Places Leisure successfully launch myFitApp to enhance member experience

“Our new app claimed the number one spot in the Apple Store health and fitness charts in the first couple of weeks and we had over 60,000 downloads in the first five days!” Keiron Butcher, Information Technology Director, Places Leisure

Places Leisure is a leading leisure centre operator with a mission to create active places and healthy people for communities to thrive. To enhance the member experience, Places Leisure needed a new app and decided to partner with myFitApp, the all-in-one member app solution.

“One of the main features that influenced our decision to move, was the intuitive myFitApp cockpit, which is easy to use and allows us to quickly make updates. In addition, the myFitApp cockpit provides a wealth of insightful data.” Keiron Butcher

Places Leisure worked closely with myFitApp to customise their member app according to their brand identity and unique requirements. The app is fully integrated with Places Leisure’s existing Leisure Management Software (LMS), allowing members to use the same login credentials associated with their membership.

Keiron added “Our customers can now enjoy the convenience of booking their favourite classes natively. This seamless integration pulls everything from our LMS, transforming it into an effortless process.” 

Their new app introduces a range of powerful features that revolutionises their member experience. Including enhanced marketing features, centre information, in-app local messaging and push notifications.  

New features enable members to easily book classes, receive real-time notifications, and engage in virtual fitness sessions via the free Virtual Studio.

The app utilises push notifications to deliver important updates, announcements, and reminders directly to members’ mobile devices. Whether it’s notifying members about upcoming events, promotions, or facility closures, push notifications ensure that members stay informed and engaged with Places Leisure’s offerings.

Through the app, they can effectively promote upcoming events, workshops, and special programs to members. By showcasing these opportunities within the app’s interface, members are more likely to discover and participate in these activities, fostering a sense of community engagement and participation.

“Overall, the app serves as a powerful tool for enhancing communication and interaction with our members, providing a seamless and user-friendly platform for information sharing, event promotion, and community building.” Keiron added.

Jonathan Cooke, Chief Commercial Officer at myFitApp commented: “Our partnership with Places Leisure is a fantastic example of how myFitApp is empowering fitness providers with cutting-edge technology to drive member engagement and retention. We are thrilled to be able to provide a branded member app that takes their customer experience to the next level. By seamlessly integrating with their existing Leisure Management System and offering smart features such as native in-app bookings, workouts on demand, and marketing messages, the Places Leisure app will make a positive impact on their members’ fitness journeys.”

Places Leisure’s new app has a 4-star rating in the Apple App Store, a major uplift on their previous member app, at 1.3-star.

Keiron said “The integration of myFitApp has significantly enhanced the overall member experience at Places Leisure.”

Discover the new releases for myFitApp. Below are updates to the product from April 2024.

1. Book for others

2. Monthly Active Users API

Top tips for maximising your fitness experience with myFitApp

You’re likely familiar with the importance of having a reliable, user-friendly app to enhance your members’ fitness journey. In this blog post, we will share some top tips on how to make the most of your app. Whether you’re a gym owner, fitness manager, or marketing enthusiast, these tips will help you optimise your customer experience.

Customise your branded member app

One of the main benefits of myFitApp is the ability to create a fully customised app.

Take full advantage of this feature by personalising your app with everything from your brand colours, design motifs, logo, to unique content. This will not only strengthen your brand identity but also create a seamless and engaging experience for your members.

Utilise content marketing

Promoting your facilities, trainers, programs, courses, and nutrition through content marketing is a powerful way to attract and engage your members.

Use myFitApp’s content marketing capabilities to regularly update and share informative articles, workout videos, nutrition tips, and inspiring success stories. This will keep your members engaged and motivated on their fitness journey.

Engage members with real-time personalised messaging

Make use of your app’s marketing automation feature to engage your members with personalised, real-time messaging.

Send push notifications, updates about upcoming classes or events, exclusive offers, and motivational messages to keep members informed and motivated.

Tap into the power of a home video platform

With myFitApp@home, you can deliver fitness programs directly to your members’ homes through integrated live streaming and on-demand videos.

Encourage members to stay on track even when they can’t make it to the gym by providing them with convenient access to workout classes, personal training sessions, and fitness challenges through the app.

Streamline class and activity bookings

Ensure your members have a seamless experience when booking classes by utilising an event schedule and booking feature.

Make it quick and easy for members to view class and activity schedules, reserve their spot, and receive reminders or updates about any changes.

Explore monetisation opportunities

Boost your revenue by offering digital memberships for existing and non-members through in-app purchases. Provide exclusive content, virtual training sessions, online challenges, or premium features to incentivise members to upgrade their memberships and increase your financial success.

Take advantage of myFitApp’s in-app member referral feature to generate new members. Encourage your existing members to refer their friends and family to join by offering incentives such as discounts, free sessions, or exclusive access to special events. This not only promotes member engagement but also helps expand your fitness community.

By following these top tips, you can maximise your fitness experience with myFitApp (or other fitness app providers). Customise your app, engage your members with personalised content and messaging, tap into the power of the home video platform, streamline class booking, explore monetisation opportunities and leverage in-app lead generation.

Unlocking the power of Access Control: Enhancing security and efficiency

In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven fitness industry, ensuring the safety and convenience of members is a top priority for fitness facilities. Enter access control systems, a revolutionary solution that combines cutting-edge technology with seamless integration to enhance both security measures and operational efficiency.

At myFitApp, we understand the importance of a secure and streamlined environment, which is why we have developed our robust Access Control solution that empowers fitness facilities to provide a world-class experience to their members.

