So you call yourself a modern fitness business, up to speed with the latest fitness trends? Great! So you’ve got a mobile app for your business? Huh..no?
Here are the five reasons why your gym or studio needs a mobile app.
1.Streamline Communication with Members
Studies show that adults are spending approximately 2.8 hours per day on their mobile device. This stat is bursting with opportunities for gym and studio owners who want to take communication with members to the next level! Are you sick of hearing members say they didn’t get the message? Do you want to be able to connect with your members anytime, anywhere? Then mobile is where you need to be. Class updates, timetable changes – you can send them all directly to the homescreen of your member’s smartphone when you have a mobile app, as opposed to emails which may go straight into their junk mail!
“People spend so much time on their phone, it just makes sense to have a mobile app, where they can book & pay for services in a few taps. In this day and age, it’s simply a must.”
PAUL DREW | CO OWNER, MANAGER, SENIOR COACH ORIGIN FITNESS
2. Drive Bookings & Membership Sales
Do you spend countless hours each day managing member bookings and collecting payments? What if your members could self service through your very own mobile app? When you have a branded mobile app for your gym or studio, your members don’t have to call, email or text to book into a class or renew their membership, saving you time in your busy day.
With your very own app, your members are only one click away from their next booking. The less clicks a member has to make to complete their booking, the less likely they are to drop off before confirming a payment.
Essentially, the easier you make it for a member to purchase your services, the more likely they are to do it again and become a loyal customer down the line.
3.Stand Out from the Competition
A custom branded app can give you that important edge over rival gyms/studios and really impress prospective members. How? Your app gives you the opportunity to offer members more value for their custom. In particular, more value than your competitors have offered them.
What you really want to do is create an app that has features your customers will love, while at the same time being uniquely designed to the brand you’ve worked hard to create. You can give your members the flexibility they need to book and pay for classes, courses, appointments and even memberships when it’s most convenient for them.
In such an overcrowded marketplace where studios are popping up on every street corner, this advantage could be just what you need to step ahead of the competition.
4. Create a Direct Marketing Channel
Have you been searching for a better way to promote your business to members and prospective members alike? Once a user downloads your app, they essentially carry it around with them every single day. That’s right, you’ve just created your very own direct marketing channel!
All the information you wish to provide to members and first timers, such as price lists and schedules are right at their fingertips. You can literally create new opportunities and upsells from the palm of your hand.
When combined with targeted push notifications sent directly from your app, you have the ability to encourage users to take action (whether that be to book in for a class, purchase a course or membership or simply view a blog post) in real time.
5. Make It Easier to Retain Members
Member retention can be a touchy subject. You’ve just spent weeks, even months building what you thought was a great relationship with a member, and they leave for a ‘better’ offer up the road. Something is missing in this statement – value.
If your members are not valuing your service at the level you hoped, you must focus on identifying opportunities to increase this value. We’re not talking about reducing your prices. Competing on price alone is a sure race to the bottom. We’re talking about creating value adding benefits to your service, that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
How can you do this? You guessed it, through your branded mobile app. Your app gives your members a really unique way to interact and engage with your business. Depending on the provider you opt for, your app can have multiple features that encourage your members to stay committed to their fitness journey, with your gym or studio.
For Example:
All Glofox apps have a Newsfeed feature where gym and studio owners can add valuable content for their members, such as blog posts, training videos, nutrition tips and general updates. That’s right, your members can get their daily fix of fitness inspo, directly from your branded app!
You can send your members push notifications when a new piece of content is added to the newsfeed, encouraging them to check it out. By keeping your members engaged through your app, they’re more likely to become loyal to your business.
