The Inside Track Podcast

19/10/2024

Effective communication is crucial for nurturing leads and maintaining strong relationships with members and prospects. However, many clubs face challenges in managing their lead follow-ups and member communications due to limited staff resources and time constraints. T

Here's why automation is key:

✅ Resource Optimization: With limited staff and time, clubs often struggle to keep up with the demands of lead follow-ups and member communications. Automation allows you to do more

✅Consistent Engagement: Maintaining consistent communication with leads and members is essential for keeping them engaged and motivated.

✅ Efficient Lead Nurturing: Nurturing leads requires consistent and personalized communication, which can be challenging to manage manually.

✅ Member Retention: Effective member communication is crucial for fostering loyalty and retention. Automation allows you to stay in touch with your members through automated reminders, feedback requests, and special offers.

✅ Data-driven Insights: Communication automation systems provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your communication efforts. By tracking metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and response rates, you can gain valuable insights into member preferences and engagement levels, enabling you to refine your communication strategies for better results.

Automation is essential for clubs looking to optimize their lead follow-ups and member communications in today's competitive fitness landscape. By leveraging automation tools like Fitleads, clubs can overcome resource constraints, maintain consistent engagement, and drive member retention, ultimately leading to greater success and growth.

I get why some clubs are nervous,

✅ It's another system
✅ It's another cost
✅ You don't understand how it works

The fact is, FitLeads is inexepensive, easy to use and the benefits are substantial. Here are just a few of the benefits:

💥 Automate all your follow-ups so you can create a series of e-mails and texts to follow-up all prospects in a timely and professional manner, reducing or complementing your call activity
💥Allow all communications, Messenger, Instagram, Google Business

16/10/2024

The Inside Track Podcast latest episode

Join Ryan Charlesworth as he Speaks to Ben Coomber, Founder of Awesome Supplements and Multi-Award Winning Nutritionist

Founder & CEO of Awesome Supplements, an 18x award winning supplement company he started in 2016, providing health, hydration, performance and protein supplements to people that want to be more AWESOME.

He is also the best selling author of 'How to Live an Awesome Life' an 11 step formula for achieving fulfilment, health, happiness and life long high performance.

His podcast 'The Awesome Human', with the aim to help you perform at your peak in 30 minutes or less every week.

And if you want some quick wins from my 18 years as a nutritionist, coach and high performer, download his Awesome Human Blueprint, a quick start guide to optimising your 24 hour daily routine through tried and tested techniques.

To get in touch with Ben you can find him on linkedIn or facebook

This episode is proudly brought to you by our sponsors:

FitLeads - Social media Marketing done right! www.fitleads.uk

Fit Supply Hub - The fitness industry Supplier directory

GrowMetrics - www.growmofo.com/

Black Raccoon Consulting - www.blackraccoon.org

Tima Contact Center Industry Specialist Contact Center - contact center that specialising in the Fitness Industry

The full version can be found on:

Youtube: https://youtu.be/MNFntJ5sYd0

The Website: https://www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk/

or on audio at Spotify

12/10/2024

You as a business owner are the problem!

Here me out

Quite often when a business is struggling there is a lot of blame going around

✅️ The staff
✅️ The competition
✅️ The clients
✅️ The economy

The list can go on.....

9 times out of 10 the issues lie straight with the owner

Now, I will clarify. Mostly this isn't through incompetence but usually a lack of structure and knowledge but the fact remains that when your business is facing challenges the first place to look is internally.

Don't forget, as a leader you;

✅️ Hire the staff
✅️ Set the cluture
✅️ Sign off the customer journey
✅️ Agree/decide the marketing
✅️ Set the targets and budgets

Ultimately, change only hapens through YOU!

Because of that, when the business is not where you want it to be, YOU are to blame

When you realise that and are willing to accept responsibility as a business owner you are able to make the changes that are required to make a huge step forward.