Streamlining facility access

Access control systems revolutionise the way gym entries are managed. With the myFitApp’s Access Control solution, members can simply tap or scan their smartphones at the entry gates, eliminating the need for physical cards or keys. This digital method ensures a more secure environment by reducing the risk of members misplacing their access cards or unauthorised individuals gaining entry to the facility.

Enhancing member experience

Convenience is the cornerstone of a positive member experience. With myFitApp’s Access Control, members can check-in seamlessly using their smartphones, eliminating the need to wait in line or show physical identification. Not only does this expedite the check-in process, but it also allows members to focus on their workouts and maximise their time spent in the facility, whilst freeing up staff members’ time to focus on other priorities.

Real-time attendance tracking

Gone are the days of manually tracking attendance with pen and paper, and having to take a register at the beginning of the class, for example. myFitApp’s Access Control solution offers real-time attendance tracking, providing facility managers with accurate data on member visits and usage patterns. This valuable information enables fitness centres to optimise staffing, resource allocation, and facility utilisation, ultimately driving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Fraud prevention

Ensuring that only authorised members have access to the facility is crucial for both security and business profitability. Our Access Control solution mitigate the risk of fraudulent entries, as smartphones are less likely to be shared compared to physical access cards.

With accurate tracking of entry times, fitness facilities can detect and prevent unauthorised access, ultimately protecting both members and the business whilst increasing revenue from those that would normally share membership fees illegally!

Seamless integration with existing systems

myFitApp’s Access Control solution seamlessly integrates with leading Leisure Management Software (LMS) providers, allowing for a unified experience for members. This integration ensures that members can use the same login credentials across various systems, contributing to a seamless and frictionless experience throughout their fitness journey.

Access control systems have revolutionised the way fitness facilities operate, providing enhanced security, streamlined processes, and improved efficiency. Our Access Control solution empowers fitness facilities to deliver a secure and convenient experience for their members while optimising operational processes. By embracing the power of access control, fitness facilities can unlock a whole new level of security, efficiency, and member satisfaction.

Discover the new releases for myFitApp. Below are updates to the product from February 2024.

1. Monthly Active User data 

Monthly Active User (MAU) data is now available in the cockpit!

Within the reports section of the cockpit we have added your MAU. You are able to quickly access the number of users for the previous month along with 24 months worth of data. If that’s not enough, we’ve also added a live count of users for the current month, therefore you can understand at any point during the month how your app is performing.

To view this data, log in to your cockpit, select “Reports” from the left hand menu, then select the “Monthly Active Users” tab.

The previous and current month counts will be displayed. Below you will find a graph which defaults to last 12 months however this can be adjusted using the date range dropdown menu. If you hover over each of the bars you will see the number of users – this historical data can also be exported!

2. iOS minimum version uplift

5 strategies to boost gym membership retention and foster a loyal community

Maintaining gym membership retention can be a challenge for many fitness centres. While signing up new members is essential, it’s equally important to focus on nurturing relationships with existing members.

Motivating and engaging gym members not only increases retention rates but also fosters a loyal community. In this blog post, we will discuss five effective strategies to encourage your gym members to stay committed to their fitness goals and keep their gym membership.

1. Personalised goal setting:

Helping your members set personalised fitness goals is a powerful way to keep them motivated.

Schedule one-on-one consultations to discuss their aspirations and develop a customised workout plan. By tailoring workouts to their specific needs, you are showing that you care about their progress and are invested in their success.

Regularly track their progress and provide positive feedback along the way to reinforce their commitment.

Why not use your app to promote this offering?

2. Varied workout offerings:

Routine workouts can quickly become mundane and lead to member disengagement. Keep your gym members excited and motivated by offering a variety of workout programs.

This can include group fitness classes, personal training sessions, specialised workshops, or even access to new fitness equipment. Our booking solution can support you with giving customers a wide range of options and the opportunity to book from the palm of their hands.

By continually introducing fresh and engaging activities, you create an environment that inspires members to push boundaries and break through plateaus.

3. Community events and challenges:

Building a strong sense of community within your gym is crucial for member satisfaction.

Organise community events and gamified challenges that encourage participation and friendly competition. Consider holding fitness challenges with rewards for achieving specific milestones. Not sure how you can do this? Check out our Gamification solution.

These events not only foster camaraderie among members but also create a supportive and motivating atmosphere. Hosting workshops, nutrition seminars, or guest speaker events can also help members broaden their fitness knowledge and inspire them to continue their fitness journey.

4. Personalised communication:

Establishing effective communication channels is key to keeping your gym members informed and engaged.

Utilise email newsletters, mobile apps, or social media platforms to share updates, class schedules, and fitness tips. Additionally, send personalised messages to your members on member milestones to show that you value their commitment and strengthens personal connections with your brand.

5. Tracking and reward progress:

Encourage your gym members by implementing a tracking system and offering rewards for their progress. Create challenges that focus on specific fitness goals and track member achievements.

Consider implementing digital trackers or apps that allow members to log their workouts and monitor their progress. Celebrate milestones and offer incentives such as complimentary personal training sessions, merchandise discounts, or exclusive access to new amenities. Recognizing their dedication and giving tangible rewards will motivate members to continue their membership and strive for further accomplishments.

Motivating and engaging gym members is an ongoing process that requires dedication and creativity.

By implementing personalised goal setting, varied workout programs, community events, personalised communication, and tracking and rewarding member progress, you can significantly increase the likelihood of your gym members maintaining their membership.

Remember, a motivated and engaged community leads to higher retention rates, word-of-mouth referrals, and a flourishing fitness centre.