These days, fitness is big business - and one that allows a huge number of people to turn their passion into a lucrative career. Unfortunately, where there’s opportunity, there’s competition and in pretty well any area, there are always a huge number of fitness professionals vying for business at any given time. Whether you’re a gym owner or a personal trainer, your business is
all about the clients - attracting them, signing them up and retaining them but that can get pretty tough when all the other busywork gets in the way. Many fitness pros complain that handling their admin gets in the way of managing their clients - and this is where fitness business software can take the strain.
If, like many, you’re spending more time on balancing the books and performing payroll gymnastics than you are helping clients, it’s time to give your business a workout and, in this article, we’re sharing 11 ways in which
fitness business software can help you power through to a more successful, less stressful way of working.
1. Automates The Admin Grind
How much of your working day is spent on invoices, bookings, staff scheduling and other time-consuming admin? Probably too much would be our guess. In case you didn’t get the memo, automation is very much a thing these days, and this essential tool can do the heavy lifting by automating a number of dull tasks including:
- Taking bookings
- Membership renewals
- Sending payment reminders
- Raising and sending invoices
As a fitness professional, every hour of your time is valuable and wasting it on admin is simply bad business. Using software to automate your day-to-day tasks allows you to jump off the admin treadmill, claw back your time and channel it into more creative activities such as marketing and upselling to therefore grow your business just like you always intended to.
2. Smooth Click-And-Go Scheduling
So, here’s the deal; these days most people have the attention span of a goldfish - and even less patience. If your scheduling system is sticky or complicated, there’s a good chance that your clients will simply give up. A smooth, user-friendly online scheduling system is vital for retaining clients and reducing no-shows which drain your resources (and frazzle your nerves).
3. Improves Client Experience
It goes without saying that a significant part of your business is about pulling in those new clients - but that doesn't do you much good if you can’t keep the ones you’ve already got. Never forget that your clients have options and are likely to go elsewhere if they don’t feel valued. Fitness business software can add a whole new level by introducing personalization and an altogether better experience. This clever tech can tailor communication and allow clients to make bookings, track their progress and receive news and offers - all without a single phone call (and we know how much people hate those these days!)
4. Turns Data Into A Growth Strategy
Data, eh? This stuff is more valuable than gold these days and is the key to transforming your business. Using software to collate and analyse your data takes the guesswork out of your operation by handing over all sorts of useful information - from the popularity of your trainers and classes to how well you’re doing with your marketing campaigns.
5. Streamlines Payments
If you’ve ever had to call a client to chase payment you’ll know how super-awkward this can be. The great thing about software is that it doesn’t get embarrassed. This affordable technology is able to take over this frustrating part of your business - from collecting payments and renewing memberships to sending out payment reminders. For your clients, this psychologically removes you from the money side and, for you, it lets you focus on what you’re there for.
6. Makes Marketing Smarter
Marketing is a must-have for any business that wants to be competitive - but that doesn’t mean that you have to be a slave to it. Fitness software can integrate with all your existing tech in order to attract new clients, retain the interest of existing ones and send come-ons to those who haven’t been around in a while. From shouting about your new equipment to offering special deals, your software speaks for you, leaving you free to concentrate on the more creative side of your marketing.
7. Creates Opportunities For Online And Hybrid Training
In our brave new world, training is no longer just a bums on seats (or toes on treadmills) deal. Advanced technology means that your business can flex its muscles online too. Digital workout programs and live online classes can add valuable revenue to your business - and software makes it easy to deliver programs to clients whether they’re next door or in the next country.
8. Builds Community
As well as losing weight or getting fit, clients often join a gym or fitness class for social reasons. Software lets you tap into this by building communities both on and offline. Physical group sessions can be connected to online forums, chat groups and social feeds which allow participants to cheer each other on while achieving their personal goals.
9. Scales Without The Stress
If your goal is to grow your business, software has got your back. Advanced technology means that your software will not only grow with you but will actually lead the way by helping you to manage all the complexities that go with being a successful fitness professional.
10. Positions You As A Pro
Every double booking or staff no-show sends a message to your clients - and it’s not a good one. Similarly, dodgy booking systems and amateur hour pages all chip away at the professional image that you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Not only does software streamline and simplify your operations, it also gives your business a slicker and more professional image. In most cases, clients associate professionalism with trustworthiness thereby helping you to attract and retain more of them.
11. Makes Hiring And Team Management Way Less Messy
Managing a team can often feel like you’re
running a kindergarten class and you find yourself spending more time arguing about shifts and chasing down staff than you are serving your clients. Poor management of staff can hurt both the client experience and staff retention but, never fear - your software can help you to keep hold of both through:
- Managing and assigning trainers and staff
- Tracking employee hours and performance
- Handling payroll like a pro
- Managing schedules including communication of changes and requests
A well-managed team saves you money, keeps clients happy and stops your employees from jogging on to your competitors.
The Bottom Line
Your fitness business has a lot of moving parts and keeping them all working can feel like a juggling act - but it doesn’t have to. Technology is a tool that is no longer a “nice to have” for the fitness industry but one which is essential. From keeping your finances fit to adding muscle to your marketing campaigns, a fitness business solution is an affordable way to manage and grow your business without running yourself ragged.
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