Don't let YOU get in the way of your potential success

The solution is realising you can change your approach, learn and find new solutions.

29/09/2024

Should your fitness business have a website?

Absolutely, 100%!

With it being so easy to build a website these days there isnt really an excuse either.

Here is why:

Having a well-designed website isn’t just optional — it’s essential for any fitness business or gym that wants to thrive. Here’s why:

✅️ First Impressions Matter Your website is often the first point of contact for potential members. Research shows that 75% of consumers judge a company’s credibility based on their website. A professional, easy-to-navigate site helps build trust with prospective members right from the start.

✅️ 24/7 Accessibility Your gym might have set opening hours, but your website is always available. It gives people the freedom to find information, sign up for memberships, and book classes 24/7, even when your gym is closed.

✅️ Lead Generation & Membership Sales A well-optimised website can help generate leads by allowing potential clients to fill out forms, sign up for newsletters, or register for a free trial. According to HubSpot, companies that optimise their websites for lead generation see up to 2.8x more revenue.

✅️ Showcasing Your Brand & Services Your website is your chance to showcase everything your gym offers — from personal training services and classes to success stories. Having a website lets you highlight your brand’s personality and values, differentiating you from competitors.

✅️ Boosting Local SEO More than 80% of consumers use search engines to find local businesses. A well-optimised website ensures that when someone searches for “gyms near me” or “fitness classes,” your business shows up at the top of local search results. This can directly increase foot traffic and membership inquiries.

Need help building or optimising your fitness business website?

Back Raccoon Consulting can help you get noticed and convert visitors into loyal members. with our FitLeads system we can build a website as well as high performing landing pages for your gym.

Let's chat about how we can get your gym front and centre online!

25/09/2024

Every member of your team has an impact on your success from the owner to the most junior member of the team

Clients will create their vision of your business not on your most engaging member of the team but everyone wearing a uniform or representing your business.

It only takes one of your team not to portray your values and it can break down everything you do.

From an unhelpful receptionist ro an absent leader

Every interaction with a client/member is an opportunity to engage positively and your team should seek ways to show a desire to serve.

You should consider

✅️ Ensuring every member of staff understands your values
✅️ Train, Manage and feedback to staff on their hospitality skills
✅️ Owners/managers need to lead fron the front. You are jot too busy to hide in the office. We learn from good exanples
✅ All staff should be involved snd even freelance PT's shoukd be expected to deliver the same values
️✅ Find ways to encourage staff/member engagement
️✅️ Celebrate WOW moments

You ever notice how some super markets will walk you to tge right isle and iten if you ask for help? Thats not staff simply being nice, its a culture they have set and expect.

Marriott has a 5/10 rule to ensure all guests are interacted with regardless of position.

Set the tone you want, and ensure thw team are all on board and most importantly dont accept or allow these key principles to be ignored.

Positive cultures are nurtured but can have huge impacts on the success of your business.

If you don't believe me, just take 1 minute to think about a company you have interacted with where you remember how awesome the staff were. Then think, what exactly did they do, most of the time its not life saving, just simple happy and positive attitudes.

24/09/2024

Unfortunately last weeks guest had to reschedule their The Inside Track Podcast appearence so i thought it would be a great opportunity to remind everyone that all 80+ episodes from this and the last 6 series are available on

✅ Our website - www.insidetrack.co.uk

✅ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/

✅ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InsideTrackPodcast

Some great guests on there so jump over and take a listen

19/09/2024

Just a shout-out to our great sponsors at The Inside Track Podcast for series 7

Without these guys supporting what we do, it would not be possible

Tima Contact Center - Amazing company working to gyms and fitness businesses to support their inbound and outbound call activity from operations and member calls to new enquiries and driving sales. Love what they do!

GrowMetrics - What don't these guys do when it comes to digital marketing. They support us at Black Raccoon Consulting, FitLeads and even built our Fit Supply Hub website. No one is better!

