COVID-19 Resources

Owned by Caitlin Tupper
Last updated: May 11, 2021
5 min read

Here at InTouch, we are committed to continuing operations as normal, providing access to our products and keeping all support channels open for our clients. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at +1 (888) 437-8243 or support@intouchtechnology.com. We want to continue to help our clients find ways of communicating with their leads and members, serve their communities, provide value in their membership despite limitations and closures, and maybe even find some future profit centers in the process.

5 Initiatives to Kick-Start Your Comeback

1. Evaluate Your Facility

Take a look at the layout of your facility. Where can improvements be made? Can you create an environment that is comfortable for new and returning members? Highlight cleaning and sanitizing as a long term commitment. Let your new and returning members know that you are following best practices. This is your chance to paint, service, repair and make improvements without impacting the member experience.

2. Strengthen your Systems

Review your systems and processes for ways to strengthen them. Start with your team and those key to certain areas of your business. Brainstorm ways on how to enhance or upgrade the prospect and member journey. Are there ways you can incorporate new revenue streams from virtual programming? Do you have the resources to add functional training spaces?

3. Plan

Now is the time to strategize your marketing campaigns. How do you plan on showcasing improvements to your facility including your action plans on feedback you’ve received from your team, your members and the industry? How can you support local businesses in your community and work towards a common goal of health, fitness and wellbeing?

4. Initiate Marketing

Prepare your marketing plan now and have it ready to initiate quickly and easily. When was the last time you looked at your prospect and marketing communication content? Now’s the perfect time to review and enhance when, how and what your engagement looks like. Your communication should focus on building trust and highlighting your plan to keep your facility safe and healthy long term.

5. Grand Re-Opening

This opportunity does not come by often, if ever. This is a second chance to make a good first impression. Consider this a welcome back party to members for sticking with you. Think of ways to prioritize bringing back current members, but don’t forget a large potential pool of new members. Don’t discount, but look for ways to differentiate yourself from local competition. Emphasize the safety and health improvements to your facility and look for ways to partner with local businesses. Lastly, be creative and have fun with it; your community will appreciate the optimism and positivity.

 

COVID-19 Club Playbook

No matter what type of club(s) you operate, during this challenging time is an opportunity to uncover hidden innovation. This Playbook can provide some strategic and tactical actions you can use right now to find your silver lining. Use these ideas and get creative!

  1. Communicate

    1. If you haven’t already, email or mail your members about club closures, what to expect around dues, freezes, etc. Here’s a great example of how to write a letter to your members.

    2. Use Social Media to highlight ‘club happenings’ during times of closure. This can be as short as snapping a few photos of renovations or your employees answering member calls and emails. Or make it interactive, such “Share your favorite recipe with us!”.

    3. Share schedules of online events such as Live Workouts. Virtual Sessions do not need to be perfect. Content is key!

  2. Know and review your plan

    1. In your business plan have a separate area for COVID-19 expenses

    2. With each day bringing new information and ideas, it’s important to re-evaluate your current financial status, lead and member engagement with new programs and offerings, and marketing campaigns.

  3. Create a key team of employees

    1. Identify employees who will be key point personnel and make up a crisis management and communication team. Part of this should be dedicated to forming a hierarchy outlining how information should be shared within the company and community.

    2. Brainstorm ideas for new programs and offerings

    3. How can we be better when we re-open? Cleaning standards will no doubt change moving forward. How will you plan to accommodate and communicate for this?

  4. Communicate internally

    1. Email all employees to notify them of your action plan. Be open and honest; share what you have learned, where you are now, and what you plan on doing.

    2. Create a Facebook or Social group so that you can stay connected to current staff and staff that have been laid off. Every day that goes by without interactions will create distance between you and your laid off staff.

  5. Move from crisis to opportunity

    1. Have you thought beyond this challenge?

    2. What will your club look like after this?

    3. What can you do better or with more intention?

    4. How can you enhance the experience?

Lead Generation in Uncertain Times

Here are three options for lead generation during these challenging times:

  1. Continue with your current campaigns (March/April): Work with your existing marketing company to ensure your content is still accurate.

  2. Start a new digital campaign: Work with your trainers, instructors, and equipment vendors to design and deliver on your campaign; know your limits.

  3. Continue with a modified version of your March/April campaign:

    1. Focus on how to start now and come back to the gym later or start at home right away; make sure you have elastic communications and infrastructure that can adapt and scale quickly.

    2. If you don’t have your own modified version; work with your marketing company to develop one.

Communication is Key

Communication is key to getting through this time. Keep in touch with your leads and your members to keep them informed of important information on closures and dues, what you’re doing during downtime (cleaning? any improvements?), and send tips on how to stay healthy and fit while social distancing.

How to Help Your Community

Below are a handful of ideas we’ve brainstormed and found around the web of ways you can help your leads, members, and community without direct contact.

  • Utilize your vendors and partners. A number of fitness companies have online workout videos that you can share with your members

  • Host online training or classes using anything from Facebook Live to Google Hangouts (check out this article for more free video conferencing options). Here are some ideas on what to host:

    • Workouts using common household objects

    • Group or 1:1 Training

    • Nutritional Coaching

    • Outdoor workouts from your backyard

    • Kids Story Time - Read your favorite children’s book!

    • Senior Classes - Start and end with some time for socializing and provide a little exercise in between

    • Stretching Sessions

    • Use your employees! Do they have special talents they can share via video?

  • Community Services: Are you in a position where staff can grocery shop or provide free delivery services to those that can’t leave their homes? Just make sure to check your local legislation to stay within all guidelines.