The Free Google Feature That Brought Studios 433 New Clients (Without Ad Spend)
3 January 2025
Let's talk about something quietly revolutionizing how fitness studios get new clients. While most studios are burning cash on ads and paying hefty marketplace commissions, some smart studios have discovered a goldmine hiding in plain sight: Google's local search — AKA, Reserve With Google by Kenko.
The Google Search reality
Here's a fact that might surprise you: 97% of people looking for fitness classes start their journey on Google. They're typing things like "yoga near me" or "best Pilates studio" - and these aren't just casual browsers. These are high-intent searchers, with credit cards in hand, ready to book.
A tale of 52 studios
A recent study of 52 fitness studios revealed something fascinating. By simply adding a "Book Online" button to their Google Business Profile, these studios saw remarkable results:
433 new clients walked through their doors
$23,700 average revenue boost in just 4 months
46% more organic bookings than their competitors
Zero dollars spent on marketing
Two success stories worth noting
A Pole Studio that acquired new clients organically
One pole studio with two locations decided to test this approach. Without spending a dime on marketing, they:
Attracted 52 new clients
Generated $2,245 in pure profit
Expanded their community organically
A Yoga Studio that climbed up in search results
A London-based yoga studio took things further. They started at #7 in local search results and climbed to #4 using a smart combination of:
Automated review requests after classes
Strategically placed QR codes for easy reviews
Direct booking through Google
The result? 42 new leads, all without touching their marketing budget.
Why this works so well
The magic lies in the simplicity:
People are already searching for studios
Direct bookings mean no marketplace commissions
Better Google ranking brings more visibility
Easy booking process increases conversions
The smart studio formula
The most successful studios in the study followed a simple formula:
Optimized their Google Business Profile
Added the "Book Online" button with Kenko’s help
Automated their review collection
Made it easy for happy clients to spread the word
The bottom line
While other studios are caught in the cycle of expensive ads and commission fees, these 52 studios found a better way. They tapped into a stream of high-intent leads already looking for their services, and turned those searches into real revenue.
The best part? This isn't some complex marketing strategy that requires a team of experts. It's a simple, free feature that any studio can implement today.
Ready to try it?
If your studio isn't taking advantage of this yet, you're leaving money on the table. The next person in your area searching for fitness classes could be your next loyal member - but only if they can find and book with you easily.
Remember: While others are chasing the next big marketing trend, smart studio owners are maximizing what's already working - and keeping all the profits for themselves.
Read more about how to leverage Reserve with Google to drive organic lead acquisition.
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