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SnotBubbles's avatar

SnotBubbles

Master of teh QQ

4,492 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:05 PM
So I'm on the board at a non-profit organization that serves the community as a recreational/fitness center for families and individuals. Let's call it the ACMY, just for the purpose of this thread.

Our memberships have been slowly declining over the past few years, so the president of the board has asked us to come up with marketing ploys to help rejuvenate excitement in the community about the ACMY and help increase memberships.

If you are not a member of a place similar to this, but it's available in your community....what is holding you back? What would it take for you to join?

Our target group is really the 20-40 year old's with families who can utilize all that the ACMY has to offer (such as classes, courses, etc.) instead of just the fitness center (track, pool, weightroom).

Since most everyone on here is in that age group, I thought this might be a good place to get some feedback.

Thoughts? GFM?
Jun 19, 2012 3:05pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:14 PM
SnotBubbles;1204799 wrote:Our target group is really the 20-40 year old's with families who can utilize all that the ACMY has to offer (such as classes, courses, etc.) instead of just the fitness center (track, pool, weightroom).
I honestly have no idea outside of the pool and weightroom what you can do at an ACMY.
Jun 19, 2012 3:14pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:15 PM
Imo I think people are holding onto there money a little tighter then they used to. No one wants to spend it unless its something they really need. If the place is old and there is a new acmy around people will probably go to the newer place thinking its the cleaner of the two. Only way I would sign back up to the y or anything like that would be if it was an incredible deal.
Jun 19, 2012 3:15pm
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:16 PM
First month free with sign up of a year? Also offer free personal training consultations. I'd throw the word FREE around a lot.
Jun 19, 2012 3:16pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:16 PM
Our local ACMY offers free babysitting while the parents are taking classes or working out. They also have a pretty active Facebook page.


We don't belong, but we are aware of some of the services they offer, so it must be working.
Jun 19, 2012 3:16pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:17 PM
Make it exclusive to iPad owners only. Apple fanboys will be frothing at the mouth to spend time with other people who waste money on useless things like the ACMY.
Jun 19, 2012 3:17pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:21 PM
Also, offer different levels of membership. Our local one includes the use of the weight room, cardio room, and pool all for one price. Now I would never use the pool, but there is no way to break out the cost of pool usage from the membership. I would look at the deal a little more closely if I wasn't paying for something I would never take advantage of.
Jun 19, 2012 3:21pm
S

Sonofanump

Jun 19, 2012 3:23 PM
I joined the AMCY in Toledo for working out and swimming, pretty expensive like $50-$60 a month for a couple. Then I moved away and found P90X and our local rec with an indoor lap pool is $24 a month for a family. Win, win. AMCYs are too expensive.</SPAN>
Jun 19, 2012 3:23pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jun 19, 2012 3:24 PM
Work with local employers to offer discounted prices on passes. Have "free admission" days to get people into the gym to see what there is to offer.
Jun 19, 2012 3:24pm
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:25 PM
Oh - female trainers only who give happy endings with each personal training session
Jun 19, 2012 3:25pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:26 PM
Yep I looked into joining and for what I'd use it for, its way too expensive.
Jun 19, 2012 3:26pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:27 PM
THE4RINGZ;1204819 wrote:Our local ACMY offers free babysitting while the parents are taking classes or working out. They also have a pretty active Facebook page.


We don't belong, but we are aware of some of the services they offer, so it must be working.
Definitely take to mobile marketing like Facebook and Twitter. Sounds like your main need is to get your information out to the public. Facebook ads let you target a demographic very specifically. Alot of radio stations will give you some free on-air publicity if you're a community-based non-profit. Also, as previously mentioned, sign-up specials are a good idea.
Jun 19, 2012 3:27pm
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:30 PM
You should ask LJ, the local expert.
Jun 19, 2012 3:30pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:33 PM
Snot, whatever happened to the GOAT tourney?
Jun 19, 2012 3:33pm
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:34 PM
ernest_t_bass;1204857 wrote:Snot, whatever happened to the GOAT tourney?
unlike snot, it killed itself.
Jun 19, 2012 3:34pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:45 PM
Raw Dawgin' it;1204858 wrote:unlike snot, it killed itself.
That's reppable, but I need to spread them around more.
Jun 19, 2012 3:45pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:51 PM
ernest_t_bass;1204872 wrote:That's reppable, but I need to spread them around more.
Jun 19, 2012 3:51pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:53 PM
If any sort of new member fee like I remember some ACMY's having get rid of it immediately. Nothing makes me say "nah fuck that" like new member fees.
Jun 19, 2012 3:53pm
SnotBubbles's avatar

SnotBubbles

Master of teh QQ

4,492 posts
Jun 19, 2012 3:59 PM
Pretty much everything you guys have mentioned is already in place at our ACMY, except the female trainers who give you a happy ending. I'll forward that immediately to the president.

ETB...I told you to finish the GOAT tournament. I don't have time. I shouldn't be on here now.
Jun 19, 2012 3:59pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jun 19, 2012 4:32 PM
SnotBubbles;1204889 wrote:Pretty much everything you guys have mentioned is already in place at our ACMY
Do you have any competition with the local YMCA?
Jun 19, 2012 4:32pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jun 19, 2012 4:32 PM
SnotBubbles;1204889 wrote:ETB...I told you to finish the GOAT tournament. I don't have time. I shouldn't be on here now.
Don't be a quitter. Finish it.
Jun 19, 2012 4:32pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jun 19, 2012 7:59 PM
About the only thing that got me into the gym was a friend of mine going and I got to enter with him.

How about "Bring a friend for free" days?
Jun 19, 2012 7:59pm
A

adog

Senior Member

567 posts
Jun 19, 2012 9:31 PM
A lot of industries/businesses give their employees a fitness club allotment. Most that do ,have a attendance incentive such as the longer you are a member, the more they pay of it, with a cap of course. Approach businesses/industries in your area and if they don't have this to possibly start one and your selling point to them is healthier employees. You could possibly offer the business a group discount, set up to charge less for certain amount of employees that sign up and stay members
Jun 19, 2012 9:31pm
password's avatar

password

Senior Member

2,360 posts
Jun 19, 2012 9:50 PM
Offer free donuts and coffee all day to members enrolled in the weight management program.
Jun 19, 2012 9:50pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jun 19, 2012 10:27 PM
Im not a member of the YMCA because I already pay for a gym membership at school.

Something that might get me interested though would be something like a seasonal basketball league. I wouldnt do a year membership though, more like a one time team fee.
Jun 19, 2012 10:27pm