fitSpot Guru
fitSpot Guru is your weekly guide to mastering fitDEGREE! Each week our team will take on topics related to our software provided by our clients or our internal team. The goal is to leave the episode with a greater understanding of fitDEGREE and how it can be used to optimize your business! Got a question or a suggestion? Email us at [email protected]!
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Episode 257: The Power of Taking Breaks: How Taking Strategic Breaks Can Benefit Studio Owners
10/03/2024
Episode 257: The Power of Taking Breaks: How Taking Strategic Breaks Can Benefit Studio Owners
What We Cover In This Episode: “Nick’s Nuggets” and the big reasons why it’s so important to be taking breaks [0:59] Actionable tactics you can use to ensure taking your next break is a smooth operation for your clients as well as for you [6:57] The benefits of taking a “one step backwards, two step forwards” type of approach with taking breaks [9:59] A sneak peek at next week’s topic and how you can get more insights from us [12:31] Quotes: “If you take breaks, you’re preventing that quitting and you’re avoiding that burnout on yourself, because the goal is to be in some kind of flow state where you feel optimized, you feel creative and you feel energized.” [Nick, 1:21] “Try to get a calendar out there. Something we did for fitDEGREE, because we decided to take off federal holidays this year, is that in the beginning of the year we announced we’re taking off federal holidays.” [Nick, 7:28] “There are plenty of reasons to take breaks from the studio business of classes, just to make sure you’re taking some kind of one step backwards, two steps forward approach.” [Nick, 9:59] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
/episode/index/show/fitdegreepodcast/id/33232042
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Episode 256: See You Later!
08/01/2024
Episode 256: See You Later!
What We Cover In This Episode: How we’re feeling right now and why it’s been a bit of a “love/hate relationship” with the podcast [0:56] The ways in which fitSpot Guru is going to get a little TLC while we go on a bit of a hiatus [1:38] The potential for a second podcast, what you can expect and how it’ll be different [2:39] What won’t be changing with what we do [5:38] How you can stay up to date with all of our plans and provide your feedback in this process [6:33] Quotes: “At least the podcast aspect of our weekly load shouldn’t feel like work. It should be fun, the energy should come through, and it’s just been feeling like a slug lately.” [Nick, 1:09] “We’re looking to not only give you education, facts, work and tasks to do, but then also break it up with a little bit of fun.” [Megan, 4:21] “We’re just trying to keep it light and keep podcasting fun, because [when you’re] having conversations every week and if they’re not engaging, you don’t hang out with someone anymore if it’s not fun.” [Nick, 5:24] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 255: Essential Crisis Management Strategies for Boutique Fitness Studios
07/25/2024
Episode 255: Essential Crisis Management Strategies for Boutique Fitness Studios
What We Cover In This Episode: An update on the total value of the wellness market right now and the shift that’s happening towards holistic health [1:02] The importance of having a crisis plan in place and the types of the scenarios you should be prepared for [4:08] How to properly prepare for a crisis, based on the “scale of fires” [10:30] A few key considerations when building plans for the financial type of a crisis [18:02] What to be aware of when recovering from a crisis and the way in which proper documentation of incidents will aid in this process [23:19] Quotes: “What happens if someone gets a cut? What happens if you need to call the police, or the fire [department]? What are your protocols? I think it’s important because in crazy scenarios, people panic unless they have a plan.” [Megan, 5:35] “Insurance is something you should be doing in general, but it’s the things that are out of your control that you want to move into your control as much as possible.” [Megan, 7:27] “All of these things, you want to make sure you’re doing to the letter. You have to react perfectly, because you have a lot of liability in this type of business and you need to be very safe.” [Megan, 21:32] LINKS: , , Do! App ( & ) Don’t Break the Chain App ( & ) fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 254: Developing Financial Fitness: Building Budgets, Making Projections, and Understanding ROI for Boutique Fitness Studios
07/18/2024
Episode 254: Developing Financial Fitness: Building Budgets, Making Projections, and Understanding ROI for Boutique Fitness Studios
What We Cover In This Episode: The ways that people are searching for a financial wellness on an individual level [0:51] What to consider about cash flow management and it’s role in a business’s success [3:57] Where to start with budgeting operational costs and streamlining your financial model [8:18] How to approach funding an expansion [14:57] Our advice for steering clear of making emotional decisions [18:53] Some ways people can optimize cost, without compromising quality [21:02] A look at Nick’s journey to becoming a business owner [29:08] Our weekly “Fit Favorites” and what is in YOUR gym bag? [32:41] Quotes: “The only way the business goes out of business is if you run out of money, so be obsessed with your cash flow management. Whether you are good at it or not, whether you like it or not, it’s the most critical thing to your business.” [Nick, 5:16] “Whether you’re just learning, getting started, starting to track a model or forming a budget, you always need to keep profitability in mind because at the end of the day, it's a business and you’re trying to make money.” [Megan, 21:05] “Do not let additional revenue from one service or product fund a different product or service without the controlled research and development phase.” [Nick, 23:43] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 253: It’s More Than Just Fitness: How to Create an Experience That Resonates!
