First things first: Fitness business owners, always call your leads—don’t get lazy. Nothing beats direct human connection. But recently, we've seen a clear trend with the fitness businesses we coach: more leads are booking appointments without ever speaking to a sales rep on the phone.

This is called Sell By Chat, and while it's not brand-new, it’s a proven, effective strategy you should implement immediately.

Here’s exactly how you can set this up:

🔥 Step 1: Have an Easy Booking Calendar

Make booking appointments effortless for potential clients. The easier it is, the more they'll book. Ideally, your leads should be able to auto-book directly after seeing your ad. But remember, even with auto-bookings, it’s crucial to follow up regularly and remind leads about their appointments (I'll share detailed training on this soon).

🔥 Step 2: Instantly Engage Your Leads

Use automation tools like ACR 365. When a lead opts in and you can’t immediately call them, your system sends an automated SMS right away. The goal: Turn cold leads into engaged leads (meaning they start communicating with you).

Here are the exact messages fitness business owners we coach use to start conversations:

• "What's your main goal right now? Losing weight, adding muscle, or getting fitter?"
• "Do you prefer to train in the AM, lunch, or PM?"
• "Is this [Lead Name]?"
• "Have you trained much in the last 8 weeks, and what workouts do you enjoy the most?"

These simple questions get leads replying fast—and once they reply, that’s when the real magic starts.

🔥 Step 3: Qualify Before Booking

Before asking leads to book their appointment, get a bit more info. This prevents no-shows and ensures high-quality conversations.

Here’s exactly what you need to know:

1. Their specific goals
2. Why these goals matter to them (what’s their deeper motivation?)
3. Their location
4. Confirm they're looking for help reaching these goals
5. Find a suitable booking time

Don't rush it. Get these details clearly but quickly. You don’t need their whole life story, just these essentials.

🚀 Pro Tips for Fitness Business Owners:

• Follow up consistently. If they don’t reply immediately, keep trying. Persistence wins.
• Use social proof. If someone wants to lose 10kg, share a relevant client testimonial or success story from your Instagram or website. Proof creates trust.
• Use their preferred communication. Wherever they first reply (SMS, Messenger, IG DM), stick to that channel for their comfort.

This system, Sell By Chat, isn't revolutionary—but it's highly effective. Like anything worthwhile, it takes practice. Implement these steps consistently, and watch your bookings rise—even without immediate phone calls.

But seriously, fitness business owners, don't skip your outbound calls. They still matter.

Want more leads and sales for your fitness business?
👉 Tap the link below to learn exactly how we help fitness business owners just like you scale quickly and effectively:

https://jimipomponio.com.au/opt-in-page

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