WellNation magazine - bringing you all the latest news, events and interviewers from the world of health and fitness. Always first for industry news

FitLeads - of course this is mine so its only right they get a mention 😉

As always The Inside Track Podcast series is full of amazing guests. Chris Leare and Alex Bowden.

Coming up we have James Lorey, Bob Esquerre, MA, NSCA-CPT, Chris Sharman, Ben Coomber, Pablo Viñaspre, Jude D'Souza, Sohan Karunaratne. Kilian Fisher, OSCAR SMITH and a few more to confirm.

Wow, I'm loving this series already!!!

Check out all our previous episodes at www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk

17/09/2024

The Inside Track Podcast latest episode

Join Ryan Charlesworth as he Speaks to Chris Leare, the Founder of The 55 Fitness

Chris has had ana mazing career which spands the military and now the founder of The 55 bag, an amazing training tool suitable for gyms, PT's, Bootrcamp and home training

To get in touch with Chris you can find him on linkedIn or facebook

This episode is proudly brought to you by our sponsors:

Fitleads - Social media Marketing done right! www.fitleads.uk
Fit Supply HubFit Supply Hub - The fitness industry Supplier directory
GrowMetrics - www.growmofo.com/
Black Raccoon Consulting - www.blackraccoon.org
Tima - Contact Center For The Fitness Industry - contact center that specialising in the Fitness Industry

You can also find the full version of this episode and all previous episodes on our website - www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk or on Spotify & Youtube

12/09/2024

The The Inside Track Podcast is back for series 7!!

Join Ryan Charlesworthas he Speaks to Alex Bowden, owner of Phoenix Health & Fitness

Alex is an incredibly successful personal trainer and speaks to us about how best to make your PT business work through engagement with clients and being present on social media

To get in touch with Alex you can find him on linkedIn or facebook

This episode is proudly brought to you by our sponsors:

Fitleads - Social media Marketing done right! www.fitleads.uk

Fit Supply Hub - The fitness industry Supplier directory

GrowMetrics - www.growmofo.com/

Black Raccoon Consulting - www.blackraccoon.org

Tima Contact Center - contact center that specialising in the Fitness Industry

You can also find the full version of this episode and all previous episodes on our website - www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk or on Spotify & Youtube



https://youtu.be/qp2lq_7MnL4

Join Ryan Charlesworth as he Speaks to Alex Bowden, owner of Phoenix Health and Fitness GroupAlex is an incredibly succesful personal trainer and speaks to u...

10/09/2024

FitLeads is more than just a digital marketing agency

Here's why?

✅ 25 years of fitness and leisure industry experience
✅ Part of the Black Raccoon Consulting group, offering consultancy services for over 10 years
✅ Support of industry-leading partners
✅ Vast experience with independent, franchise, hotel and corporate fitness businesses
✅ Marketing experience outside of just Digital enabling you to create a well rounded marketing solution

Our package is made of 3 main components

1) We work with GrowMetrics one of the largest and most successful digital ads platforms to deliver our ads campaigns
2) We use our own system to create landing pages, website, funnels and communication tools to nurture your leads
3) We work with Tima Contact Center to call your leads for you and book appointments saving you time and resources

So when we say done for you, that's exactly what we mean

So we have the skills, the partners and the tools to deliver growth and success for your fitness business.

Don't forget, we work with all our clients 1-1 to ensure you get results, No schemes, no programmes and no one size fits all.

With packages from just £799/month with short-term contracts what have you got to lose?

Why not book a call today and see how we can make a difference to your marketing

05/09/2024

If you're in the fitness industry and seeking a vibrant community to connect, share content, find job postings, read articles, connect with international partners and more, check out fitcomm.net!

It's a fantastic space promoting open networking and continuous improvement. I fully support their mission and encourage all my connections to join.

As a bonus, Black Raccoon Consulting clients, partners, and contacts can enjoy a special launch discount at

https://lnkd.in/enH2_sGR.

