Growing a gym base is equally exciting and challenging. It comes with its own perks and headaches. After setting up your gym, countless efforts are done for marketing. But one can say that marketing, never stops. It goes on and on and even changes many things about your business in the process.
Marketing means making your customers happy and satisfied. There are many ways to do it, but there is always room for improvement in our services. Doing some head-scratching will give you even more ideas, like using an incentive marketing strategy for your business to keep your gym membership active.
Gym businesses need to step up their game in the growing competition, as it is very easy to lose one member and then another. It’s like a train losing passengers at every stop.
Okay, quite a lot of fear is created here. But don’t worry—we are going to talk about incentive programs that will keep your business in a good position.
Incentive programs and their importance
So, let’s talk more about incentives. What are they, and why are they important?
Incentives are little gifts for your customers. These are different ideas to keep your services important for members. Incentives provide a way to keep your gym members engaged and active in their membership.
Incentives for gym members are very important because they make your customers feel valuable. They feel connected, and their local gym values their time and loyalty. Nowadays, it is primal for every gym to provide member incentive programs to keep its membership base consistent. This, in turn, also attracts new members and hence boosts gym growth.
In this journey of climbing the business ladder, incentives for gym members are crucial and prove successful for growth.
Gym incentives ideas
There are many ways to try incentive efforts to keep your gym members happy and active. It depends on your choice, budget, and the programs you choose for your customers.
Here are 15 ideas you can test and try for a growing membership.
1- Create community challenges
Gym members come and spend quality time in gyms. They make new friends with people next to their equipment. They enjoy this community and want to keep it for a long time. You can use more ideas to keep this community spirit alive and strong.
Community thrives in harmony and shared interests. You have both of them, so what are you waiting for? Create different challenges for them in a community setting to boost their interest. Hold a monthly fitness challenge like:
Monthly fitness challenges
Once a month fitness session outdoors. It is fresh and exciting for one day.
Weight loss challenge
People are frustrated with weight problems, so help them. A weight loss challenge would give them confidence and a strong motivation to achieve their goals.
Step challenge
It is the most simple and effective way to bring people together. Hold a thousand-step challenge. It will offer a healthy and enjoyable time with other gym friends.
Workout streak challenge
Streak challenges are always fun.
Though they are more common and easy for young people, older members could also participate. Create different streak limits and exercises. This will help everyone reach their goals consistently and boost their interest.
Charity fitness challenge
Charity brings positivity.
Holding local or sponsored charity events will bring people together in a larger number. People are interested in being part of charities, so offer them this now. Create small or big fitness challenges among members. Give the money to charities with your gym name.
2- Hold wellness classes
Create a positive community through wellness programs.
Gyms are for exercise and fitness goals but don’t limit it to only workout training. Be more helpful and engaging.
Create a wellness program for members. The program should focus on well-being and health. Hold meditation and yoga classes for members. You can also provide an informative question-and-answer session on health-related topics and meditation.
3- Offer reward programs
Who doesn’t love rewards and prizes? Kids, adults, and old people all love a gift and reward.
You can create specific reward programs that give discounts or free services to gym members. The member incentive programs for rewards include the following ideas:
Discount rewards points
Set up a point system. Members who attend the gym daily or complete workout sessions will earn points, which they can use to earn discounts on your services or events.
Merchandise rewards
Set a certain point system to earn discounts on merchandise. You can also offer free merchandise on passing the criteria of points.
Nutrition consulting rewards
Set rewards for nutrition programs. The high-point scorers will get free nutrition consultations or a pass for nutrition classes.
4- Tiered Membership Reward
Introduce a points system, and you can utilize it in any way for your gym. For example, offer a tiered membership system. The members with the highest points will achieve the tiered membership status.
The exercise points will upgrade their membership and gym benefits. These kinds of gym award ideas will increase your membership over time.
5- Free class passes
Set some fitness challenge prizes in your gym and offer free classes in return.
Free class passes to your gym, personal training sessions, or nutrition consultation classes. These gym incentives will increase their interest and loyalty to your gym.
6- Free month membership
Incentives for gym members should be big and valuable for your customers.
So, what’s the most significant award you can give your members? Maybe offering free membership for a whole month. You must think it is a very hefty fitness incentive membership cost, but it is a great way to earn loyalty in your customers’ hearts.
One month of free membership for exceeding points will be a great feature for your gym.
7- Renewal incentives
Your members earned points and were fed well during the whole year. Now, some of them might be bored or even thinking of quitting the gym. Some members might have found a new gym that attracts them. What are you going to do in this situation? Work on your retention efforts.
