How do we increase our membership base in a corporate fitness facility?
This is a great question because I think it relates to another question, “How do you get people (in general), who don’t exercise regularly, to begin an exercise program?” So often we are preaching to an already converted choir in this business! I am also about to be involved in an employee based wellness program and have begun thinking about this question myself. Some of the things I have come across are incentive programs like “wellness bucks” that employees might be able to earn by participating in programs you offer. Perhaps there can be ways to bring some education and programming OUT of the fitness center, into the office space, like showing a group of people how to take stretching or walking breaks at their desk during the day–as a first step to getting them to walk IN to your facility. I do agree with Daniel that if you get one in ten people to start moving, you are doing a great job. One of my bosses is such a numbers guy, he wants to give up if the class doesn’t fill up immediately. I really feel you can’t be that way with this population. When you are working with the inactive population, you are really down in the trenches trying to move mountains. But each person you succeed with is another person whose life will be changed for the better. Let me know if you come up with any great ideas! I’d love to hear them!