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Moving a bricks and mortar business exclusively online is essentially like establishing a new business from scratch, something millions of boutique studio owners and fitness professionals across the country and around the world had to do in a matter of weeks in early March.
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While obtaining continuing education is required to keep our certifications current, it is not just something we “have to do” to get that updated certificate. Continuing education is vital to us meeting our commitment to our clients…and to ourselves
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As people return to some semblance of normalcy, they’re going to want your expertise and guidance. In the first installment of this two-part article, we’ll dive into three skill categories that are a must when you’re contemplating starting your own business. After you’ve identified where you’re solid and where you need a little extra support, we’ll review options for filling in the gaps.
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Whether you’re an independent contractor, you’re employed by a big-box gym or you own a fitness studio, you shouldn’t wait to start saving, even during trying times. And with financial goals, as with fitness ones, the key is to make small habit changes over time and, of course, have plenty of patience.
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Corporate wellness programs have existed for decades, yet many fitness professionals aren’t aware of the corporate fitness sector as a viable career option. Though corporate wellness is similar to commercial fitness, they differ in a few key ways. In this two-part series, we’ll examine the five most significant differences and look at skills you need to succeed in the corporate environment.
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Whether working independently or as part of a team, video content is one of the most effective ways to communicate with existing and potential clients and is an excellent way to enhance knowledge (continuing education, anyone?). You can use video to advertise services, as well as create passive revenue streams, such as on-the-go workout…
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There are certain initiatives we can all take—from marketing campaigns to online classes—to stay engaged with customers and continue to bring in potential clients even if they can’t meet with us face-to-face. Coronavirus may have closed our doors, but it doesn’t mean our businesses have to close. With the help of our fellow fitness businesses, we’ve compiled a variety of ways to keep our members connected and revenue coming in.
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The coronavirus (or COVID-19) has upended our lives. During this trying and unsettling time, community is more important than ever. How can you stay connected with your clients and keep up the sense of camaraderie you’ve worked so hard to create? A great way is to post prerecorded workout videos or live stream your fitness classes.
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In case you have not followed news of the Payment Protection Program and the federal loan dollars available to fitness business owners, contractors and self-employed professionals, the following information is essential to understand and act upon immediately.
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The fitness industry—like the rest of the global community—has been transformed in previously unimaginable ways since the COVID-19 crisis upended every bit of structure and normalcy we once knew.
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About 6 years ago, San Diego–based personal trainer Kevin Root opted not to attend the IDEA World Convention. As a newly certified professional, he felt the event could overwhelm him with information. It’s a choice he regrets.
“Looking back, I robbed myself of valuable hands-on experience and knowledge,” he admits.
Root, who splits his time between boutique studio Bird Rock Fit and a big-box gym, the La Jolla Sports Club, eventually decided that IDEA World was a necessary investment to progress his career. He attended for the first time in 2015.
“There is no other experience like attending IDEA® World,” says Elizabeth Lenart. “I remember the first World I ever attended. It was like Christmas morning created just for fitness lovers! The presenters made us all feel special. They uplifted me at a time when I needed it most. That’s when I decided I needed to find a way to pay it forward.”
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A primary reason fitness professionals are drawn to IDEA is for our gold-standard educational content. IDEAfit.com is constantly abuzz with pros researching the latest evidence-based and most practical health, exercise, nutrition, behavior change and business information available in the trade. Members share their best practices and advice within IDEA Answers and strengthen their body of knowledge by accessing the dynamic news unfolding on the site daily.
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Whenever you complete the smooth process of taking an IDEA course for CECs, you’ll want to spare some credit for Linda Morreale. As IDEA’s educational products manager, Linda works with a long list of certifi cation agencies—each with different rules and procedures—to ensure that our content is CEC-approved and ready to enhance your profession. Linda…
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Jack Welch, American businessman and former CEO of General Electric, once said, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” This is the reason the IDEA World Convention exists—to bring together some of the brightest people in the fitness industry so they can grow into greatness and inspire that growth in clients, students, athletes, co-workers and staff.
Comprising more than 330 sessions led by top coaches, entrepreneurs, and fitness, nutrition and wellness professionals, IDEA World offers the full spectrum of education you are seeking for instant and ongoing career growth, regardless of your position in the industry.
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Automation is the key to efficiency and consistency—especially when it comes to marketing. Yes, you are better off sending some emails and texts as one-off campaigns (think monthly newsletters, event announcements, and schedule updates), but you can—and should—automate most of your day-to-day marketing communications. The good news is Mindbody Marketing Suite helps you do both; easily build customized campaigns and send targeted automations to prospective and existing clients.
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What is the role of a fitness professional? Is it to lead clients and class participants through a workout, or is it to teach and empower them so they are ultimately able to exercise without the direct supervision of a professional? Over the past few years, the fitness industry has experienced explosive growth in…
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If you’re a gym owner, the thought of opening a second facility may eventually float through your mind. After all, only so many clients can fit in a single space before it starts bursting at the seams. While it might be enticing to open another shop elsewhere, there’s no guarantee the new venture will be a success. Launching and growing a first gym is risky enough—in the United States, 50% of new businesses are likely to fail within the first 5 years, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (SBA 2012). Success and survival rates for second locations are less clear, but many experts suggest that the risk of failure is even higher. However, if you do your research, understand the risks and make smart decisions, a second studio might be a viable option. Consider these important points before breaking new ground.
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To be “well” means seeking a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. Wellness is a lifelong effort, and fitness is a part of the quest. There are multiple dimensions of wellness—including physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, social, and occupational. It turns out that when you work out, you’re not only boosting your physical wellness but other dimensions as well. As part of the Mindbody Wellness Index, we asked more than 20,000 Americans from 50 major U.S. cities about their fitness habits. We learned which cities are most dedicated to fitness, how often they’re getting their sweat on, and what forms of exercise they want to try next.
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Has your business experienced faster staff turnover than you’d like? Are you about to hire new staff? Do you want your fitness pros to remain loyal to your facility? You can beat the high-turnover odds in the fitness industry. The key is to find qualified pros who fit your business and then set them up for success, giving them specific training for their positions and clearly communicating your expectations. Consider the hiring and onboarding system I’ve developed over the past 8 years of running my own business.
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IDEA Fitness Journal
Current Issue:
December 2019
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