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Trying a new fitness studio is a big step for most people. Before they ever sign up for a trial or commit to a membership, they turn to something they trust—reviews. Real stories, real results, and real member experiences carry more weight than any ad or promo ever will.
This matters even more in Canada’s crowded fitness landscape. With hundreds of boutique gyms, Pilates studios, HIIT spaces, yoga studios, and CrossFit boxes opening across the country, it’s becoming harder to stand out. In Ontario alone, there are 1,727 fitness studios, and 21% of adults already have a membership—so you’re not just competing for attention, you’re competing against studios people already know.
Why Reviews Matter for Fitness Studios
Today’s customers treat online reviews like personal recommendations. In fact, up to 98% of people read around 10 reviews before choosing a local business. For fitness studios, where clients want to feel safe, supported, and motivated, strong reviews can make all the difference.
Additionally, Google heavily considers review quantity, recency, and diversity when ranking businesses. That means reviews directly influence how often you show up in searches like:
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“Best gyms near me”
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“Yoga studio Toronto”
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“CrossFit gym + your city”
Fitness studios with a steady flow of recent, positive reviews consistently rank higher, get seen more often, and attract more membership inquiries.
But reviews do more than boost your ranking. They help potential members feel confident choosing your studio over the dozens of others nearby, especially when joining a new fitness space can feel intimidating.
Reviews give people reassurance that:
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Your instructors are friendly, skilled, and welcoming
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Your classes are effective and beginner-friendly
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The environment is supportive and not judgmental
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The space is clean, safe, and well-run
In a crowded market, your reviews don’t just reflect your reputation, they build it. They’re what help new members trust you, choose you, and stay with you.
How to Get More Reviews for Fitness Studios
1. Ask Members at High-Energy Moments
Great reviews come from great feelings and no place delivers emotional wins like a fitness studio. When members feel stronger, supported, and proud of themselves, they’re far more likely to speak up about it.
Some of the highest-conversion moments happen:
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Around one week in, when they’re settling into the routine, feeling supported, and noticing early wins
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Around the one-month mark, when progress becomes real in the form of better energy, improved form, small strength gains
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After completing a milestone, like a 30-day challenge, a first full class without modifications, or a PR with their trainer
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When recommitting, such as upgrading or renewing a membership
But even the perfect moment can get lost in a busy inbox. That’s where follow-ups come in. With NiceJob, your review requests automatically continue the conversation with up to 5 friendly, well-timed reminders delivered by text and email.
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2. Make Leaving a Review Frictionless
Even your happiest, most loyal members won’t leave a review if the process feels inconvenient or time-consuming. People are busy. They finish a great workout, head home, and by the time they shower, eat, and move on with their day, the thought of leaving a review disappears. Your goal is to remove every possible barrier so that sharing feedback feels natural, quick, and seamless.
You can reduce friction by:
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Sending a direct link to your Google, Facebook, or ClassPass review page
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Using quick SMS requests that members can complete instantly from their phone
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Adding QR codes at the front desk, in your lobby, or at your check-in kiosk
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Including review links in post-class recap messages or post-challenge emails
Pro Tip: NiceJob makes this effortless with automated review campaigns that guide members through the process in just a few taps.
3. Respond to Your Reviews to Build Engagement
Collecting reviews is only half the battle, how you respond to them can make a huge difference in building trust, boosting engagement, and standing out from the competition. Many studios focus solely on getting reviews, but failing to acknowledge them can make members feel unheard and prospective members hesitant to join.
Here’s why responding to reviews matters:
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They show prospective members you care about feedback and member experiences
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They increase engagement on your Google Business Profile
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They help boost your SEO, signalling to search engines that your studio is active and engaged
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48% of customers say they’re more interested in businesses that respond to reviews
NiceJob’s AI-powered review response tool makes this effortless. It can automatically reply to all positive reviews using a tone and style that aligns with your brand and saves your team hours of manual work. At the same time, you retain full control to personally respond to critical or lower-star reviews with a thoughtful, human touch.
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4. Get Your Team Involved
Your instructors and front desk staff interact with members every day so they’re in the perfect position to encourage reviews naturally. But to make this effective, your team needs guidance and training.
Educate your staff on:
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Why reviews matter for growth, visibility, and trust
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When to prompt members organically, such as after a breakthrough class, milestone, or compliment
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How to celebrate member achievements while subtly asking for feedback
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How to nurture review-friendly moments without feeling pushy
By giving your team clear guidance, you turn everyday interactions into opportunities for collecting reviews. When everyone in the studio understands their role, leaving a review becomes a natural extension of the member experience and integrated seamlessly into your studio culture.
Final Thoughts
Every fitness studio promises results, but your reputation is what proves it. Strong reviews is what helps nervous beginners feel safe walking through your doors and what convinces loyal members to keep choosing you over the competition.
The best part is that you don’t need a big team or extra admin hours to build it. By putting the right review system in place (timely requests, automated follow-ups, seamless review links, AI-powered responses, and team participation) you create a reputation engine that works for you around the clock.
Your studio already changes lives. Now let your reputation reflect it.
Ready to level up your review gains?
NiceJob makes review collection feel weightless by doing the heavy lifting for you.
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