Posted by on September 19, 2024 — Updated on July 23, 2025
To get more gym members, you need to implement a combination of effective gym marketing strategies, build a strong community, and offer personalized services that keep members engaged.
Attracting new gym members that stick around requires more than just traditional advertising; it involves providing value through targeted gym marketing ideas, gym referral program ideas that work, and delivering a standout gym customer experience.
The data below describes how gym members typically find a gym. This data can help gym owners understand effective ways to attract new gym members:
| Method of Finding a Gym | Percentage of Members | 
|---|---|
| Word of mouth/Referrals | 42% | 
| Location convenience | 38% | 
| Online search | 35% | 
| Social media advertising | 28% | 
| Traditional advertising | 22% | 
| Promotions/Discounts | 20% | 
| Fitness apps | 15% | 
| Health insurance programs | 12% | 
| Corporate partnerships | 10% | 
| Community events | 8% | 
(It’s important to note that these percentages may not add up to 100% as members often find gyms through multiple channels. Gym owners should consider using a combination of these methods to maximize their reach and attract a diverse membership base.)
This table provides insights into the most common ways people discover and choose gyms. Gym word of mouth marketing and referrals appear to be the most effective method, followed closely by convenient location. Online presence, including gym search engine optimization and gym social media advertising, also plays a significant role in attracting new gym members. Using the best gym marketing software and the best gym CRM software and the best personal trainer CRM software with the best gym check-in system software can help turn your ideas into action, and here is where a platform like Exercise.com really shines in helping you increase gym membership.
Gym owners can use this information to focus their marketing efforts on areas with the highest potential return and by identifying common gym member complaints and working to remedy them swiftly. For example, implementing a strong gym referral program could be highly effective. Additionally, ensuring the gym has a strong online presence and engaging in local gym partnership marketing and community events for gym marketing could help attract new members for a gym.
And, of course, having a dialed in gym member retention strategy is key, because you can get as many new gym members as you want but you don’t want a leaky bucket that causes them to just churn out the back door as quickly as you can get them.
Dealing with common gym member complaints head on isn’t always fun, but it’s critical.
Growing your gym membership base and dialing in your process for learning how to get new gym members requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both member acquisition and retention. By leveraging gym digital marketing, improving client engagement, and offering referral incentives, you can create a sustainable gym membership sales growth strategies that will increase membership for gyms without undue demands on budget or time. Below, we’ll guide you through actionable steps to help you attract and retain more members for your gym.
When it comes to growing your gym membership, it’s all about leveraging effective strategies that engage both new and existing members. Tools like automated marketing, referral programs, and on-demand workouts play a huge role in attracting and retaining members, and Exercise.com is the best gym management software to support all of these efforts. Learning how to get people to join a gym requires making use of the newest and most powerful software tools. It offers features like automated marketing, membership management, and performance tracking that are designed to grow your gym business.
For instance, gym referral programs are one of the most efficient ways to grow your gym through word-of-mouth. With Exercise.com, you can easily implement and track a referral system that rewards your current members for bringing in new clients. Not only can you automate reward distribution, but you can also gain insights into which members are referring the most clients, making it easier to fine-tune your approach.
On-demand workout content is another powerful way to extend your gym’s reach. Whether your members are traveling or prefer working out at home, offering virtual classes through Exercise.com’s on-demand platform ensures they remain engaged with your gym. This feature expands your membership base beyond your physical location and appeals to clients who value flexibility in their workout routines.
In addition, email and text marketing can help keep your gym top-of-mind for both potential and current members. With Exercise.com’s automated messaging features, you can set up welcome emails, send reminders about free trials or promotions, and even re-engage members who may be at risk of canceling. This type of personalized communication is a key component of a successful gym lead generation strategy and helps build stronger relationships with members and increases the chances of converting leads into long-term clients.
Exercise.com is the best gym management software to help you attract more members. Whether it’s through automating your marketing, simplifying referral programs, or offering on-demand workouts, Exercise.com gives you the tools needed to grow your gym effectively. With its robust features, you can streamline your operations, engage more members, and ultimately grow your business faster.
Book a demo today to see how Exercise.com can help you get more gym members and take your fitness business to the next level!
The first step in gaining more gym members is to optimize your gym digital marketing strategy. With most potential members searching online for fitness solutions, it’s crucial to have a strong online presence.
By focusing on these areas, you can capture potential members who are already interested in fitness. Exercise.com’s platform includes marketing automation tools to help you run targeted campaigns, optimize your gym SEO, and manage leads from ads all in one place, making it easier to convert online traffic into gym memberships.
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One of the most effective ways to get more gym members is by leveraging your existing member base through creating a gym referral program. Current members are your best advocates, and offering incentives can encourage them to bring in friends and family.
