WNiF Magazine - Autumn 2016 Edition | Page 14

is a two way street. Lynsey says you can make a real connection with your members by interacting and this can be as simple as having a return email address or asking for comments on a Facebook post. One of the biggest advantages of social media, according It’s not a surprise anymore to hear the email notification sound. Marketing has become so commonplace that if the message isn’t relevant, engaging or unique, it’s often overlooked. 14 to Justin is the geo-tagging ability to ‘check in’ to a location, which lends itself extremely well to word-of-mouth marketing. ‘By doing this [checking in], their friends will see it on their newsfeed and this could spark an interest for the member and their friend to have a conversation about your business.’ It’s not a surprise anymore to hear the email notification sound. Marketing has become so commonplace that if the message isn’t relevant, engaging or unique, it’s often overlooked. Communication comes into play within every aspect of your business and facility, including non-verbal forms. What is the overall brand message you are sending? ‘Consider your gym as an experience,’ says Damien. ‘How do you present this to your members from the moment they walk in the door?’ Everything from the greeting from your staff to the cleanliness, layout, design and machinery send a specific brand message. Damien says to consider the message you would like to craft from all of these elements and make your staff an integral part of delivering it. Whichever forms of communication you decide to use, the common denominator is consistency. ‘If you send a newsletter each month,’ says Lynsey, ‘send it at a regular time and post consistently to your social accounts.’ Devote time to developing the best communication plan for your members to ensure your messages are heard loud and clear! 1 http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/ mobiles/twothirds-of-aussies-own-asmartphone-report-20130729-2quj1.html WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2016