Category

Fitness business management archives and news

Apr 25
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Personal trainer

Switching to Gymcatch: some answers to common questions

By Fitness business management archives and news

Switching to Gymcatch is super easy for both; you and your customers. We have helped many fitness professionals make the switch with ease so that they can do more of what they love. Here are some of the most common questions we get asked. 

I don’t want to pay for two systems at once. When do I start paying?

Gymcatch is free for the first month so you have a full month to transition from your old system. If you need longer to transition, just speak to our team who will be able to help you. We don’t want you to be paying until you’re ready!

Is it easy to move my clients over to Gymcatch?

Yes we make it easy for you to import your client base, to create accounts for your clients and for clients to create their own accounts and find you on Gymcatch.  Switching to Gymatch is super easy, there are step by step guides for whichever route you want to use.

Do you have support?

Yes we have live support during office hours and you can book an appointment with our team at any time.

If clients have pre-paid on my old system, can this be reflected in Gymcatch?

Yes, if you have clients who have bought memberships or blocks (or any other product) from you, you can add the equivalent product to their account on Gymcatch. Then when they log in, they’ll see that service there.

How long does it take to set up my Gymcatch account?

Setting up on Gymcatch can take as little as few minutes depending on how the complexity of your business model. If you have a busy schedule and lots of different pricing structures it will take a little longer but even the most complex businesses should be up and running in an hour or so. And if there’s anything you’re struggling with we have set guides for all our features, and a support team ready to take your questions.

How can Gymcatch do what I need for so much less than my old system?

We’ve got a different business model to many of our competitors. We’re priced so that basically any independent fitness and wellness business can afford to use us. Please visit gymcatch.com/pricing for pricing information.

We would rather have more customers paying less whereas more expensive systems concentrate on serving a smaller number of businesses who can pay more.

We don’t compromise on core functionality though. So you get native mobile apps and all the core features an independent fitness and wellness business needs.

But what we don’t offer are features that only a small percentage of our customers will use. But for the core features for you and your clients that has everything you need – we’ve got it covered.

So our pricing isn’t a catch with either an inferior service or hidden charges down the road, we just want to keep our prices low and serve a bigger part of the industry.

What if I decide Gymcatch isn’t for me?

First of all we’d recommend giving it time. We don’t necessarily do everything exactly as you are used to and exactly like your previous system does. Sometimes we find that clients don’t realise just how much functionality Gymcatch has when they can’t see it straight away. So check our feature demos and with our support team who can help.

If after all, though, you decided Gymcatch isn’t the right fit for you, then you can cancel any time. There’s no tie-in or minimum contract left.

Ready to switch? Let us help you run your business! Gymcatch is free for the first month so you can test all its features and functionality. Start saving time, money and increase your revenue!

If you want to start saving time, money and increase your revenue check out our fitness and wellness booking software for more information.

 

Mar 22
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In-person fitness class

How to Price Your In-Person Fitness Classes

By Fitness business management archives and news, HIIT and group

Pricing your fitness classes can be one of the hardest decisions you make as a fitness professional. Charge too little and even a busy class may not be profitable. Charge too much without demonstrating the value behind the price and you may struggle to fill places.

The right price needs to reflect your local market, experience, costs and the type of service you provide. You also need a simple way to put that pricing into practice. With Gymcatch, you can set prices for your sessions, take payments online and offer different purchasing options such as individual classes, packages and courses without manually managing every transaction.

Personal trainer Anna Martin shares her advice on finding a price that works for your clients and your fitness business.

1. Research Your Local Fitness Market

Every area has a different price ceiling. What customers expect to pay will vary according to your location, local demographics and the type of fitness service you’re offering.

Start by looking at comparable fitness businesses in your area.

The closer the service is to yours, the more useful the comparison will be. You can compare the cost of small-group training with a dance fitness class, for example, but they’re different experiences serving potentially different customers. Their willingness to pay may not be the same.

When researching competitors, look at:

  • Price per class

  • Class size

  • Session length

  • Instructor experience

  • Facilities and equipment

  • Packages or passes available

  • Introductory offers

  • Cancellation terms

Competitor pricing gives you a benchmark, not necessarily the price you should copy. Don’t assume that being the cheapest provider will fill your classes. Customers consider the overall experience and value you’re offering, not simply the number on the booking page.

2. Value Your Skills, Education and Experience

Your price should reflect what you bring to the class.

If you’ve been teaching for several years, you’ve built knowledge through both formal education and practical experience working with different clients. That expertise has value. 

So don’t automatically lower your prices because another instructor nearby charges less.

If you’re providing a more specialist service, have significant experience or offer something your competitors don’t, you may be able to justify charging more.

The same applies to the experience surrounding the class. Perhaps you provide high-quality equipment. Maybe your classes deliberately have fewer participants so everyone gets more individual attention. Perhaps you have specialist qualifications relevant to the people you’re training.

Those differences should influence your pricing, and you should make sure customers understand what they’re getting for their money.

3. Calculate the True Cost of Running Each Class

Before deciding what to charge, work out what each class actually costs you.

Venue hire is an obvious expense, but it isn’t the only one. Your costs might include:

  • Venue hire

  • Equipment

  • Travel

  • Insurance

  • Licences

  • Marketing

  • Booking and payment software

  • Payment processing

  • Time spent on administration

  • Customer support outside the class

  • Preparation time

Then work out how many people you realistically expect to attend.

For example, imagine a class costs £60 to run once you’ve accounted for your relevant expenses. If you typically have 10 paying customers, you need to generate more than £6 per person before that class produces any profit.

And don’t calculate everything based on a completely full class. If your maximum capacity is 15 but you normally attract 10 or 12 people, your pricing needs to work at realistic attendance levels.