07/11/2024
Episode 253: It’s More Than Just Fitness: How to Create an Experience That Resonates!
What We Cover In This Episode: How to approach defining your unique selling proposition [4:46] What to understand about connecting with your target audience [9:00] Steps to take to build a strong visual and verbal brand identity [13:09] How to leverage social media and digital marketing to its full potential [18:47] What you can do to start creating memorable member experiences [24:51] What the process of measuring and adjusting looks like when building your brand [29:02] Our “Fit Favorites” and an innovative way to make sure you’re drinking enough [30:58] Quotes: “Stick out in a way, and remember that it’s all just fitness to them, So, what’s different past that layer of fitness?” [Nick, 7:36] “When it comes to social media, I think a really important point was building your community, but also engaging with your members. I think if you’re going to have social media, you need to be active on social media, especially in the realm of fitness.” [Megan, 19:50] “There are a lot of creative ways to engage your community. Make it really feel like the second or third home that people say you should make it.” [Nick, 28:45] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 252: Scaling Your Success: The Latest Strategies for Studio Owners Who Want to GROW
07/04/2024
Episode 252: Scaling Your Success: The Latest Strategies for Studio Owners Who Want to GROW
What We Cover In This Episode: What to consider if you’re thinking of expanding beyond your current physical space [7:25] A look at integrating retail products, and whether it is a smart move for you and your boutique fitness studio [12:20] How you can use tech-driven service expansion to facilitate new services for your customers [17:29] Some ways to use cross-promotions and partnerships in order to scale [22:32] What a feasibility analysis is and why we recommend you do one as a studio owner wanting to scale [27:00] Things to consider when making pricing adjustments in your studio [28:06] Our brand new segment “Fit Favorites” and a cool new product for you to check out [29:32] Quotes: “If you were going to sell a product, your positioning, what you put next to each other and how it's presented is very important for your sales. There's a lot of psychology that goes into how you merchandise your space and lay it out.” [Megan, 15:01] “There’s a lot of impact to be had with partnering with other local businesses or even online influencers to expand your reach in general, or maybe even the ability to cross-promote services or even create a new service together.” [Megan, 22:20] “Just really decide what’s going to be in-house, and if it’s not going to be in-house, what is that partnership that you can really be valuable for? Maybe it’s just a discount, maybe it’s a combination of rewards, or maybe it’s also a spot where you can host community events to drive leads to your facility.” [Nick, 23:20] LINKS: & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 251: Optimizing First Visits: Best Practices to Maximize New Client Retention with Seran Glanfield of Spring Three
06/27/2024
Episode 251: Optimizing First Visits: Best Practices to Maximize New Client Retention with Seran Glanfield of Spring Three
What We Cover In This Episode: Examples of ways you can optimize the very first visit by your clients [1:08] What Seran says is the “low-hanging fruit” of building relationships [9:03] Why is the first visit so crucial for retention [12:38] Some of the things that can be done to make the first visit so memorable for the client [17:21] How you can set the stage for optimizing retention by pairing a new client with a seasoned client [21:36] Final tips and effective follow-up techniques to increase the retention rate at your studio [23:38] Quotes: “If you really want to have a solid business, you also have to have an experience that is designed for attention. If you give anyone any excuse to not come back, they are going to take it.” [Seran, 16:58] “When they walk in the studio, they are looking for ‘is this person or is this place going to be the place that I keep coming back to?’” [21:13] “You want to make sure that your pricing aligns with your customer journey, so whatever package you are selling folks on their first visit is already in alignment with a long-term commitment.” [24:50] LINKS: Get Seran’s Free Resource, Her & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 250: Mastering the Customer Experience: Effective Onboarding, Communication, and Feedback Strategies for Boutique Fitness Studios
06/20/2024
Episode 250: Mastering the Customer Experience: Effective Onboarding, Communication, and Feedback Strategies for Boutique Fitness Studios
What We Cover In This Episode: News with Nick and the latest of group fitness builds and mental, emotional and physical well-being [0:36] The importance that having an effective onboarding process will have on your customer’s experience [5:04] Integration partners that can help you communicate with your clients - click their links below to learn more! [10:03] Why you can’t afford to ghost your clients that are responding to your text marketing [12:15] Impactful ways to encourage your membership renewals or purchases [15:27] What to focus on if you are not making conversions [17:07] How to start leverage the social features inside of fitDEGREE if you haven’t already been doing so [19:17] An update on tag-based announcements [22:13] Our final thoughts on gathering feedback [22:59] Quotes: “They can like your class, they can like your studio, they can like the vibe, but if they don't meet a friend, they are just a ticking time bomb until they walk away.” [Nick, 1:31] “So it has to make sense cost-wise. As much as I said it’s about community, they did come to you for a physical reason. The community is kind of like a surprise.” [Nick, 16:03] “There might be some evolutions of the feed coming in the very near future, so the more we train them and get them used to the feed, seeing the feed, interacting with the feed, the feed might start working in your favor the more you start training them, preparing them and getting those interactions boosted in the here and now.” [Megan, 21:13] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 249: Master Your Marketing Messaging with Seran Glanfield of Spring Three
