on April 07, 2022
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What platforms are available to you for your online classes.
- What the advantages and disadvantages of the platforms are
- And what we recommend
Keep in touch with your members and even expand your community
In this short series, we’ll show you step by step how you can master the Corona crisis with your studio and even gain more members. Online classes are safe. Anyone can participate. Without a mask, regardless of restrictions, vaccinations or hygiene regulations. That’s why you should add online options to your class program- it’s crisis-proof and expands your portfolio. And this comes with a lot of potential and great opportunities, without any risk and without having to invest in rooms, equipment or lots of technology.
Remote work – remote fitness
Many people now work remotely- and also want to train remote. So it makes total sense to attract new members or to retain existing members by streaming classes they can take from anywhere. Streaming you classes is possible on different platforms. Here is a brief introduction to the most important ones.
Top dog Youtube
Around 77% of Internet users visit the classic video platform every month. 62% of YouTube users are male, and 80% are between the ages of 18 and 49.*
Advantages
- the number 1 video platform
- also long classes (e.g. 60 minutes) in high quality (HD resolution) possible
- easy to use, good instructions
- free of charge in the basic version
- stream classes live
- classes permanently available to the public or exclusively for your members only
Disadvantages
- to watch your classes without commercial interruptions, the viewer must have a paid YouTube premium account
- videos should be of high quality, which can mean a lot of work
- the channel must be maintained and new videos generated regularly
Classic Facebook
You probably run a Facebook page yourself – and you’re in good company: 32 million users are on Facebook every month.
Advantages
- the learned social media platform
- easy to use
- videos easy to post in the newsfeed
- live streams easy to realize
- live videos can be saved to the feed afterwards
Disadvantages
- user numbers are decreasing
- target group is getting older
Must-have Instagram
Launched as a picture platform, Instagram is now the go-to social media platform for live streams and videos for 82% of 20-29 year olds* – and the number is rising.
Advantages
- very popular with the younger target group
- live streaming of classes via Instagram live
- make classes available to the community as videos 24/7 or save them in the feed
- alternatively, make recorded videos available via InstaTV
Disadvantages
- in the flood of content, movies and images it is difficult to generate attention for your content
- the variety of formats is sometimes confusing even for professionals: your movie is in landscape format, but the preview image is in portrait format and in your profile preview it is square
- instagram is usually viewed on a smartphone – so the image area is very small. This is difficult for following fitness classes.
Everyone has it: Zoom
Since Corona, it’s hard to imagine any computer/tablet/smartphone without Zoom. In personal training, Zoom even allows 1:1 interaction between you and your member.
Advantages
- classes can take place live and in HD quality
- most people know Zoom by now from their professional life
- “We-feeling”, because you are personally invited to the class
- more commitment, no anonymous participants
- interaction possible
- classes can be recorded and used later
- in the basic version also free of charge for the participants
Disadvantages
- not publicly available via social media
Zoom in your Magicline
Another great advantage for you as a Magicline user is the direct integration of Zoom into your software. This allows you to easily stream your online classes. By activating Zoom, your Magicline automatically generates online streams for your classes – including individual links that are automatically delivered to your participants in the MySports app and via MySports.com.
We’ve summarized what you need to know to get started right away with Zoom in a blog post for you.
Our recommendation
Zoom. Because it’s easy. You can leverage awareness. Many people know and use Zoom for their job, but perhaps have nothing else to do with social media. To score on other platforms, you have to shoot your films in almost professional quality – with Zoom, you score with personal contact. And that not only creates a lasting connection, and people forgive you if something else goes wrong. Use the other channels as well, as soon as you have gained routine.
You can also find out more about the individual platforms here on our blog:
In the next post of our “Fit on the Internet” series, we’ll show you the necessary technology (you probably already have it all) you need to create online classes and how you can reach participan
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