Using Gymcatch’s booking and payment tools can give customers a straightforward way to reserve and pay for their place online while making it easier for you to manage who has booked.

4. Decide How Much Profit You Need to Make

Covering your costs isn’t the same as running a profitable fitness business. Your pricing also needs to compensate you for your time, expertise and the risk involved in running the business.

Ask yourself how much you need each class to generate for it to be worthwhile.

If a class takes one hour to teach but also requires 30 minutes of travel, setup, customer communication and administration, you’re not really selling one hour of your time.

Capacity matters too. A class limited to six people may need a higher per-person price than one that can accommodate 25 because there are fewer customers across whom you can spread your costs.

Think about the minimum attendance you need to make a class viable and the profit you’d generate at typical and maximum capacity. That gives you a much more useful basis for setting your price than simply looking at what another instructor charges.

5. Keep Your Fitness Class Pricing Simple

A common mistake is creating an overly complicated pricing structure in an attempt to suit every possible customer.

You might end up with different legacy prices, one-off arrangements, manual bank transfers and special deals that become increasingly difficult to manage.

Simple and transparent pricing is easier for both you and your customers. For example, you could offer:

  • A single drop-in class

  • A multi-class package

  • A course

  • An introductory offer

Gymcatch lets fitness businesses create different ways for customers to purchase sessions, including individual bookings, packages and courses. That means you can offer flexibility without having to create bespoke arrangements for every client.

Whatever structure you choose, make it easy for customers to understand what they’re buying, what it costs and any conditions attached.

6. Consider Packages and Multi-Class Offers

Not every customer wants to purchase one class at a time.

Packages can give regular customers a convenient way to purchase several sessions while giving your business greater commitment upfront. The important thing is to price them deliberately.

If a single class costs £12 and a 10-class package costs £100, you’re effectively offering a £20 discount. Ask yourself whether the additional commitment from the customer makes that discount worthwhile.

You could also use packages to encourage different behaviours, such as rewarding customers who commit to attending regularly.

Gymcatch allows you to sell different purchasing options alongside your schedule, helping customers choose and pay for the option that works for them without you having to manually keep track of every booking.

7. Use Discounts Strategically

Discounting can help you attract new customers or encourage particular purchasing behaviours, but it shouldn’t compensate for pricing that doesn’t work in the first place.

Consider using discounts for a specific purpose, such as:

  • Introductory offers

  • Early-bird bookings

  • Referral campaigns

  • Limited-time promotions

  • Specific classes or packages

Gymcatch’s Discount Codes can help you create promotional offers while maintaining your normal advertised pricing.

Set clear rules around each promotion. Customers should understand what the discount applies to and when it expires. That makes promotions a deliberate marketing tool rather than something you offer whenever someone questions the price.

8. Know When to Increase Your Fitness Class Prices

Your prices won’t stay the same forever.

Venue hire increases. Equipment costs more. Insurance changes. Your own experience grows. Inflation affects the cost of running the business. Eventually, your prices will need to change too.

Don’t wait until your classes have become financially unsustainable before increasing them. Review your pricing periodically and look at:

  • Changes in your costs

  • Typical class attendance

  • Profit per class

  • Local competitor pricing

  • Demand for your sessions

  • Additional qualifications or experience

  • Improvements you’ve made to the service

If the numbers no longer work, a price increase may be necessary.

How to Tell Clients About a Price Increase

Price increases are largely a matter of good communication.

Give customers plenty of notice rather than changing prices overnight. Explain clearly:

  • What the new price will be

  • When it takes effect

  • Which classes or packages are affected

  • What happens to anything they’ve already purchased

You don’t need to spend weeks apologising for the decision. If your costs have increased and you’re providing a quality service, changing your price is part of running a sustainable business.

You may lose the occasional customer. But keeping every customer at a price that no longer covers your costs isn’t a sustainable alternative.

Manage Your Fitness Class Pricing with Gymcatch

Getting your pricing right is important. Managing it shouldn’t create another pile of admin.

Gymcatch helps fitness professionals put their pricing strategy into practice by bringing schedules, bookings and online payments together in one platform.

You can create classes and other sessions, set up different purchasing options, sell packages and courses and use promotional tools such as discount codes without relying on manual bookings and bank transfers.

That means customers get a straightforward way to see what’s available, understand what it costs and book, while you get more time to focus on running your classes and growing your business.

Ready to simplify your fitness bookings and payments? Sign up for Gymcatch or book a demo to see how Gymcatch can support your fitness business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I charge for a fitness class?

There’s no single price that’s right for every fitness class. Consider local competitor pricing, your costs, class capacity, experience and the type of service you’re providing. Your price needs to cover the true cost of running the class while leaving enough profit to make it worthwhile.

How do I calculate the price of a fitness class?

Calculate the total cost of delivering the class, including venue hire, equipment, insurance, travel, administration, marketing and other relevant expenses. Add the profit you need to make, then divide that figure by a realistic number of paying attendees rather than assuming every class will be full.

Should I offer fitness class packages?

Packages can work well if you want to encourage customers to commit to several sessions rather than purchasing individual classes each time. Make sure any discount still leaves you with a sustainable margin and set clear rules around how and when the package can be used.

Can Gymcatch manage different prices and packages for fitness classes?

Gymcatch lets fitness businesses create different ways for customers to purchase their services, including individual sessions, packages and courses. You can also use discount codes for specific promotions, helping you manage different purchasing options without relying on manual bookings or payment tracking.

Can customers pay for fitness classes online with Gymcatch?

Yes. Gymcatch supports online payments as part of the booking journey, allowing customers to select eligible fitness services and pay online rather than requiring you to arrange payment separately.