06/13/2024
Episode 249: Master Your Marketing Messaging with Seran Glanfield of Spring Three
What We Cover In This Episode: Seran’s journey from Wall Street to the Pilates studio - and beyond [1:15] How she curated her approach to coaching fitness studios [7:01] Why Seran believes so strongly that success does not have to equal stress [8:36] Some of the main reasons that effective marketing messaging crucial for fitness studios to master [13:50] What the key elements are of strong marketing [16:01] Seran’s advice for how to start differentiating yourself from others in your market [19:14] A final reminder to use marketing strategies that resonate with your audience for best results [28:44] Quotes: “Having an effective marketing message helps you to really connect with your target audience but also to deeply connect and build relationships with your existing and current clients.” [Seran, 15:01] “You want to make sure that you're not looking around you when you’re trying to craft your marketing message too much, and that is another mistake that I see people making, is that they’re pulling from other people.” [Seran, 20:41] “What I want for you as a studio owner is I want your studio to stand out, which means I don't want you to look like everyone else in town. I want you to represent what it is that you do and what you uniquely do, and the way that you uniquely do it.” [Seran, 21:02] LINKS: Get Seran’s Free Resource, Her & Seran's Podcast episodes that are relevant to today’s topic: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 248: What to Know About Summer Survival: Mastering Seasonal Drops and Boosting Studio Engagement
06/06/2024
Episode 248: What to Know About Summer Survival: Mastering Seasonal Drops and Boosting Studio Engagement
What We Cover In This Episode: Why you’ll want to understand, analyze and anticipate the summer drops that occur in our industry [5:28] The need to ensure great communication with everyone about your summer schedules [7:12] How you can use this time to explore flexible membership options [8:51] Ideas for unique summer programs or challenges [11:27] Thoughts on leveraging technology during this slower time [15:25] Ways to engage the community and keep the momentum going in your studio [17:14] The benefits you’ll see from spending less money and reviewing your expenses [19:06] Megan’s recommendation around a solid summer system for vacations [19:57] Quotes: “I also find that summer is a really great time to do low cost, low effort, community building activities.” [Megan, 13:13] “You can think of the summer as one big marketing campaign. You want people to be thinking about you when September comes around, or when the holidays pass.” [14:41] “This is a great time of year to reward and treat your staff. Especially while it is slow, you have so much time to build up those relationships and really empower your staff.” [Megan, 18:51] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 247: Cancellation Policy Q&A
05/30/2024
Episode 247: Cancellation Policy Q&A
What We Cover In This Episode: A look at the current activity in gyms now versus the pre-pandemic levels [0:52] What the primary goal of having a cancellation policies in your studio should be [4:39] The key components you should be considering when creating and implementing your cancellation policies [5:12] How to approach balancing flexibility with clients with the needs of the business [7:35] Some examples of factors that may influence the timeline for early versus late cancellations [9:00] How policies can differ from limited to unlimited item holders and how this will impact client behavior [12:26] Tips for introducing and enforcing the policies in your studio [17:23] The options within fitDEGREE that can help you manage your cancellation policy [19:48] Quotes: “Someone might not make it, they might be in traffic and all of that kind of stuff, but you’re trying to reduce the default behavior of people flaking [out]. It’s going to be emergencies and those are going to happen less often.” [6:46] “If you make the fee so minimal, you're going to make a little bit of money off of it, but in the end you might lose a member who just continuously cancels and doesn’t think twice and then eventually cancels their membership.” [16:20] “Cancellation policies, in my opinion, are not ‘set it and forget it’ kinds of things. They are something that you should be continuously reviewing, resetting and adjusting in order to ensure that your business is running smoothly. So you should be monitoring your cancellation policy and its impact.” [23:36] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 246: Onboarding and Maintaining a Proper Team with Katie Santos of Fitness HR
05/23/2024
Episode 246: Onboarding and Maintaining a Proper Team with Katie Santos of Fitness HR