The site is rapidly growing, offering a valuable platform for industry professionals and I urge everyone to jump onboard. The more of us on there the bigger the community, the greater the benefits for you and the industry worldwide

05/09/2024

As an independent gym owner, competing with big operators can seem daunting, but remember, you have unique strengths that they don't. Your independence is a powerful asset that allows you to make quick decisions, adapt rapidly, and cater to customer needs effectively. Many gym users now prefer the personal touch of local businesses over big brand names.

Here are some key advantages you hold as an independent gym:
✅️ Building a community is easier for you, offering a personal touch that members value.
✅️ Members get to interact with the business owner directly, feeling valued and not just a number.
✅️ Establishing partnerships with local businesses is more feasible, supporting your community and fostering collaboration.
✅️ Unlike national chains, you can be truly unique and individual, setting yourself apart in the market.
✅️ Your agility allows you to act swiftly on ideas without bureaucratic hurdles.

Embrace your independence as your secret weapon to stand out and thrive in the fitness industry. Remember, you have the flexibility to hire professionals as needed and explore new services without constraints. Don't be intimidated by national chains; you offer a level of personalization and connection that they can't match.

They is plenty of support out there to help when you need it. Black Raccoon Consulting and FitLeads for your sales marketing, operations and digital marketing or Retention Guru for you retebtion strategies plus many others on tge Fit Supply Hub

Take advantage of your strengths, be bold, and leverage your independence to succeed.

If you would like to learn how you can take advantage of your unique business, DM me or go to www.blackraccoon.org

03/09/2024

Elevate Your Gym Business with a FREE 45-Minute Strategy Session
Are you a gym owner looking to take your fitness business to the next level? If the answer is yes, we've got an exciting opportunity for you!

We're offering a FREE 45-minute strategy session that's tailored specifically to gym owners like you. Whether you're facing challenges with client retention, marketing strategies, or operational efficiencies, our team of experts is here to help.

Here's what you can expect from your strategy session:

Personalized Guidance: We'll dive deep into your gym's unique strengths and challenges to provide you with customized strategies that work for your business.
Actionable Insights: Walk away with actionable insights and practical steps you can implement right away to drive success.

No-Obligation: There's absolutely no obligation to commit to any of our services after the session. It's a risk-free opportunity to explore how we can support your gym business.

To schedule your FREE 45-minute strategy session, simply click the link in our bio or send us a direct message. Don't miss out on this chance to elevate your gym business and achieve your goals!

https://lnkd.in/egxJGkFr

19/07/2024

10/07/2024

Time to be honest with yourself as a gym owner

Do you have defined client journeys in your club, and not juat for sales!

Retention is often seen as the "fluffy" side of the business. How do we make clients feel welcome, encourage them to try new things and endure they get results

I see so much effort spent at the front end to create leads and sell memberships, but then almost negligable efoorts made once tge members signs up.

The expectation often being that our facilities and services will somehow wow the customer?

Leta move the attention away from the word retention for one minute as often its seen in the wrong way.

Keeping members engaged is far more than social activities, gym challenges and charity events and whilst they of course have value you can make far bigger impacts by

✅️ Developing a set of client journeys that encourages
- great communication
- interaction between staff and members
- an effective onboarding so clients get results from their efforts
- introducing clients to your full menu of services whixh adds value
✅ training and manage your team. Everyone needs to understand the touch points and expectations. This creates the culture you want in your business.
️✅ Creating effective automations and communications so that members feel part of tge pricess, engaged and achive their results
️✅️ Rewarding success. Don't be afraid to reward memvers for achieving milestones. Celebrating success is a great way of members feeling valued
✅️ Measuring your clients success. body measurement tools such as Tanita Europe are great ways of proving client success
✅️ Having an effective follow up process to tuose who are looking to leave. imagine if you turned around 20-30% of your leavers each month. How much extra revebue would you geberate of they stayed for just 3 extra months?
✅️ Having your team on the floor dpeaking to members. What is your meet and greet protocol? Does the manager walk the floor and be seen. Do staff seek out opportunities to engage? This is a vital component to retention

