Rachel Koretsky of Upace explains why you need technology to attract, engage and retain membership.
Your members use technology everyday, especially on their mobile phones. Studies have shown smartphone users spend around 90% of their mobile time on apps.
This proves in today’s digital age, technology — especially mobile apps — are an invaluable tool for enhancing the member experience. You now must ask yourself, how can you empower your members to connect with you anywhere, anytime?
Here are three ways you can start to empower your members:
1. Harness your mobile app to create a stronger community.
Your members are not just joining a gym. They are joining your community. Technology — while at times daunting for some — needs to play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. It needs to become part of your onboarding process for new members to download and login to your mobile app, make their first reservation, and engage with your programs. Getting them using your technology from Day One will foster a connection and relationship with the member beyond the walls of your center. The member will feel valued, supported and part of a larger community.
2. Quick reservation process and recommendations.
Members want to be in the know. They want to make reservations and get notified if a class is canceled or if there’s a sub instantly. Having an easy-to-use reservation software for facilities, classes and activities will empower members to make reservations, resulting in more visits to your center.
By eliminating the need for manual bookings or phone calls, technology streamlines the reservation process. This saves members time and reduces friction in accessing their favorite class or participating in an activity. Additionally, features such as real-time availability updates and automated reminders ensure a seamless member experience, helping overall retention.
3. Direct communication and reminders.
Effective communication is essential for keeping members informed, engaged and connected with your center. Mobile apps enable direct and personalized communication through alerts and push notifications that help members stay updated in real time on important announcements, closures, promotions, events and more. Push notifications sent through mobile apps have an average open rate of around 90%, indicating how effective they are in reaching and engaging your members.
Also, you can offer personalized recommendations of classes or programs a member should attend while sending reminders for upcoming reservations. Through direct communication with members through push notifications, reminders and alerts, the relationship between you and your members will become stronger built on a platform of trust and loyalty.
Leveraging technology to enhance the member experience goes beyond mere convenience. It’s about empowering members to feel connected, valued and part of your community. By focusing on creating a sense of belonging, streamlining the reservation process, and facilitating direct communication, recreation centers can harness the power of technology to create a more inclusive, engaging and empowering environment for their members.