What We Cover In This Episode: What leadership quality Katie says is the single most crucial one for running a fitness studio [4:08] One of the biggest HR pitfalls that she has seen running a fitness studio with a W2 workforce [5:36] A trend that is brewing in the fitness industry to be aware of as a studio owner [9:09] Katie’s insights for beginning the hiring process with a curated email campaign [12:32] Why role clarity is absolutely crucial for all positions in the studio, those currently filled and unfilled [16:38] Effective techniques for maintaining engagement with your team [20:27] How to tell if new hires are integrating smoothly into the fitness studio culture you have created [23:30] Some frequent mistakes that studio owners are making during the onboarding process [26:44] A reminder that your staff should be treated as a revenue-generating person in your business [29:57] Quotes: “We don’t think of our staff as revenue-generating resources, and most of them are. Even your front desk [staff], they are making calls and booking in, so they are generating revenue for you. They deserve to be managed and cared for like they are revenue-generating just like our clients are.” [Katie, 4:18] “When you start to see a staff member going left when you want them to go right, it’s time to be inquisitive about it.” [Kate, 6:23] “Culture is there, whether you purposely developed or articulated it or not, and it can change over time.” [Katie, 24:21] LINKS: Katie’s & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 245: 10 Key Facts of Digital Marketing
05/16/2024
Episode 245: 10 Key Facts of Digital Marketing
What We Cover In This Episode: News with Nick and a look at how Capitol Hill is “getting fit” [0:54] Why you need to find and lean into your ideal clients in order to have a successful business and a strong community [5:36] The reasons that SEO is crucial for attracting organic traffic [7:12] What happens when you build a content strategy that offers value [8:27] How to approach leveraging the power of social media to create a dynamic presence [9:51] What the ultimate goal of email marketing should be [11:28] Tips for incorporating video tutorials into your digital marketing strategy [12:25] A look at online reviews and the power they hold [13:13] What to consider with mobile optimization [14:28] Some of the ways to utilize the data analytics tools that are available [15:45] Why you need to have everything dailed in before even starting to do paid advertising [15:51] Quotes: “It was completely different 5 [or] 10 years ago, but now it’s once you know your niche audience, you just follow the trends and you just put your niche on each trend.” [Megan, 9:13] “Personally I think, vlogging, short posts, long form posts and all the video content you can do is great. People love videos.” [Megan, 12:43] “You can't improve what you don't track, and it doesn't really matter how you feel. It just depends what the numbers say, they’re the things that move [the needle].” [Nick, 16:00] “You have to earn the right to do paid advertising, in my opinion. Everything needs to be dialed in.” [16:45] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 244: The Downsides of Not Having Employees with Katie Santos of Fitness HR
05/09/2024
Episode 244: The Downsides of Not Having Employees with Katie Santos of Fitness HR
What We Cover In This Episode: What the transition from studio owner to HR looked like for Katie [6:25] How to convey, from a marketing perspective, the move from1099 independent contractor to W-2 employee [7:42] The top common misconceptions of HR in the fitness industry [11:22] What the statistics say for studios that do not have a W-2 structure in place [14:34] The fundamental differences between an employee and contractor to be aware of [16:33] Some common legal pitfalls that studios may face during this process [19:26] How hiring contractors versus employees affects the culture of your studio [22:34] The benefits and/or drawbacks of hiring contractors versus employees [26:15] Quotes: “What’s your culture saying? How do we define it? What does your pricing look like? Is it supportive of being able to bring employees? If not, let’s work with that first.” [Katie, 9:23] “I think workers are getting smarter [about] what their rights are. The younger they get, they know exactly what’s due to them and what their rights are, and good for them.” [Katie, 14:01] “I think if you really put the work in ahead of time and hire fast and fire slow… I am not saying it the other way around. I am not messing up. Hire quickly because you know exactly who you need to have.” [Katie, 20:50] LINKS: Katie’s & Episodes , , & with Michael Jay & Mitch McGinley fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 243: Maximize Studio Membership Value with fitDEGREE's Early Access Tags
05/02/2024
Episode 243: Maximize Studio Membership Value with fitDEGREE's Early Access Tags
What We Cover In This Episode: What early access tags are and the ways you can now start implementing them [7:44] How this feature was designed to make memberships more valuable in your studio [8:40] Common use cases for these access tags in fitDEGREE [11:20] How to locate and create early access tags in your admin [13:42] Why the early access tag feature was really built for studios with waitlists [16:01] What you can do to leverage early access tags as fun perks on intro offers [16:24] Quotes: “We were worried it might have gotten a little bit swept under the rug because spot booking was our big fancy flashy guy, but early access tags are really impactful for you and your business.” [Megan, 7:25] “The reason the future really stuck out to me was we were also hearing over the months that we need to make memberships more valuable on the platform. What’s the point of a client being on an autopay membership other than price?” [Nick, 9:05] “This feature was built for studios that have classes with waitlists in mind, so if you do not have a registration window on your classes and you just leave it as always open, tighten it up and put this perk on your membership.” [Nick, 16:01] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 242: Protecting Your Website – The Three Must-Have Documents featuring Lisa Fraley
04/25/2024
