This article is part of the school of coworking course through Archie. Make sure to check out the other articles to learn more about how to start a coworking space business.?
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A great challenge of a coworking space is finding ways to bring new people in. Attaining members can be difficult and time-consuming, but if you know how to do it properly, it will save you a lot of time and effort.
In this article, we’ve listed 4 easy ways in which you can attract new members to your coworking space. Follow the process for a breakdown of the key ways in which coworking spaces can easily attain new customers.
1. Focus on strategic marketing
Marketing is a very important way in which you can not only attain new customers but also build a brand for yourself. There are many ways to do it, and you can find a more in-depth guide here (link marketing article), but below we’ve highlighted the easiest and most efficient ways in which you can showcase your coworking space to new potential clients.
Google is a great tool that you have at your disposal. It has many options for businesses that are looking to market their services.
One great thing to do is to create a listing of your coworking space. What this will do is build brand awareness. When people search up coworking spaces in your area or for your coworking space by name, it will appear directly on Google as a listing, with all your information and links to your website, as well as pictures. This makes it very easy for potential customers to find out about your space with minimal effort.
Another way you can use Google is by creating an ad campaign. This can help you reach certain audiences you have in mind and bring new members into your space. Google does charge for their ads so you will have to find out if you have room in your budget to do so. If you do, taking advantage of Google ads is a great idea as it will allow your coworking space to pop up first in a lot of searches and be the first thing that people set their eyes on.
Social Media
2. Encourage memberships with benefits
Having members in your space means that they are part of a membership system. Although it may mean that you give them special perks, it also signifies that they are in your space for longer and are committed to it. Because of this, you want to encourage people to buy memberships by adding lots of great perks such as special membership pricing, hours or even discounts and promotions.
Special membership pricing and hours
One thing you can do for your members so that the memberships stand out is to create special prices for those who choose to be part of the memberships. This means that people who are not part of your coworking space and are booking your rooms and desks without the commitment will get a slightly higher price than the members. This will encourage people to commit to your space and come regularly by becoming members.
Another thing you can do in addition, or instead of the special pricing, is to have different hours for members. This could look like members having longer access to rooms, or having opening and closing times be extended for the members as opposed to the users.
These are great ways of encouraging clients to sign up for the memberships in order to receive the great perks that you are offering.
How Archie can help you do this
Archie is a leading coworking space management software that will help you with all your booking needs, as well as many other features that can help automate your space. If you are trying to focus on giving members a great experience, Archie is the perfect tool for you to be able to do so.
Archie allows different member pricing, as well as hours. The software allows you to configure your space exactly to your needs, and differentiate between members and users. With Archie, you can set rooms, desks, or even plans just for members, or modify each thing to benefit members.
Discounts and benefits
Another thing you can do to incentivize memberships is to have special discounts or benefits for your members. If you would like to skip out on offering special prices for them, then you can always offer discounts for first-time members who are just signing up or even discounts that can be used based on their commitment length term.
Tip: Try partnering with other local businesses. For example, if there are local cafes or local stores around your coworking space you could always try to partner with them and see if they are willing to give your members a discount at the store. That way, they will also get more business and you can incentivize new and recurring clients.
3. Host Events
Hosting events can be a great way to gain new members in your space. Creating events that bring people in will build up your brand, as well as give people a taste of how great your coworking space is. For a more in-depth guide on how to host events to bring members in check out this article.
Depending on the events you choose to have, they can be easy to organize and can strongly appeal to people. So they are a great way to bring people in and create a positive experience for them, while also promoting your space.
Here is a list of some events that you could host:
- Live music or small concerts
- Fundraisers
- Speed networking events
- Educational events (such as workshops)
- Speaker event
There are endless possibilities on what you can do with event hosting. You can have something as small as a documentary showing at your space, or even something big like an organized workshop. Depending on your budget and the time that you are willing to put in, you can create something for everyone.
4. Create a free trial and referral program
A great way to showcase your space and not put pressure on your clients is to offer them a free day or a couple of hours free so that they can see how great your space is and sign up for your memberships.
This is a great way to allow people to immerse themselves in your space without them having to commit right away.
Another great option to bring in more members is to have a referral program. You could easily allow members to come in and bring in their friends or family for a discount. This will encourage more people to come into your space. After all, word of mouth is one of the best ways to increase business in your coworking space.
Conclusion
Promoting your coworking space can mean a lot of different things. Depending on your space, you may choose to take certain routes. Something like paid marketing campaigns can be great if you have the budget for it, but even if you don’t there are many other things you can do to promote your space that won’t break the bank. Hosting low-cost events, building a brand on social media, and even creating a referral program can also all be great ways to engage people with your coworking space and bring in more members.
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