4 Ways to Prepare Your Fitness Studio for the New Year

We’re just a few short weeks away from 2022 and the time of year that’s notorious for inspiring folks to make fitness a priority in their lives once again. The dawning of a new year spells opportunity for fitness businesses to draw in new clients and reconnect with existing ones—and now is the time to start preparing.

So, how can you make sure your fitness studio is ready for the new year? Here are some tips to make your life easier come January and the rest of the year.

1. Attract clients with an intro offer

An intro offer is any kind of promotion given to new clients the first time they purchase a class at your fitness business—and January is the perfect time to start creating enticing intro offers to get new clients to check out the classes at your fitness studio. These offers encourage new clients to step foot in your studio by helping them get over any fears of committing to a long-term membership—they can also provide great value to a current client who may be on the fence about trying a new type of class at your studio. 

Need help crafting the perfect intro offer for your fitness studio? Check out these tips.

In the new year (and all year long), we want to enable your clients and prospects to easily book classes at your fitness business, so you can get back to what you love doing—providing an exceptional experience at your studio.

This is precisely why now is the perfect time to list your fitness business in the Mindbody app and start promoting your classes with Promoted Intro Offers. Promoting your intro offers can help your business attract new clients by displaying your offers in the “Intro Deals” section of the Mindbody app home screen to advertise your special packages to new customers and turn them into loyal clients.

Here’s how it works:

Any new or existing pricing options that you sell online and mark as an introductory offer will be promoted and featured front and center on the app at the top of the screen. The best parts about Promoted Intro Offers are that it’s easy and free to opt-in—you’ll only pay if a client books a class at your business. The fees are performance-based, which means it will cost you nothing if it doesn't produce results.

Here’s how to get started:

To start promoting your intro offers, be sure to opt into "Promoted Intro Offers" through the Marketing screen in your fitness software. To learn more about how to get started with Mindbody Promote, here’s a support article where you can find more information.

2. Equip your studio with a branded mobile app 

A unique branded mobile app is the perfect way to stay connected with your members—both current and new—wherever they are. A branded app will also help increase brand awareness and build loyalty within your fitness business.

With a branded app, your members can book, pay for, and keep track of classes all on their mobile devices. Plus, your team can send push notifications to highlight deals and events as well as automatic “we miss you” messages and class cancellation notices.

Using Mindbody’s Virtual Wellness Platform to host your on-demand videos? With a branded mobile app, clients can easily access your on-demand workouts whenever and wherever is most convenient.

3. Retain your new customers

Before the rush, set up your automated marketing solution to ensure you retain new customers with ease. Automated marketing allows you to create smart lists that will automatically reach out to customers to convert them, keep them engaged, or win them back, based on whatever criteria you choose. You’ll be able to seamlessly, and personally, engage clients—without ongoing effort on your part.

Worried some customers will drop-off a few months after the new year? No problem. Simply remind clients to book again by sending personalized text messages and emails, taking away all barriers to re-book. You can also use your automated marketing solution to upsell packages and memberships to the right clients at the right time.

Get your automated marketing set up now. Your future self—and customers—will thank you.

4. Optimize your online scheduling

The easier it is for your clients to book their classes, the more likely they are to stick to their resolution of getting fit. With Branded Web widgets, you can utilize your Facebook page and website to embed your class and event schedule. New and loyal clients alike can use this feature to register for classes directly from Facebook or without even leaving your site. Branded Web is included with all Mindbody subscriptions!

Now’s the time to start prepping your business for the resolution rush. There’s plenty of opportunity waiting for your fitness studio—especially during this time of year. By using these tips outlined above, you’re well on your way to growing your fitness community and increasing revenue in 2022.