Gym Management Software And An Inquisitive Mindset
I think there is only one way to survive in the fitness industry in the next few years. As a gym business owner, be ready to make changes quickly and often. Be curious about what’s around the corner.
The changes that are going on around us right now are world-shattering, and you have to keep up to survive. There will be many companies that get lost along the way. Insight gives you the gym management software tools to respond proactively to changes. Of course, other things demand your attention too.
But First, The Never Ending Retention Battle
There is a relationship between how well you can attract and retain customers, and the way that you keep up with the latest fitness industry trends and abilities. Retention is a simple measurement and an accurate way to measure your success.
Holding on to the members that you’ve worked so hard to sign up, is too important for words. The challenge of maximizing retention is one of the most urgent issues, now and always.
I make a point of emphasizing this because the change that matters on the retail side is in the expectations of your membership and they will vote with their feet. If members can find another option that provides a more rewarding fitness experience, they won’t hesitate to leave you.
Technology Keeps Changing The Expectations of Consumers
So what’s changing expectations so fundamentally? It’s new the new fitness programming and value propositions made possible by technology. Yes, I know I seem to repeat myself, but the changes are big! You ignore them at the risk of losing out. On the other hand, keep up and use it to add new programming and services, and expand your fitness enterprise.
It’s the changing world of tech that keeps fitness churning. Information adds value in ways that have never been possible before. However, the noise and confusion of multiple signals coming at you at once make it tough to find the facts that are valuable to you.
Undoubtedly, the most significant issues in fitness right now are all related to the pace of technological change. As more apps launch, with promises of disrupting fitness, gym business owners have to look out for those start-ups that do achieve the disruptive capabilities they claim.
Automation Versus People Powered Technologies
The ability to reach out to fitness club members and consumers at large, make it possible for fitness trainers to lead classes from anywhere. You could be anywhere and so could your clients. Peloton has brought automation to fitness with equipment that adapts to each user and remembers your settings wherever you log in.
Some people love Peloton and others prefer people-centered alternatives. SoulCycle and OrangeTheory Fitness have built passionate, niche followings. They rely on people-driven business models. You’re in a crowded studio, and the instructor is there in front of you.
Consumers expect to have trainers with energy and leadership ability, they want that connection to other people and the feedback of competitive live scoring. You will find a membership if you can offer extraordinary value. Not just usefulness but also the emotional intensity that motivates and drives. For that, they will keep coming back.
Flexing And Stretching with The Changes to Hold on to Your Sanity
The challenge for fitness club owners and senior managers is to lead the changes and bring all of your staff along with you. The change for all of us in the industry is to shift our thinking from trainers to influencers. It’s a transformation of mindsets that applies to how you guide your staff and the way to respond to the changing expectations of club members.
Use technology to your advantage and keep to the front of the trends. Remote memberships and premium services you can deliver online expand your business without the added cost of new locations, relocating, or negotiating with landlords. If you have additional revenue streams, you will be in a stronger position to stay ahead of the rest of the fitness industry.
As a fitness entrepreneur, you realized there would be things that push the limits. Leading cultural transformations for your company is what you signed up for when you founded your business. If you are just now researching the gym business, this is where you can add the most value.
Avoid Information Overload with Insight
When the information spigot is open, and it seems like data is hitting you from all sides, the key to survival and success is organization. Gym Insight was conceived and founded to make the fitness club manager’s role more efficient and less stressful.
You can fight the battle for membership retention with technology. The Insight Software Suite from Gym Insight provides tools to manage your business and your customers. Insight has a wide range of information tools with leading indicators about retention. The print-ready reports of this gym management software help you construct your policies and procedures around retention.
Bibliography
Fagan, Lawrence. The Big Picture in Client Acquisition and Client Retention. December 27, 2018. https://blog.gyminsight.com/5303-the-big-picture-in-client-acquisition-and-client-retention/ (accessed February 28, 2019).
Goldman, Stuart. Technological Advances Disrupting the Fitness Industry. September 1, 2016. https://www.athleticbusiness.com/apps-software/technological-advances-disrupting-the-fitness-industry.html (accessed February 28, 2018).
Hanbury, Mary. A leading investor in Peloton and Equinox reveals how his firm predicts the big trends. February 21, 2019. https://www.businessinsider.com/peloton-equinox-investor-reveals-next-fitness-trend-2019-2 (accessed February 28, 2019).
Raphael, Rina. Equinox and SoulCycle are launching a talent agency for fitness influencers. July 19, 2018. https://www.fastcompany.com/90205344/equinox-and-soulcycle-are-launching-a-talent-agency-for-fitness-influencers (accessed February 28, 2019).