Feb 21
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On-Demand fitness library

How to create an on-demand fitness library

By Fitness business management archives and news

Have you been considering creating an online fitness library? You probably have lots of questions about where to start, what software to use, how to price your videos, and how to sell them.

We asked Anna Martin, Personal Trainer and owner at AMF World to give us the inside knowledge on how to create inspiring video content to grow your business.
 

1.Stay tuned to your audience

The first port of call is to listen to your audience. Find out what people actually want and why they want to get it from you. Ask your target audience about class styles, how they want to access it alongside ideal workout duration times workouts to be, how they want the workouts to be delivered and what other information they would want alongside those workouts to make it super effective. Remember your clients want to be told what to do and on what day so point them to the right place in your library As a business owner, the more information and feedback you can receive from your client, the easier it becomes to guide them to the right content in your library.

2.Consider your business goals and how On-Demand fits in

Is this something you want to use in conjunction with live or streamed classes? Is this a completely stand-alone product reaching a different market? Are you making it for a specific business client? What your goals are for this product will dictate how you decide to put it together. If you want it to work in conjunction with something you are already doing, then you need to work out how this integrates and interacts with what you are doing.

For example, are these On-Demand workouts going to be completely different to what you have on your timetable? Or are they designed to be there for those that couldn’t make it to the live classes?  Once you have worked out what the purpose of your On-Demand section is, it will be much easier to form a vision of how you want it to look.

3.Finding the right video solution

Not every fitness professional has a natural aptitude or inclination to digitise their services, the majority would much rather be focusing on running classes and sessions over getting to grips with a new piece of business software. If even the mere thought of introducing tech to your business leaves you in a cold sweat, the chances are you need a simple solution or someone to do it for you. An easy-to-use and affordable platform such as Gymcatch enables fitness professionals to package and sell their products online.

This could be a collection of videos stored on something like YouTube, Facebook Groups or Vimeo platform, then offering the service through your website might be preferable. Check out Wix and V-Healthy for video solutions but there are many more ways of doing it.

4. Monetising from your fitness video content

Are you planning to charge a monthly or weekly subscription? Or are you going to charge per video or per series of videos? This will be impacted by the areas we have talked about in the points above. How will you collect payment? Do you have personal training booking software that can handle recurring payments, or would it be easier to charge one collection at a time? Charging per project or per video may take the pressure off in terms of content creation but a subscription may give you a more reliable sideline.

Check out the point below before you make a decision. Obviously, we are not all providing our fitness expertise and content for people out of the goodness of our hearts so working out how you are going to charge for your services is important. Many fitness professionals charge weekly or monthly subscriptions whilst many others charge per video or per bundle of videos. Whilst charging per project can take the pressure away from the content creation side, a subscription service ensures a more reliable revenue stream.

4.Distributing your video content

If you provide a subscription, what’s your release schedule going to be like? If you say you’re going to release videos every month or week then you have to release those videos if people are already paying for them upfront. From experience, I would always start on the lower side so you’re underselling what you will do and exceeding clients’ expectations. If you promise to release five new videos a week and then you only manage three a month, people will be disappointed. If you edit your own videos rather than just recording them live and leaving them up, factor in the time it’s going to take to get those done.

The most important thing is that this is a viable source of income or client retention, avoid letting it become a viable source of stress by overestimating what you’re able to achieve – especially if you are a one-man-band. When distributing your content my main piece of advice is to start small, it is more important that your content lands as promised to your paying subscribers rather than omitting or delaying content. If you promise five videos per month and can only provide three then your client base will start asking questions of you. Overpromising on content and time, especially for one-man operations like many in the fitness industry is more likely to generate stress than it is to generate a viable income stream.

Jan 10
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8 client lead generation strategies for fitness professionals

By Fitness business management archives and news

Here are 8 productive channels for generating new client leads. You’ll have a good idea of which are going to work best for you and where to concentrate your efforts.



For all of thee angles remember the three golden rules for engaging new clients.

A. Keep It simple. Make sure everything you communicate is clear and concise.

B. Call to action. Always include a clear call to action in your materials and communication. Tell the client exactly what they need to do next.

C. Track your strategies. Design your outreach in a way that you can track what’s working and what isn’t. This might be asking clients to quote “OFFER A”,“PARTNER B” “REFEREE C” when they respond to one of your offers. However you track results, it’s important you do it so you can avoid spending time on strategies that just don’t work.

  1. Referral scheme

    Your existing clients are your best route to new clients. This will happen organically, people talk about things they like and they want their friends to enjoy things they like with them.

    Your job here is to make it easy for people to bring along a friend and to make the client feel valued for making that recommendation.

  2. Physical Advertising

    Your in-person services are what marketeers call hyper-local. Most people do not travel long distances to attend fitness and wellness. Those services necessarily take place somewhere convenient.

    This makes old fashioned physical advertising a valuable tactic. Posters and fliers in prominent local places with high footfall of people in your demographics. Where do your clients go? Get your marketing materials up there.

    And remember – always give include a call to action: whether that be contact details, the times of your sessions… whatever you want your client to do next. Spell it out and make it easy.

  3. Social marketing

    Social networks are where many of your clients will spend most of their online time. If that’s true for your client base, it’s also where you should be investing sales time. That doesn’t mean you need to have a super-sales-y social profile, nor does it mean you need to think about paid ads. But what it does mean that having an engaging, responsive and vibrant social channels where you interact organically with your client base will be a lead generator in its own right. Having an online marketing strategy will help refine your social media efforts.

  4. Reciprocal marketing

    Are there local businesses who have the same client base as you? Some sort of complementary service? This could be a cafe, salon, bookshop? Can you do a deal with them to promote each other to your client bases. A special stamp card for coffee at the local cafe for your clients? 10% off at the book store for your clients.