Episode 242: Protecting Your Website – The Three Must-Have Documents featuring Lisa Fraley
What We Cover In This Episode: What to realize about breaking through the “wall of trust” with clients [6:06] A rundown of the three most important documents to include in your website [11:04] How a website disclaimer specifically protects fitness studio owners [11:59] One of the first things that you should do when opening a fitness studio [14:42] Ways to approach your terms and conditions for visitor use of your website [18:28] What makes a privacy policy so crucial when building trust with clients [23:51] The next step to take to access over 50 DIY templates from Lisa [26:04] Quotes: “I realize people want to make their clients feel comfortable and you do need to protect yourself and have clear boundaries and clear legal policies, but you don't have to make them harsh or cold, negative or uncomfortable, because it’s already uncomfortable enough as it is.” [Lisa, 8:06] “The idea is you want to get clear about creating your boundaries and clear about who you are and what you do and what you don't do, so that people can't come back and take the information on your website and come after you.” [13:00] “When you put all the time and money into opening a studio, you want to do everything you possibly can to make it safe and protected so that no one can come and take it away from you or sue you.” [Lisa, 17:45] LINKS: Lisa’s & Connect with Lisa on & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 241: Using Spot Booking to Enhance the Client Experience, Social Connections (and More)
04/18/2024
Episode 241: Using Spot Booking to Enhance the Client Experience, Social Connections (and More)
What We Cover In This Episode: A look at a supportive, adaptable and appealing new yoga mat [0:56] How clients can use the spot booking feature to select the equipment they want to use, where they want to sit, and more [4:28] Some the ways it allows you to get detailed on how to visually represent the room to your booking clients [5:18] More on the social aspect of spot booking [6:06] What we’re doing with the ongoing development on the spot booking feature in fitDEGREE [7:20] How fitDEGREE sets itself apart from other softwares that are offering spot booking [9:34] Best practices for implementing spot booking in the smoothest way possible for everyone involved [11:34] Tips for increasing retention and engagement using spot booking [15:50] Actionable steps that you can take today to maximize the spot booking feature [16:52] What to know about our new early access feature [19:58] The importance of the key item’s icons [23:00] Quotes: “Clients have preferences on the piece of equipment that they use and where that equipment is located. Sometimes they follow a specific bike around the studio or a specific Pilates reformer around the studio, or sometimes they just like to be in the front row ori in the back row.” [Nick, 4:54] “We already had this feature where clients could see what classes their friends are signed up for, but now they can actually see where their friends are sitting. So if they were to look at a map, they’ll see the instructor’s face where they’ll be, they’ll see spots that are taken by people that are not their friends, and they’ll see spots that are taken by their friends ” [Nick, 6:12] “From the community aspect, it really amplifies the friends feature that we have and gives the friend connections more ammunition than it had before.” [Nick, 16:39] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 240: Disclaimers and Waivers – Focusing on Brick and Mortar Businesses with a Nod to the Virtual World featuring Lisa Fraley
04/11/2024
Episode 240: Disclaimers and Waivers – Focusing on Brick and Mortar Businesses with a Nod to the Virtual World featuring Lisa Fraley
What We Cover In This Episode: Lisa’s journey to become a lawyer and also a fitness instruction, plus the way she combines these two passions [1:34] What the role of certifications will be in terms of legal protection for the studio [8:42] The important aspects of disclaimers and waivers that you need to be aware of [10:14] Some of the reasons why insurance is so important and how it compliments the waivers that are being used [16:24] How being the right business entity will help protect you from potential liability [20:53] Lisa’s final thoughts on disclaimers, waivers and protecting you and your business [27:27] Quotes: “Sometimes it depends on the type of fitness instruction that you’re doing, but you want to make sure that your event waiver or your liability waiver is covering multiple approaches.” [Lisa, 10:22] “Legal documents are not meant to be short and sweet, because first of all, they could be lacking key points, and second of all, anything that you saw in law has to be spelled out.” [Lisa, 16:23] “Something could still go wrong. If something goes wrong, then you want to have insurance on the back end, just like you do for your house, your car, your health and other things in your life.” [Lisa, 19:23] LINKS: Lisa’s , & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 239: Catch the Eye, Win the Heart: How Fitness Studios Can Master the Marketing and Sales Duo
04/04/2024
Episode 239: Catch the Eye, Win the Heart: How Fitness Studios Can Master the Marketing and Sales Duo
