There’s no getting around the obvious challenges we are facing today as COVID-19 has changed the way we live. Over the past year, we’ve all had to adjust to the new normal of conducting our lives online, fitness and wellness professionals have figured out how to adapt their offerings to a virtual space. There are plenty of options including Facebook Live, Zoom, YouTube Live, and so on. Whichever platform you decide to use, we at OfferingTree have been hard at work adding features so you can easily share your virtual offerings – during the pandemic, and in the future as life begins to return to some normalcy.
Figuring out the logistics of bringing your fitness and wellness offerings online is only one piece of the puzzle. For suggestions about how to start teaching remotely, read our recent blog post with ideas about taking your offerings online (and how we can support you). Once you have the technical pieces in place, the next task will be marketing and communicating to your students or clients that they should still practice with you. For people who are highly motivated by group or communal practices, it can be difficult to convince them that a virtual practice can be beneficial, too. Here are some tips and ideas you can try in order to help your students make the transition to your virtual space.
Reach out to your students with a personal note:
Especially if you have regular students or clients, this is a great time to reach out to let them know you’re thinking of them and share what you’re up to. You may have already posted on your social media and website but a personal email or text message could be the encouragement that your students need right now.
Organize a challenge for your students:
Setting up a fun and healthy challenge for your students is a great way to keep them engaged and maybe even bring in some new faces! OfferingTree has recently rolled out a new feature that supports challenges and email courses. Maybe your students aren’t ready to dive into your virtual classes or services but inviting them through a low-stakes offering such as an online challenge might be just what they need to reignite their practice, especially in difficult times.
Create bond and build community:
You have likely heard about or even participated in some virtual social events, happy hours, and mixers. Consider organizing a virtual community gathering, especially if you previously had a group of regular students or clients who have gotten to know each other. Facilitating such a catch-up will not only bring your community back together but will remind them that the power of connection can be felt even in a virtual platform and may inspire students to check out your online events.
Be kind to yourself:
You may have never wanted or expected to end up teaching online classes and now with virtual being a normal part of our lives, you might end up putting pressure on yourself. Be sure to be kind and compassionate with yourself right now. Nobody has a blueprint for how to handle a pandemic so know that you are not alone in this period of uncertainty and difficulty. If you can soften your mindset and allow yourself to be OK with making mistakes along the way, you might find yourself adapting to the new normal with less struggle.
We are here for you every step of the way. If you have any questions about OfferingTree’s features or want to learn more about how to sign up, please visit our website or email us at [email protected]
