Brutally honest advice to my former gym owner self (I wish someone would have told me)

Do gym ads still work in 2026?

* Claim a (yes, actually) free 30-day trial with GMM here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/new-way-old-way-9746-154878?el=podcastbio&htrafficsource=podcast] * FREE Gym Core Values Worksheet [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/corevaluesfree-545122?el=corevaluesworksheetshownotespodcast&htrafficsource=podcast] 👉 Find out if your gym’s core values are building real culture or just collecting dust on a wall. Create values your team can name, use, and live by in 45–60 minutes. * Instagram: @gymmembermachine [https://instagram.com/gymmembermachine] — ABOUT US Welcome to Gym Member Machine, we're a done-for-you marketing agency and growth partner for boutique training gyms around the world. In plain English, we help gym owners make more money with less headaches (and we help you do it in ways that you, your team, your community, the people you serve, and yes, your bank account, are gonna feel awesome about). Here’s what that actually means: • Offer design that makes sense for you and your model • Customized, multi-platform paid ad campaigns • World-class gym websites and landing pages that convert • Time-saving sales and automation systems • Coaching, resources, and playbooks to help you turn new leads into raving-fan, referral-engine members of your gym Biggest bragging point? In an industry where the average agency gets fired in 3 months (that's 33% churn for those counting at home), we've been at an average of 2-3% churn for the last 5-6 years... all with an open door for our clients to leave whenever the heck they want (no long-term contracts here). Want to see if we're full of it for yourself? Book a SUUUPER high-pressure get-to-you-know-call here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast] 📞 Full transparency, we only invite about 30–40% of the gym owners we speak with to work with us. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you (we're in this for the long game and don't have any "532 members in 3 seconds with no work" fairy tales to sell ya). If you’re serious about growing your gym and want a straightforward, honest conversation about where you are and where you’re trying to go, book a call. Either way, we're rooting for ya 💪 TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 02:10 Do Facebook ads still work for gyms? 04:50 How much should I spend on ads? 08:34 Should I run my own ads or hire someone? 11:06 The 4 types of offers to run 14:52 Free offers (if you've got it, flaunt it) 18:24 The contrasting A/B offer 21:28 Getting leads but no one signs up? 23:29 How long until ads start working? 25:02 Facebook vs Google ads 27:36 Do you need a website or just a landing page? 28:22 Who should (and shouldn't) run paid ads

How 'poster on the wall' core values kill a gym's culture (and how to fix them)

* Claim a (yes, actually) free 30-day trial with GMM here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/new-way-old-way-9746-154878?el=podcastbio&htrafficsource=podcast] * FREE Gym Core Values Worksheet [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/corevaluesfree-545122?el=corevaluesshownotes&htrafficsource=podcast] 👉 Find out if your gym’s core values are building real culture or just collecting dust on a wall. Create values your team can name, use, and live by in 45–60 minutes. * Instagram: @gymmembermachine [https://instagram.com/gymmembermachine] ---------------------------------------- MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 👇 👉 "Fix or Fire" → These team members rot your gym from the inside out: https://youtu.be/LpqSNgb5VTQ [https://youtu.be/LpqSNgb5VTQ] 👉 The 4 'C's of hiring a manager for your gym who won't bail (or bankrupt you) in 6 months: https://youtu.be/R_Idl6Rac_I [https://youtu.be/R_Idl6Rac_I] 👉 Brutally honest advice to my former gym owner self: https://youtu.be/fGR-pM86loU [https://youtu.be/fGR-pM86loU] ---------------------------------------- ABOUT US Welcome to Gym Member Machine, we're a done-for-you marketing agency and growth partner for boutique training gyms around the world. In plain English, we help gym owners make more money with less headaches (and we help you do it in ways that you, your team, your community, the people you serve, and yes, your bank account, are gonna feel awesome about). Here’s what that actually means: • Offer design that makes sense for you and your model • Customized, multi-platform paid ad campaigns • World-class gym websites and landing pages that convert • Time-saving sales and automation systems • Coaching, resources, and playbooks to help you turn new leads into raving-fan, referral-engine members of your gym Biggest bragging point? In an industry where the average agency gets fired in 3 months (that's 33% churn for those counting at home), we've been at an average of 2-3% churn for the last 5-6 years... all with an open door for our clients to leave whenever the heck they want (no long-term contracts here). Want to see if we're full of it for yourself? Book a SUUUPER high-pressure get-to-you-know-call here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast] 📞 Full transparency, we only invite about 30–40% of the gym owners we speak with to work with us. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you (we're in this for the long game and don't have any "532 members in 3 seconds with no work" fairy tales to sell ya). If you’re serious about growing your gym and want a straightforward, honest conversation about where you are and where you’re trying to go, book a call. Either way, we're rooting for ya 💪 ---------------------------------------- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:24 - What good core values look like 02:42 - The test: ask your team at random 03:48 - Why core values matter 05:26 - GMM's three core values 06:06 - What makes a strong core value 07:32 - Treat everyone like family 14:16 - Be obsessed with getting better 15:58 - Be a fantastic teammate 20:38 - The inversion exercise to find yours 27:56 - Values in performance reviews 31:38 - Value shout-outs every meeting 37:58 - Hiring: fit over competence 42:54 - How often to revisit them