And then you can do the events, seminars etc as an added bonus

Great retention is created by a solid plan and a service culture. That doesnt hapen by chance an

08/07/2024

How often do you look at your suppliers and re-assess? Fit Supply Hub has exciting news! We offer a FREE "concierge service" to help you find new suppliers tailored to your needs. If you own a gym or fitness business and:

✅️ Have a project you're embarking on and need the right suppliers
✅️ Want to explore better options
✅️ Are upgrading your club and require new equipment or finance
✅️ You would like to compare costs
✅️ You just dont have time to do the research

Thats what we are here for!

Let us assist you in sourcing the best suppliers for your venture.

What's great is we will do the work for free and introduce you to one of our partners

to find out more fo to www.fitsupplyhub.co.uk

03/07/2024

I have been consulting with gyms and fitness businesses for over 10 years now.

You would think over that time I have worked with thousands of clubs

That's just not the case and i'll tell you why

Most of my clients work with me for a year or more.

As I work 1-1 with clients I only take on so many clients at a time to ensure I am able to provide the support they need.

It's important to me that I offer value, that we work on the whole business and create solutions that drive you forward.

Now I can't talk ahout all consultants but Black Raccoon Consulting we offer

✅️ Individual focused solutions for your gym
✅️ Mentoring for you
✅️ Training for your team
✅️ Years of experience
✅️ A large group of supply chain partners
✅️ Our own Digital marketing division
✅️ Our own automation system

Black Raccoon Consulting is a full service end to end consultancy helping clients from concept design and pres-sale through to mature club improvement.

We have vast experience working witb independent, franchise, hotel and commercial clubs

A consultant is there to help YOU make positive changes and decisions about your business

Yes its an investment, unfortunately experts are not free.

But like an accountant who are great at saving you money. A consultant like myself will help you grow long term and your ROI will be justified.

I won't make ludicrous claims of taking you from £10k to £30k a month, why? because I don't know your Business, YET

I will though promise to show you how to be better, to improve performance, to deice nore sales, reduce attrition, improve your client journeys, reduce your costs and help you create a high performing team

To find out more simply book a no obligation call with me

https://calendly.com/blackraccoon/black-raccoon-gym-review-call

or drop me a DM

24/06/2024

Are you brave enough to offer a money back guarantee?

The thing is, you don't even need to be brave and the benefits on conversion and adherence can be profound.

Here’s why it’s a game-changer:

✅️ Builds Trust Instantly: Nothing says confidence in your gym's services like offering a money-back guarantee. It reassures potential members that you stand behind your promises.

✅️ Removes Barriers to Enrollment: Fear of commitment is real. A solid guarantee reduces the perceived risk for prospects, making it easier for them to say "yes" to joining your gym.

✅️ Increases Conversion Rates: It’s a proven psychological trigger. Knowing they can get their money back if not satisfied motivates more prospects to take action and sign up.

✅️ Sets You Apart from Competitors: Differentiate your gym with a compelling USP. A money-back guarantee shows you're committed to member satisfaction in a way that many competitors aren’t.

Now, I understand the concern about potential misuse. Here’s how we can mitigate it.

✅️ Clear Terms and Conditions: Establish precise terms outlining what qualifies for a refund. This ensures the guarantee is used responsibly while protecting your gym’s interests.

✅️ Pre-Implementation Measurement: Before launching, conduct thorough assessments and define clear success metrics. This way, both you and your members know what to expect and how success will be measured.

✅️ Optimized Client Journey: Enhance member satisfaction with a well-crafted client journey. From initial consultation to ongoing support, every interaction should strengthen member engagement and loyalty.