What We Cover In This Episode: News with Nick and some somber news about current happiness levels in the United States [0:40] The main purpose of sales compared to that of marketing [6:35] Specific questions you need to be asking yourself as you consider the different roles of your sales and marketing departments and personnel [7:49] Which types of activities sales focuses on versus marketing [12:13] What can happen when a good salesperson can feels more like an “accountability buddy” for your clients [18:14] Quick wins for the link using share links and early access tags [20:51] Our weekly challenge and four actions you can take with your sales and marketing [22:23] Quotes: “Are you getting more followers? Are you getting more engagement? Are you getting more visits to your website? Are you getting new clientele in the door? Sales can be held very accountable to, based on the people that came in the door, what happened?” [Nick, 7:49] “[For] everyone that buys an intro offer at your studio, when they come in and you start understanding their needs, [ask] if this is someone your studio was meant to serve. If so, you better get them to convert.” [Nick, 10:51] “In my mind as someone who’s been a consumer of boutique fitness for a long time, a good salesperson feels like an accountability buddy. They’re not calling you and instantly trying to make the sale or convert you.” [Megan, 18:14] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 238: Bridging the Gap Between Marketing and First Purchase
03/28/2024
Episode 238: Bridging the Gap Between Marketing and First Purchase
What We Cover In This Episode: The number one benefit from a marketing perspective that a studio will gain when signing up with LenzVU [1:16] How you can enable your automation from Day One with LenzVU [2:48] What Afi says is the biggest standout feature for the platform [7:38] The ways in which LenzVU’s AI-driven marketing tools cater to the specific needs of studio owners [11:44] A closer look at how LenzVU works in tandem with fitDEGREE [14:28] The important role that personalized communication plays in moving clients from awareness to purchase [16:32] How to use the platform to increase conversions through tools that identify all engagement interactions [19:44] Some of the common challenges that fitness studios are facing in converting their leads to customers [22:14] A final note on personalizing your AI-automated interactions using LenzVU [24:53] Quotes: “The benefit of having LenzVu integrated into a great platform like fitDEGREE allows for the studios to have a complete end-to-end understanding of the clients.” [Afi, 15:05] “Having an understanding of what brought them into the studio in the first place and continuing to actually ensure that they are still meeting those objectives is crucial.” [23:30] “There is a lot of capability and flexibility that we provide within our platform to allow for the studios to thrive.” [29:09] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 237: A Deep Dive into the fitDEGREE Summit
03/21/2024
Episode 237: A Deep Dive into the fitDEGREE Summit
What We Cover In This Episode: More expansion news in the industry related to chains delving into the food and beverage game [1:18] Who our upcoming in-person summit is targeted to and how it will help them [4:48] The themes that we chose to deep dive into while there and what you can expect at the 3-day summit [8:11] The way in which it will be more of a cohort and less of a conference [11:30] Some of the key topics you’ll be hearing about and receiving actionable strategies on [13:56] The opportunities you will have to level up your business with your summit non-negotiables [18:06] Atlanta, Georgia - here we come! [21:03] Quotes: “You can come with a list of questions, because my dream is for you to be able to come prepared, do the homework there, and go home feeling like you are set for success.” [Megan, 11:14] “One thing about it being small, is that it has the opportunity to be interactive. It’s not going to be a one-way lecture where I don’t care who is in the audience, I prepared something and that is what we are talking about. It has the opportunity to be interactive where we can hear where you’re at and solve those problems.” [Nick, 18:57] “One of my big goals is to make sure that we are not like other summits and conferences, when you're walking in and have no idea what you’re about to encounter. You should be able to walk in with a list of questions, per presenter, that you’re able to get actionable answers to.” [Megan, 20:19] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 236: How to deal with noncommittal clients with Afi of LenzVU
03/14/2024
Episode 236: How to deal with noncommittal clients with Afi of LenzVU
What We Cover In This Episode: What inspired Afi to into this space building the LenzVU platform [1:18] Some of the game changing features it has to boost your sales and retain clients [3:12] How LenzVu helps studios with noncommittal clients by gathering information to build very targeted funnels [5:09] The most surprising feedback so far that LenzVu has gotten from its clients [7:09] A few of the ways that targeted marketing specifically addresses the challenge of converting noncommittal clients [9:16] A look at how LenzVu facilitates their marketing engines [15:05] What to understand about data and success rates [22:04] Quotes: “LenzVU helps the studios understand what brought them to the studio and also engages them through targeted marketing, which would be more appealing than just [saying], ‘Here are 5 ways to take classes at the studio.” [Afi, 4:05] “It's crucial for a studio to grasp specific needs and the decision-making factors of their clients.” [Afi, 10:15] “That’s what target marketing is about, engaging clients with information that is aligned with their needs, rather than sending all the information and expecting them to be enticed by a piece of information that satisfies their needs.” [Afi, 12:31] “The power that LenzVu brings to the table is that it natively allows for the studios to engage the clients to find out their needs or interests.” [15:15] LINKS: Afi’s Blog Post, fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 235: fitDEGREE Summit 2024: A First Glimpse (and Your Invitation)!
03/07/2024
Episode 235: fitDEGREE Summit 2024: A First Glimpse (and Your Invitation)!
