Network Magazine summer 2015 | Page 23

curiosity and get people planning their attendance. An ad on the website – and perhaps a short preview video – can draw attention to a new class or a class that needs a boost. A Twitter reminder on the evening before the class can help remind followers to pack their gym gear and attend the next day. Online may be where we spend more and more of our time these days, but physical reminders can still make an impact. Put up posters in the gym, in the change rooms, in the entrance, and inside lockers. In short, make it impossible for members to not know about it! Nurture and respond Once you’ve launched, or re-launched, the class, give it time to be discovered, shared and experienced. If a class is taking a while to get some traction, but you are convinced that it has the potential to be really popular, then work with the instructor (if you are the group fitness Make it impossible for members to not know about it! manager – or vice versa), to tweak the way in which it is presented and promoted. Trial a different start time. Ensure the classes scheduled before and after it are complementary. Promote a ‘bring a friend for free’ offer. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Theme the class for Christmas, Australia Day or any other occasion. Enter class participants in random giveaways and make announcements to the whole club 10 minutes prior to class to encourage people to try it. If you believe the class has real benefits, and you want to share those with your members, don’t give up without making every effort to make it work. If it’s as good as you believe it to be, then once members have experienced it, enough of them should be converts to make it a success and secure its spot on the timetable. Cat Woods founded her Melbourne-based Ballet Sculpt as a barre class that doesn’t require a barre. She is also a writer and blogger with a passion for arts, health, beauty and design. Cat is available to deliver presentations on positive body image and cultivating a healthy and happy culture.  catcore.blogspot.com and @catty_tweeter MEMBERSHIP EARN YOUR FREE CEC! Every issue of Network magazine includes an article linked to a FREE 1-CEC exam, which you can complete at fitnessnetwork.com.au/cecs. This quarter, the multiple-choice exam is based on ‘Make your class a success’ and two other online articles by Cat Woods. To earn yourself 1 CEC, simply log on to fitnessnetwork.com.au/cecs, click on the FREE tab and select ‘Better Group Ex classes… and career!’ from the list. Read the linked articles online, successfully complete your exam, print your certificate and you’re done! For help logging on to the site, please email [email protected] or call our friendly team on 1300 493 832. 1300 493 832 | FITNESSNETWORK.COM.AU/CECS NETWORK SUMMER 2015 | 23