CASE STUDY
Filling Every Class with a Steady Stream of New Members
Turning a modest monthly budget into 303 new-member enquiries and 98 sign-ups with Meta Lead Ads
CLIENT
Alexercise
INDUSTRY
Health & Fitness
PLAN
Meta Lead Ads: Starter
CAMPAIGN
New Member Sign-Ups
leads generated
cost per lead
new members
The Client
Alexercise is a female-only fitness facility built around a simple idea: a space where women of every age and ability feel comfortable, supported and genuinely part of a community. From high-energy classes to strength and conditioning, the gym has built a loyal following on real results and word of mouth.
Owner Alex Lewis wanted to grow membership as quickly as possible – but on a limited budget, and without the big-agency price tag. The aim was simple: get in front of local women who were thinking about getting fitter, and give them an easy first step to walk through the door.
With a warm, welcoming brand and a wall of happy members already behind it, the opportunity was clear: put that energy in front of the right audience and turn genuine interest into sign-ups.
The Challenge
Attracting new members is a crowded, competitive game – and Alexercise needed to do it on a modest budget, standing out from big-brand gyms and low-cost chains without outspending them.
The audience mattered as much as the message. We needed to reach local women who were actively thinking about their fitness, speak to them in a way that felt authentic and welcoming rather than intimidating, and make enquiring feel effortless.
And every pound had to work hard – turning a limited monthly budget into a steady, reliable flow of genuine new-member enquiries the gym could follow up and convert.
The Solution
Rather than polished, expensive production, we leaned into what makes Alexercise special: real members, real classes, real energy. The gym filmed raw footage and photos on a phone and sent them over, and we turned that authentic content into scroll-stopping Facebook and Instagram ads – a set of static graphics plus short-form videos edited with subtitles, background audio and text overlays. Running video alongside static is what really lifts a campaign, and this was no exception.
We ran one core offer across three creative angles – the same primary text with different hooks – to test which message resonated most with a local female audience. Showcasing the gym’s unique facilities and testimonials from current members built instant trust and made the ads feel like a genuine invitation rather than a hard sell.
A Meta Instant Form let women enquire in seconds, and Alexercise followed up each lead with a quick, friendly phone call to book them in. As the data came in, we concentrated budget on the winning angle to drive cost per lead down – and the sign-ups quickly followed.
The Ad Creatives
Three static ad angles built from the gym’s real members – run alongside short-form video, and tested to find the winner
AD 2
The All-Ages Angle
Featured an older member training with a resistance band – a warm, welcoming nod to every age and ability.
Why We Did It This Way
Real content, real members
We built the ads from the gym’s own footage – actual members, actual classes – so they felt authentic and relatable, not staged or salesy.
Static and video, together
Eye-catching static ads stop the scroll while short videos – edited from the gym’s own phone footage with subtitles, music and text overlays – build connection. Running both is what really lifts performance.
Local by design
We targeted women across the gym’s local catchment, so every pound reached people who could actually walk through the door – not a wasted impression.
Friction-free enquiries
A Meta Instant Form captured each enquiry in seconds without leaving Facebook, and a quick follow-up call turned those leads into paying members.
The Ad Copy
The same primary text ran across all three variants, with a button to a Meta Instant Form.
Hello Ladies! 👋
Whether it’s Zumba, yoga or circuits that gets you moving… we’ve got a class to suit everyone!
Join our all-female fitness community today and choose from over 40 classes every week! 💪
✅ Exclusive to women of all ages
✅ Friendly, supportive members
✅ Fully equipped gym
✅ Personal training available
✅ All abilities welcome
✅ No joining fee
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Friendliest and most knowledgeable gym you’ll find.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I used to dread gym visits — now I count down until my next session!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Lovely, helpful staff and a fab gym with everything you need.”
And that’s not all…
For a limited time, get full membership for just £35 a month — usually £45! 🎉
So what are you waiting for?!
Fill out the form below to claim your Summer Exclusive rate today! 😍
Hurry, offer strictly ends July 31. Limited spaces available.
The Results
In the first three months, a clear offer and authentic, member-led creative generated 303 new-member enquiries at just £4.06 each – and 98 of them signed up as members.
| Leads generated | 303 |
| Cost per lead | £4.06 |
| New members | 98 |
| Total ad spend | £1,229.33 |
| People reached | 79,600 |
| Impressions | 281,243 |
| Average frequency | 3.53x |
| CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions) | £4.37 |
| Average lifetime value per member | £300 |
| Estimated return on investment | ~18x |
In Summary
Three creative angles were tested and one clear winner emerged, driving the majority of leads at just £3.69 each – so budget quickly concentrated on the best performer. For a female-only gym working to a limited budget, turning around £1,200 of ad spend into 303 enquiries and 98 new members – each worth roughly £300 in lifetime value – delivered an estimated 18x return on investment once management is included. It’s proof that authentic, low-budget content shot on a phone can go toe-to-toe with expensive production.