What We Cover In This Episode: A first glance at the FitDEGREE Summit 2024 and what you can expect by attending [3:38] What the inspiration was to create this event coming in October 2024 [4:40] How this event will be an immersive experience for all who attend [7:49] Why we’re so excited about the retreat-vibe location where it’s happening at [9:00] Steps you can take in preparing to make the most of this experience [11:08] Some of the long-term benefits studio owners attending will realize [14:08] Deadlines, prices and details to be aware of [16:41] The way that getting to know our presenters will help you get the most out of your experience [21:36] Quotes: “They just have so much all around. There’s the lake, there’s things to do all across the resort itself, there’s things all around the resort, [such as] walking paths. You’re going to have ample opportunity to learn and implement things with fitDEGREE and our partners, but also to just go off and have that time to yourself to reflect.” [10:27] “You are going to have an offsite retreat with like-minded individuals that are professionals in your industry, that either you have met or haven't met yet, and create that tight, close-knit group of thirty people.” [13:44] “One thing that I have noticed working in this industry for the past five or six years now is that the modalities, the offerings, and the delivery of fitness and wellness is the unique part, but outside of that it is a very standard business model that should be followed.” [14:20] “You should always be working in a way to develop the best business practices and create that playbook of, if I were to sell it or if I were to go away for a month, I can give someone the playbook and they can run my business.” [15:17] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 234: From Client Retention to Strategic Partnerships: Mastering Grassroots Marketing with Nicole D'Andrea of Spark Strategies
02/29/2024
Episode 234: From Client Retention to Strategic Partnerships: Mastering Grassroots Marketing with Nicole D'Andrea of Spark Strategies
What We Cover In This Episode: Nicole’s thoughts on why maintaining a focus on the client experience at all times is key [1:20] How finding the right mentors can be invaluable to your business [3:41] The way in which Nicole finds what works for her when it comes to a work/life balance [8:12] What the concept of grassroots marketing is all about [14:44] The grassroots marketing strategy of building partnerships in the places your target market is already hanging out [16:49] More partnership building strategies you can use with your fitness studio [18:52] How to track the effectiveness of your partnerships in terms of ROI [22:53] Quotes: “The best grassroots marketing technique gets people achieving results and talking about the experience.” [Nicole, 3:27] “Some of the things that we have done at my studio, and that we continue to do, are partnerships with businesses we would consider to be aligned with ours. We share a target market, we are physically located in the same geographic area; it makes sense to help each other out.” [Nicole, 16:30] “I think it’s really important to make sure that you are not forgetting about your members when they sign on the dotted line. We bring them in and convert them to membership and then a lot of studios that I see just kind of chop it off right there. There is no real thought about nurturing that relationship moving forward.” [27:32] LINKS: Their , & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 233: Using Social Gamification to Boost Your Fitness Studio's Community and Retention
02/22/2024
Episode 233: Using Social Gamification to Boost Your Fitness Studio's Community and Retention
What We Cover In This Episode: What Lumin Fitness’s new smart studio concept is all about [1:43] How to approach implementing leaderboards in your studio [6:33] Some of the ways that leaderboards can build community and new connections between members [9:04] Tips for developing a customized rewards system [10:31] How you can begin to use organized interactive challenges [13:21] Why listening, learning and adapting from feedback is essential when using social gamification in your studio [15:31] What we want to hear about in regards to your software with gamification [17:57] Megan’s advice if you’re doing a manual competitions and tracking time [18:57] How to implement a “mini-gamification” element into your studio [20:03] Quotes: “By showcasing client achievements and progress, you are encouraging a healthy competitive spirit and also fostering connections amongst members. This social aspect of gamification not only motivates clients to push themselves, but creates a supportive environment that celebrates everyone's victories.” [Megan, 6:41] “It’s really just what you put into it and how you instill it into your community, because you are in control of how the leaderboard gamifies and comes into that community. So you can make it toxic, or you can make it a fruitful endeavor.” [Megan, 7:24] “Throw a wrench in your plans or introduce something that you didn’t think you had to introduce I think is just a way to liven up your studio, increase your retention rates, and then improve your new client intro offer.” [Nick, 16:58] LINKS: fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 232: Marketing Mastery for Fitness Studios: Nicole D'Andrea's Insights on Social Media ROI and Lead Follow-Up
02/15/2024
Episode 232: Marketing Mastery for Fitness Studios: Nicole D'Andrea's Insights on Social Media ROI and Lead Follow-Up
What We Cover In This Episode: What ‘sparked’ the creation of Spark Strategies [1:20] Some of the challenges Nicole encountered growing her own yoga studio [5:07] A common misconception studio owners often have about growing their businesses [8:30] Nicole’s tips for tailoring your approach to marketing on the different social media platforms [12:05] Where she is seeing better ROI and cost per leads coming from right now [23:36] Nicole’s follow-up process for new leads and the way that she personalizes the process [25:22] The benefits you can get by being consistent with your email strategy [30:50] Quotes: “There’s a thing with us heart-led entrepreneurs, where we feel really uncomfortable talking about money, asking for money, raising prices, often to our detriment.” [Nicole, 8:47] “Only 15 percent of the population has ever even set foot inside of a boutique fitness studio, which means 85 percent of the general public out there has no idea what we do or how we do it.” [Nicole, 16:59] “You never know, at some point in the next three months their pain might get so profound that they feel the need to take action with us, and we’re right at top of their mind because we’ve been staying steady in their inbox for three straight months; so it’s also a long game.” [Nicole, 31:00] LINKS: Their , & fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 231: Fostering a Community-Oriented Team
