Use benefits to encourage athletes to join your run club. You’ll want to emphasize these benefits in your marketing.
When people are paying for a club membership, you’ll want to be clear on all the ways they benefit from club membership versus just doing regular runs with friends and family.
We’ll cover benefits you offer with your membership:
- Organization & Community
- Training & Support
- Financial Perks
Your run club takes care of organizing regular group runs – this organization and community creation is the primary benefit of your run club. People want to connect with others. You’re making that easy because you’re taking over the planning responsibility. Rather than coordinating with friends on where, when, and how far in the group chat, they can just show up.
Beyond organizing regular runs, you can also host other events. Consider an annual get-together like a holiday party or a summer picnic to help members grow their community ties. You could even organize a race as an additional revenue source.
2. Training & Support
The second core benefit of your run club is training and support. People draw support from the community you’re building – tips from more experienced runners and accountability to run regularly.
If you have experience with coaching, you can even offer more concrete coaching and support. You can learn about your member’s goals and help them achieve them.
3. Financial Perks
While your core offerings are your biggest benefits, adding perks can help seal the deal for people considering membership.
Some perks are fully in your control. For others, you’ll need to connect with local businesses to create a partnership.
Club Gear
Design and offer new gear each year. Gear could be reusable water bottles, shirts, sweatbands, gym bags, socks, etc. Club gear also doubles as marketing for your club. Your members will be walking billboards for your club.
Race Registration Discounts
Create your own races or work with local race directors to offer discounts to your club members. You’re offering race directors marketing to your highly interested audience. In return, race directors offer a discount on signup to your members.
For races and clubs using Race Entry’s system, discounts on race signup don’t require a promo code. All the race director needs to do is set the discount amount and select your club to offer it to.
Running Store Discounts
Offer club members special discounts at your store or work with a local running store to offer discounts. Once again, you’re offering the store access to your membership who are highly likely buyers. In return, they’re offering a discount to your members.
Professional Services Discounts
Consider reaching out to local chiropractors, physical therapists, run coaches, and other related professional services in your area that you trust. Ask if they’d be willing to offer a discount on the first appointment or offer a free consultation to members. You have an audience of athletes who may need or be interested in their services. Your referral is valuable to these local health professionals.
Growing Your Run Club
Building a successful run club takes work. As you grow it each year, you can offer more benefits. Some of your benefits like community will grow naturally as you get more members. Your value to race directors and running stores also increases the more members you have, so starting discount conversations will be easier. You can even offer better swag – the more members you have, the easier it is to get cheaper per item pricing.
Use Race Entry’s club software to grow your run club.