Note: Results vary by industry, offer and budget. The figures above are based on this specific campaign and don’t represent typical or guaranteed performance. We structure every campaign to optimise cost per lead and maximise return on ad spend.
The Power of Video + Static
Why our best-performing campaigns pair scroll-stopping statics with short, authentic video
Static ads are brilliant at stopping the scroll and landing a clear offer – but video builds trust and connection fast, especially when it’s real. For Alexercise, we took footage the gym filmed on a phone and edited it into short, punchy videos with subtitles, background music and text overlays, so every second earns its place. Run alongside the static creatives, that video gave the campaign an extra gear – which is exactly why we pair the two whenever we can.
“Just signed up another 12-month contract straight from the advert – the power of Facebook ads! I’m posting loads of videos, following up leads, and the word-of-mouth feedback is awesome. It’s all working together!”
— Alex Lewis, Owner, Alexercise
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Subscription benefits
Simple, flexible, and affordable Meta ads designed to help your business generate real enquiries
Client Portal Access
View updates, share ideas, and manage your account in one place.
Share Ideas Easily
Share your ideas and we’ll factor them into your next monthly batch.
Easy Approval Process
Review your ads to approve or request changes before they go live.
Fast Turnaround
Your first ads are typically ready within five business days of onboarding.
Flexible & Scalable
Our service is month-to-month, so you can upgrade/cancel anytime with 14 days notice.
Unique and Yours
Your ads are 100% yours to download, share, and store however you need.
Transparent Billing
Simple, predictable monthly pricing – no hidden fees, contracts, or surprises.
Team Collaboration
Add team members to your portal to collaborate on ideas and requests.
Email & Video Support
Get fast, friendly help whenever you need guidance or campaign updates.
Client Portal Access
View updates, share ideas, and manage your account in one place.
Fast Turnaround
Your first ads are typically ready within five business days of onboarding.
Transparent Billing
Simple, predictable monthly pricing – no hidden fees, contracts, or surprises.
Share Ideas Easily
Share your ideas and we’ll factor them into your next monthly batch.
Flexible & Scalable
Our service is month-to-month, so you can upgrade/cancel anytime with 14 days notice.
Team Collaboration
Add team members to your portal to collaborate on ideas and requests.
Easy Approval Process
Review your ads to approve or request changes before they go live.
Unique and Yours
Your ads are 100% yours to download, share, and store however you need.
Email & Video Support
Get fast, friendly help whenever you need guidance or campaign updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is included in the Meta Lead Ads service?
Your plan covers everything needed to run a fully managed Meta Lead Ads campaign.
Your monthly batch (scope depends on your plan):
- 1, 2 or 3 ad concepts, each with 3 ad creatives. That’s 3, 6 or 9 creatives total per month on the Starter, Growth and Scale plans respectively.
- A unified primary text for each concept.
- Up to 2 revision rounds per batch before launch.
Campaign management:
- Full campaign setup and build in Meta Ads Manager.
- Audience targeting and lead form creation.
- A live lead sheet that updates in real time as new leads come in.
- A 7-day performance check-in and a full end-of-month readout.
- Ongoing campaign monitoring and optimisation.
Service:
- A dedicated account manager.
- Email and video call support via your client portal.
- Month-to-month. Upgrade, downgrade or cancel anytime (14 days notice required before renewal).
Ad spend is paid separately to Meta and isn’t included in your monthly fee.
How do Facebook and Instagram Lead Ads work?
Lead Ads collect customer details directly inside Facebook or Instagram, without users leaving the app. This makes it faster and easier for people to enquire about your business.
What’s the difference between the Starter, Growth and Scale plans?
All plans include full campaign setup, management and optimisation. The difference is how many ad concepts we test each month – Starter focuses on one concept, Growth tests two, and Scale tests three to improve performance and reduce cost per lead over time.
Do I need an existing ad account to get started?
No – you can quickly create or connect your ad account using our secure access link. If you need help, we’ll guide you through the process.
What do you need from me after I sign up?
We’ll ask you to complete a short onboarding questionnaire about your business, offer, and target audience, then we handle everything else.