Retention for gyms is very important as no one wants to lose their members. So, offer renewal incentives for your customers to keep them stuck to your gym. These include the following:
Discounted renewal rates
Offer a discount on membership packages before their expiration date. This will keep members active in your gym and encourage them to continue using your services.
Extended membership
There is another way to renew the membership plans. Offer an extra month of extension on their package.
Free workshop access
In addition to the renewal of their membership, offer them a free workshop pass.
8- Free guest passes
Free stuff is never denied, whether it is useful or not.
If your gym has partnerships with other brands, use them for your members. Offer your customers free guest passes to different events or challenges in the fitness industry.
9- Holidays and seasonal events offers
Holidays and seasonal events bring joy and newness to life. It also brings happiness and additional discounts on brands. Gyms should do this, too.
Holiday discount packages
Offer discounts on holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year, and Juneteenth.
New year’s resolution packages
The New Year brings new opportunities. You can create a New Year’s resolution package and offer members special personalized training and classes.
10- Gift offers
Gifts are loved universally. Everyone loves to receive them without any special occasion. But of course, we can’t suggest offering gifts without any reason. But still, they are important.
So here is a plan.
Birthday offers
You can give special discounts on gym purchases on members’ birthdays.
Membership package gifts
You can also offer small gifts to members on getting a new or a special membership package.
11- Member only events
Keep your members active and engaged through events. An active gym with upcoming events about health and fitness always excites gymgoers. Keep your members engaged with your gym with health workshops. Here are some ideas
Members-only workshops
Hold health workshops and events for your members.
Members-only sales
Offer special member-only sales on gym packages and merchandise.
VIP early access
Give VIP early access to events, packages, and health-related materials to members.
Members-only competitions
Hold different competitions among members to boost their activity and engagement with the gym.
12- Referral programs
Referrals are great for boosting your business’s success. Your current members bringing new customers to your gym is something to be happy about. However, bringing new referrals is not easy at all. So, if a member does the free marketing for your gym, offer them something in return for their great efforts.
Discounted membership
You can offer them discounts on their membership plans.
Free month membership
Set a specific number of referrals. Then, offer one month of free membership to their current plan.
Free classes and special workshops
You can also offer some free classes and health workshops.
Merchandise discounts
Offer discounts on merchandise.
Membership upgrade
With referrals coming into your gym, offer a membership upgrade plan to keep members loyal to your gym.
13- Achievement and celebration ceremonies
Creating a strong community between your gym members is very crucial. Community brings a feeling of connectivity in people. With gym communities, people have become more goal-oriented than ever. You can provide the following opportunities in gym communities:
Member of the month
Bring joy to members by awarding them a member of the month award for achieving their fitness goals.
Anniversary celebrations and discount
Make them feel special by offering discounts and free class passes on membership anniversaries.
Success story features
Find more ways to celebrate your members and their success. Bring to light those members who have achieved their fitness goals. For elderly members, praise their health maintenance goals with success stories through blogs.
14- Product giveaways
If your gym has their fitness products, consider using them as a gift for your customers. It will make them feel special.
Monthly product wins
Hold a monthly product winning chance for maintaining points.
Social media contests
Social media has become a part of the fitness journey, too. People love to post and share their health achievements on social media.
You can create challenges among your gym community and offer product giveaways in return. Encourage members to keep posting their fitness journey on social media with hashtags. This would keep the gym community active and increase your gym’s reach to new customers.
New member welcome packs
Offer free merchandise and products to new members to welcome them.
Nutritional product samples
You can offer your winner members special nutritional product samples from other companies.
15- Partnerships and sponsorships
Partnerships offer more opportunities for growth and success for every business. Your gym must have partnerships with other health brands too. So, it is time to focus on these and use them for retention. Sponsorships with health programs can be used once or twice a year to keep members engaged throughout their journeys.
Discount partnerships
Offer discounts on products and services of your partnered brand.
Local health and wellness events
Sponsorship brings big health event opportunities. Give your loyal members a discount or free pass for health and wellness events.
Sponsored challenges
You can also use your partner brand’s resources and hold a sponsored challenge for members. This will boost their confidence and engagement.
Joint membership discounts
Offer joint membership discounts to customers of your partner brand.
Wrapping up
Every gym owner dreams of building a loyal gym membership base. This sweet dream can last as long as you want it to. Make your gym a special place for your customers, and you are good to go. Exciting challenges, discount offers, product giveaways, and sponsored events will be fruitful for your gym.
Keeping your members loyal with gym incentives is a constant effort. If you have not considered keeping a fitness incentive membership cost plan for your gym, what are you waiting for? Start over and create a new dedicated plan for incentives for gym members. These gym awards ideas will boost your business success more in the future.