Ready to explore how a Money-Back Guarantee can revolutionize your gym’s marketing strategy?

Let’s chat about tailoring a guarantee that aligns perfectly with your gym’s goals and values. Contact us today to elevate your gym’s membership sales with confidence!

13/06/2024

The Inside Track Podcast

Whilst we are taking a pause for the summer we invite you to take a watch of our previous 6 series

We have interviewed some amazing guests over the last 3 years and covered some great subjects.

Simply hop over to www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk to take a listen or visit our Youtube channel

22/05/2024

Super excited to say Black Raccoon Consulting is working with the UBX brand in the UK to support the growth of 5 of their clubs

This is a unique brand and an exciting franchise so we feel priviledged to be part of their journey

21/05/2024

The Inside Track Podcast ia taking a break until after the summer but you can still watch all 6 series so far

Simply go to www.insidetrack.co.uk

13/05/2024

🚀 Pre-Launch Special: Get Ready to Transform the Way You Buy or Sell Gyms! 🚀

🎉 Exciting news for gym owners and fitness industry investors! Sell My Gym is set to launch on June 1st, and we're offering an exclusive pre-launch deal to get you started. Register now and enjoy 50% off all registration fees until the end of May!

What is Sell My Gym?

We're pioneering a new way to connect gym owners with serious buyers across the UK. Our platform simplifies the buying and selling process through a streamlined marketplace designed specifically for fitness businesses. Whether you're planning to expand your portfolio or searching for the right buyer for your gym, Sell My Gym makes it effortless.

Why Join Us Now?

🌟 Exclusive Early Access: Be among the first to list your gym or discover prime investment opportunities.

💼 Simplified Transactions: Our platform's intuitive interface and robust features make managing listings and exploring investments smooth and straightforward.

📉 Special Pre-Launch Pricing: Take advantage of a 50% discount on all registration fees until May 31st.

Get Started Today:

1. Create an account.

2. List your business or start browsing through available listings.

3. Experience how Sell My Gym facilitates perfect matches between sellers and buyers in the fitness industry.

Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer to be part of something big! Register now and be ready when we go live on June 1st. Join us at [Link to registration] and take the first step towards your next successful gym transaction!

🔗 Sign up now and save: www.sellmygym.co.uk

Colin Lee Berry

07/05/2024

Well thats a Wrap

Series 6 of the The Inside Track Podcast is complete and time to take a pause.

After 3 years we have decided to take a summer break so we will be back with a new great line up in September

I hope you have enjoyed the series and i would like to give special thanks to Robert Handy for stepping in and guest hosting some of the episodes, Dr Glenda Rivoallan will be back with me after the summer

I would also like to thank all our great guests this series, who without would not allows us to bring you such great content

And finally to our sponsors
Independent Gyms
Xplor Gym UK
WellNation
GrowMetrics
Tima Contact Center

If you would like to watch Series 6 or any of the previous episodes please visit www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk

Over the summer we will reach out to guests to fill our weekly slots. We will also be looking for 3 New Sponsors. If you would like to be a guest or a sponsor please drop me a message

30/04/2024

Join Ryan Charlesworth as he Speaks to Danny Melling Interim Director of Membership Experience Ukactive

This was a great opportunity to understand and learn more about ukactive and the role it plays in the leisure and fitness industry.

To get in touch with Paul you can find him on linkedIn

This episode is proudly brought to you by our sponsors:

Independent Gyms UK & Ireland - www.independentgyms.co.uk/

Fitleadsfast - Social media Marketing done right! www.fitleads.uk
Xplor Gym UK - www.xplorgym.co.uk
Tima Contact Center - www.tima.org.uk
WellNation - www.well-nation.co.uk
GrowMetrics - www.growmofo.com/

You can watch the full version of the Podcast on our website at www.insidetrackpodcast.co.uk or on our Youtube channel, Please don't forget to subscribe or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music or Podbean