Step 1: Define Your Advertising Goals
Before launching any ad, define what success looks like.
Choose your focus:
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Increase new memberships
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Promote free trials or intro offers
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Fill classes during off-peak hours
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Build local brand awareness
Use this to guide your copy, targeting, and landing page design.
Getting started with Ad Manager
Step 2: Choose the Right Advertising Channels
Different platforms serve different parts of the journey. Combine them strategically.
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Google Ads
Reach people actively searching for “gyms near me,” “kickboxing classes,” or “personal training.” -
Facebook & Instagram Ads
Target users by age, fitness interests, and behavior. Great for promo offers, lead magnets, and retargeting. -
YouTube Ads
Run short, compelling video ads that show off your trainers, transformation stories, or class atmosphere.
Step 3: Create Compelling Ad Content
Ad creative is what stops the scroll. Here’s what to include:
✔️ Highlight Unique Offers
“7 Days Free + 1-on-1 Consult”, “50% off First Month”, etc.
✔️ Share Testimonials & Social Proof
Before/after photos, member stories, and review quotes build trust fast.
✔️ Use Strong Visuals
Clean images of your space, equipment, and trainers. For video, aim for 15–30 seconds with subtitles.
✔️ Add Clear CTAs
“Claim Your Free Trial”, “Join Now”, or “Book a Class Today”.
Step 4: Target Your Local Audience
Hyperlocal targeting is your best friend.
✅ Geo-targeting:
Focus on a 5–15 mile radius around your gym.
✅ Demographics + Interests:
Segment by:
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Age group (20–45 is often the sweet spot)
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Interests: fitness, healthy living, CrossFit, yoga, weightlifting
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Behavior: gym-goers, people with fitness apps
✅ Lookalike Audiences:
Upload your member list to create similar audiences on Meta platforms.
Step 5: Set Your Budget & Schedule
You don’t need a massive budget to get results — just consistency and testing.
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Start with $20–50/day and increase as CPL drops
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Schedule ads during decision windows:
Early mornings, lunchtime, 5–9 PM -
Use campaign budget optimization to let the platform auto-spend across the best-performing ads
Step 6: Measure and Optimize
Don’t “set it and forget it.” Track key metrics and adjust weekly.
Track These KPIs:
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Cost Per Lead (CPL): Aim for under $25–35
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Click-Through Rate (CTR): Target 1.5–3% or higher
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Conversion Rate: 15–30% of leads should become paying members
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Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): Keep under $100 per member
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Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Shoot for 3–5x ROI
Test and Optimize:
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A/B test copy, offers, and visuals
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Try different audiences: interests, behaviors, demographics
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Analyze which placements (Feed vs. Stories vs. YouTube) drive the best results
Bonus Tips to Maximize Results
Use Video
Video ads can increase conversion by 20%+. Film:
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Trainer intros
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Class previews
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Member transformations
Use Social Proof
Feature reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content (UGC). Add these to your ads and landing pages.
Mobile First
Most of your audience is on mobile — make sure your ads and landing pages load fast and are easy to navigate.