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March 15, 2023

New Year, New You: How to Engage Your Members and Prospects Virtually During the “New Years Resolution” Rush

When January rolls around each year, most folks are excited by the prospect of hitting the reset button. January serves up an opportunity for us to let go of any negativity from the past 365 days. But this January, the desire for a reset, for a fresh start, might be more potent than ever. This has been one of the most challenging years of our lives, and we’ll do anything it takes not to have a repeat of 2020. The question is, studio owners: Do you have a plan in place to keep everyone engaged during the biggest, most important time of the year in the fitness industry? 

When January rolls around each year, most folks are excited by the prospect of hitting the reset button. January serves up an opportunity for us to let go of any negativity from the past 365 days. 

But this January, the desire for a reset, for a fresh start, might be more potent than ever. This has been one of the most challenging years of our lives, and we’ll do anything it takes not to have a repeat of 2020. 

The question is, studio owners: Do you have a plan in place to keep everyone engaged during the biggest, most important time of the year in the fitness industry? 

To us, the answer is simple: Create a virtual challenge that will not only help your participants make the lifestyle changes they desire, but give them some much-needed socialization and support. 

We’ve got some great ideas on how to capitalize on your members’ and prospects’ desire to start fresh. Let today be the day you start your plan. 

A Virtual Community 

A challenge done entirely (or mostly) virtual poses a difficult question: How do you keep everyone excited and engaged when your challenge members and trainers are remote? 

We’ve got a few solutions: 

  1. Start a Virtual Support Group 

There are many platforms that allow a community to thrive in a virtual world. You no longer need to meet in person to feel connected. Start a Facebook Group, a Discord Group, or a Slack Group for your 2021 Challenge. The key: The leader(s) must be very active in the group. You’ve got to post great content, share stories, celebrate small wins, ask great questions. Five posts per day is the minimum

  1. Perform Weekly Check-ins 

Schedule a weekly one-on-one with each participant. It’s easy to fall off the challenge wagon—and it’s even easier to fall off the virtual challenge wagon! Keep your participants engaged by checking in with each member at least once a week. And they’ll love the socialization and accountability that these check-ins provide. 

  1. Keep it Interesting

It seems like every studio in the world does a January Challenge of some kind. What makes your studio’s challenge different? Take this opportunity to get creative and build a challenge that no one has ever seen before. Recruit your staff to come up with great ideas. Everyone’s tired of the same old “Weight Loss Challenge” crap. Make it interesting! 

A Sample to get You Started 

Here’s a sample of what a virtual challenge might look like. Let this help you start creating your studio’s own unique challenge. And feel free to take any ideas you like! 

2020 kicked our asses. If you’re ready to feel better, look better, and be better in the New Year, join our Fresh Start Challenge. Our goal is to help you change some of your most important daily habits so you can start feeling energized and confident again. 

During the six week challenge, you’ll: 

The Fresh Start challenge is designed to be done from the safety and comfort of your home. But this will not be a lonely endeavor. You’ll have weekly check-ins with a trainer to help you stay on track and hold you accountable. And you’ll have the support and encouragement of the other challenge members (via our super-cool Slack group!) to keep you motivated and engaged. 

Hit reply for details on dates and pricing. 

And cheers to a Fresh Start! 

Enlist Your Studio’s Tech

You’ve likely got technology on your side to help you manage your 2021 virtual challenge—so use it! Reach out to your studio’s software team and ask them what features are available to you that can help make your challenge easier and more manageable. 

Here at Mariana Tek, for example, we offer our studio owners a product that allows them to create custom class packages, leverage our best-in-class app to display class counts and milestones, and show in-app promotional banners to everyone who opens your app. 

And if you’ve got BrandBot, you have full access to the campaign builder, livestream manager, two-way SMS for reminders, and personalized check-ins. These features will make the operations side of your virtual challenge easy breezy. 

PS—If your studio’s software doesn’t have the capabilities to make your life easier, book a complimentary demo with us today! It’s more fun over here, too. :-) 

We’re all ready for a fresh start. Make sure your studio’s ready to deliver an engaging, exciting, and interesting virtual challenge in 2021. 

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