Aquafit classes are marketed through a variety of means such as; facility brochures, local paper (ads and featured articles), word of mouth, free specialty classes, open houses and facility publications. Use your imagination and look at all marketing avenues.

Just use your imagination.

Adding and Promoting New Programs

Creating a brochure (word format) and posters to promote the upcoming class(es).

When adding a new program, success means choosing the correct class. To help you with your decision you may consider:

• Investigating what is offered at pools in your area
• Surveying the participants to find out their interests
• Creating a brochure (word format) and posters to promote the upcoming class(es). Make sure you highlight the reasons why people would choose an Aquafitness class.
• Offering free orientation classes at different times of the day for different audiences. Make sure you use motivating music. Remember you want the people to get excited about joining.
• Creating demonstration classes using other instructors and enthusiastic participants. Make the class dynamic but not too difficult. You could invite a CALA trainer to come in and do a specialty class.
• Video tape some sample class and have it playing around your facility with promotional materials. You want to keep people thinking Aquafit.
• Contacting your local spots teams and facilities to discuss adding Aquafit to their training/cross training schedule
• Placing an ad in trade publications
• Finding out how your program can be tied into existing land or water programs.
• Contact other facilities to learn how they add and promote new programs.

Things to consider

• Space
  • How many participants can your pool hold
  • Will you have to share the pool with other aquatic activities
  • Which area of the pool (deep, shallow or both) will you need for your program
• Temperature
  • Lap swimmers like cold water, that is too cold for people who want to participate in aqua exercises. 
  • If multi-purpose pool, water is kept between 84 and 86 degrees.
• Instructors
  • Who will be allowed to teach Aquafit classes
  • A serious problem is land instructors teaching water exercise classes.
  • The difference between a land aerobics instructor and a water aerobics instructor is like a watermelon and a grape!" 
  • Allow only have certified Aquafit instructors
  • Establish all required training and certification practices
• Club support
  • Establish good program support from the owner or general manager.
  • Take initiative to inform management that you want to help the organization increase participation and revenue, plus improve retention levels.
• Equipment
  • Use only approved water fitness equipment in the pool.
  • Determine with management budget available for program
  • Detail equipment requirements (include replacement requirements) 
  • Establish who will bring out and put away the equipment
  • Identify how the equipment will be stored, inventoried, fixed and replaced
  • Establish how people will be trained to use equipment correctly
  • Determine who will be allowed to use the equipment (will there be Aquafit only equipment or will it be shared with public)
• Safety
  • Determine how many lifeguards you will require (pool classification dependent). 
  • Ensure there is budget for lifeguards and their responsibilities
  • Identify and ensure there is budget for all required safety equipment such as safety mat and chair.
  • Although there haven't been any recorded cases of drowning or stress 
  • "Instructors need to be trained in basic water safety issues if they are conducting group exercise without any backup lifeguard personnel."
• Water
  • Ensure water safety procedures are in place
• Registration
  • How will attendance be handled (drop in, registration-what time period:4 month periods, annual etc.)
  • Identification - pass cards, tickets, stamps
  • If drop in, what is the maximum number of participants
  • What will the age limit be
  • Are some class for specific audience ex: senior, arthritic, teens, women, natal
  • How will you notify participants of unscheduled pool closings
  • If pay in advance what compensation will be offered for unplanned closings.
• Marketing
  • Determine budget available to market program
  • Identify acceptable marketing practices
  • Receive appropriate buy in and authorization before proceeding
  • Identify revenue generating potential
  • Look to the future not just the present
  • Will you have give-aways for the first x number to register or come to your class

Promoting Aquafitness

• Create a take away brochure with general information about Aquafitness
• Sponsor workshops and courses for new Aquafit instructors and/or participants
• Offer training programs for sport teams
• Contact:
  • Senior's homes
  • Other medical facilities such as hospitals, doctor offices, support groups
  • Athletic teams and associations in your area
  • (use your imagination - places to contact will vary by area)
• Advertise:
  • In local stores, education centres
  • In the local paper
  • At local fitness centres that don't offer Aquafit
  • (use your imagination - places to advertise will vary by area)
• Post signs around the pool promoting the existing Aquafitness classes
• Maybe have a bulletin board where only Aquafitness information is posted. Board could include:
  • Muscle of the month
  • Aquafit movement descriptions and pictures
  • Comments from current participants
  • Association newsletters
  • Introduction to the instructors
  • A feedback/question/comment box
  • Post answers to questions left in box
  • Maybe create a "Did you know" section
  • Lots of pictures (remember to get participant's permission before taking picture" and to let them know how the pictures will be used. You may need to have the participants sign release form
• Video tape Aquafit classes and have a video running at reception
• Invite other fitness groups such as your step or aerobic class to take an Aquafit class
• Team up with other fitness instructors and create a joint fitness class: first part land followed by Aquafit
• Hold lectures/workshops to discuss benefits of Aquafit and walk through some of the moves and terminology
• Invite a trainer from CALA to do a special class
• Try team teaching
• Do a different style of class with your regular participants
• Hold a running marathon for charity
• Have a bring a friend, family, or partner day
• Have staff wear printed t-shirts
• Periodically hold draws to thank participants for coming
• Encourage enthusiastic members to become instructors