Pump Up Your Gym Memberships: Master Local Ads

Step 1: Define Your Advertising Goals

Before launching any ad, define what success looks like.

 Choose your focus:

• Increase new memberships

• Promote free trials or intro offers

• Fill classes during off-peak hours

• Build local brand awareness

Use this to guide your copy, targeting, and landing page design.

Getting started with Ad Manager 

Step 2: Choose the Right Advertising Channels

Different platforms serve different parts of the journey. Combine them strategically.

• Google Ads
  Reach people actively searching for “gyms near me,” “kickboxing classes,” or “personal training.”
  
  

• Facebook & Instagram Ads
  Target users by age, fitness interests, and behavior. Great for promo offers, lead magnets, and retargeting.
  
  

• YouTube Ads
  Run short, compelling video ads that show off your trainers, transformation stories, or class atmosphere.

Step 3: Create Compelling Ad Content

Ad creative is what stops the scroll. Here’s what to include:

✔️ Highlight Unique Offers
"7 Days Free + 1-on-1 Consult", "50% off First Month", etc.

✔️ Share Testimonials & Social Proof
Before/after photos, member stories, and review quotes build trust fast.

✔️ Use Strong Visuals
Clean images of your space, equipment, and trainers. For video, aim for 15–30 seconds with subtitles.

✔️ Add Clear CTAs
"Claim Your Free Trial", "Join Now", or "Book a Class Today".

Step 4: Target Your Local Audience

Hyperlocal targeting is your best friend.

✅ Geo-targeting:
Focus on a 5–15 mile radius around your gym.

✅ Demographics + Interests:
Segment by:

• Age group (20–45 is often the sweet spot)

• Interests: fitness, healthy living, CrossFit, yoga, weightlifting

• Behavior: gym-goers, people with fitness apps

✅ Lookalike Audiences:
Upload your member list to create similar audiences on Meta platforms.

Create custom audience in GHL Ad Manager 

Step 5: Set Your Budget & Schedule

You don’t need a massive budget to get results — just consistency and testing.

• Start with $20–50/day and increase as CPL drops

• Schedule ads during decision windows:
  Early mornings, lunchtime, 5–9 PM

• Use campaign budget optimization to let the platform auto-spend across the best-performing ads

 Step 6: Measure and Optimize

Don’t “set it and forget it.” Track key metrics and adjust weekly.

Track These KPIs:

• Cost Per Lead (CPL): Aim for under $25–35

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): Target 1.5–3% or higher

• Conversion Rate: 15–30% of leads should become paying members

• Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): Keep under $100 per member

• Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Shoot for 3–5x ROI

Test and Optimize:

• A/B test copy, offers, and visuals

• Try different audiences: interests, behaviors, demographics

• Analyze which placements (Feed vs. Stories vs. YouTube) drive the best results

Learn about ad attribution here 

 Bonus Tips to Maximize Results

Use Video
Video ads can increase conversion by 20%+. Film:

• Trainer intros

• Class previews

• Member transformations

Use Social Proof
Feature reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content (UGC). Add these to your ads and landing pages.

Mobile First
Most of your audience is on mobile — make sure your ads and landing pages load fast and are easy to navigate.