Google Review NFC Card for Gyms and Fitness Studios

A restaurant gets one chance to ask each guest. A gym sees the same members again and again, which means you can ask at the moment that suits them, such as after a personal best, at the end of a good class or when a member renews.

Because the card is always at the desk, members who meant to review you last week can do it today without being reminded to search for your name.

• The front desk or check-in counter, where members scan in.
• Near the water station or smoothie bar, where people stop for a minute after training.
• Outside a studio room after group classes, while energy is high.
• The personal training area, so trainers can mention it at the end of a session.

Good moments include the end of a member's first month, after they hit a goal they told the trainer about, and after a well-attended class. A trainer saying “if you are enjoying the sessions, a Google review really helps us” is personal, quick and far more effective than a generic message.

Trial visitors are worth asking too. If someone had a good first session, their review speaks directly to the next person deciding whether to try your gym.

Reviews answer the questions people are often shy to ask: whether beginners feel welcome, whether women feel comfortable training there, how clean the changing rooms are and whether trainers actually correct form. Recent reviews that mention specific trainers and classes are far more persuasive than anything on a flyer.

Reply to reviews, especially critical ones about crowding or equipment, and say what you are doing about it. Prospective members read the replies as closely as the reviews.

It is tempting to offer a free protein shake or an extra week of membership for a review, but Google's policies do not allow incentivised reviews, and they can be removed. Ask every member the same way, whether or not you expect a glowing review, and let the honest ones accumulate.