Leverage Word of Mouth Marketing to Grow Your Fitness Business

In the dynamic realm of health and wellness, a timeless truth prevails: the significance of word-of-mouth marketing endures.

As we step into 2024, it's time to adapt and embrace the digital era of "word-of-mouth" and online reviews. You can have the most aesthetic studio, the most diverse gym, the kindest health care staff...

But when there's no system or process in place to capture the kudos that your clientele is sharing, you miss out on huge opportunities to grow your business.

As health and fitness business owners, everyone always says they'll leave a review. But they often don't. And it's understandable.

Life gets busy. We all forget the day to day grind of life.

And that's why we're excited to dig deep into this topic with you today. 

What's the Buzz About Word of Mouth Marketing in the Fitness Industry?

Word-of-mouth marketing has a ripple effect.

One satisfied client tells another, and it keeps going. In the health and fitness sector, these personal recommendations are gold.

People trust their friends and family when they hear about how amazing their yoga session was or how motivating the vibes were at the new gym they found.. The online review statistics speak for themselves. Check it out:

• Word-of-mouth is responsible for $6 trillion in annual global spending and 13% of all sales
• 28% of customers prefer to find out about a new brand, product, or service through word-of-mouth
• Word-of-mouth has a higher research-to-purchase ratio than social media, digital advertising, and print ads
• Word-of-mouth publicity generates five times the sales of paid ads
• A survey by ActiveCampaign revealed that 42% of customers find out about Black-owned businesses by word-of-mouth

However, the internet has transformed the way these conversations happen. Word of mouth marketing doesn't just happen face-to-face.

It's now online, and online reviews play a pivotal role. As a professional in the health and fitness industry, you can't afford to ignore this powerful tool for growth.

Online Reviews: The Modern-Day Word of Mouth

Think of online reviews as the 21st-century version of your clients chatting over a matcha latte. When someone leaves a positive review for your fitness business, it's like a digital high-five that resonates with potential customers. So, why are online reviews so essential in the fitness industry?

• Credibility Boost: In a competitive market, having a solid collection of positive online reviews sets you apart as a trustworthy and reliable choice.
• Social Proof: Reviews serve as social proof. They give newcomers a peek into the real-life experiences of your clients, influencing their decision to give your services a try.
• Improved SEO: Search engines love fresh, user-generated content, and reviews provide exactly that. Good reviews can help improve your search engine rankings, making you more discoverable.
• Constructive Feedback: Reviews aren't just about the good stuff. Constructive feedback directly from your customers can help you identify areas for improvement, allowing you to fine-tune your offerings. Remember: negative reviews can be turned into positive future experiences.

Now that we've established why online reviews are invaluable let's dive into the heart of the matter: how to collect more of these digital gems.

The Art of Review Collection

Getting online reviews isn't rocket science, but it does require some strategy and effort. Here's a step-by-step guide to collecting those glowing testimonials:

1. Provide Outstanding Service: The foundation of great reviews is exceptional service. Ensure your clients have a memorable experience every time they visit your establishment.
2. Ask for Reviews: Don't be shy about it! Politely ask satisfied clients to leave a review. Seriously — in a 2023 BrightLocal consumer review survey, 65% of consumers left reviews in response to requests from a business.
3. Utilize Email Marketing: Send follow-up emails to clients after their sessions, requesting feedback. Make the process as simple as possible by including direct links to your review platforms.
4. Make It Convenient: Display review platform links prominently on your website and social media pages. Time is precious, after all. The easier you make it for clients to leave a review, the higher the chances are that they actually will.
5. Respond to Reviews: Responding to every review shows past customers that you actually care about your customers and business. Positive, negative, doesn't matter. Respond to both to engage and build stronger connections with your clients.

Word of Mouth Marketing: The Online Amplifier

As a seasoned professional in the health and fitness industry, you already understand the value of personal recommendations. Now, imagine those recommendations going viral like the latest #bestfitness TikTok video.

Would be nice, right? Here's why embracing this trend is a game-changer for your fitness business:

• Exponential Growth: One positive review can inspire many more clients to join your fitness community. It's like a snowball effect, with each review adding momentum.
• Targeted Marketing: Online reviews help you target your ideal audience. When people share their fitness success stories, it resonates with those seeking similar results.
• Brand Advocacy: Happy clients turned brand advocates can become your strongest marketing assets. Their word-of-mouth recommendations continue to work for you 24/7.
• Trust and Authenticity: In an age of skepticism, online reviews offer authenticity strengthen your brand's reputation. People can smell and spot a fake review from a mile away. So if possible, get as many of those organic 5-star reviews as possible.

Get Your Business's Reputation the Clean Bill of Health It Deserves

In 2024, word-of-mouth marketing in the fitness industry takes a bold leap into the digital arena, and it's time to ride this wave of opportunity. Collecting online reviews is no longer an option; it's a necessity for the growth of your fitness business.

So, go ahead, ask for those reviews, engage with your clients online, and watch your reputation and client base flourish. In this new year, strive for the stars by embracing the power of online reviews and word of mouth marketing. Your fitness empire will thank you for it.

Stay motivated, stay healthy, and keep the reviews rolling in!

If you could fully automate your reviews and referrals engine, would you?

NiceJob is the all-in-one reputation marketing platform that easily gets local businesses more reviews, referrals, and sales

Plus, NiceJob integrates directly with Mindbody!

From automated review campaigns proven to win, on average, 4x more reviews to social proof website widgets to sentiment analysis and team leaderboard insights — the Mindbody and NiceJob one-two punch is the combo that gives your business a winning reputation!