Benefiting From a Web-based System

Clubs can choose from various possibilities on programs to help operate their systems. One of these is a web-based option.

“It tracks all of our check-ins, all of our scheduling for personal training,” said Rod Foys, the general manager of Gold’s Gym Tallahassee (Downtown) in Tallahassee, Florida. Foys said it also helps in terms of tracking fitness assessments, as well as membership appointments and payment. “It basically does everything,” he said.

At Gold’s Gym Tallahassee (Downtown), Foys said they use ClubReady. “They’re responsible for our billing, our collections, and it’s all run through this web-based system.”

But the system isn’t just for keeping track of numbers. On the other side, Foys explained that they use their website to sell memberships and collect leads. “We probably average [at our] three clubs in Tallahassee … 100 leads a month and probably sell 15 to 20 memberships directly online a month,” he said. “As for our leads or internet, we get out to more people. It’s easier for us to touch more people through our social marketing and everything. It all comes to the web-based lead system and website.”

What’s the major benefit of being web-based? “As far as the membership and the actual functioning of the club, having it being web-based, obviously we don’t have to save,” explained Foys. “We don’t have to worry about crashes or saving anything. It’s all web-based … Even if all of our computers blow up, we still have everything.”

Plus, the system is easy to use for not only members, but also Foys himself. “With our systems, it’s just really user friendly, so not only can our members access it online, but as for as me as manager, I can do everything,” he said.

Foys said it also enhances the ability to better cater to the customer. “If I need to refund someone, like if we made a mistake, I can do it while they are standing in front of me,” he said. “If there is an issue, we can handle it right away instead of telling them to call someone or fill out this paperwork, and it’s a great thing for customer service.”

However, it can be hard to choose what system is best for you and your gym. Foys said the owners of Gold’s Gym Tallahassee looked into a lot of different systems before choosing ClubReady. For them, it came down to keeping track of the high volume of memberships sold, the large amount of scheduling done and tracking prospects.

Ultimately, Foys said clubs should look at what others are doing to best help them decide on a web-based system. “First of all, I would find out clubs like yours that are using [the system you are looking into] and call them to see how it actually functions,” he said. “I’ve been part of companies that use systems that sound great, but once you got into it, it was so complicated or had so many things you didn’t need or it just wasn’t really functional and wasn’t easy to understand. So, call a club just like yours … that needs the same thing you do. That’s probably the best advice I can give.”

By Heather Hartmann

Rachel Zabonick-Chonko

Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.