3 min
In this webinar, you get to hear Rike Aprea share top client engagement strategies for gyms and personal trainers. You will also get to hear Rike’s advice on how to thrive in a crisis, how to increase cash flow through upselling, and why it’s important to build strong client relationships and foster loyalty in your business.
Rike Aprea has always been passionate about fitness and became a certified personal trainer at the age of 18. She left a successful corporate career and managed to successfully turn her passion into a thriving personal training business.
Rike is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Behavior Change Specialist, fitness consultant, and nutritionist who enjoys helping her clients with corrective exercise, strategic fitness, and sports conditioning.
Here are the key takeaways from the conversation:
You Can Thrive in Any Crisis
“If there’s a problem, you can thrive or you can die, but mostly it’s a chance to thrive.”
- Rike Aprea
The COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact on gyms and fitness clubs — and not in a good way. With lockdowns and social distance requirements, many fitness businesses were driven to bankruptcy while many others are hanging on by a thread. Many personal trainers have been laid off and lost all their income.
But not everyone is suffering.
“21% of (personal) trainers said they made more money during the pandemic, or at least the same… especially the (personal) trainers that train online make significantly more money.”
- Rike Aprea
Personal trainers who were doing their training online were able to continue working with their clients. In fact, a significant number of personal trainers reported that they made more money during the pandemic. Also, those trainers that reacted fast and took their training classes online were able to retain most of their earnings.
So, every crisis is an opportunity to reinvent and stand out from the crowd. It’s a chance to thrive
The Value of Customer Loyalty and Engagement
Customer retention is critical to the success of your fitness business. The value of customer loyalty cannot be overstated. Loyal customers are not only more likely to buy more of your services, but also refer new clients to your business. They become your brand ambassadors.
But how do you build lasting relationships and foster customer loyalty in the fitness industry?
You can create an app, branded apparel, or even a loyalty card — something that your clients can carry around. This gives them a sense of pride and even ‘bragging rights’ to their friends.
“If you have a customer that’s happy, it’s not only a returning customer; it’s somebody that will become a referring customer. They will be not only loyal; they will brand ambassadors for you.”
- Rike Aprea
Also, increase engagement and contact points with your customers. Send regular emails or text messages, create personalized fitness plans and take time to discuss them with your clients — use every opportunity to engage with your clients and build great relationships with them.
Up-selling and Cross-selling – Saviors of Your Cash Flow?
Your existing customers present are a great opportunity to sell more. Think of them as low lying fruits.
You can increase sales by either selling higher-priced services to your existing customers (up-selling) or by selling them additional services that help them achieve their goals (cross-selling).
Follow Rike Aprea on Medium , Instagram , and LinkedIn or you can visit the Rike Fit website for more insights on fitness, nutrition, and business.
Visit our podcast page or our webinar page for the latest fitness industry news and more insights from successful fitness entrepreneurs or influencers.
