MARKET, MARKET, MARKET!

Focus on ways to keep your name in front of BOTH current and prospective customers. Use cost-effective ways to market your gym, and remember that marketing is the LAST thing to cut during challenging times.

	Morton Bergue - Cheergyms.com (CA)
	Do FREE clinics at the gym.  Send monthly newsletters with “specials” in them to all the local schools and our mailing list.  Do “specialty classes” that focus on one thing and charge a different price for it.
	Shannon Gregg - Fire and Ice Allstars (PA)
	Try to use FREE or cheap marketing tactics: Craigslist – post everything on Craigslist (clinics, classes, tryouts, etc).  It is directly linked to Google, so the more someone clicks on it, the more it increases your search status in Google. Email newsletters (use Constant Contact) - has over 4,000 emails that it is sent to…anyone who has ever stepped foot into their gym. Text Blasts with news/gym info Search engines – make sure to add keywords to your homepage that allow your gym to pull up a large number of searches. Do ads in local city paper (smaller papers) Post on all local event websites – libraries, etc
	Alisa Kiefer – Twister All-Stars (GA)
	Each new student who signs up receives a complimentary t-shirt.  The goal of the t-shirts is to give an inexpensive walking billboard in the community.  E-mail blasts to PAST and PRESENT customers about what is going on at Twister All-Stars.  This has been effective in getting some past customers to return.
	Jeff Miller – Pro Spirit (TX)
	A big mistake is not including the word “cheerleading” in your advertising Pro Spirit t-shirt day – wear your practice shirts to school on the same day Use Facebook, MySpace, Twitter – it’s free! Post lots of pictures! Local Parades and Events - set up booth with videos and fliers at the events Traditional advertising does not work Coaches offer to teach a special week of P.E. classes at schools – check with school for restrictions
	Sean Sutton - Cheer Force One (AL)
	Advertise in each high school and middle school’s football ads in the local area. Utilize vehicular advertisement.  The CFO owner has a Hummer that is fully wrapped in a Cheer Force One advertisement with their graphics and contact information all over.  Employ guerilla marketing tactics.  One example is they used pins to advertise prior to this season’s try-outs.  Make pins for the current all-stars to put on their backpacks advertising their try-outs to prospective all-stars throughout the hallways of their school.
	Travis Franklin - Southern Extreme (TN)
	Invite local radio stations to come out to the gym and broadcast from there.  By incorporating this with open gym, you can get additional revenue and publicity. We hold Kid’s Fest.  This event is completely FREE, but it is great opportunity to brag about and promote the programs that the gym offers.  Incorporating promotions and giveaways peaks interest in the event and in your program.
	Aaron and Joelle Scott - Universal Kentucky Cheer (KY)
	Logo is placed on ALL printed material for the brand Keep customers’ emails sorted by age group so that we can target certain ages for specific events (having a Hanna Montana Dance Madness Camp for ages 6-10, Mommy’s Day Out emails to ages 0-10, etc.) Run radio spots with local family radio show
	Caryn Hale, Wanda Whipkey, Laura Dudley  - American Elite (OH)
	Send monthly newsletters to all old customers, current customers, pre-schools (we normally mail about 2500 copies of this!).  Includes gym events, highlights an athlete or coach and includes local business’ ads/coupons. Send out press releases to get your name out and to promote a better understanding of all-star cheer Conduct internal (customers) and external (non-customers) focus groups to see what people think of your program, their message, etc. Did internal (customers) and external (non-customers) focus groups to see what people thought of their program, their message, etc. Host a charity cheer competition every year: Children’s Cheer Classic (in support of the Akron Children’s Hospital and Reach Out and Read).  Participating teams are asked to bring gently used children’s books that are donated to doctor’s offices and hospital rooms.  All proceeds go to the hospital to buy new books.
	Matt Cremers - Thunder All- Stars (GA)
	Making a small stir in everything is more important than being part of one or two large efforts. Make a point to switch marketing mediums to not hit the same group repeatedly, but instead reaching multiple groups.
	Kevin Hooker - Elite Cheer Nebraska (NE)
	Door flyers – 5000 doors Elementary school newspaper advertising All high school squads get discounts Performances Race for the cure Diabetes walk etc. Arena football halftime
	Jason Mitchell – Arizona Heat (AZ)
	Send coupon packs in the mail to surrounding areas around the gym.  The envelopes are 3x8 ½ inches with several coupons included, so the cost is inexpensive and gives the opportunity to expand to new customers. One of the cheer gyms in AZ has started an Arizona Cheerleading magazine and we run advertisements in it and it has helped get the name out about our gym.  We advertise that we have great deals going on because of the economy, too.
	Lea Hebert - Elite Cheer Michigan (MI)
	Use parents as resources. Referral Credits – bring in a NEW member (never been a part of the gym) and if they join a team, the member receives a $50 credit EVERY MONTH! (Has brought in about 17-18 members this year.) Print out coupon flyers for $5 off open gym or $10 off new class registration with the member’s name at the bottom.  When it’s redeemed by a new child, the member gets a $10 credit.