Exercise.com’s referral tracking feature makes it easy to manage and reward members who bring in new clients. You can automate referral rewards and monitor the success of your program, ensuring a steady stream of new members.
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Creating a sense of community within your gym is essential for attracting and retaining members. People are more likely to join and stay if they feel a sense of belonging and connection.
Exercise.com’s gym management software helps you create and maintain this sense of community with its engagement features. You can organize events, challenges, and track member participation easily. Plus, its client messaging tools allow for consistent communication and engagement with your members.
Offering personalized services, like fitness assessments and customized workout plans, can set your gym apart from the competition. Today’s fitness clients expect tailored experiences that cater to their unique goals and preferences.
With Exercise.com, you can personalize your services through its performance tracking, custom workout plan generation, and automated communication features. These capabilities help you offer a more engaging and individualized experience that keeps members coming back.
Ensuring a seamless experience from sign-up to daily gym usage is crucial to retaining members and encouraging them to spread the word. The best gym management software can streamline this experience, making it easy for new members to join and current members to stay engaged.
Exercise.com stands out as the best gym management software for creating an excellent member experience. Its platform includes online bookings, membership management, performance tracking, and mobile app integration, ensuring that your members have everything they need to stay connected and engaged with your gym.
To get more gym members, you need a comprehensive strategy that includes digital marketing, referrals, community building, and personalized services. Exercise.com provides the best tools to manage and grow your gym business, making it easy to implement these strategies and streamline your operations. With features like referral tracking, marketing automation, and performance tracking, Exercise.com helps you not only attract new members but also retain them.
Ready to grow your gym? Book a demo with Exercise.com today to see how it can help you increase your membership and take your business to the next level.
Attracting new members to your gym is essential for long-term growth, but it requires more than just opening your doors and waiting for people to come in. You need a proactive approach that combines marketing, community building, and outstanding customer service. Whether you’re a small boutique gym or a large fitness facility, implementing the right strategies can make all the difference in standing out in a competitive market.
To help you grow your membership base, here are 25 proven tips for attracting people to your gym. These tips cover everything from digital marketing to creating a welcoming environment, and many of them can be seamlessly integrated into Exercise.com’s gym management platform, making your efforts more efficient and effective.
Attracting new members to your gym requires a combination of strong marketing strategies, member engagement, and community involvement. By following these tips, you can create a welcoming, results-driven environment that not only attracts new members but also keeps them coming back. Exercise.com offers the tools you need to manage all aspects of your gym, from marketing and referrals to membership tracking and performance monitoring.
To see how Exercise.com can help you attract more gym members and streamline your operations, book a demo today and start growing your gym business! To see how Exercise.com can help you attract more gym members and streamline your operations, book a demo today and start growing your gym business!
To get more gym members online, it’s essential to leverage digital marketing strategies that target the right audience and convert leads into members. With the increasing demand for online searches and social media engagement, your gym’s online presence plays a significant role in attracting new clients.
Exercise.com makes it easy to manage all of these strategies. With marketing automation, online booking, and performance tracking, you can seamlessly convert online visitors into long-term gym members.
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Effective gym membership sales strategies focus on understanding potential members’ needs and presenting your gym as the solution. Building relationships, offering personalized tours, and addressing concerns can significantly boost membership sales.
With Exercise.com, you can track sales interactions, manage leads, and automate follow-up communications, making it easier to close more gym memberships.
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To convince someone to get a gym membership, focus on addressing their pain points and highlighting the benefits of joining your facility. Understanding their goals, offering solutions, and creating a welcoming environment are key to convincing potential members to commit.
Exercise.com allows you to personalize every interaction by offering tailored fitness plans, automated follow-ups, and engaging messaging to help convert prospects into loyal members.
Read More: How to Sell Gym Memberships Over the Phone
Running creative gym promotions is a great way to attract new members and increase engagement with your current clients. Promotions encourage urgency, create excitement, and offer value that can convert interested individuals into long-term members.
To keep excitement high, run a different promotion each month, allowing you to continually attract new members while re-engaging current clients.
Exercise.com helps you easily implement and manage these promotions by tracking referrals, automating promotional offers, and providing insights into which promotions bring the most success.
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Attracting more gym members and boosting your gym’s revenue requires a strategic approach that combines digital marketing, sales strategies, and creative promotions. Exercise.com is the ideal platform to help you manage these efforts, providing you with all the tools needed to track leads, automate promotions, and personalize member experiences.
Book a demo today to discover how Exercise.com can help you grow your gym membership and streamline your business operations.
To increase memberships at a gym, focus on referral programs, targeted marketing campaigns, and offering special promotions like free trials or discounted first months. You can also host community events or fitness challenges to engage potential members. Using gym management software like Exercise.com helps track leads, automate follow-ups, and manage promotions, ensuring you can maximize membership growth.