Can you create or optimise my Facebook or Instagram page if I don’t have one?
Yes – our optional Profile Setup & Optimisation add-on covers creating or refreshing your pages so they’re ready for ads.
How long does it take for my first ads to go live?
Your first ads will be ready to review within five business days of receiving your onboarding questionnaire and account access.
Will I get to approve my ads before they go live?
Yes – you’ll receive your ads in a Google Sheet where you can review each one, approve them, or request changes before anything goes live.
What happens to my ads each month when I renew?
Each month, we create new ad creatives for your campaign. We’ll pause any older ads that have started to slow down and replace them with fresh designs and messaging to keep your results improving.
Do you keep my old ads running or turn them off?
We monitor performance continuously. If an ad is still performing well, we’ll keep it running alongside your new ones. If it’s showing signs of fatigue, we’ll pause it so your budget stays focused on what works best.
Why can’t my ads be changed mid-campaign?
Meta’s algorithm needs continuity. It spends the first 5 to 10 days of a campaign in a “learning phase,” figuring out which audience is most likely to convert. Any meaningful mid-flight edit (new creative, audience change, location change) resets that learning back to day zero. Chopping and changing actively hurts results.
The monthly cadence isn’t bureaucracy; it’s the rhythm Meta’s algorithm rewards.
My leads don't feel great. Can we tweak the ads now?
The most useful first step is working out why they don’t feel great:
- Wrong area? Noted for next month’s targeting.
- Wrong service or condition? Next month’s creative.
- Not picking up calls or not converting to bookings? That’s usually a follow-up issue, not an ad issue.
We track all of it in your end-of-month readout and roll the right fix into the next batch. If something genuinely can’t wait, see the next question.
Can I add a discount or special offer mid-campaign?
We’d roll it into the next batch. One thing worth knowing upfront: adding a discount tends to lift volume (more form fills) without lifting quality (it often attracts more bargain-hunters than serious buyers). If your concern is lead quality, an offer usually moves things in the wrong direction. We’ll talk through whether it’s the right lever at month-end.
Can I make a change mid-month if I really need to?
Yes, as a paid add-on. A full mid-month rebuild costs the same as your monthly fee for whichever plan you’re on. It’s essentially a second month’s batch delivered off-cycle, so the same work warrants the same price. It includes new creative, new copy, and the full review-and-approve flow.
If you have the Video Ads add-on, your rebuild includes new videos as well as new static creatives, priced at your total monthly fee (static plan + video add-on).
One note: we don’t offer partial paid changes (e.g. swapping a single headline). Partial mid-flight edits reset Meta’s learning phase identically to a full rebuild, so there’s no scenario where less work costs less for the same hit to performance. It’s a full rebuild at your tier’s price, or wait for the next batch.
For most clients, the standard monthly cadence delivers better results because the algorithm gets a clean run. The paid path is there for genuine exceptions
How will I receive my leads?
All new leads are delivered instantly inside your Meta Leads Center. We can also set up automated email notifications and a Google Sheet for easy tracking and follow-up.
Can I get notified instantly when a new lead comes in?
Yes – you’ll receive email notifications by default whenever a new lead is submitted. If you’d like instant text alerts as well, you can add our Text Notifications add-on.
Do you follow up with the leads or do I?
You’ll handle all follow-up with your leads. We generate the enquiries, but it’s important to respond quickly – ideally within a few minutes – as this has a big impact on conversion rates and overall campaign performance.
What kind of results can I expect?
Results vary depending on your industry, offer, location and ad budget. Many clients begin generating enquiries within the first couple of weeks once their campaign goes live, but performance depends heavily on having a clear offer and a service people actively want. Meta ads are designed to amplify what’s already working – they can accelerate growth, but they can’t fix an unproven offer or poor follow-up process. Our role is to apply structured testing and ongoing optimisation to improve conversion rates and reduce cost per lead over time.
How many leads can I expect each month?
The number of leads depends on your industry, location, budget and offer. Rather than promising a fixed number, we focus on generating consistent, cost-effective leads and improving performance over time.
Are the leads guaranteed to be high quality?
We focus on generating high-quality enquiries using proven targeting and ad strategies, but lead quality can vary depending on your offer, pricing and follow-up. Our goal is to continuously improve quality through testing and optimisation.
What happens if my ads don’t perform well?
We continuously monitor performance and feed every signal into your next monthly batch. Each month we adjust targeting, messaging and creatives based on what the data is telling us. Mid-flight edits reset Meta’s learning phase and hurt performance, so changes happen on a monthly cycle rather than mid-campaign. For genuine exceptions, paid mid-month rebuilds are available.
