PPC Basics: Common Mistakes Health Clubs Should Avoid

Running a health club presents unique challenges. Whether you’re managing the programmes, equipment, or engaging clients, there’s a lot to juggle. Making sure your club stands out in a competitive industry is vital. One effective approach to securing new members is through Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. However, diving into PPC without knowing the ropes can lead to costly errors. That’s exactly what we aim to prevent with this guide.

At Wired Media, we help businesses like yours sidestep these common pitfalls. In this post, we will outline several common PPC mistakes health clubs should steer clear of to ensure your campaigns are successful. To deepen your understanding, consider checking out our Health Clubs PPC resource to develop targeted strategies that fit your specific needs.

Poor Keyword Selection

Keywords form the foundation of any PPC campaign, especially in niche markets like health clubs. Selecting the wrong keywords can drain your budget and yield little return. It’s crucial to focus on terms that accurately reflect your services. For example, instead of broad terms like “gym,” consider specific phrases like “yoga classes in [Your City].” Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to see how often keywords are searched. This way, you can pick terms that attract the right audience while avoiding wasted clicks.

Ignoring Negative Keywords

Negative keywords are equally important. By identifying terms that aren’t relevant to your club, you prevent your ads from showing in irrelevant searches. This saves money and increases your ad relevance. For instance, if you don’t offer swimming, include “swimming” as a negative keyword to avoid those clicks. Regularly update your list as your services change or as you identify new irrelevant terms.

Targeting a Broad Audience

Health clubs need to be strategic with audience targeting. Reaching a broad spectrum might seem tempting, but it usually doesn’t pay off. Focus on a narrow, well-defined group that’s likely to be interested in what you offer. Use demographics, interests, and location targeting in your campaigns. By understanding your current members’ profiles, you can tailor your ads to attract similar people. This approach leads to more effective ad spend and increased conversions.

Poorly Designed Landing Pages

The ad is just the beginning; where potential members land is just as crucial. Avoid sending traffic to your homepage. Instead, invest in creating specific landing pages that continue the conversation started in your ad. These should be aligned with the ad’s message and offer a clear call to action. For instance, a campaign focused on personal training should lead to a page outlining your trainers, services, and a booking form. Make the experience seamless and straightforward.

Not Monitoring Your Campaigns

PPC isn’t a set-and-forget strategy. Constant monitoring and optimization are key. Regularly check metrics like click-through rates, conversions, and cost per conversion. This data helps you make informed decisions and adjustments. Allocate time weekly to review these numbers and make small tweaks. Sometimes, a minor change can significantly impact your results.

Neglecting Mobile Users

Many potential members will search for health clubs on their phones. If your ads or landing pages aren’t optimised for mobile, you risk losing business. Ensure your site is mobile-friendly by checking how it displays on various devices. Also, make sure that call-to-action buttons are easily clickable and lead to mobile-optimised forms. Mobile users often look for convenience, so offer click-to-call features or quick booking options.

Forgetting About Remarketing

Your initial interaction with potential clients might not lead to an immediate membership sign-up. This is where remarketing comes into play. Remarketing allows you to reach out to those who visited your site but didn’t convert. Set up campaigns targeting users who viewed specific pages or spent a good amount of time browsing. You can entice them back with special offers or new class alerts, keeping your club fresh in their mind.

Overlooking Ad Extensions

Ad extensions offer additional information like callouts, reviews, or promotions directly in search ads. These extras can significantly increase your ad’s click-through rate. Use sitelink extensions to direct users to specific pages like a membership sign-up or class schedule. Location extensions are especially useful for clubs, making it easy for potential members to find and contact you. Ensure any feature used is relevant and value-adding to the viewer.

If you avoided these PPC missteps in 2023, you’re aware of the benefits they bring. By applying these insights, your health club can position itself better in the market. Keep refining your strategies using the data you gather, and your membership numbers should reflect the improvements.

Interested in professional help? Learn more about our customised PPC management for Health Clubs. We help clubs optimise their ad campaigns for better returns.

Get in touch with us and we’ll get back to you within 24hrs

Our team are ready to help take your website to the next level and grow your business online. Contact us today for a free discovery session and we will show you our approach and we can help you hit your growth targets this year.