As our community does its best to battle the spread of COVID-19, our industry has completely shifted from brick and mortar to the digital space in a matter of days. If you are a trainer or gym owner, you are probably trying to figure out how to maintain your business without your studio classes and in-person coaching. You are not alone.
Fit for Birth has been kind enough to offer our readers these ‘Start Training Online Quickly,’ tips from their online business mentorship program.
1. Decide what you are creating.
Are you planning to do 1-on-1 or semi-private sessions? Group classes? Or are you looking to design an automated program?
2. Choose your technology.
Zoom is great for private and semi-private sessions. Platforms like YouTube Live and Facebook Live are good for running group classes. If you are looking to set up an automated program or app, PT Distinction is top of our list, along with Trainerize and TrueCoach.
3. Recruit clients.
Drop an email message every day to at least 10 (or pick a number you are comfortable with) people saying something along the lines of: “Hey! In light of the current isolation many people are experiencing right now, I've decided to [train a small number of clients online, move my classes online, fast track a brand new program I’ve been working on]
I thought you might enjoy this training right now and wanted to reach out because I'm doing some really innovative stuff. Are you still interested in [getting fit, training for pregnancy, recovering after baby, reducing that pain] like we talked about?"
4. Sell to clients.
Go through an assessment to find out what your client wants and needs, then bridging the gap by effectively communicating and showing your client exactly how much your training can help them.
5. Collect money.
Companies are making this easier than ever. Your clients can do an email money transfer, Venmo, create a PayPal link. If you think you will want a more powerful cart that allows you more options like upsells/downsells or to link to a newsletter or email automation, ThriveCart is a great option with an affiliate platform.
6. Get organized.
The quickest way to get started is on Google Sheets. It’s an incredibly easy way to track your clients' sessions and record their workouts. It is easily shared directly with your client as well so they can train using your program on days they don't meet you. It is good in the short-term; however, if you plan to grow your business in the future, it may be worth checking out schedulers specifically designed to help you with this. Some examples are Omnify, MindBody, and Wellnessliving.
7. Find a mentor.
Many companies, including Fit for Birth, offer online business mentorship programs to support you through the transition.
Most importantly, don’t panic, we’re all in the same boat here. People will be looking for ways to fill the gap of their canceled in-person sessions and thankfully, many of us have the tools to move our business online. While it might seem overwhelming at first, in the end, you might just find a way to increase your revenue overall.
