Fitness Business Blog

Reaching New Audiences - Running Online Promotions

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Having a strong digital presence is critical to the success of any brand, and that’s even more true in the incredibly competitive fitness industry. The biggest fitness brands not only have polished and professional websites, they also use social platforms to engage with customers to build their digital brands.

One of the key elements to maintaining a strong digital brand is the ability to run effective online promotions. The beauty of the digital age is that you can target and communicate with your core customer base with incredible ease.

The Future of Indoor Cycling: Metrics and a Return to Fundamentals

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

AFS partner Schwinn recently sat down with Jeffrey to gain insight on the indoor cycling community, talk about current trends and the future.

You have been in the industry over 20 years now, how has it changed since you got your start?

Jeffrey: The cycling category has changed a great deal over the last 20 years. Much like Step, it started out very conservative and then progressively got faster and more complicated. Choreography and experimental techniques were created to keep riders engaged, but over time, people came back to the fundamentals because of the experience and rewards.

AFS Recap from the 2016 NSCA National Conference

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of presenting at the NSCA National Conference. And what an amazing conference it was! Heavily attended and full of budding entrepenurers, the energy was outstanding and the future is bright for the fitness industry.

As the NSCA website states, the 39th Annual NSCA National Conference brought "together the best of the best from all reaches of the strength and conditioning industry to provide a heavy-hitting educational experience unlike any other. From cutting-edge presentations to dynamic hands-on sessions by renowned professors, researchers, strength coaches, and personal trainers, you’ll get the tools to elevate your career and keep you one step ahead in an ever-changing industry."

Why Adding A Kids Martial Arts Program To Your Fitness Studio Make Sense

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

While there is always a danger of spreading your services thin by chasing every market, if you have space and your studio could use some traffic in the after-school time slot, then a martial arts program for kids may be something to consider.

The majority of students in a martial arts school are under age 12 and their parents are paying $149 - $249 per month for two classes a week. As tempting as that may seem, there is some complexity in reaching and keeping this market.

AFS to Present 4 Business Sessions at 2016 Club Industry Show

Saturday, July 2, 2016

All of us at AFS are extremely excited to be working closely again with the Club Industry Show to bring top-notch education to the fitness industry.

As in years past, we thrive on the opportunity to educate those in attendance on everything from the trends we're seeing to the systems necessary for success.

AFS Founder & CEO to Present at NSCA National Conference

Saturday, June 25, 2016

As AFS continues to grow, opportunities such as the one I was presented with recently I don't take lightly. I was honored to be asked to speak at the NSCA National Conference (July 6-9, 2016) in New Orleans, LA.

As stated on their website, the NSCA "National Conference is the premier strength and conditioning event of the year, bridging the gap between the scientist and the practitioner through presentations on cutting-edge research and dynamic hands-on sessions."

JUST RELEASED! AFS 2016 Marketing Best Practices Report

Thursday, June 23, 2016

After several months of planning, prepping, designing, and analyzing the data, I'm proud to announce that the AFS 2016 Fitness Studio Marketing Best Practices Research Report is here!

We surveyed hundreds of studio owners across the country - identified the successful strategies - and provide them to you, in this report. The first-ever market research of its kind for the fitness studio community! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

Why the Nor-Cal Fitness Summit is Right for Your Fitness Studio

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Talk to any fitness professional in the Bay Area and I can just about guarantee they know Khaled Elmasri. His enthusiastic approach to changing people's lives is evident and his desire to make others around him better is one of the biggest reasons I was excited to work more closely with him and the Nor-Cal Fitness Summit.

When I met Khaled earlier this year I was drawn to his entrepreneurial spirit. From that initial meeting and follow up calls, I've learned more about his future aspirations including where he wants to take the Nor-Cal Fitness Summit.

An Interview with Ingrid Owen

Thursday, June 16, 2016

In the fitness industry when you come across great minds, it always presents a unique opportunity to gain as much insight as you can from that individual. Learning from others, including their past experiences and education background can provide key references points to help you navigate your business now and in the future.

I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to Ingrid Owen, who happens to be our expert presenter for our webinar "Setting up Your Programming to Increase Revenue."

Adding Special Population Courses to your Resume

Thursday, June 9, 2016

There are 100 million baby boomers (those over 50), that make up about 30% of our population, and three-fourths of America’s wealth.

They are expected to live longer than previous generations. This is the largest segment in our economy with the largest percentage of wealth. They are seeking help for their aging bodies. Because this is the generation of consumption and personal gratification they are spending at “boomer levels”.