    And they can offer some sort of reciprocal deal in their stores to promote your business.

  5. Profile building

    Sometimes when trying to generate leads you’ve got to think laterally. Are there opportunities for you to raise your profile locally? Could you volunteer to do a free session at a care home or a youth club for example? Those markets might not be directly in core market but running those sessions first of all might provide a valuable service to the community, but also if you run those sessions other people might here about it? Staff and residents of the care home and youth workers, parents and teachers of the kids at the youth club will here about you with a very positive image.

  6. Local influencer

    Do you know anyone with a big local influence and following? It could be a local blogger or just someone with a high profile in the community. We’re not talking a TV A-lister, just someone locally with a bit of a footprint. If you can find one why not invite them to a class, or if that’s not a possibility, would they be willing to mention your services to their following.

  7. Intro offers

    People’s buying habits differ. For a lot of people, within reason, price doesn’t really come into play when they are making a buying decision. But for others, particularly when trying something new, there can be reticence about spending money on something they aren’t sure if  they will enjoy.

    For that reason introductory offers are a good idea to make the decision to walk through the door a shot to nothing. In the grand scheme of it it’s also a pretty sound investment for you too. Sure, there will be some clients who come for a discount session or a free session and you won’t see them again. But for a far larger number of clients who may otherwise have not taken the plunge, you’ll have a long-term client.

  8. PR

    Advertising can be expensive but you don’t always need to pay to get into local media. PR is strategy of “selling in” a story to media outlets. If you can come up with something interesting and newsworthy your local media might well be interested in covering it. This needs to be something topical, different, extravagant that will interest the readers of the publication. You won’t get much interest if you ask them to run a story saying that you’re launching a new class on a Monday morning. But you might have more luck if you organised a 24 hour event fundraising for a local charity. 

For more information on Gymcatch group fitness business software and how it can help your yoga, pilates, dance or personal training business. Get in contact to book a demo or start a free month.

Jan 10
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Online marketing tactics for fitness businesses

By Fitness business management archives and news

In the ever-evolving landscape of fitness and wellness, establishing a powerful online marketing presence has gone from an option to a necessity. As digital screens continue to capture more attention, the process of employing strategic online tactics becomes a pivotal aspect of success. In this article, we navigate through a diverse array of online marketing strategies to empower your fitness business.

Steps to successful online marketing for your fitness business

Creating an impactful online marketing presence is vital for fitness and wellness professionals. As digital the fitness industry becomes increasingly digitised, understanding effective online strategies is without parallel.

Today, Google commands a massive online presence, but it’s social media that claims the majority of people’s time. Over 4 billion individuals possess social media accounts, spending an average of 1 hour and 15 minutes online daily. Major platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram are facilitating content creation and sharing, opening doors to expansive paid and organic advertising opportunities for brands. Let’s take a closer look.

Building blocks for a successful online fitness business 

A solid marketing foundation hinges on a clear comprehension of your brand identity. Your messaging should encapsulate your values and set you apart within the fitness landscape. Personalization is the key to resonating with your audience, illustrating the tangible benefits your services offer. Authenticity in messaging fosters motivation and shapes purchasing decisions. For example, highlighting that you are a working mom who understands the complexities of fitting exercise around a busy home life, and portraying this messaging to your audience.

  1. Leveraging the power of social proof

Credibility is the foundation of effective marketing, and social proof acts as the anchor. Elevate your messaging with genuine customer testimonials and harness the support of your thriving social media community. Garnering testimonials with proper permissions and encouraging social media follows nurtures engagement, bolstering your reach and reinforcing your reputation.

  1. Mastering Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

A robust search engine presence is non-negotiable in the quest for online discoverability. While constructing a fully optimized website demands effort and time, explore options like an SEO-optimized page furnished by your booking system. Regular content updates and adherence to Google’s ranking criteria amplify your online presence.

  1. Embracing the paid digital advertising

Paid advertising on platforms like Facebook and Google offers a laser-focused avenue to reach your target demographic. Tailoring campaigns based on demographics and interests accelerates visibility. Grasping the fundamentals of campaign management empowers you to execute effective campaigns independently.

  1. Continual strategic testing

Innovation thrives on experimentation. Begin with controlled tests to unearth strategies that resonate with your audience. Data analysis guides refinement, ensuring resources are directed toward tactics yielding optimal outcomes.This may sound complicated, but it could be as simple as taking a look at your social media in-app analytics and figuring out trends.

  1. Expert assistance

For those seeking professional guidance, local marketing agencies provide invaluable support, especially in deciphering intricate technical aspects. Their expertise fine-tunes your marketing strategy, optimizing returns on investment.

Unveiling insights through data

Digital marketing’s chief benefit lies in the wealth of data it offers. Real-time access to your channel’s performance and audience behavior enables precise evaluation of content success. Analyzing this data before constructing your next marketing plan is a prudent approach to refining your strategies.


The power of video marketing

TikTok has exceeded 1 billion users, ranking as the 7th most popular social network in 2021. Facebook and YouTube hold strong positions atop the popularity charts. With over 500 million daily viewers on Facebook and an impressive 84% of individuals affirming their propensity to purchase products or services after watching videos, video marketing emerges as a compelling strategy.

Navigating social commerce

 Modern consumers expect seamless purchasing directly through social media platforms for convenience. Projections indicate US social commerce sales will soar to $80 billion, offering colossal global potential. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok lead the way with features like browse, discover, and in-app checkout options, capitalizing on this evolving trend.

Unlocking online memberships

Managing diverse customer packages and schedules can be overwhelming. Introducing online membership packages not only saves valuable time but also enhances client retention and virtual engagement. The allure of online memberships extends to enticing new customers and accommodating larger numbers, a challenge in traditional setups. Gymcatch offers insights on creating memberships that resonate.

