When it comes to getting new members, there’s no substitute for referrals. When someone refers your business to a friend, they turn into a salesperson for you! It doesn’t matter how good you are at selling gym memberships – somebody’s friend will always sell better, faster and more efficiently than you can.
We have another referral plan that we want to share with you. WARNING: THIS IS HOT! If you fully implement this new referral idea, attack it with excitement, and don’t give up we guarantee you will see memberships increase!
The problem with many referral plans is that they inch along like a snail…..one person at a time. Pause for just a moment and think about all the women in your town – how long would it take to reach them one person at a time? Just about forever! Now consider what would happen if you could take your best members, your biggest believers, and have them refer you to 40, 50 or even 60 of their best friends all in the same day! Sound exciting? It should, because you can achieve this level of ‘hyper-referrals’ and kick your membership into MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE!
Ready? HERE’S THE PLAN: You should pay your members cold, hard cash to send out referral letters! Yes, you heard that right! You should pay your members cold, hard cash to send out referral letters! Have postcards or letters available in the gym and put up a sign saying "Instead of paying for advertising this month, we are going to pay you, our members, for referrals!"
Here's the deal. Any member who chooses to participate may send an unlimited number of letters or postcards to their friends or family. This mailer will say something like "I'm having a great time at [your gym], and I'm seeing results! The staff is great, and they actually make it fun to exercise! I’m feeling better than I have in years, and even my husband has noticed a difference."
You write the letters or postcards, and the members will simply sign it and write their own return address. Each mailer includes a 50% off registration coupon. You pay the postage. The member receives $1 for each mailer they send. If their friend joins using the coupon (they have to turn in the mailer) then the member gets an extra $10 bonus!
That's HUGE! A member can earn $1 for every friend they have, and possibly $11 for every friend they have!
If you're concerned about cost, you can simply make this offer open to all members up to $250. Or say that you have $250 (or whatever) in advertising budgeted that you'd like to give to your members instead of another advertising company. You CAN control the costs. As for the back-end $10 referral fee, it will take care of itself because remember that each new member will be paying you a registration fee + first month dues. In most circuit-training gyms, this initial payment works out to be in the $80 range. Paying $10 out of approximately $80 is not a bad deal, and you still get the monthly draft with no exceptions.
A personal referral from a friend or family member is like GOLD in this industry, so you should really expect great things from this promotion.
The key will be that you pay actual cash when the member signs the letter. Other members watch you pay Mary-the-Member cash and now they're interested too!
If you like this referral strategy, then you’re going to LOVE the rest of the information in our Gym Sales Manual. Just click here to check it out!
If you appreciate the information you're receiving for FREE from www.cuecd.com, then wouldn't this be a great time to refer us to other gym owners?
Be sure to visit http://cuecd.blogspot.com/ where you’ll find a business link for all circuit training gyms and health clubs. Get the latest fitness center business news and trade secrets with other gym owners.
Copyright www.cuecd.com 2008. All Rights Reserved. All content of website is protected by trademark and copyright law. Duplication, multiple installation, or other unlawful use of www.cuecd.com material constitutes copyright and/or trademark infringement and may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.
