Today’s health crisis is forcing gyms, personal trainers and wellness professionals to re-think their in-person experience, and many are looking for ways to stay connected with clients when they can’t make it in person.
Even in good times, most people can’t make it to the gym every day. They may be traveling for work, have children home from school, or they’re on vacation. So, you need to find ways to stay connected with your PT clients no matter where they are.
These are the challenges that my clients operating in the fitness industry have approached me with these past few months:
- What can we do to keep clients engaged when they can’t make it in person?
- How can we keep a group class experience when clients can’t meet in person?
- What steps can we take to keep gym clients active and acquire new clients?
- What additional value can we provide to clients?
Streaming Classes Online
The best way to stay connected with clients when they can’t make it in person is to stream your training sessions or classes live online or offer them on-demand.
Keep the “Group” in “Group Fitness” Online
Every PT knows the power of group classes. Part of what makes group classes so effective is the energy and enthusiasm of the people in the class. There’s accountability and motivation built-in during group classes in person, but many online platforms don’t leverage this social effect.
Watching one-directional videos online doesn’t have a social energy. Technology has evolved beyond that.
Keep your clients connected to their friends, family, and other gym clients by giving them access to your videos using platforms like Zoom – where they can see and hear each other in real-time while taking live-streamed and on-demand classes.
Assigning “Homework” To Your Clients
Your clients don’t live at your gym, even under normal circumstances, and many are looking for additional exercises and training tips they can follow outside of the gym. Use an online platform to develop a program people can follow when they’re traveling, or between in person visits.
Connecting people with other helpful content can help them feel like you’re there to help them no matter what, so even if you’re a functional training coach but you think your client could use some stretching or yoga classes on their off-days, they’ll appreciate your recommendation even more.
Leverage Your Online Presence
Your website and social media accounts are great places to maintain connection with your clients. You can post news and updates, provide recommendations, and encourage clients to stay healthy.
Share tips and best practices for your PT clients on these channels. Let them know new classes available online for them right then and there. That will keep you in the front of their mind, even when they’re not in front of you.
Communicate Directly with Your Clients
Whether it’s through email, text, or individual phone calls, you should stay in touch with your clients and let them know you care about their health and wellness and are still there to support them
Client loyalty is as much about the tiny touch-points you provide as it is about the quality of your gym equipment or instruction technique. You could send them articles about how to stay healthy at home, record a quick video message, or just share something light-hearted or motivational.
Also remember, only 15% of the population are clients of gyms and studios, and 80% of the population doesn’t get the recommended levels of exercise. All of those people – who are the friends, and friends of friends of your clients – could use your help. You just need a powerful online presence to reach and inspire them.
