Taking Gym Prospects from TOFU to the Doorstep

I think we can all attest to just how competitive the fitness industry is. The quality (and potentially niche offering) of your brand aside, the member acquisition arena and the typically costly investment in lead generation is just the first hurdle. The second, arguably most important and often overlooked, is the engagement necessary to turn those prospects into paying members. Impeccable timing, personalization, and a seamless sales process are critical for success. The hurdle in that? Having the capability and resources to faithfully deliver a timely, personalized sales process for your prospects. It's an operational burden that very few operators get right, not because they don't want to, but because they are not equipped to do so.

If you read any of our recent 'Time To Reply' Fitness Industry studies you'll know that to be true. (UK study, North America Study, Aus Study)

Enter Keepme Agent. Yes, this is a shameless sales pitch, but stick with us. If you don't come out the other end of this intrigued I'll eat my gym shorts.

In this article, we'll look at how Keepme’s AI-powered sales agents take your gym prospects from the top of the funnel (TOFU) all the way to the doorstep of your facility, solving the cumbersome engagement hurdle.

Keepme Agent’s Full-Cycle Gym Sales Solution

Keepme Agent offers a TOFU solution that not only generates gym leads but manages the entire sales cycle - right up to the point where the prospect arrives at your gym. Then and only then do your gym sales team step in for the final face-to-face, bottom-of-the-funnel interaction: the tour.

The power of Keepme’s AI lies in its ability to take gym prospects from initial interest all the way to booking an appointment, confirming the tour, and even handling schedule changes or questions. Essentially, Keepme Agent manages the entire journey from first-touch interaction with prompt, personalized acknowledgment of interest, through prospect nurturing (in the form of all queries being fully answered), and gentle nudging of the prospect to complete a desired action i.e booking a tour. Not only do they encourage this high-value action to take place, they facilitate it, locking it into your club's calendar.

The relationship with the prospect doesn't end there. When they book a tour they are not forgotten, because we know a tour booked does not mean a tour attended.

People are busy, life gets in the way of the best-laid plans. Gym tours and trials are often casualties of this busyness. Keepme Agent is built with this in mind.

Agent provides your prospects with dynamic opportunities to keep channels of communication open, without having to speak to someone on your team. This means fewer no-shows and more successfully re-scheduled appointments - keeping footfall optimal and prioritising your sales team's opportunities to convert.

How? When a prospect receives their tour confirmation SMS, WhatsApp, or email, they will be given the heads up that they can change their tour date quickly and easily by simple reply. They will also become aware of this open channel of communication when they start a chat with the Agent, who will inform them they are there to act as their personal concierge, answering questions about your facility, as well as any scheduling requirement.

So your sales team never has to worry about taking calls from prospects wanting to cancel, or wanting to rebook, nor do they have to face a calendar full of no-shows, allowing them to genuinely focus on what they do best: delivering the in-person experience that converts prospects into members.

Step 1: Seamless Gym Lead Engagement

When prospects show initial interest, Keepme Agent instantly engages them through personalized conversations. Whether it’s a website inquiry, a phone call, or a social media lead, the AI automatically captures and engages the prospect (using natural language processing), addressing their inquiries in real-time. This early-stage engagement is key to keeping prospects interested and nurturing their curiosity about your facility.

Step 2: Dynamic Communication to Drive Conversions

The real magic happens as the Keepme AI continues to nurture the prospect with timely, relevant follow-ups. Whether they need more information about pricing, class offerings, or amenities, the AI handles it. If they’re ready to book a tour, the agent seamlessly sets the appointment, all while maintaining dynamic communication channels that allow for instant updates or schedule changes. They'll also receive reminders about their upcoming tour, keeping attendance rates high....or rescheduling rates high. Either is better than a no-show and much more likely to convert.

At any point in the process, if the prospect has further questions or needs to change the appointment time, Keepme’s AI sales agent is ready to respond - 24/7. If your prospect wakes in the middle of the night and wants to book an alternative date, no problem. This eliminates the need for back-and-forth communication between the gym’s staff and the prospect, ensuring no lead is lost due to scheduling conflicts or unanswered queries.

Visibility for Fitness Operators

One of the key benefits of Keepme’s AI system is the real-time visibility it provides to fitness operators. While the AI handles communication and scheduling, gym management remains informed through real-time updates on appointment statuses, prospect activity, and details of past conversations. This transparency allows the fitness team to remain in the loop, with full knowledge of where each lead is in the sales cycle, and equipped with what the prospect is interested in. So, come the day of the tour, your sales team already knows what floats the prospect's boat and can provide a more personalized in-person experience, again increasing the chances of the lead joining.

By the time the prospect steps through the door, your sales team is fully prepared, armed with information and ready to give the most effective in-person tour. No time is wasted on administrative tasks; the focus is entirely on converting the visitor into a long-term member.

Optimizing Your Process - Not Replacing Your Team

Keepme’s AI sales agents redefine the traditional role of sales teams by automating the majority of the sales funnel and ensuring a seamless journey from TOFU to the gym’s front door. For fitness operators, this means less administrative work, fewer missed opportunities, and more time to focus on what matters - converting interested prospects into lifelong members.

By the time your team meets the prospect face-to-face, Keepme’s AI has already done the heavy lifting, ensuring that the lead is not only nurtured but ready to be sold. With Keepme, the future of gym sales is not just about generating leads - it’s about nurturing them, supporting them, and then closing them, effortlessly and efficiently.