First-of-Its-Kind Study Reveals the State of Call-Back Services in Australian Membership Sales
Without structured call-back processes, fitness operators are leaving high-intent leads unengaged and losing potential revenue.
Keepme has published a comprehensive study showing that Australian gym operators are struggling to engage leads effectively, leading to lost revenue opportunities. The findings across 50 brands representing 1861 locations highlights major inefficiencies in call-back availability, follow-up speed, and response quality – issues that directly impact conversion rates and business growth.
Among the key Australian findings:
- 0% of operators actively advertised a call-back function.
- 66% required a manual request via a contact form.
With zero operators actively promoting call-backs, the study confirms that lead follow-up is far from a priority in the Australian fitness industry despite overwhelming evidence that fast, structured responses directly improve conversion rates.
“These studies highlight a massive missed opportunity in the Australian fitness industry. Without structured, instant lead engagement, operators are losing prospects before they even get the chance to convert them,” said Hilary McGuckin, Director of Marketing at Keepme. “Keepme Antares ensures every inquiry gets an instant response, keeping prospects engaged while their intent is at its highest. In fact, our customers are seeing a 60% conversion rate on leads to tours and tripling their visitor-to-lead conversion rates simply by eliminating response delays.”
Fixing the Problem with Keepme Antares
The study reinforces what many gym operators already suspect: manual lead handling is inefficient and costing them business. Keepme Antares eliminates this problem by:
- Automating call-backs to happen instantly – before the lead can go cold.
- Providing structured, AI-driven responses that feel personal and natural.
- Using multi-channel follow-ups (email, SMS, WhatsApp) to keep prospects engaged.
- Freeing up sales teams to focus on in-person conversions rather than chasing cold leads.
With response times in the study ranging from a best-case 1 minute 22 seconds to a worst-case 5,657 minutes (nearly four days), the opportunity cost is clear. If a prospect doesn’t receive an immediate response, they will likely sign up elsewhere.
“Speed and consistency are everything in lead conversion, yet this study shows most Australian gyms are relying on slow, manual processes that leave prospects waiting,” said Matt McCallum, Growth Marketing Manager at Keepme. “Keepme Antares ensures that every inquiry is handled instantly and efficiently, converting more leads without adding extra workload to sales teams. One leading APAC fitness chain went from a 13.97% lead-to-tour conversion rate to 38% in just seven days – a 2.72x increase without hiring a single extra sales rep.”
AI-Powered Engagement is the Future
Australian gym operators who continue relying on outdated, manual lead follow-ups will struggle to compete. Those who embrace AI-driven solutions will gain a significant edge in lead conversion, cost efficiency, and long-term revenue growth.
With Keepme Antares already delivering measurable results, the question is clear: Will Australian gyms adapt or will they continue losing prospects to faster competitors?
Download the Full Australia Report
For full insights from the Australian study, visit: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0hhtLs0
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.