Larry King, the founder and CEO at ShapeNet Software, shares eight aspects to look for when using software that can help you achieve your business aspirations.
The success of any fitness business takes a lot of hard work. The gyms that can leverage technology effectively increase the probability of their business becoming a success story. Here are eight things to look for in software that can help you achieve your goals.
Gamification: Points, rewards, achievement notifications, leaderboards, contests. All of these will contribute toward engaging your members, which equals more spending and improved retention. It will also make going to the gym fun and exciting for your members.
Video Services: Offering video workouts to members can help your business in multiple ways. Members can follow workouts from their phone on different cardio machines. Set up an on-demand area for a member to attend a class. Include videos as part of a training program. Include them as part of a membership. Offer this service to someone who cannot go to your gym. And offer your videos and/or live stream classes.
Texting: This is the most effective way to communicate with people — 90% open rate versus 10% from an email. Set up appointment reminders. Create auto texts every month that include pricing specials or health tips. Set up drip campaigns after a member initially signs up. For example: Day One thank them for joining, Day Two offer a discount on a service, Day Three remind them of a service you offer, etc.
Member Mobile App: This will help to brand your business by putting your logo in the app stores. Let members manage their account info, check-in, purchase services or products, and register for PT and classes.
Door Access: Members can enter your facility using key tags, phones or a face recognition scan. Access is denied if they owe money. Members can access the app to pay their balance to get access. Door access makes it more effective to track check-ins and facility usage. Lock down other areas such as a pool or tanning room. Access is only allowed based on membership purchased. This will help you easily monetize those areas.
Upsell Screens: Typically, many employees are not good at sales. Look for software that provides the ability to offer other upgrade choices on the checkout screen. Let the software do the selling.
Auto Billing: If a member purchases a membership on the 10th, look for software that can auto bill every 10th of the month.
Customization: It’s always great to be able to have the ability to discuss with your software vendor a potential function or report that could have a big impact on your business or the fitness industry.
If your fitness business has software that can provide all of the above, you will substantially increase the probability of your gym becoming a long-lasting success story. If not, you will need your staff to manually manage some of these things which leads to higher employee costs and more human error.
