A strong digital reputation is essential. Especially when combined with reviews, your local reputation can make or break your business. Most potential members no longer rely solely on word of mouth; it is common practice for members to search Google, Yelp, and Facebook before deciding on a gym, and they expect others to have done the same. A gym that has many positive reviews feels much more trustworthy. A gym with only a few reviews, or worse negative reviews, can immediately turn someone away from every step inside.
This guide will explain why gym reviews matter, how to get more reviews, and what you can and should do with feedback once you have it. When you finish reading you will have a game plan for turning gym reviews into one of your greatest sources of marketing power.
Why Gym Reviews Are Crucial for Your Success
At this point, you might be asking yourself why gym reviews are important. They aren’t just a “nice to have” – they are a necessity. In the fitness industry, where trust and results are major decision-making factors, they serve as social proof.
Influence on Decision-Making
More people are likely to read online reviews before making a purchase decision, even when it comes to joining a gym. If your gym has a long list of positive reviews, potential new members will read these reviews and get the idea that your gym delivers results, has a great community and offers value for money.
SEO and Local Rankings
Gym reviews have a direct impact on your search engine ranking. Google is conscious of reviews, and it uses reviews to determine which businesses it should feature in local search results. The more gym reviews you have, specifically on Google, the higher your gym can rank, which means more visibility for potential new members searching “gyms near me.”
Building Trust and Community
People want to know if they are joining more than just a gym; they want to join a community they can rely on. Gym reviews often include references to the friendliness of staff, the quality of a class, cleanliness, and the overall experience. Positive reviews tell prospects that they will be comfortable and motivated in their space.
How to Get More Gym Reviews
The good news? Most of your members are willing to leave a review, you just have to ask them the right way. Here are ways that will improve the number of gyms reviews your business gets:
1. Ask at the Right Time
Timing is key. When you ask members for gym reviews it is just as important as getting feedback. Ask members for reviews when they are the most stimulated about their experience. For example, after hitting a fitness goal (first 5k or PR), after a great experience with a class or personal training session, or after they complimented your staff or facility.
2. Simplify the Process
Nobody wants to leave a gym review if it takes more time or effort than it is worth. Simplify the process by sending direct links to your Google, Yelp, or Facebook review page. Placing QR codes around your gym that links to your review pages. Including review requests on follow up emails or SMS. The easier you make it, the more reviews you will get.
3. Use Incentives Wisely
You cannot “buy” reviews, but you can give people some incentives to leave reviews. For example, enter people into a monthly raffle, give guest passes to the gym, have a challenge to see which classes can get the most gym reviews and as a group get a prize. Just make it clear that you are not asking for only 5-star reviews but rather honest feedback.
4. Train Staff to Encourage Gym Reviews
Your team is on the frontlines and has the most opportunity to ask for reviews. Train them to kindly ask for feedback from members, provide them with the QR code directly, and acknowledge and thank members for reviews left. When the request is personal, the members will likely follow up as well.
Turning Gym Reviews into Marketing Gold
From now on, your collective gym reviews are only the first step. The real magic will happen when you take your reviews to market your business.
Showcase Gym Reviews on Your Website
Show positive reviews on your homepage, class page, or membership sign up page. This gives potential members the peace of mind needed to take action.
Share Reviews on Social Media
Design branded graphics or short video clips and highlight growing reviews. Share them in your Instagram stories, Facebook posts or even TikTok to show potential members real member success stories.
Use Reviews in Ads
Testimonials make a large percentage of your paid ads look authentic. Real gym reviews will help with the click-through rate and conversion rates on your Facebook or Google Ads.
Long-Term Strategies for More Gym Reviews
Instead of reviewing one at a time you should view reviews holistically. Start building systems that will organically produce them.
Create a Review Culture
Reviewing is part of your culture. Ask your staff to ask all the time, celebrate their review internally, and make sure they share positive reviews with everyone on your team.
Automate Requests
Utilize your gym management software to automatically send review requests after a user signs up, renews or checks into a class so there is consistency in review generation vs reliance on staff to remember.
Engage with Feedback
Members want to see their voice reflected in your gym. It is hard to do when you are cheerfully asking for reviews. Use reviews to formulate common themes/trigger points – positive and negative. For instance, if you have tandem reviews indicating interest in more evening classes, you may wish to amend your class schedule to accommodate these requests. When members see that you are listening, they are more inclined to provide feedback.
Why RhinoFit is the Greatest Software to Help You Get More Gym Reviews
At the end of the day, collecting and managing gym reviews does not have to be a manual process. With the proper gym management software, you can use reviews as an automatic part of your growth strategy. That is where RhinoFit comes in!
RhinoFit is more than just a gym management tool; it is built to help fitness businesses thrive. Thanks to the integration with review platforms, you can send out automatic requests for reviews at any time! After membership is created, a member checks out of a gym, after a class or appointment, the power is in your hands. You can take the guesswork out of how and when to ask members for feedback, and members have the option of leaving gym reviews at the time when their experience is still fresh.
This means that you will not only increase the number of reviews your gym collects, but also credibility in no time. Every new gym review helps to enhance reputation, build trust with potential members, and help your gym shine online.
For gym owners that are serious about growing their fitness business, RhinoFit provides the tools necessary to make gym reviews a natural part of your operations. Want to focus less on chasing feedback? Partner with RhinoFit and see how easy it is to grow with gym reviews!