How much should I spend on ads each month?
We generally recommend a minimum budget of £10-£20 per day for local service businesses and scaling from there as you see what works. You can adjust your budget anytime, and we’ll help you find the level that delivers consistent, affordable leads without overspending.
How long should I run ads before expecting results?
We recommend allowing at least one full month to properly test and optimise your campaigns. Performance typically improves over time as we gather data and refine what works.
Do I need a strong offer for ads to work?
Yes – ads work best when there’s a clear, attractive offer. If your offer isn’t compelling, it can affect results. We’ll help guide you where possible, but strong offers typically perform better.
How do you decide who sees my ads?
We research your ideal audience based on demographics, location, and interests to target people most likely to become customers.
Can I target specific locations or demographics?
Absolutely – whether you want to reach people within a set radius or focus on certain age groups or interests, we’ll tailor it for you.
Can I target multiple locations or areas?
Yes – we can target specific locations, whether that’s a local radius or multiple areas, depending on your business and goals.
Can you run both Facebook and Instagram ads together?
Yes – you can run ads across both platforms, and we’ll optimise your budget to get the best results on each.
Do I need to provide my own images or videos?
You can, but it’s optional. We can design static ads for you, or create short-form videos if you choose the Video Ads add-on.
Are there any add-ons I can buy?
Yes, three optional extras you can add at checkout (or message us in your portal to add later):
- Video Ads: short-form video ads scripted specifically for paid lead generation. Often lowers cost per lead vs static creatives alone. Priced in three tiers that mirror the main plans:
- 3 video ads / 1 concept (one focused angle, varied openings): £249/month
- 6 video ads / 2 concepts (two performance-tested angles): £449/month
- 9 video ads / 3 concepts (three optimisation-driven angles): £599/month
- Text Notifications (+£10/month): instant SMS alerts the moment a new lead is submitted. Useful to help with speed of follow-up.
- Profile Setup & Optimisation (+£30 one-off per profile): we optimise your Facebook or Instagram profile so it’s ad-ready before launch.
Do you charge separately for ad spend?
Your ad spend is paid separately directly to Meta. Our prices cover management, creative work, and optimisation only.
Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan at any time?
Yes – you can change or cancel your plan anytime – simply message us to let us know via your client portal. We require 14 days notice before renewal for any changes to plans, as we plan and create content in advance.
Are there any setup fees or hidden costs?
No – everything is included in your monthly plan price. Optional add-ons are clearly listed when you sign up.
The 14-day money-back guarantee does not apply to Meta Lead Ads or any of its add-ons. The service runs month-to-month and you can cancel anytime with 14 days’ notice before renewal.
What's not included?
- Mid-month creative or targeting changes (available as a paid add-on).
- Ad-spend budget. That’s paid directly to Meta from the card on your ad account.
- More than 2 pre-launch revision rounds per batch.
- Off-cycle creative batches outside the standard monthly rhythm.
Is there a contract or minimum term?
No contracts – our service runs month-to-month, and you can cancel anytime. We just ask for 14 days notice before cancellation as we create content in advance.
What do you mean by “concepts” in your ad plans?
A concept is simply a different way of presenting your offer to your audience. For example, we may test one version that focuses on a specific problem your audience faces, another that highlights the results they can achieve, or one that addresses common concerns before they enquire. In video campaigns, the main message may stay the same, but we might adjust the opening few seconds to speak to a different type of customer or highlight a different problem. Testing multiple concepts helps us see what connects best with your audience, improve conversion rates, and lower your cost per lead over time.
Will you handle all the setup, targeting, and optimisation for me?
Yes – we manage the entire process, including campaign structure, targeting, creative design, and performance optimisation.
Do you provide reports or performance updates?
Yes. Every plan includes a 7-day performance check-in and a full end-of-month readout covering volume, cost per lead, and lead quality signals. We monitor and optimise continuously between those points, and you can request an update anytime via your client portal.
How does the monthly review work?
At the end of each month we share a readout covering volume, cost per lead, lead quality signals and anything notable from the data. You bring any feedback from your team (e.g. “these areas were stronger,” “these enquiries weren’t a good fit”), and that all feeds into the next monthly batch.
Do delays in approval affect my campaign?
Yes – the sooner ads are approved, the sooner we can launch your campaign and start generating leads. Delays in approval will delay your results.
What kind of support do I get as a client?
You’ll have access to email and video call support, plus your client portal to provide updates, revisions, and new ideas or promotions anytime.






