[Customer Interview] After Implementing Google Maps Attraction Measures, User Views on Google Business Profile Increased Approximately Threefold

We interviewed Mr. Takeyo Suzuki, General Manager of the Headquarters Administration Office at Cercle Co., Ltd., which operates ALLDAYS FITS with yuna cuore.

What kind of services does your company provide?

Our company operates a 24-hour fitness gym called "ALLDAYS FITS with yuna cuore", as well as one of the largest hot yoga studios in the Tohoku region, located on Sakura-dori in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture.

Could you tell us about the features and selling points of your services?

First, regarding the training gym, we have introduced the latest training machines from Precor, the industry leader. We have created an environment where you can perform full-body training, allowing for a wide range of exercises from aerobic to anaerobic using the latest equipment.

Additionally, as a point of differentiation from our competitors, we offer a "semi-personal gym" service. Many other 24-hour gyms do not have staff on-site to reduce labor costs, which can make them difficult for beginners to use. However, our gym has staff on-site until around 8:00 PM on weekdays. Our staff provides careful support, from how to use the machines to how to structure training menus, offering an environment that can be used by a wide range of customers, from beginners to advanced users, regardless of gender.

Next, regarding yoga, our yoga studio boasts one of the largest scales in the Tohoku region, and we have instructors with over 15 yoga certifications in Japan who provide one-on-one guidance. The quality of our facilities and instructors is among the best in the country. Recently, we have seen an increase in male customers in addition to female customers, and we are confident in providing services that cater to a wide range of ages and genders.

What were the challenges you faced before introducing our Google Maps attraction support service?

A major challenge was the lack of awareness among customers. Although we were confident in our services, quality, facilities, and staff, we were unable to make customers aware of them due to a lack of promotion. In particular, we had no presence on the web or Google Maps at all.

We registered our Google Business Profile by trial and error, but we had no idea how to get customers to see it just by registering. Naturally, it did not appear at the top of search results, and we lacked the know-how to create an environment where we could be recognized.

It has been about 6 months since we introduced our Google Maps attraction support service. Has it had a positive impact on your company's measures?

When we actually ask customers at the store, "What prompted you to visit?", the number of customers who visited after seeing Google reviews or our website has increased in the last two to three months. When we conduct more detailed interviews, many customers answer that they learned about our company through links from Google Maps.

With the progress in our web presence, I feel that we have established a new means of awareness and are creating an environment where we can deliver our services to definite demand. Previously, our promotion was centered on physical flyers, so I feel that finding a new sales channel has had a very positive impact.

Looking at the data, the number of user views on your Google Business Profile has increased by about three times compared to six months ago before the measures were implemented. Has the number of customers actually increased as well?

Yes, the number of customers has actually increased. Since the gym market in Koriyama City is an area with high turnover, there are memberships and cancellations, but the number of customers who visit via the internet has definitely increased. Previously, many customers came after seeing signs or flyers, but now more than half come via the web, such as Google Maps.

Overall, how has our support been?

In addition to managing our Google Business Profile, you have been flexible in responding to any questions we have regarding the web. Also, for us, who lack knowledge about web marketing, it has been very helpful to receive opinions from a professional perspective. Mirai Web Co., Ltd. also participates in our management meetings and provides opinions from a professional viewpoint, which has allowed us to conduct meetings efficiently. I feel that you are providing support that exceeds the services we had imagined.

Could you tell us about your company's future prospects?

At ALLDAYS FITS with yuna cuore, we believe that the first priority is to increase the number of reviews and raise awareness. This is because reviews are the authentic voices of our customers and represent highly reliable data, and we want to use them as a catalyst to acquire new customers.

Furthermore, as a company-wide initiative, we are looking into transitioning from businesses that have relied on analog methods to new ventures through our Google Business Profile. We want to take on challenges in businesses that create synergy with web marketing and actively utilize the web as a new advertising medium.

Thank you for participating in this interview!

Mirai Web Co., Ltd. provides support services for attracting customers via Google Maps. This service is especially recommended for those operating brick-and-mortar businesses. Please feel free to contact us.