods of time. They have the money to burn. Disposable income. Not regular joe blow or mother at home struggling to pay off the mortgage. These rich people have a tendency to want the best in life. They're impressionable. They're snobby. They're upper class. With that, you must present your business that same way in terms of acting like your service is the best.


You have solid points for sure. but lets keep in mind as well as i posted this to help people attact clients good or bad to help with there books.

[Smoothieking1]

Agreed, complimentary is the better word to use. But with the word "free", it does attract people - cheap people that is.

It's one goal to attract prospects, it's another to attract quality prospects that turn into champion clients. 9 times out of 10 you won't have a consistent working relationship and a stream of income via a cheap client. Which sucks for big corporate gym franchisee's because their rent fees are generally much higher.

It's all about time management. Work on attracting high quality leads with a high probability for earning potential vs. attracting a mass number of cheap people for low probability of a profitable return.

Even in a big mainstream gym, you don't have to whore yourself out for free in order to build your business. Again like most things in life, it's about presenting yourself as a person the right way, to the right person. Chat with the older members, the members with expensive cars, expensive watches etc. Tell them you run a business. Ask them if they're a busy professional as well etc. Build relationships. Trust. Then request a business relationship re: you training them and improving their quality of life.

Cos at the end of the day, nobody wants a ****ty trainer. And ****ty trainers are the ones who devalue their time because they know they have very little else to offer in terms of attracting and advertising skills.

Rich (or the more well off) people hire trainers for consistent periods of time. They have the money to burn. Disposable income. Not regular joe blow or mother at home struggling to pay off the mortgage. These rich people have a tendency to want the best in life. They're impressionable. They're snobby. They're upper class. With that, you must present your business that same way in terms of acting like your service is the best.

very valid point, it's finding a way to show everyone that your the go to guy, ur the head hancho, u know ur shiz and get paid for it

[RippedJohn]

Most places I see have that already but good idea nontheless. That's good to have.