A strong member success plan is one of the key weapons in your member retention tool kit.

Research shows that members who undertake onboarding appointments with a trainer typically stay much longer than members who do not undertake appointments.

One study into gym retention showed that within just six months, 87% of the onboarded members remained active compared to only 60% of the non-onboarded members.

However, not all appointments with your gym members are equal. It’s more about what you do in those appointments that make the biggest difference to member retention success.

One of the key objectives of your appointments should be to build a connection and relationship with the member.

Another objective is providing members with a clear plan to reach their goals.

Our clients use FitDesk to create exercise programs that are specific to members needs and goals.

These programs help guide the member with visual pictures of exercises as well as video content. Members can access these programs in a number of ways including via their phone, on their computer at home or via a kiosk in the gym.

You can check out a short video demo of FitDesk software here.

As good as a program can be to help member progress towards their goals, its impact in terms of member retention can be limited.

Improving member retention is about behaviour change. It’s about helping a member transform their lifestyle and develop the habit of coming to the gym until its ingrained.

A good workout program will help them move forward but alone its not going to change behaviour and habits

Introducing the missing link in transforming your new member’s behaviour and habits

In the book Atomic Habits, author James Clear talks about habit formation and provides some insights into strategies we can use to help make habits stick.

Clear mentions that environmental cues can help drive habit change. For example, one of the best environmental cues is day and time.

For example, if a member joins the gym and plans to come to the gym 3 days per week, this is a lot less powerful than a member committing to go to the gym on specific days and times.

If a member plans out their weekly schedule and allocates specific days and times they intend to come to the gym, their compliance with that behaviour is likely to be a lot higher than a member that does not commit to specific times.

We encourage our clients to include a weekly planning process in a new members onboarding process.

This can be done within our FitDesk software using the weekly planner feature.

Members can work with their trainer to plan a schedule that will fit into their lifestyle and work schedule.

This simple process takes no more than 5 minutes however it can result in a profound change in your member’s habit formation and ultimately their long term retention.

We encourage our clients to print out the plan for the member once it has been completed so they can take it home with them and stick it on their fridge where they will see it every day.

A digital copy is also available on the member’s fitness portal however there is something more powerful about providing the member with a tangible hard copy plan.

By combining a personalised program with a weekly plan you can ensure your gym is focusing on the important behaviour change aspect of the member retention puzzle.

If you would like to learn more about fitdesk and how it helps you gyms member retention call 1300 18 665 or email info@greenedesk.com