With over ¾ of internet users engaging in online content and blogs, the case can be made for all businesses, even gyms, to start blogging and publishing content. Today, simply having a blog isn’t good enough, nearly every website has some type of blog.
If your gym has a blog or is considering it, then it’s your job as a gym owner, or if you work for a gym, to create a complete blogging strategy. Blogging can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. At the end of the day, you want to document and highlight your studio. Whether you want to highlight workouts, your facility, tips and tricks, your blog is a place to make these things visible
Why Are You Blogging?
Every blog post you write should have a purpose, whatever that may be. Beyond this, your gym’s blogging strategy should be based on the “why” of your gym. Why did you open your gym? What’s the purpose of your blog? Note this, your blog is in NO WAY a stream to solely boast and promote your gym. Blogging is about educating and inspiring. People will come back to your blog because of what they read. Attracting more people to your gym BECAUSE of your blog is simply icing on the cake, fruits to your labor.
Who is Your Blog Reaching?
Your audience is one of the important aspects behind the strategy behind your blog. Although your clientele may be different, what do they have in common? Consider your buyer persona. Are they ages 18-40, attend classes 3X a week, and get post-workout smoothies after they leave your gym. Once you establish who you’re writing to, you’ll have a better idea on what you should be blogging about. Think of your customer persona while writing content and draw inspiration from this.
Content, Content, Content
At the end of the day, it’s valuable content that’s going to draw people’s attention. The blog topics you choose to write about are what’s going to get people interested in the first place. What you’re writing about matters, especially as it pertains to search engine optimization (SEO). For blogging/marketing newbies, this is simply how your website and content is optimized as it relates to pulling keywords and search results on the internet. Based on your knowledge of the market you’re in, you should conduct thorough keyword research to see what’s been written, what hasn’t, and exactly how your blog can capitalize. MOZ has a great local SEO tool to give businesses a good idea of how they stack up as well in their area. Keywords are going to be the main basis for which you build your blog from, and how you will stay relevant to search engines within your specific market. Great content can give people more information while hitting it big on search engines with popular blog posts.
Vehicles for Success
What is going to be the tool for success for your blog? With most small business websites built on Squarespace or WordPress, there’s plenty of integrated and free tools to not only post easy blog posts and images but to also monitor and improve the SEO and relevance of your blog as well. Some other great and free tools our team at RhinoFit recommends is Google Keyword Planner. With this simple tool, you can pull estimates on how many times relevant keywords get searched for every month on Google.
There’re also other conventional tools to consider promoting your blog as well, such as your gym’s Facebook, Instagram, and email blasts to members. Keeping members engaged is one of the most underrated forms of marketing. You always want to keep them in the know and providing them with tips, tricks, and workouts to keep them going! There’s an endless array of tools at your disposal, you just must choose which fits best for your studio.
What’s a Successful Blog?
A “successful” blog is something different for everyone. For most gyms, a successful blog keeps current members engaged, and attracts potential prospects from time to time. Your blog should be a base for information for your members, prospects, and readers online. The strategy of your blog should be focused around your gym and what it does. Tailor your blogging strategy towards this and always be authentic, that’s the most important takeaway here. Share the story of your gym and be unique in every post.
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