Gym marketing secrets from the best movie trilogy of all time

* Claim a (yes, actually) free 30-day trial with GMM here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/new-way-old-way-9746-154878?el=podcastbio&htrafficsource=podcast] * FREE Gym Core Values Worksheet [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/corevaluesfree-545122?el=corevaluesworksheetshownotespodcast&htrafficsource=podcast] 👉 Find out if your gym’s core values are building real culture or just collecting dust on a wall. Create values your team can name, use, and live by in 45–60 minutes. * Instagram: @gymmembermachine [https://instagram.com/gymmembermachine] — ABOUT US Welcome to Gym Member Machine, we're a done-for-you marketing agency and growth partner for boutique training gyms around the world. In plain English, we help gym owners make more money with less headaches (and we help you do it in ways that you, your team, your community, the people you serve, and yes, your bank account, are gonna feel awesome about). Here’s what that actually means: • Offer design that makes sense for you and your model • Customized, multi-platform paid ad campaigns • World-class gym websites and landing pages that convert • Time-saving sales and automation systems • Coaching, resources, and playbooks to help you turn new leads into raving-fan, referral-engine members of your gym Biggest bragging point? In an industry where the average agency gets fired in 3 months (that's 33% churn for those counting at home), we've been at an average of 2-3% churn for the last 5-6 years... all with an open door for our clients to leave whenever the heck they want (no long-term contracts here). Want to see if we're full of it for yourself? Book a SUUUPER high-pressure get-to-you-know-call here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast] 📞 Full transparency, we only invite about 30–40% of the gym owners we speak with to work with us. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you (we're in this for the long game and don't have any "532 members in 3 seconds with no work" fairy tales to sell ya). If you’re serious about growing your gym and want a straightforward, honest conversation about where you are and where you’re trying to go, book a call. Either way, we're rooting for ya 💪 TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Cold open (00:26) Why we are talking about Lord of the Rings (01:48) The big idea (03:22) Sam and Frodo, explained for non-nerds (06:40) Applying it to your marketing (07:54) Who your real target market actually is (10:22) Why "Sally" is more valuable than Dave (11:24) Client as hero, you as the guide (14:08) What Frodo vs. Sam content looks like (14:50) The viral client story (17:50) The service side: being Sam inside the gym (21:38) Give your clients "dessert" (24:00) Don't manage like Gollum (28:00) Why this mindset actually makes you more money (33:48) Closing thoughts

The 4 'C's of hiring a manager for your gym who won't bail (or bankrupt you) in 6 months

