Starting a fitness business can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but it can also be challenging.
Pivoting online may be an excellent solution because, in recent years, more and more people are welcoming the idea of receiving online training. There are also many benefits to working in the fitness industry, including being able to manage your own schedule and meet lots of cool people. Additionally, taking your fitness business online allows you to work flexible hours, reduce overhead costs, and access a wider audience.
In this post, we will explore how to take your fitness business online in 8 simple steps.
How to start a fitness business online
1. Define your audience
Who do you want to reach with your online fitness business? Are you targeting busy professionals, athletes, seniors, or stay-at-home moms? If you own an offline business, you may keep targeting the same people, leveraging your experience, reputation and results.
Alternatively, you may be keen to widen your reach and explore other market segments. The important thing is to pick a niche as early as possible so you can streamline your marketing.
2. Choose a platform
Several platforms are available for hosting online fitness classes, such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and more.
There’s also a lot of merit in hosting on YouTube live. For one, it’s very stable and allows you to schedule Livestream events without hassle. You can also launch a fitness YouTube channel to share simple fitness tips.
A fitness YouTube channel` will allow you to grow your audience even more and eventually onboard them as training clients.
Another option is premium streaming services that offer additional perks like 360° & VR Experience, streaming encryption, live to VOD, and so much more.
Some of these include:
VPlayedContus VPlayZypeMuviBrightcoveEach of these has its merits, and you should consider them carefully because they can impact the success of your business down the road.
Some other factors you might want to consider include cost, ease of use, and available features.
3. Create a schedule
Determine how often you want to offer online classes and at what times. This will help you create a consistent schedule for your clients and make it easier for them to plan their workouts.
Ideally, you should also figure this out before going online so your clients can find convenient times on your calendar.
You can also leverage your experience offline to find times that work best for your clients. If you’re used to working with stay-at-home moms, you already know to create time after school starts and before it ends.
It’s also important to build some flexibility into your schedule, especially if you plan to attract a new audience segment.
4. Promote your business
Use social media, email marketing, and other online channels to promote your online fitness classes. It’s always a good idea to start with people who already know who you are and what you do.
Tell them about the types of classes you offer, the schedule, and how to sign up. Also, don’t forget to reach out to all the clients who said they needed online classes. This is the time to bring them in and close the deal.
5. Offer a free trial
You’ll need to expect resistance, especially from people who have never heard about you. One helpful way around this is to offer free trials to these new clients.
You can also encourage your current clients to spread the word about your free trial; that will give even more people a chance to see the value of your classes and help you build a solid client base.
6. Create a pricing structure
Your online training pricing will most likely differ from in-person sessions. You have to decide how you want to charge for your online fitness classes.
Great options include a single-class rate, a monthly or yearly subscription, or a pay-per-view model. Before settling on a figure, consider the value you are providing and what will be most appealing to your target audience.
7. Engage with your clients
Encourage interaction and engagement during your online fitness classes by asking for feedback and answering questions. This will help create a sense of community and build loyalty among your clients.
You can also engage after the class through email newsletters, Facebook groups, and even text messages. Offering post-class support can further strengthen your relationship with your clients, which can be invaluable in the long run.
8. Continuously improve
As with any business, it’s essential to assess and improve your online fitness offerings continually. Pay attention to client feedback and make changes as needed to ensure that you meet their needs and provide a high-quality service.
Doing this will increase your client retention rate, customer lifetime value, and overall success of your business.
The bottom line
Following these 8 steps ensures you can successfully launch and grow your online fitness business. It’s important to remember that this process may take time; building up a client base is no small task.
However, with dedication and a willingness to continuously improve and adapt, you can create a successful and rewarding online fitness business.
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