Where do you advertise your program once it’s available?
* Gynecologist’s offices
* Chiropractor’s offices
* Health food stores
* Libraries
* Supermarkets
* Newspaper “weeklies”
* A special invitation to your members
* Signs and posters throughout the facility
* Offer a free flower (have the kids in your nursery make them) to all of your aerobics class participants over one week, with a note attached about the new program.
In all cases, promote the benefits of the program and avoid new-age-sounding names. Use names like stress reduction program, non-impact movement, or low-sweat fitness, instead of those that conjure too much mystery or thoughts of contorted bodies. Advise people to “dress comfortably” and keep your instructors in loose, comfortable clothes. Promotional material should state that these programs are open to all, and will especially benefit those with arthritis or muscle pains, obesity, bad backs, people needing to reduce stress, etc.
Some additional alternatives to consider: meditation sessions with aromatherapy, partner or infant massage classes, lectures on acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, reflexology, hypnotherapy, etc. Or, host a mind/body fitness day and invite the whole community.
Whatever you do, you will find some inactive members coming back to you, and a whole new pool of potential members who may have been intimidated by your facility or the thought of intense exercise.
