- The Boxonomist
- Posts
- 12th Edition
Use UGC to Showcase Real Successes
Good Morning Team,
If you want to attract real, down to earth people who are ready for a lifestyle change, you need to show them that your current members are just like them. Your members' genuine stories and real-life successes can be your gym’s most powerful marketing tool. User-Generated Content (UGC) isn’t about polished photos or scripted testimonials—it’s about capturing the raw, unfiltered moments that highlight what you have to offer. Here’s how to encourage and utilize UGC to reach new clients:
Why UGC Matters
In the online marketing world, UGC in increasingly becoming the highest-converting form of content. It builds trust and relatability. Potential members are more likely to join a gym they feel connected to, seeing real people achieving real results. Authentic content fosters a sense of community and showcases the supportive environment your gym provides.
How to Get UGC
Encourage your members to post about their workouts, milestones, and personal achievements. If you aren’t comfortable just walking up an asking someone to be in a video, try some of these strategies:
Create a Hashtag: Develop a unique gym hashtag and encourage members to use it when posting their experiences. This makes it easy to find and share their content.
Host Challenges: Organize fitness challenges like a check-in challenge (most check ins) or most classes or something similar, and ask participants to document their progress on social media. This not only motivates members but also generates a steady stream of UGC.
Feature Members Weekly: Dedicate a spot in your newsletter or social media to highlight a different member each week. This recognition motivates others to share their stories too. Don’t just use the jacked dude clean and jerking 315 lbs, highlight your members of all shapes and sizes and show their progress.
Ask If You Can Use Their Videos For Ads: Most people would love to be featured in their favorite gym’s marketing content. Ask if you can clip their videos to use in your ads.
Action Steps:
Interview Your Members: Straight up ask if you can interview someone quick for 5 minutes after class. Set up a camera and ask them when and why they joined, what they love most about the Gym, and what achievements they are most proud of since joining.
Launch a Unique Hashtag: Create and promote a gym-specific hashtag for members to use to generate content themselves.
Start a UGC Campaign: Initiate challenges or themes that encourage members to share their journeys.
Feature Member Stories: Regularly highlight member successes in your newsletter and on social media.
Engage and Respond: Interact with members’ posts by liking, commenting, and sharing to show appreciation and encourage more participation.
Monitor and Adapt: Track the engagement and effectiveness of your UGC efforts, and adjust your strategies based on what resonates most with your community.
Keep Lifting, Keep Leading!
The Boxonomist Team
Resources:
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