How to Attract New Members to Your Sports Club this New Year

New Year’s resolutions have been set for 2020 and the most popular will always be sports and fitness. Therefore, this is the perfect time to start marketing for new members of your sports club and catch all those looking for a new sport or fitness venture.

 

Get digital

Nobody is going to be attracted to a team that looks as though it is stuck in the 20th century – make sure your website is up to date with all the latest information so that if somebody was to come across you from a web search they know when and where to come and who to contact.

Promotion across social media is also a great tool so make sure you put out information which can be useful to potential members. Also you can join in conversations and post on local group pages to attract those in the area and spread awareness.

 

Think about promotions

Most people especially when considering taking up a new sport will not want to commit to a membership and therefore it is a good idea to offer free taster sessions. This allows people who may not be sure to come along and give it a try and meet the team. These could be done continuously and any new members can come along to any class or as a one off event and open the club up to new members for a specific session which can go over basic rules and training drills.

If your club has a marketing budget you can pay to advertise in local papers and directories or place ads within local sports halls, shops and notice boards. You could even sponsor a local business or get involved in some local events or charities to boost the club’s presence in the local area.

 

Spread the word!

The best marketing for any sports club is word of mouth and therefore it pays to use your players as ambassadors and spread the club’s message. Invite them to bring along friends, family, colleagues and anyone they know to try it out. You could even offer friends and family discounts and incentives for those bringing along new members to encourage current club members to be proactive also.

Often joining a sports club is not just about the sport but also about the social side, meeting new people and making new friends. Therefore, it is important within your promotion to make reference to the social events that the club are involved in.

We hope this has given you a few ideas as to how to promote your sports club this January and that you are able to attract a whole new team of members to kick start the new year!

If you need sports club insurance look no further, Protectivity can offer a comprehensive and competitive quote today.

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

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Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.

Explained: Dog Walking Qualifications and Licensing

Dog walking can make for a more than viable business – provided you have the time, inclination, and love of dogs, of course.

If you’re thinking about starting a dog walking business you might already have wondered about the need for any kind of certification, qualification, or licensing – none of which is strictly necessary, but all likely to prove more than useful, depending on your location and clients.

About Us

We’re one of the leading providers of insurance for pet businesses – including dog walking insurance and its related services. So, if you are walking dogs, pet sitting, grooming, boarding, or taxiing pets, rest confident in the reliable cover we provide against your public liabilities, care, custody and control safeguards, and protection of the equipment used in your pet-based business.

 

Your dog walking business – principles

You’ll soon discover that many owners think of their pets practically as their children. So, they’ll want to know that the person they are leaving them with is responsible and trustworthy. Having a relevant qualification of one kind or another might help to reassure those anxious owners that you know exactly what you’re doing.

If you’re looking for the most appropriate way of documenting that qualification, you’ll find that there’s a wide range from which to choose – from academic degree courses to certificates in animal care or even pet psychology. Any of these might bolster your standing and status as someone who knows – and cares – about pets.

 

Your dog walking business – certification

One of the most popular and widely used certificates for would-be dog walkers is issued by Think Dog! The course focuses on dog behaviour and training.

An alternative provider of courses suitable for anyone looking to set up a dog walking business is Compass.  The organisation runs the College of Canine Studies and offers an especially wide range of courses on animal behaviour, welfare, care, and husbandry.

 

Your dog walking business – licensing

Before embarking on any course of instruction, it is worth checking whether the certificate or qualification issued upon its completion is recognised by the qualifications regulator Ofqual and meets the Animal Activity Licensing Regulations administered by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Clearly, it will be critical that your business complies with these and any other local licensing regulations. Keeping abreast of regulatory changes will be important whether you are new to the business or have been a dog walker for a long time.

 

Your dog walking business – insurance

Licensing requirements may also have a bearing on your need for the type of dog walking insurance in which we specialise here at Protectivity. Regulations enforced by the Royal Parks, for example, stipulate that the grounds may be used only by licensed professional dog walkers. This is part of the Parks’ efforts to ensure that all users and visitors maintain a high standard and have the correct insurance cover for themselves, the dogs, and the public.

But it is not only for access to the Royal Parks. For your own peace of mind, the protection of your business, and to bolster your standing as a professional pet business owner maintaining the appropriate level of insurance is critical.

 

Summary

Certification, qualification, licensing, and insurance – none of these may be absolutely essential if you are looking to start a dog walking business. But without them, you may be struggling to run your pet business safely, efficiently, and successfully.

So that you keep up to date with developments likely to impact your business, you might want to keep in touch with some of the associations that bring together people offering dog walking services.

Organisations such as these help to ensure that the standards of dog walking are kept high and professional. Joining an association such as the Association of Professional Dog Walkers (APDW) helps to establish you as a professional in your field and reassure your customers that you take responsibility in your role.

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Last updated by

Bee Ingram Image

Bee Ingram

With a focus on producing high-quality, consistent content across multiple platforms, Bee is committed to creating engaging and effective messaging that aligns with the brand’s voice and strategy.