Fostering micro communities

Gone are the days of sprawling, disengaged online communities. Privacy-conscious social media users seek authentic connections. Skillful community strategies foster loyalty, providing customers with a sense of value and belonging.

Seamless booking management

Having a solid marketing strategy is just the beginning. Your fitness management software should seamlessly handle bookings. This is where Gymcatch steps in, offering a solution to manage appointments efficiently. Reach out to us for seamless integration.

Direct marketing meets digital marketing

While the digital domain is pivotal, traditional marketing methods still wield substantial influence, particularly on a local scale. Engage with local listing magazines, community bulletin boards, and collaborate with neighboring businesses to foster awareness. As post-pandemic shifts redefine work dynamics, this approach aids in connecting with audiences beyond the virtual sphere.

It is also important to forge meaningful bonds with local groups and associations aligned with your fitness ethos. Participation or sponsorship of community events exposes you to potential customers and augments your local visibility. This symbiotic approach nurtures and expands your fitness community.

In summary

As we conclude our “Get 2023 Ready” series, our goal is to equip you with insights that elevate your fitness business. Stay tuned to our social media platforms for more business management content, offers, and news. Uphold your dedication to the fitness journey and uncover the potential of customer management software, such as Gymcatch, to seamlessly streamline your operations.

 

Jan 10
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6 fitness business ideas to consider in the New Year

By Fitness business management archives and news

If you are a fitness or wellness professional looking for new business ideas to kick-start the New Year, we have highlighted below the key takeaways from our most recent Facebook Live with Anna Martin, owner of AMF World; and Elle Linton, fitness professional, influencer and blogger.

1. Flex to impress

Flexibility has become part of the norm for businesses operating in periods of disruption. With the help of technology, our businesses are better prepared to adapt to the changing circumstances and needs of our customers, allowing us to go from face-to-face to virtual classes seamlessly.

“It’s important to get to know the ebbs and flows of your customers. Get to know them and understand how things are impacting them,” says Elle Linton.

Taking your fitness business online seems like an obvious choice when it comes to preparing for the future and planning to reach out to a wider audience. Virtual classes are a great way to add extra flexibility to your services and promoting them through your social channels is a natural strategy to consider. Your customers are your ambassadors and will help with sharing the work you do, if they are online, they will amplify your message and give you a big boost.

“Referrals through word of mouth are what keeps us going. You want to be so good that your customers talk about you at the dinner party,” says Anna Martin.

2. Making the hybrid model work

The new post-Covid19 customer is spoilt for choice; with some looking for the convenience virtual classes bring whilst others favour 1-2-1 or small group sessions, or a mixture of all.

Allowing for both can help retain customers and attract new ones.

Virtual fitness classes or sessions are a faster revenue channel too as running costs are lower and you can reach out to more people. Monetising from your workout videos and online content is a great way to increase revenue streams and enhance the services you offer.

“Make use of the quieter times to pre-record as much content as possible. Set aside a couple of days to record and edit your videos,” says Anna Martin.

3. Packaging and pricing your fitness services

Structure your packages in a way that is simple and manageable, for both you and your clients. Offering a membership is a great way to build recurrent revenue and get your clients to stick for longer.

“Don’t give your clients endless choice. They want to be told what they need to do, the easier you present this to them the more engaged they will be,” says Elle Linton. 

If you are considering raising your prices next year, think of the extra value you can add and make this proposition a very attractive one. Undersell your services and you can quickly be missing out in generating income that could have already been there.

4. Find ways to diversify your income

There are many ways to diversify your income as a fitness professional. Affiliations, referrals, merchandise, advertising, content etc are all great ways to generate more income.

“If the pandemic has taught us one thing is not to have all your eggs in one basket, just in case one fails,” says Elle Linton.

Look for opportunities that may enhance your work.

5. Retaining clients is cheaper than acquiring new ones

Focusing your efforts in getting new clients can be taxing and expensive. Instead, why not focus on your existing clients?

‘It’s more financial beneficial to get existing clients to spend more with you,” says Elle Linton.

Returning customers are crucial to a business’ growth. Make them feel special and they are more likely to spend more with you. For example, add rewards to your customer engagement plan to celebrate milestones. These don’t have to be expensive, a social media shoutout is a great low-cost way to do this.

“Create a community online and offline and get them talking. Returning customers are more likely too to bring you new customers,” says Anna Martin.

6. How to share your story

One of the many benefits of social media is that everything is visible. You can now see what the competition are up to in a couple of clicks. It is a great space to have a snoop around and gain ideas for your own business.

“Once you have figured out your voice use social media to amplify it. Use other tech sources too such as Pinterest to get inspiration and figure out how you want to come across” says Elle Linton.

For more information on Gymcatch fitness bootcamp booking software and how it can help your yoga, pilates, dance or personal training business. Get in contact to book a demo or start a free month,

Jun 22
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7 tips for streaming online fitness classes

By Fitness business management archives and news, Gym and studios

Fitness professionals have had to adapt their businesses to the surge in demand for online fitness classes. Live streaming, for example, has opened up new ways of conducting businesses, from product descriptions to tutorials and exercising. With the current pandemic, fitness studios around the world can reach out to their clientele and deliver useful fitness classes through live streams. However, they need to do several things right to ensure success. Here are a few tips for streaming online fitness classes.

1. Dressing code for live instructors

It is essential that you wear clothing that is branded with yours or your gym colours and logo. It helps with brand awareness, recognition and professionalism. Besides, avoid clothing that blends with the background as most users cannot tell your form, yet it is vital when exercising. Although you are excising, you should look presentable on camera. However, there’s no need to call a professional makeup team, as looks are not the primary focus of the show.

