Covid, it seems has come and gone but it does not mean that things are back to as they were before the pandemic. Long lasting habits have been formed and the world we live in now, has definitely evolved.
Let’s go through a few of the trends that fitness businesses need to be mindful of, especially as we think of what’s in store for the future.
Wearable technology
Wearable technology has been around for quite some time but of late more companies are coming out and trying to make a dent into the space. Fitness devices like the Oura Ring (https://ouraring.com/) have entered the market to go up against devices like fitbit as well Apple and Samsung, with each having its own selling points.
For the fitness sector, fitness trackers sure have had an impact but so far the general trend is that people still do not know how to use the data that is provided by these devices.
Amongst not knowing what to do with the data, each of these devices shows different data (for example, updates in the number of steps and calories spent walking/exercising). Fitness businesses that work with clients who have access to different devices need to be mindful of how to absorb information from these types of devices and decide how to plan out activities and report on progress.
One thing fitness businesses should be mindful of is that these devices do not promote clients to be more active as they do not hold people accountable.
Turnfitter thought: There is going to be an advancement in bio-sensors in the, an example could be tags attached to skin to track everything fitness trackers do but also help work with other vitals that affect one’s health.
Adapting to home gyms
Lockdown caused people to begin working from home more. But, that was not all that people like doing from home now.
More and more people now like to work out from home more and have bought equipment or built out home fitnesses.
Rather than this being a hindrance, fitness trainers should be adapting to this change and welcome the change in attitudes.
Marketing automation
Time is of the essence – and you need to be able to automate the mundane tasks, as much as possible, to give you time to concentrate on the things that will help you to grow and manage your business.
There are tools that will allow fitness businesses to sign up clients automatically and organize the tasks that help them run a seamless business.
Online Live and On Demand Exercises
Working from home, people have become much more tactful in the manner in which they work out. If you are reading this in 2022, the chances are that fuel prices are still high so people are really trying to figure out the best manner in which to optimize their outgoings.
To adjust to this new trend, think about providing content on demand in a crisp manner so that users are able to consume your content and plans in a way that is easy for them.
Rewarding your clients
We have all come across the carrot and stick theory when it comes to motivating people. The difficulty that health and wellness companies have is that some people expect quick results when joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer. After 2-3 weeks when they don’t see a six pack or visible changes clients tend to get de-motivated and begin to steer away from the path that will help them achieve their goals.
Going forward, it’s important to set up a system that rewards your clients with smaller steps. Achieving smaller milestones is important, but unless they get a reward they will lose motivation. Simply put – a reward is likely to get them motivated so that they are continuously engaged.
The fitness market is broken and if you have a great reward system – you already are in the top 5% of companies. Think about how good it feels when you go to your favorite chain and an item is rewarded to you free of charge.
Going forward, unless you build rewards into your system, you will continuously suffer from the loss of clients or clients who simply do not renew.