02/08/2024
Episode 231: Fostering a Community-Oriented Team
What We Cover In This Episode: News with Nick and a look at Pilates style concepts at F45 [0:38] Why establishing a clear and shared vision to create a community-oriented team is crucial [4:46] Our thoughts on hiring for cultural fit and diversity [8:23] How to approach community building with a focus on training and development [10:48] The impact that encouraging team collaboration and ownership will have on your studio as a whole [14:06] Tips for measuring success and gathering feedback [15:39] Why we recommend scheduling quarterly pulse checks with your team members [17:10] Quick wins and leveraging your fitDEGREE admin and On the Go app for internal team chats [17:44] Your weekly challenge focusing on strengthening the heart of your boutique fitness studio, your team [18:18] Quotes: “You should hire people that do align with you, but it is always good to hire people that challenge you as well. They might share those same core values, but they might bring a new element to the table that you can’t or that your other staff members don’t.” [Megan, 6:54] “When I think of our leadership team, we all bring a different set of skills and perspectives to the team.” [10:26] “There are so many hard skills that computers and AI and automations are taking away, and in a good way, that we all have to really focus on the soft skills of life which are communication and conflict resolution.” [12:14] “You cannot assess what you don't measure so feedback is super important.” [16:37] LINKS: by Dale Carnegie fitDEGREE’s
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Announcing a Schedule Change
02/01/2024
Announcing a Schedule Change
Hey fitFam and welcome back to another episode of fitSpot Guru! Well, not so fast. As you may have noticed by the length of today’s episode, it’s not an actual episode. I am here to make an announcement on some upcoming changes that fitSpot Guru will be undergoing starting in February. In an effort to keep our content fresh, fun, and educational, we are reducing the number of episodes we release per week. Moving forward, the format of the podcast will still bounce between fitDEGREE partner powered podcasts and fitDEGREE team episodes. We will just do so on a weekly rotating basis! So to conclude, you can expect new fitSpot Guru episodes to drop every Thursday rotating between riffs with my co-host Nick and I along with the partner powered podcasts you’ve all come to enjoy. Talk to you next week!
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Episode 230: Diversifying Revenue Streams in Boutique Fitness
01/30/2024
Episode 230: Diversifying Revenue Streams in Boutique Fitness
What We Cover In This Episode: News with Nick and a few gamification strategies to be aware of [0:52] Some of the different ways that you can diversity by selling retail products in your studio [4:07] Our thoughts on online classes and subscriptions as diversification strategies [9:11] How to introduce workshops, specials events, seminars and guest experts to your members [11:43] Diversification using private training and small group sessions tailored to individual goals [14:39] What to be aware of when it comes to community partnerships and sponsorships [18:49] Quick wins of the week and a look at the revenue by items report in fitDEGREE [20:31] Our weekly challenge for you to explore new revenue opportunities [22:18] Quotes: “The more niche you get, [with] essential oils, CBD [and] things like that, it’s almost like you also need to have a workshop attached to it. You need to make a full effort with it, where if you just have a Stanley water bottle, that thing is going to fly off the shelf.” [Nick, 7:56] “In my opinion these days, if you’re online, you should be online. If you’re in-person, you should be in-person. I understand [that] during the pandemic we had to diversity in that way, but now you’re creating so much to manage that if you don’t have separate teams for those, one is going to fall off the wayside.” [Megan, 9:45] “I just think of creative ways to get people in during those downtimes, versus hoping to get four rental spaces this month, because that will really pay the bills.” [Nick, 16:27] LINKS: Episodes , , & with Perkville fitDEGREE’s
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Episode 229: Unlocking Studio Financial Prosperity: Terri Fry on Perkville, Profit, and Paying It Forward
01/25/2024
Episode 229: Unlocking Studio Financial Prosperity: Terri Fry on Perkville, Profit, and Paying It Forward
What We Cover In This Episode: How Terri changed course from teaching yoga to becoming a studio owner [1:50] The inspiration she received from her own coach to enter the coaching world in order to start helping others [3:25] An interesting dynamic Terri sees in the yoga world where people think you shouldn’t be making money [7:34] A major transformation that happened in her business after she implemented Perkville [10:01] How Terri recommends integrating Perkville into your overall business strategy [15:46] The big mistake that many studios make when it comes to their follow-up processes [21:57] What KPI's studio owners should be focusing on when using Perkville [24:46] A look at “The Pay It Forward” fund and what it’s all about [30:49] Quotes: “The thing about coaching is that the single biggest obstacle in your way as an entrepreneur, is guess what? Yourself, [because] there is nobody to report to, there is no ultimate accountability.” [Terri, 4:13] “You have to be able to pay your teachers, keep your doors open and do all those things, so money is not evil. What’s evil is what people choose to do with the money. [Terri, 9:32] “The implementation process was really smooth. One of the things I love about Perkville is that they have all kinds of resources to help you launch your Perkville program.” [Terri, 10:31] “Your KPI's tell your story. They tell the story of what's happening in your business,and they also tell you where your opportunities lay.” [Terri, 25:20] LINKS: Perkville’s Episodes , and with Perkville fitDEGREE’s
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