2. Video tips for streaming online fitness classes

Lighting

Lighting affects the quality of your live stream. You need your audience to see every action in HD quality. Otherwise, those good moves will be of no use to them. You can either have natural or artificial lighting. If you have windows, do your performances facing the source of light. Investing in artificial lighting is a must if you streaming a dimly lit room to avoid negative feedback from clients.

Take Care of Acoustic Noise

Ensure that your voice is clear and audible. You can use wireless lapel microphones strapped to your clothing and connecting to your camera or capture device. Ensure that the room doesn’t have too much echo or noise from other areas. If broadcasting from a home environment, it is essential to warn other occupants that you’ll be live streaming so that there is no disturbance. You may also want to mute all participants in the steam so that they’re not interrupting for others.

Keep Your Set Simple

Only keep the items and props that you will require for your exercises in the live stream. This will avoid you having to run out of shot to pick up a piece of equipment which will make you look unorganised and unprofessional. Also you don’t want anything that might distract the attention of your viewers like cars going past the window.

3. What fitness equipment should you use in your live shows?

Where possible, stick to items that your viewers can find at home. Minimal equipment makes your online fitness classes relevant as your viewers can replicate the same at home. However you can add fitness equipment that can be bought with ease but remember to tell them your clients beforehand what they will need for each home workout. Bare in mind fitness equipment is pretty scarce at the moment due to the current climate so it’s good to be flexible with the requirements.

4. What equipment do you need for live shooting?

Fortunately, live streaming doesn’t require expensive equipment to stream high-quality videos. This can be done by the use of the phone or a USB webcam from your living room. There are also cheap handycam brands that you can purchase for live streaming. When using the phone, ensure that it is fully charged. It should also shoot horizontally so that you can have a wide-angle camera. The camera should be placed on a stable location and at an appropriate height to your type of workout without adjustments.

Gymcatch offers various tools that you can use to schedule multiple sessions and deliver virtual classes through platforms such as Zoom. It enables you to share the link to your online fitness classes with ease and interact with the audience that will be following you online. You can also request payments and manage bookings for online classes with ease.

5. Test everything

Do a test run of your live stream before you go official. Running a free trial or a reduced price while informing your customers there could be technical issues. You could also invite friends and family for test class if you don’t want to push your sessions live until everything is running perfectly, bear in mind they can be biased towards you.

6. Ensure that internet connection is stable

It is vital that your videos are smooth and of high quality throughout the entire session. If several devices are sharing the narrow bandwidth, turn off access for any other device that is not directly used in the workout. This is vital to avoid audio cut-outs and video lags.

7. Deliver the live session professionally

At the start of the session, welcome your clients as you would in an in-premise workout session. Tell them how they can contact you and ask whether anyone would be comfortable being called out in the video. Be careful about the music you play in your videos so that you do not use copyrighted material. There are sync licences to help you use a song in your session. However, you can also get royalty-free music on platforms such as Premium Beat and Artlist.io.

Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the workout experience. If there are glitches (they do happen even with meticulous preparation), do not stress about them; apologise and continue with your workouts. However, be sure to correct them for subsequent online workouts.

Want to find out more how Gymcatch can help you stream your fitness classes online. Feel free to get in contact with us or sign up for a free demo and we’ll get in contact with you.

Jun 22
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How to price your fitness classes online

By Fitness business management archives and news, Fitness marketing and social archives and news

The global pandemic has changed the way most of us do everyday things. People have been introduced to Zoom meetings, podcasts and grocery delivery slots, and online exercise classes have become part of the norm. Virtual exercise has welcomed a different group of people into the fitness community – those seriously pushed for time, folks with caring obligations, the self-conscious and the gym curious.

For fitness providers, now is the perfect time for offering online tuition of all kinds. But if you’ve never held a virtual class before, or you’re adding to your repertoire, you’ll need to know how to price your service.

Here are 5 things to consider when you are working out what to charge for your fitness classes online.

Class size

Think about how many participants you want to teach. If you offer one-to-one classes then the costs will be passed onto a single client, but smaller group classes would lower the cost per person and potentially give you more income.

How does that work? Well, for a personal 1-2-1 class you could charge £40 as an example, but if you offer small group sessions for just 4 people at a time and ask £12 each, each client pays less and you earn and extra £8 a time.

Large classes with limitless participants can be offered at a lower cost per head, but think about how many you’ll need to make your target income? You could think that being cheap will encourage larger numbers, but is it really worth it to you? If you have 20 people logging in at £4 each, it’s the same to you as 16 logging in for £5 per head but you need 4 fewer clients each session which might be easier to achieve. So you need to consider if you’ll be able to fill the class at your selected price to get the profit margins you want.

Check your competitor prices

Sounds like a basic thing to do but checking out your competitors is key. Make sure you understand what others charge for the same service. Make a comprehensive list so you can make a good comparison, don’t just stop once you find one. There are no set rules when it comes to online classes – you will probably find a wide range of prices but you’ll notice a trend to give you a ball-park figure to work with. Take note of what others offer for their price such as the length of class, frequency, number of sessions a week and if there is a cap on the number of participants.

Block booking and packages

Consider whether you want to offer courses or block bookings at a discount. To get clients to pay upfront for a package of 5, 6 or 10 classes will help you with your finances but be aware that this comes with some complications.

Will your customers have to use their sessions for the same class each week or can they log in for your full programme of sessions? How much of a discount will you offer for booking multiple classes at a time and will this still give you the income you need? Clients will want to have the option to miss a session due to sickness or have a refund if they cancel.

Your cancellation policy must be clearly displayed and carefully thought out before you choose this option. There is no reason that discounts like this won’t work well, they simply require some planning.

