MAKE IT SNAPPY!
HOW TO USE SNAPCHAT FOR
YOUR FITNESS BUSINESS
Forget your preconceptions about Snapchat, because the young kid on the social media block is
growing up – and your business could benefit.
WORDS: LYNSEY FRASER
napchat was the fastest growing
social media platform of 2015 and
it’s still gaining momentum. With
over three million active users in Australia,
and 60 per cent of people aged between 13
and 34 using the service, it’s no wonder
Australian businesses are getting on board
the ‘ghost’ train and using Snapchat to
connect with their customers.
The video/ picture messaging service
differentiates itself from other social channels
with one major key (Snapchat users will get
that joke!): the content only lasts for 24 hours
before disappearing. It’s a fast, authentic
and raw messaging service with no room for
polished profile pics and slick advertising –
just fleeting moments of video and passing
images shared between users.
This transient method of delivering
content is making it incredibly popular
with younger users, so it’s no surprise that
Snapchat is now considered one of the best
ways to connect to this market. It’s likely
that this demographic also makes up much
of your membership or client base, so you
might want to think about using it to reach
your customers.
Before you do though, be aware that it
has its limitations for business:
1. There is little to no advertising on
Snapchat, and what does exist is
incredibly expensive
2. It doesn’t connect with older markets as
usage rates drop significantly in the 35
years and above demographic
3. It’s limited in what can be delivered
– there are no links and video is
restricted to 10-second bursts.
However, its benefits for a fitness business
are still huge.
Here are a few examples of how you
could use Snapchat for your business:
1. Share short motivational messages with
your client base. Even a quick daily
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video message or reminder to drink
water or get moving throughout the day
can keep you top of mind with your
clients, and keep them motivated
between sessions.
2. Create a snap story workout for your
club. The maximum length of a video on
Snapchat may only be 10 seconds, but
you can record multiple videos and
create a snap story (videos just stack up
and play in sequence one after the other).
You could film short exercises to make up
a workout, or even set your members or
clients a Snapchat Workout of the Day.
3. Be a part of an event. If you’re training for
a particular event, like a half-marathon,
then Snapchat is a great way to capture
and share little moments from the event.
This acts as behind-the-scenes access,
or a live blog of what’s happening.
4. Save your snaps and promote them via
social channels. Content on Snapchat
does disappear after 24 hours, but you
can save it to your phone and then re-use
it across your other social media channels.
5. Quick announcements. If you’re running
a special event or offer, or you need to
get a quick message out, then Snapchat
is a great way to reach your audience.
Snapchat won’t suit every fitness business,
but it does present another avenue for some
to stay connected with their clients.
Lynsey Fraser has worked internationally as a
presenter, Master Trainer and PT specialising in
group training and club coaching. She uses her
background and experience in the fitness industry
and her passion for education to head up fitness
training and content marketing for Australia’s
largest sports retailer. lfraserfitness.com