Are you looking to increase the members of your gym? Do you need some of our top Google Business Profile tips for gyms that can help you get to that point? If you do not already have a profile set up or are not sure you’re using it to its full bandwidth, these tips will help you.
What Is A Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile formally called Google My Business (GMB) is an important part of marketing for gyms and fitness centers because it simply helps people in the area find your company. This tool allows you to manage your online presence providing people who search Google with information about your business. In addition, it allows you to provide a great deal of information about your gym, including its location, products, and services.
Why Should Gyms Claim and Optimize Their Profile?
Your Google Business Profile is an exceptional tool to help people find you. At the same time, it provides people with the information they need to decide to visit your gym or go to a competitor.
Another key benefit is that, once it is in place, people searching on Google will find your business in the search feature, on Google Maps, and even on Google Shopping. That means a wide range of people can connect to you in moments, no matter how they are shopping for or looking for information on gyms in your area.
Optimization cannot be ignored, though
One key to remember is that just filling in some basic information about your gym on your profile isn’t enough. It’s quite important to go a step further to create an optimized listing. Doing so means more people will find your listing and be able to engage with it. Optimization of your Google profile is like optimizing most blogs or web content, with a few different twists. To help you, let’s dive into our top Google Business Profile tips for gyms.
7 Ways to Optimize Your Google Business Profile
There are 7 key features on your Google Business Profile that need to be managed. Each of these can be enhanced to ensure you get the most out of them. Keep in mind that you should only include very accurate and detailed information here. Mistakes, even with simple things like your address, can lead to confusion and difficulties in getting people to your gym.
#1: Business Information
This is your first step in setting up your profile. It’s very important for you to get every detail right here as this is what customers are going to use to determine what your business has to offer and whether that’s what they need.
Your business may be listed already in some situations, especially if the gym has been around. In all situations, you need to add and claim your listing. You’ll need to add the name of the business and then put in the address of it.
Your name, address, and phone number are the most important components of your business listing for obvious reasons. Google wants to see all of this information placed into the tool. You’ll want to link to your website as well. You‘ll want to add in the hours of operation for your business (be sure to come back here and update this information if they change). Many people rely on these open hours to decide if they should call your business or another.
After this is done, Google will send you a postcard with a code on it. You’ll need to verify that you received it. Your listing will not be published until you do this.
#2: Service Area
Consider your service area. It’s obvious that your city is one component of this. Do people come from surrounding cities and towns? Perhaps they come from a larger distance because your gym is right off the highway. Do they come to your city for business? Include any information about the service area here. Be sure to make it thorough by including any cities, towns, or zip codes you want to appear in online.
#3: Service List
Another core component is a list of your services. This is a good place to provide information about what you do and get a few keyword-like terms in place. Think about the many services you offer and then list them. For example, do you just have an open gym that anyone can visit? Do you have memberships and a private-style gym?
You also want to list any fitness programs, exercise regimens, professionals with certifications, and classes that you offer here. Think about what people come to you for, and be sure that it’s listed on this page so they know you offer it.
As you do this, use terms that people use when looking for your location. For example, some may look for a “gym,” others may search for a “fitness center.” Include both terms. Some people may be looking for cardio while others are weight training. Be as descriptive and thorough as you can, but remember that people are reading this. That is, it needs to be easy to read and be appealing to them and not just a list of keywords.
#4: Reviews
To compete in the local search, you need to have reviews. Google focuses heavily on reviews because it provides them with insight into just how satisfied customers are. Most importantly, potential gym members are reading through reviews. It is one of the best ways for them to get information about what you have to offer.
It’s not necessarily important to just get 5-star reviews. You need to generate a consistent, steady pace of reviews to really see results with your profile. It’s important to focus on getting reviews now but also to ensure new reviews are going up over time. This is something called review velocity. One way to do this is simply to ask those satisfied people who come into your gym to take a moment right then to access your profile on their phone and provide a review.
#5: Photos and Videos
There’s no doubt that people love photos – and videos are even better. Imagine you are going to a new gym while on vacation. What would a 15 second video tell you? It could tell you if the location is clean, modern, staffed, and even if it offers the type of equipment that you need. It takes only a few minutes to create photos to add to your profile but doing so is a must.
Also, when you add photos yourself, you help to distract from photos added by your less-than-satisfied members. That means that the sweaty towel someone left in the locker room isn’t going to turn away new clients who are considering your gym. Google wants you to add them, too. They invite you to upload multiple videos and photos, as long as you are taking them at your location.
#6: Questions & Answers
Another component of your profile is a question-and-answer section. This is a fantastic way to talk directly with people who are interested in your business, providing them with information that other people visiting your profile may also want to know. This section allows profile viewers a way to ask a question. You can answer them or, if you do not, another customer may answer them for you. It’s nearly always best that you try to keep them updated with accurate information.
If you do not have any questions yet, you can create your own. Provide answers about information not otherwise included, such as what type of equipment you have or what type of programs are available for the current season. Be sure to monitor these overtime to ensure that the information provided is always accurate.
#7: Posts
Many people don’t realize just how beneficial Google Posts can be to their Google presence. Each post is a box displayed with an image and text. There is often a call to action here, too, which could include encouraging a person to call you about a gym membership. These posts are small, often just a few sentences, but they let you get information out through them. For example, you can make an announcement about a new promotion or a new piece of equipment you’ve purchased for the business. It’s also possible to provide an exclusive discount code in them. Use them as you see fit, but definitely use them!
Attend a Surefire Local Marketing Platform Demo
Surefire Local provides a leading software platform that any local business, including your gym, can use to attract more local clients. Our all-in-one platform lets you manage all of your Google Business Profile features in one place. In addition, you can use it to manage your website, reviews, directory listings, email marketing, social media, content marketing, digital advertising, and so much more. It’s designed to give you everything you need to keep people coming into your business. Our platform empowers you to work from anywhere with desktop and mobile apps to reach these goals. Take our platform for a test drive and get a closer look at how it can help you reach your potential gym members online.
