It feels like you are starting all over again with your business. Maybe you’ve recently gotten the green light to re-open, or you’ve been open for a while but are now seeing some increase in attendance.

In the ever-evolving fitness industry, creating a positive experience for your clients goes beyond physical fitness; it's about building relationships and fostering a supportive community. It's more than just providing great classes or top of the line equipment. It's the little things that count here and you'll want to evaluate every nook and cranny of your business' physical space, as well as how your clients are treated by staff.

Many studios are offering virtual classes, courses, and on-demand libraries right now, and these can provide a lot of opportunities for your fitness business. But with so much online “noise” how can you make your offerings stand out? Here are some ideas I’ve used with my own clients and in my own studio to help you stand out.

The time has come for many, and many are still preparing….to reopen your studio! So much thought and planning has to go into this process. Our studios, schedules, policies, instructors, and classes will not be the same as they were pre-Covid.

Now What's Next?

We are in the middle of this now. For some studios, things have settled into a new normal with virtual classes and keeping in touch with clients with lots of emails and social media. For others things are still a little chaotic getting into that new routine but maybe almost there.

Fitness studios and gyms are closed in most areas due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Many have moved their classes online to keep their audiences engaged, and to keep generating revenue during this period.

We are all experiencing big changes right now and sometimes it’s difficult to make business decisions while navigating all this new territory. Many states have issued mandates for gyms, yoga studios and fitness studios to close their doors, and those that haven’t yet are preparing for this.

Did you know that new clients make a decision about your business within 1/12th of a second of landing on your homepage?

Introductory offers are a great way to draw people into your studio, and allow them to try what you have to offer. They allow clients to create a new habit at your studio while allowing your staff time to create a connection with them.

Sales process? But I’m not a salesperson – I’m a yoga instructor! One of the best ways a yoga or fitness studio can grow their bottom line and increase client retention is to have a formal and refined sales process in place. Many studios don’t have a sales process in place because owners, instructors and teachers don’t see themselves as salespeople. Think of the sales process not as sales, but rather educating or informing the client of the pricing options available to them. New clients are often overwhelmed with a new studio or workout routine. The formal sales process is your opportunity to show them what their options are, and along with a strategic pricing structure you can help them to choose the pricing option that works best for the client.