Uniqueness and popularity

Be aware of the uniqueness of your classes. Straightforward HIIT sessions are more commonly found online so, without an unusual hook, you can’t charge much more than your competitors. But if you specialise in Kundalini Yoga, for example, then you are offering a niche product and can charge a premium rate.

Setting the price

The last thing to be aware of is that people will make an opinion of your classes based on the price. Offer your services too cheap and it will be considered an inferior product. Set your fees too high and clients will expect much more from you, and the extra cost will put off a large group of clients. There is a sweet spot – you just need to find it.

Luckily, you don’t need to think of everything by yourself. Gymcatch has made life easier for online fitness class providers with software that is simple to use. Take class bookings, manage waiting lists and collect payments with ease. If you’ve decided to use promo codes, passes and bundles to get things off the ground, then you can set all of these too – you have complete control. Get in touch for a free demo.

Apr 21
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How to gain more clients through yoga marketing

By Fitness business management archives and news, Fitness marketing and social archives and news, Yoga

Yoga is quite amazing. People rely on it to transform into better versions of themselves. It helps people to heal. And those are some of the reasons the yoga industry continues to gain more popularity in the UK. However, running your own yoga studio is not a walk in the park. Like any business, the yoga industry has a lot of challenges and competition. Therefore, you need to embrace the best yoga marketing strategies to stay ahead.

Let us have a look at some of the most effective yoga studio marketing strategies that you could employ.

Come up with loyalty programs

If you wish to increase your client base, an easy way to do it is to create loyalty programs for clients who frequent your yoga studio. So, why are loyalty programs important? Well, they will make your clients happy, which means that you will retain most of them. Happy customers can help you sign new clients faster by recommending your studio to friends and relatives.

You, therefore, should make the loyalty programs a priority; they don’t even have to be complicated. Something simple such as a point system could work. This is where a customer earns points every time she/he comes to your studio, and these points add up to some real redeemable value.

Entice your customers with value

Another great way of getting more clients coming to your yoga studio is by enticing them with value. What does that mean? Simple. Come up with viable ideas on how to create special promotions for your customers. For starters, you can offer new clients free trials. If you wish to retain the clients, however, then you’ll have to come up with something sustainable and much better than a free trial.

For instance, you can come up with incentives such as reducing the rate of the first few classes. Additionally, you could come up with a great pricing model that is easy for your customers to understand. That way, your customers will have an easier time selecting a package.

Target your audience

Another great way for you to grow your client base is by knowing your target audience. Once you define the customers you’d want to come to your studio clearly, then you can come up with yoga advertising ideas. Ensure that each ad you put out there focuses on a particular audience. You could even use your current customers to determine the people within the same demographic.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for you to advertise your business. One of the most effective platforms includes social media. You could post Facebook ads targeting different audiences. You could also send out emails to people who seem to share the same interests with your current students. That way, you will be able to reach a wider client base.

Rely on yoga studio software

We live in a technological age. Long gone are the days where you had to stack files to maintain your database. That is why you need to start using yoga studio software to streamline tasks in your business. If you have the proper management software, then your instructors will have an easier time managing your clients.

But that’s not all! Having the proper software in place could also improve your booking procedure. In fact, clients will find it easier to schedule studio sessions because the software provides versatile booking procedures. Additionally, the software will save you and your customers a lot of time, and there is nothing more enticing to a customer than saved time and flexible solutions.

Hire great instructors

Hiring great instructors counts as one of the best yoga marketing ideas. How come? When a client comes to your studio, she/he looks towards bettering themselves. As a result, clients will want to be under a trainer who can help them achieve their fitness goals effectively.

Besides, your staff contribute to the success of your business greatly. So, whenever an instructor takes your clients through a particular structure or yoga style and it works, there is a high likelihood that those clients will recommend your business to others. The opposite also applies.

To get a good instructor, you have to make sure that you are thorough during the hiring stage. Besides hiring the skilled instructors, you should also come up with ideas to promote them. By doing so, you create a good rapport with them, and they will be more likely to take care of your clients as expected.

Connect with local businesses

Yoga studio marketing should involve creating partnerships with local businesses, especially if you set up your business in a small town. You should make an effort to know the owners of the businesses around you, especially those that you can benefit from.

For example, if there is a coffee shop within your location, you can organize an event whereby the coffee shop will serve as the caterers in your studio parties. This will benefit both parties, and that is how other business owners will recommend your business to their clients.

You must ensure that any partnership you get into will benefit both parties. Otherwise, your efforts will be futile. Moreover, ensure that any dealing you have is both time and cost-effective.

Sell products in your yoga studio

Frankly, anyone coming to a Yoga studio is looking to stay fit by embracing a wellness program. Therefore, if you want to gain more clients, then you should try selling wellness products in your studio. That will not only entice your customers but will also help you engage with them much better. Furthermore, you get to boost your source of income.

Apart from wellness products, you can also sell beauty products, nutrition supplements, yoga clothing, and fitness equipment. You can even go a step further and brand these products with your business’ logo to increase awareness.

Host a free workshop

One of the best and most effective ways of gaining new customers in a yoga studio is by hosting a free workshop. However, you must ensure that the workshop focuses more than just your current yogi students. There is a high likelihood that there are people in your locality who have never considered yoga as something they would do. As such, you should tailor your workshop to focus on them as well.

The primary purpose of your free workshop should be to create awareness. Use it as a platform to educate those people who don’t know a lot about yoga and to clear out some myths that surround the practice. Be careful, however, not to make it so overwhelming.

Like any other business, the yoga industry is a competitive one. Therefore, you may want to employ the yoga marketing tactics that we’ve listed above if you want to stay ahead of your competition. Proper marketing strategies will not only get you more clients but also increase your revenue.