To get people into the gym, offer enticing promotions like free guest passes or a “bring a friend” day. Effective digital marketing, such as social media ads targeting your local community, can also draw people in. Creating partnerships with local businesses and offering corporate memberships can further boost foot traffic. Gym management software like Exercise.com helps track these campaigns and manage new leads effectively.
Encourage people to join the gym by providing a welcoming environment, offering flexible membership options, and highlighting the benefits of joining, such as access to personal training or group classes. Running refer a friend gym promotions and offering limited-time discounts can create urgency. Exercise.com helps automate these processes, making it easier to attract and convert potential members.
Maximize gym membership by retaining current members and upselling services like personal training or group fitness classes. Offering tiered memberships with added benefits can incentivize people to upgrade. Consistent communication with members through apps or email can keep them engaged. Exercise.com provides tools to manage memberships, track usage, and offer personalized experiences that enhance member retention and satisfaction.
Attract gym members by offering a variety of fitness classes, engaging marketing campaigns, and personalized onboarding experiences. Promotions such as a refer a friend gym discount can also bring in new members. Make use of digital marketing platforms to showcase your gym’s amenities and success stories. Exercise.com helps manage lead tracking, promotions, and member engagement, making it easier to attract and retain gym members.
Read More: Fitness Class Ideas
To retain customers in a gym, focus on building strong relationships with members through personalized services, regular check-ins, and community-building events. Offering incentives for long-term memberships and continuously improving the gym environment can also boost retention. Exercise.com provides tools to track member satisfaction, automate follow-ups, and offer loyalty programs, helping you retain members more effectively.
Read More: How do you retain customers in a gym?
Increase foot traffic in a gym by hosting events like fitness challenges, open houses, or community health fairs. Offering free trials or discounted day passes can also attract potential members. Strategic social media campaigns and referral programs can further drive traffic. Exercise.com helps manage and track these initiatives, ensuring that you convert foot traffic into memberships.
Add people to fitness classes by offering introductory or free classes to potential members. Promote the benefits of group workouts and create class-specific referral programs to encourage members to bring friends. Use social media to highlight class success stories and offer incentives for signing up early. Exercise.com helps manage class registrations, track attendance, and automate promotions, making it easy to fill classes.
To grow your gym business, focus on improving member retention, expanding your services, and optimizing your marketing strategy. Offering additional services like personal training, online coaching, and retail sales can boost revenue. Using Exercise.com helps you manage these services efficiently, track member progress, and automate marketing efforts to grow your gym business sustainably.
Read More: How can I grow my gym business?
Make your gym more inviting by ensuring the facility is clean, well-lit, and staffed with friendly, knowledgeable trainers. Create a welcoming atmosphere by offering amenities like comfortable seating areas, free Wi-Fi, and social spaces. Hosting social events, such as member appreciation days or fitness challenges, can foster a sense of community. Exercise.com helps manage these events and create a seamless experience for members.
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A short gym motto could be “Stronger Every Day” or “Your Fitness, Your Journey.” A strong motto should reflect your gym’s mission and inspire members to reach their goals.
Read More: Gym Slogan Ideas
Motivate a gym member to try personal training by offering free or discounted introductory sessions. Show them how personalized guidance can help them achieve their fitness goals faster and more effectively. Highlight success stories and explain the benefits of one-on-one coaching. Exercise.com allows you to promote personal training services through automated messages and track client progress.
Boost gym membership by offering promotions like limited-time discounts, referral programs, and free trials. Engage with potential members through targeted social media campaigns and local partnerships. Hosting fitness challenges or events can also attract new members. Using Exercise.com allows you to track these promotions, manage leads, and boost member acquisition efficiently.
Make your gym more social by organizing group activities such as fitness challenges, team-based classes, or social events like member appreciation days. Encourage interaction through social media groups or a member community app. Offering workshops or group seminars on fitness topics can also foster community engagement. Exercise.com helps manage event sign-ups and creates a space for community building within your gym.
To increase your gym membership price, offer added value such as new equipment, additional services like personal training, or enhanced amenities. Communicate the benefits of the price increase clearly to members and provide tiered membership options with varying benefits. Exercise.com helps manage membership pricing and track customer satisfaction, ensuring smooth transitions when adjusting pricing.
Read More: How can I increase my gym membership price?
Scale up your gym business by expanding your services, such as offering online classes, wellness programs, or opening additional locations. Implementing efficient operational systems and the best gym management software, like Exercise.com, allows you to manage memberships, streamline billing, and automate marketing efforts as you grow. Focusing on member retention and consistently attracting new members will also support scalable growth.
Exercise.com is the best gym management software for getting more gym members. It offers tools to manage marketing campaigns, automate follow-ups, track leads, and provide seamless member experiences. The software helps gym owners attract and retain members through personalized communication, easy class scheduling, and automated billing, all of which contribute to membership growth.

