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As the leaves change, students return to campus and pumpkin spice can be found around every corner —the true sign that fall is upon us. But the buzz of new energy that signals the arrival of fall and back-to-school season extends far beyond the classroom. Students are primed to get back to their healthy routines, making it the perfect time to attract new members to your gym or studio.
Here are three impactful messages you should use in your fall fitness marketing to engage your audience and incentivize them to adopt a fitness routine before the holiday rush.
1. Find Your Balance and Fall Back into Fitness
Don’t let summer slip away! School’s back in session, but keep the momentum going and slay your fitness goals with a balanced routine that fuels both your body and mind.
Fall is a season of transition, making it the ideal time for students to establish a balanced routine that will carry them through the hectic months ahead. Position your fitness center as the perfect place to find that balance—both physically and mentally.
Here are some ways you can promote this messaging:
- Highlight the mind-body connection to improve focus, reduce stress, and boost overall well-being —crucial for academic success.
- Showcase the social benefits of group classes and fitness challenges as a way to meet new people and create a supportive community.
- Use student-centric language and imagery to resonate with college students, using relatable language, humor, and visuals.
- Partner with campus organizations, student influencers, and local businesses to integrate fitness into campus life.
These can be particularly effective when paired with direct mail — with its high response rate of 4.4% — and flexible membership options to accommodate busy student schedules. Emphasize how regular exercise can be a key component in managing academic stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout the year.
2. Stress Less, Study More, and Sweat It Out
Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you should let stress win.
At the start of the academic year, students reform their routines that may have taken a backseat during the summer months. However, exams, assignments, and looming deadlines can add up quickly, leading to high stress levels, anxiety, and burnout.
This is where your fitness center can stand out as the ideal place to kickstart a healthy routine and be a sanctuary for stress relief. Here’s how:
- Highlight the mind-body benefits: Focus your messaging on how exercise helps with mental clarity and concentration, providing students with a much-needed outlet during stressful times. It can even help clear the head and make tackling that daunting paper a bit easier.
- Create a relaxing environment: Make your fitness center the go-to space where students can de-stress and unwind.
- Offer study-break workouts: Promote quick workout classes or virtual sessions that students can fit into their busy schedules. Share workout ideas on social media that students can do between classes or in their dorm rooms —this adds value to your content and keeps students engaged.
3. “Summer Bodies are Made in Winter”
…so lay the groundwork in the fall!
If summer is synonymous with beach bodies, sand, and sun, then fall is when the real work begins. Fall is the season to focus on consistency, develop healthy habits, and set the stage for an active lifestyle rather than waiting for the frenzy of the winter holidays. Encourage students to see the cooler temperatures and back-to-routine mindset of fall as the ideal time to commit to their fitness journey, emphasizing that the progress they make now will pay off when the warmer months return.
Reaching More Students This Fall
By focusing on establishing routines, offering student-specific incentives, and encouraging early commitment to fitness goals, you’ll be able to inspire your audience to take action and achieve their fitness goals this fall.
Contact the experts at UpSwell to learn how you can attract more members using targeted messages and strategies. Make this fall your most successful season yet!