To take your yoga offering to the next level check out how Gymcatch can help you. Book a demo today!

Apr 21
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How to start a dance studio

By Dance, Fitness business management archives and news

Has the question on how to start a dance studio ever crossed your mind? Or, have you already began researching how to start one. Maybe you have wondered whether you have whatever it takes to start and run it and make it prosperous. Does any of these sound familiar to you? Here is a post for you! Below is a guide on how to open a dance studio, from the first step to the grand opening of your studio.

Track a studio or proprietor you admire

Do you recognise another studio director that you admire or respect? Do you like a local studio in the city or another town? The perfect way to learn how to start a dance studio is to work in it. If there is a local studio that has existed for a while, fix a few hours to visit the studio daily and take notes. Or get a studio owner you like and ask whether he can be your mentor.

While you are there, you can volunteer to stand-in the diverse jobs or roles where they require assistance so you may see the way things work from every angle. This gives you clues to significant challenges in dance trade and the way they are fixed.

More significantly, ensure you enjoy your work! Starting a dance shop is a great way to segment your love for a dance with a wider audience, but it is not for everyone and that is fine.

Get ready for the roles you will take on

In addition to understanding the commerce, you also require a clear picture of the diverse roles you take on being the owner. Past choreography and teaching lessons, you are to manage many fragments of your business. Some of the roles include:

• Manager: You will ensure that daily schedules and activities run smoothly. You must have the ability to convey what you need, what you require to improve and make sure your workforce is focused on the objectives.
• Mentor: you will represent the attitude and work ethic you presume from staff and students.
• Entrepreneur: your job does not stop at the opening of the studio. You ought to advance and come up with new dance studio plans. Being an entrepreneur, you will also be deeply involved in community outreach, marketing, customer service, event coordination, and more.

Find out from the beginning which of the roles comes naturally from within and which is best subcontracted to another reliable teacher or employee.

Build a title for yourself in the community

Dance studio Holders often go with confidence knowing that they have enough followers to take classes from the start. In case you don’t have enough followers yet, find them in the following ways:

• Offer dance services to the local gyms, schools, and churches
• Offer discounts for individuals who refer the classes to family and friends
• Advertise your classes at close businesses which are not entrants but have a clientele interested in dancing
• Share your approach to dancing on social media and personality so that others in the community can know you better

This is a long step you should accomplish before searching for a location or drawing up the business plan, as it consumes time. Fortunately, you may work on this while performing your other initial dance studio opening tasks.

Make your business plan for the dance studio

Your dance workspace business plan refers to a document that describes your business objectives and how you want to attain them. It lays a firm base for your studios for years ahead. Here are some of the essential sections you should include in the business plan:

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Products and services
• Market analysis
• financial estimates
• Marketing summary

Find the perfect place for your studio

Once you have found out how the business will work and what your monetary position is, you may start finding a good location. At this stage, the question “how much does it cost to open a dance studio” comes to mind. Find out the amount you have for renting and what additional costs come with the site you choose.

Dance studios have their unique requirements. Ask yourself the amount of space you will require. Do you need a room or several studios in your location? Also consider an office, a lobby, storage, commercial space, bathrooms, hallways, and a waiting room.

Also do not ignore things like:

• Parking Options: Do space have enough parking space for the number of learners you expect to attract?
• Security: Parents must feel safe and comfortable when taking their children to your place
• Visibility: It might cost extra to be in a visible place, however, it also allows passive marketing

Develop your processes and systems

It is time to come up with a plan on how to run your studio when it opens. This is more detailed and separate compared to the business plan, however, it is very important.

Also note that the more structured your process and system initially is, the lesser the persons you will have to hire. This is the reason why so many dance studio holders use management software for a dance studio. For instance, Gymcatch provides a dance studio management software that helps you manage your payments, classes, customer communications, and bookings. This plays a great role in saving time and reducing labour costs.

Arrange your studio room

Things like mirrors, floors, and dance Barres are an integral part of a ballet studio. Ensure you set up in a really attractive way. Do not stop there. Be sure to set up your dance studio such that it invites movement and creativity.

Employ your dance studio personnel

You may not require a lot of staff, especially if you are just starting. Please note, however, that you may not have much time to teach many lessons when you initially open it. As the owner, there might be many chores on your plate at first. Hence, your first employee might be someone who can train your classes, most likely short term. A different one can help with administrative tasks and front office.

Market your dance studio

You possibly have a great collection of individuals ready to register for your lessons. Still, it is important to inform the public about starting your ballet studio.

For starters, your website is your primary source for recruiting new students. Here, parents see your location info, contact details, positive feedback, teaching hours, and more. With a website, you can link directly to the Gymcatch website which helps you save time, increase revenue, promote communication with clients, and promote customer experience.

In addition to your website, ongoing advertising tasks include:

• Increase word of mouth promotion and referrals
• Build your presence on social networks
• Expand your email list
• Compilation of positive feedbacks on social networks and Google
• Develop partnerships with other local companies and charities

Once you’ve set up the above tasks, it is time to promote your official opening. Here are some ideas:

• Hang a large poster so that people can see that you have completed your “Grand Opening”.
• Keep an open house
• Place ads on social media and in local newspapers
• Have your learners perform at occasions in the community
• Find small commercial events to take part in
• Hang brochures at sociable local companies

Finally, people don’t open a dance studio for administrative tasks. They open for the liking of their profession. Offer yourself the chance to relish the dance studio you start. The above guideline will help you if you still have a query on how to start a dance studio. Go through it and you will never regret.

Managing your dance studio will be much easier with Gymcatch dance class management software.

Book a demo and get in contact with Gymcatch today.