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Functional fitness can be a very pricey sport for an athlete as well as for a gym owner. Most members spend between €70,- to €120,-  a month for a membership, and then most of the time, they also spend money on gear, programming and some even on meal plans.

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As a box owner you know that the members pay for good quality gym & coaching and that’s what they expect to get. You make sure your box is tidy & clean, that you have top quality equipment and certified coaches. It cost you money to maintain your standards and/or you invest to improve these standards e.g. newer equipment and courses to improve coaching skills.

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You put in all of this money and work so why are you not showing it off?

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Extending this to your website, blog, and social media channels, marketing is not only with well worded posts but also with professional quality images. These images will increase your engagement on your social media platforms and thus your clientele.

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“According to the Nielsen Group, the majority of users decide if they want to stay on your website within the first 10-20 seconds of viewing".

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It is human's basic tendency to form a mental image of what the brain sees, this happens very fast based on the first few interactions. We tend to make decisions based on this mental image. ‍That’s why they say you only get one chance to make a first impression; the first impression is the best impression.

For small businesses, having a professional website that reflects it’s mission, products and services is integral to portraying their community. Your written words might be Grade A, but within a few seconds the images do all the talking and influince a viewer’s decision to stay or go.

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‍Use high quality images

As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Your website images speak to your audience, emphasizes your message and can communicate an array of messages more than just your written words. High quality images boost your website and allow viewers to make an educated decision about signing up.

You spend hours on your website’s content, why wouldn’t you apply the same considerations to your images?

If hiring a professional photographer is not a direct option, there are alternatives such as purchasing stock photos. The pro is that the quality is top notch, but the con is that it is not specific to your community. So my advice would be to create a budget and save up for a professional photographer.

If you're looking for new clientele, you know that most people will only take action to sign up when they feel a certain level of motivation. It can help motivate potential new members when they see someone they can relate to.  By using pictures of your own box and members, you portray a realistic image of your box, your community and the atmosphere. The content on your website is an open door for potential new members, it is the direct way to your box entrance. Make use of it.

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For example:

Peter tells his buddy “Jack” about the gym where he trains and the progress he has made since he started to train there. Jack is amazed about Peter’s story, results and wants to book a tryout. The next day Jack visits the website and is sold by the well worded explanation, classes, and the pictures from the athletes he can relate to. It doesn’t matter which platform you use, it’s important to make a good first impression for your clients.                                                                                                                  

At the end they will visit your website to do some digging about your classes, prices, coaches and the community. They might even end up calling you for more detailed information about a try out or signing up.

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