How To Get More Reviews For Your Gymnastics Club

Olivier Rousseau
23 May 2024 Gymnastics 2 min read

Increasing the number and quality of online reviews for your gymnastics club is essential not only for managing your digital presence, but also for building a community that actively supports and promotes your business.

In this article, we’ll explore practical strategies for gymnastics clubs to improve their approach to collecting online reviews and turn them into powerful tools for growth and engagement.

Author’s note: I’m Olivier and I’m happy to share the tips and tricks I’ve learned over the past ten years as the owner of a children’s sports program. Today, as the co-founder of Activity Messenger, I assist hundreds of gymnastics clubs across North America in streamlining their operations and boosting their revenue.

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Adding Review Requests in the Customer Journey

You can significantly increase reviews for your gymnastics club by creating natural feedback opportunities within the customer journey.

  • Automate end-of-session emails: Leverage your gymnastics club management software to send automated emails after a student completes a class or reaches a milestone, inviting them to share a review on their experience.
  • In-Class Announcements: At the end of a particularly good session, take a moment to tell parents and gymnasts how much you’d like to hear their comments. Explain how their feedback not only helps your club grow but also helps build a community that others want to join.
  • Take advantage of social media: Launch campaigns that encourage gymnasts to share their stories and experience at your club. You can encourage gymnasts to post about their progress and tag your club, which will naturally lead to more reviews.

 

Adding Review Requests in the Customer Journey

Set up a Streamlined Review Process

You can increase the number of positive reviews by making it as easy as possible for gymnasts and parents to leave testimonials and reviews. Here are a few ways to simplify your review process:

  • QR Codes in the Gym: Place QR codes around your club, especially in high-traffic areas like the lobby or near the water fountain. Add a friendly call to action such as, “Enjoyed your class today? Let us know with a quick scan!”
  • Links in Communications: Include direct to your Google My Business, Yelp, or Facebook review pages in all your digital communications, such as newsletters. This makes it easy for parents and gymnasts to leave their feedback.
  • Create a Review Hub on Your Website: Dedicate a section of your club’s website to testimonials and reviews. Provide an easy way for satisfied clients to share their experiences and add their voices when they visit your website.

Empower Your Staff to Collect More Reviews

Your employees are critical to encouraging and collecting more reviews. By empowering them with the right tools and incentives, you can dramatically increase the number of reviews.

  • Staff Training: Train your team regularly on the importance of reviews and how to ask for them effectively. Use role-playing exercises to help them feel comfortable with the process.
  • Incentive Programs: Reward employees who excel at collecting positive feedback and encourage a proactive approach to collecting reviews.
  • Goals and Reminders: Set clear, achievable goals for the collection of reviews, and remind your team of these goals in staff meetings or through internal communications.

How to Manage and Respond to Reviews

Proactively managing online reviews can turn negative feedback into an opportunity to highlight your club’s commitment to excellence.

  • Dedicated Review Manager: Assign a dedicated person or team to monitor and respond to reviews in a timely manner to ensure that no feedback, positive or negative, goes unanswered.
  • How to Handle Negative Feedback: Train staff to respond constructively to negative reviews and turn potential negatives into opportunities to demonstrate your club’s commitment to continuous improvement.
  • Celebrate Positive Reviews: Share glowing reviews, thank the reviewer, and highlight the positive feedback in your club and on social media.

Using Positive Reviews in your Marketing Efforts

Using positive reviews in your marketing strategies can help build your credibility, make your club relatable and showcase the vibrant community that surrounds it. Here are a few ways you can use positive reviews in your marketing strategy.

  • Reviews in Promotional Materials: Feature your best reviews in your promotional materials like flyers or digital ads, to provide prospects with real-life testimonials.
  • Feature Reviews in Email Campaigns: Include a section in your email campaigns that highlights recent positive reviews.
  • Include Reviews on Social Media: Regularly post reviews on your social media platforms and encourage other members of your community to do the same

 

📌 Pro tip: Most people seek recommendations and read reviews before choosing a gymnastics club. To increase sales, cultivate a local community that praises your club and maintain a strong online presence on review sites so that potential members can find and trust you without direct interaction with current students.

Engaging the Community for Broader Impact

Creating a sense of belonging and community not only builds loyalty, it organically encourages the sharing of positive experiences.

