Vancouver Functional Fitness Gym Gains 3X Monthly Leads by Targeting Local Search and Behavior Signals
Client Overview:
ForgeFit Performance is a functional fitness gym located in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in strength training, HIIT, kettlebell classes, and personalized small-group coaching. Their main demographic includes working professionals, fitness beginners, and individuals recovering from past injuries looking for intelligent programming over generic group workouts.
Despite being praised by their community, ForgeFit was struggling to gain visibility online and attract new clients outside of referrals. Their digital presence didn’t reflect the quality of their training, and they were almost invisible in Google’s local search results — even for people just a few blocks away.
The Challenge
ForgeFit had a modest Google Business Profile with only 19 reviews and minimal service details. Their website was stylish but slow-loading, lacked localized content, and didn’t show up on the first two pages of Google for search queries like:
“functional training Vancouver”
“HIIT classes near me”
“personal training East Vancouver”
They were located in a competitive fitness hub surrounded by big-name franchises and bootcamp chains. Without visibility in the Google Maps Pack, they were missing high-converting, ready-to-join leads. They were also relying heavily on Instagram ads, which were inconsistent and costly.
Our Solution: Local SEO Campaign With Performance Tracking
We developed a highly customized strategy focused on boosting visibility, engagement, and authority — while ensuring everything aligned with the way Google ranks local businesses.
1. GBP (Google Business Profile) Optimization
Rewrote the business description using targeted keywords like “functional training Vancouver,” “East Van strength classes,” and “HIIT for beginners.”
Added each service as a separate item with descriptions, hours, and pricing where applicable.
Uploaded 50+ geo-tagged images, class action shots, coach bios, and before/after results.
Added booking buttons linked to their Wodify calendar, encouraging Google Map conversions.
Used the Q&A feature with SEO-rich FAQs (e.g., “Do you offer beginner HIIT classes in East Vancouver?”)
2. Website Local SEO Overhaul
Improved loading speed and UX with a mobile-first redesign.
Created individual landing pages for each service and for key nearby neighborhoods:
Functional Fitness in Mount Pleasant
Personal Training in East Van
HIIT Classes in Commercial Drive
Embedded Google Maps on each service/location page and applied LocalBusiness schema.
Added a sticky call-to-action for mobile users: “Book a Free Trial Session.”
3. Content Strategy & Trust Signals
Launched a blog with optimized posts answering local queries:
“How functional fitness can help with back pain”
“Best beginner workouts in Vancouver’s rainy season”
“What to expect from your first HIIT class”
Integrated reviews throughout the site using a testimonial widget and real client stories.
4. Reputation Growth & Engagement Signals
Implemented a post-class email sequence requesting reviews and linking directly to the GBP.
Offered a branded t-shirt giveaway each month for members who left a detailed review.
Ran a CTR (click-through rate) enhancement campaign targeting high-volume local keywords and sending behavior signals to Google.
The Results
Within 6 weeks of launching the strategy:
Moved into the top 3 in Google Maps for “HIIT Vancouver,” “functional fitness near me,” and “East Van personal trainer.”
3X increase in leads per month, as tracked through GBP calls and trial session form submissions.
Jumped from 19 to 92 Google reviews with keyword-rich feedback from real clients.
Website traffic increased by 124%, with mobile conversions accounting for 65% of new leads.
Client cost per acquisition dropped by 58%, allowing them to reduce ad spend and reinvest into in-house operations.
Why It Worked
We combined hyper-local authority building, strategic review growth, and user-focused web content to turn ForgeFit from an underdog into one of Vancouver’s most visible fitness centers. Google’s algorithm rewarded relevance, proximity, and behavioral proof — and clients rewarded it with bookings.
Client Feedback:
“We were invisible before. Now, we get new trial bookings every single day from people Googling us. You turned our location into an asset — and we’re finally competing with the big guys.”