* Claim a (yes, actually) free 30-day trial with GMM here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/new-way-old-way-9746-154878?el=podcastbio&htrafficsource=podcast] * FREE Profitable Gym Pricing Worksheet [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast-pricing-sheet?el=shownotes&htrafficsource=podcast] 👉 Plug in your numbers and find out if you're black hole priced or sitting in the sweet spot. Find out if you're charging enough for your gym in 10 minutes or less. * Instagram: @gymmembermachine [https://instagram.com/gymmembermachine] — ABOUT US Welcome to Gym Member Machine, we're a done-for-you marketing agency and growth partner for boutique training gyms around the world. In plain English, we help gym owners make more money with less headaches (and we help you do it in ways that you, your team, your community, the people you serve, and yes, your bank account, are gonna feel awesome about). Here’s what that actually means: • Offer design that makes sense for you and your model • Customized, multi-platform paid ad campaigns • World-class gym websites and landing pages that convert • Time-saving sales and automation systems • Coaching, resources, and playbooks to help you turn new leads into raving-fan, referral-engine members of your gym Biggest bragging point? In an industry where the average agency gets fired in 3 months (that's 33% churn for those counting at home), we've been at an average of 2-3% churn for the last 5-6 years... all with an open door for our clients to leave whenever the heck they want (no long-term contracts here). Want to see if we're full of it for yourself? Book a SUUUPER high-pressure get-to-you-know-call here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast] 📞 Full transparency, we only invite about 30–40% of the gym owners we speak with to work with us. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you (we're in this for the long game and don't have any "532 members in 3 seconds with no work" fairy tales to sell ya). If you’re serious about growing your gym and want a straightforward, honest conversation about where you are and where you’re trying to go, book a call. Either way, we're rooting for ya 💪 TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:14 - What is a GM role? 09:18 - Can you afford one? Compensation basics 10:36 - Base salary + tiered member bonuses 17:46 - Where to find candidates 23:36 - Build the hiring process first 25:46 - Vibes and values fit 26:56 - The Four Cs framework 31:56 - Require a video application 33:56 - Have them do the job in the interview 41:00 - Talk them out of the role 49:10 - Pro tips: actors and karaoke 55:40 - Red flags to watch for 58:24 - Reference checks and core values

Brutally honest advice to my former gym owner self (I wish someone would have told me)

* Claim a (yes, actually) free 30-day trial with GMM here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/new-way-old-way-9746-154878?el=podcastbio&htrafficsource=podcast] * FREE Profitable Gym Pricing Worksheet [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast-pricing-sheet?el=shownotes&htrafficsource=podcast] 👉 Plug in your numbers and find out if you're black hole priced or sitting in the sweet spot. Find out if you're charging enough for your gym in 10 minutes or less. * Instagram: @gymmembermachine [https://instagram.com/gymmembermachine] — ABOUT US Welcome to Gym Member Machine, we're a done-for-you marketing agency and growth partner for boutique training gyms around the world. In plain English, we help gym owners make more money with less headaches (and we help you do it in ways that you, your team, your community, the people you serve, and yes, your bank account, are gonna feel awesome about). Here’s what that actually means: • Offer design that makes sense for you and your model • Customized, multi-platform paid ad campaigns • World-class gym websites and landing pages that convert • Time-saving sales and automation systems • Coaching, resources, and playbooks to help you turn new leads into raving-fan, referral-engine members of your gym Biggest bragging point? In an industry where the average agency gets fired in 3 months (that's 33% churn for those counting at home), we've been at an average of 2-3% churn for the last 5-6 years... all with an open door for our clients to leave whenever the heck they want (no long-term contracts here). Want to see if we're full of it for yourself? Book a SUUUPER high-pressure get-to-you-know-call here [https://join.gymmembermachine.com/podcast] 📞 Full transparency, we only invite about 30–40% of the gym owners we speak with to work with us. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you (we're in this for the long game and don't have any "532 members in 3 seconds with no work" fairy tales to sell ya). If you’re serious about growing your gym and want a straightforward, honest conversation about where you are and where you’re trying to go, book a call. Either way, we're rooting for ya 💪 TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Cold open: the bombshell 00:54 - Welcome to the podcast 01:24 - Why gyms should do laundry loops 03:18 - Starting the first gym at 22 05:34 - Opening Dungeon Strength & Conditioning 07:24 - Direct mail scholarship campaign 09:50 - Moving back to Texas, gym starts struggling 10:50 - The Black Friday breaking point 12:14 - Discovering the affair with members 13:36 - Selling the gym (Feb 2020) 17:00 - What we got right: caring deeply 19:54 - Figuring out marketing and group orientations 22:24 - Building identity and community 27:24 - What went wrong: ego-driven expansion 30:38 - The biggest mistake: bad management 32:30 - Ignoring early red flags 35:58 - Feeling trapped by lack of skill 39:18 - Old members vs new members standards 43:14 - Stepping away too early 48:36 - Death by a thousand cuts 54:42 - Advice to past self 59:20 - Send us your craziest gym stories