  • Host Review-Themed Events: Hold events or workshops that focus on sharing experiences and stories and encourage participants to leave online reviews.
  • Collaborate for Reviews: Partner with local businesses for events or promotions that require participants to post a review of your club. This will indirectly increase your review count.
  • Create a ‘Review of the Month’ Feature: Every month, highlight an outstanding review on your website or social media to celebrate positive feedback and encourage more members to share their experiences.
  • Contest: Every month, randomly give away branded merchandise to people who leave a review.

Using end-of-session surveys to prompt testimonials

End-of-session surveys are a great way to improve your club’s online reputation. By capturing valuable feedback, you can ensure that positive experiences are shared on public review sites. Here are two recommendations for using end-of-session surveys effectively:

1. Automate Surveys for a Gymnastics Club

Get immediate and authentic responses from parents and gymnasts by automating the distribution of end-of-session surveys.

  • Set Up Automated Emails/SMS: Use your class management software or email marketing platforms to automatically send surveys immediately after a class ends by sms or email. This ensures that feedback is collected while the experience is still fresh in participant’s minds.
  • Personalize: To make the request for feedback more personal and relevant, tailor the survey invitation to the specific class or session.
  • Optimize Timing: To maximize your response rates and ensure a wide range of feedback, experiment with sending times.

How to create a survey for gymnastics

2. Keep responses internal

Keep survey responses for internal use only. This encourages honest and constructive criticism.

  • Highlight that answers won’t be share: Make it clear in your survey communication that responses will be kept internal to your instructors. This assurance may encourage more open and honest feedback.
  • Ease of Response: Respect respondents’ time and increase the likelihood of participation by making your surveys quick and easy to complete.
  • Act on Feedback: Use the answers to help you address the issues and improve the experience at your gymnastics club.

3. Filter Positive Experiences for online Testimonials

Use survey insights to identify exceptionally positive feedback. With participants’ permission, you can turn this feedback into public testimonials.

  • Identify Positive Feedback: Identify positive experiences by analyzing survey responses.
  • Follow Up Personally: Contact those who have provided positive feedback, thank them for their contribution, and invite them to share their experiences on public review pages.
  • Guide Your Clients: Reduce barriers to sharing positive experiences by providing clear instructions on how to post reviews online for those who want to share their feedback publicly.

How Activity Messenger Replaces Multiple Tools

Activity Messenger was built with the unique needs of gymnastics clubs in mind. It combines essential tools like email marketing, staff management, registration, and digital waivers into a single platform.

Activity Messenger is essential for gymnastics clubs looking to streamline administrative tasks and focus more on their passion for gymnastics. Our mission is to make your club administration and marketing easier and more efficient.

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Frequently asked questions

Why are online reviews important for gymnastics clubs? Online reviews enhance the credibility and online presence of your club and make your club more attractive to potential members because they showcase your unique offerings and achievements.

For my reviews, which platforms should I prioritize? Focus on Google, Facebook and Yelp to increase the visibility of your gymnastics club.

How can I encourage my gymnasts and their parents to leave reviews without seeming pushy? Use follow-up emails or take advantage of positive moments, such as after a successful event, to ask for reviews. Add a QR code at the front desk and automate end-of-session surveys to collect feedback.

What’s the best time to ask for a review from my gymnasts or their parents? The ideal time to capitalize on a student’s positive experience is after a successful event or a noticeable improvement. It is also effective to follow up a progress report and include a request for a testimonial.

How should I respond to online negative reviews about my gymnastics club? Address negative feedback with empathy and professionalism. Offer to resolve issues offline, which can help turn critics into advocates and improve your understanding of their experience.

Can incentives be used to encourage reviews, and if so, how? Incentives can be a motivator for reviews when ethical and in line with platform policies. Consider offering discounts or public recognition as incentives.

What kind of impact do reviews have on local SEO for my gymnastics club? Reviews boost local SEO by providing fresh, relevant content and increasing your club’s visibility in local search results. And because people tend to trust positively reviewed experiences, they also improve click-through rates.

How can I make posting online reviews easy for my gymnastics students? In follow-up communications or on your website, provide direct links and clear instructions on how to leave a review to encourage participation.

How can I leverage positive reviews in my marketing efforts for my gymnastics club? Build trust and attract new members with authentic testimonials by displaying positive reviews on your website, newsletters, and social media platforms.

Written by Olivier Rousseau Olivier is a kids sports programs owner who has been operating for over a decade with locations in Montreal, Quebec city & Ottawa. He also helps Gymnastics Club, Swim Schools and Dance Studios streamline their operations. He is the co-founder of Activity Messenger an online registration platform for the sports & leisure industry.

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