Business Growth – Upper Hand https://upperhand.com Wed, 20 Mar 2024 19:16:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://upperhand.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cropped-New-small-sticker-logo-32x32.webp Business Growth – Upper Hand https://upperhand.com 32 32 How to Successfully Market Your Youth Sports Team https://upperhand.com/successfully-market-your-youth-sports-team/ https://upperhand.com/successfully-market-your-youth-sports-team/#respond Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=44491
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How to Successfully Market Your Youth Sports Team

Sports teams not only boost athleticism; they offer excitement, challenge, and camaraderie for both coaches and athletes. Many young athletes look forward all year to their team season, being reunited with their team, and improving their skills.

Launching a new or recurring sports team opens many doors to marketing opportunities that reach the community. Utilizing sports team management software becomes an indispensable tool in this journey, offering integration of team management tasks and enhancing the team’s operational efficiency. Learn tips and tricks to build buzz for your sports team and involve the community in your business endeavors.

Launch event

A great way to launch a new sports team is to host a captivating event, drumming up excitement about your team. This gathering is not only an opportunity to introduce the team but also a place to share the team’s mission, goals, and the spirit that underlies its formation. It’s a moment that unites players and supporters alike, setting a tone of anticipation and enthusiasm for what’s to come.

Related: Sports Team Handbook Template

 

Brand development

An essential step in constructing your team’s identity is brand development. Creating a unique logo, choosing team colors, and deciding on a team name is key to building a recognizable and cohesive brand. This sense of identity is crucial for athletes and supporters as it fosters a strong sense of belonging and loyalty.

 

Internal promotion

Internal promotion is a key strategy to market your sports team. Leveraging existing communication channels such as newsletters, social media posts, and signs around your facility can amplify your team’s presence. These outlets provide a direct line to your community, allowing you to share important details like tryout times, game schedules, and other team-related news.

 

Social media

Social media stands out as a powerful tool for building and nurturing a community around your sports team. By creating a dedicated account for the team, you can share regular updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and highlights from games. This not only engages current supporters but also reaches a wider audience, gaining exposure for your business.

 

Team Swag

Merchandising, or “swag,” is another brilliant marketing strategy. Offering team-branded jerseys, hats, hoodies, and water bottles not only boosts team spirit but also serves as a fundraising mechanism. This approach capitalizes on the excitement surrounding the team, encouraging both players and their families to wear their support proudly. Using a sports team management app like Upper Hand allows you to sell your merchandise and manage your inventory on the go.

 

Community engagement

Organizing events like training camps, workshops, or friendly competitions with families or other clubs can enhance team cohesion and foster a strong, supportive community. Additionally, pursuing corporate sponsorships can provide necessary financial support and create mutually beneficial promotional opportunities.

 

Feedback and involvement

Involving your athletes and staff in decision-making processes, such as choosing the team name or selecting a fundraising charity promotes a deeper sense of identity and commitment among players. Additionally, requesting feedback through surveys at the season’s end is a great way to improve, ensuring that each season is more successful than the last.

 

Ongoing updates

Keeping the community informed with regular updates on the team’s progress, upcoming games, and celebratory wins fosters a continuous connection. Highlighting player stories can also deepen the emotional bond between the team and its supporters, making every victory and challenge a shared experience. Keeping the community informed on future teams is a great way to add new players who want to join your team. Upper Hand’s sports team management software offers marketing features that allow you to send mass emails, automated reminders, and more.

In conclusion, marketing your youth sports team effectively requires a multiple-channel approach that includes everything from a well-planned launch event to the use of sports management software. By implementing these ideas, you can create a buzz around your new sports team, build a strong community of supporters, and foster a positive and inclusive company culture.

 

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]]> https://upperhand.com/successfully-market-your-youth-sports-team/feed/ 0 How Should I Price My Sports Lessons? https://upperhand.com/sports-lesson-pricing-tips/ https://upperhand.com/sports-lesson-pricing-tips/#comments Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:10:55 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=27293
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How Should I Price My Sports Lessons?

You’ve crossed a number of things off of your to-do list.

You finalized your business plan, sketched out a logo, and decided what you want your training sessions to look like. But now, the dreaded decision about how you’re going to price your offerings.

Where do you even begin?

You know the value you can provide your athletes in training. So, how do you effectively convey that value through your pricing?

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to pricing for your sports lessons. But, here are a few tips that will keep you competitive without discounting the value of your expertise.

1. Outline a basic budget

A good first step when determining your sports lesson pricing is outlining a basic budget. Most importantly, you should make a list of all of your monthly operating expenses. Once you know how much money you’re spending each month, you’ll be able to calculate how much you need to be making in order to pay your bills, your staff, and yourself.

Using a budget template designed specifically for sports businesses will help you break down your operating expenses, so you can gain a better understanding of the revenue you should be working to bring in. Of course, this also provides a great opportunity to reflect on where you may be able to cut costs or lower spending to grow your bottom line.

2. Conduct ample market research

It’s critical that you conduct market research to gain an understanding of the people you intend to serve. There are a number of factors that can influence your sports lesson pricing decisions. One of these factors: location. For example, what pricing works in Indianapolis, Indiana is very different from what works in Los Angeles, California. By conducting market research in your area, you’ll have a more accurate picture of your target demographic, and consequently, how you should price your sports lessons.

Demographics that you may consider looking into include age, gender, household income and hobbies. The insights this information can provide will help you determine who may be willing and able to train with your business, who you should target your offerings towards, and of course, the ballpark price range of your offerings to entice that target market.

3. Take a look at your competitors’ pricing

Understanding competition is a key component of any business plan. But, it’s especially impactful when it comes to setting your sports lesson pricing. You don’t want to be priced too low, where people don’t value you and your brand. Conversely, you don’t want to be priced too high, where your target demographic can’t afford to train with you.

A good rule of thumb is to model your pricing in the same ballpark as local competitors. This doesn’t mean you must price your offerings the exact same as other businesses. But, it should affect how you will position yourself in the market, which we will discuss next.

4. Determine your market position

Once you’ve done your research to understand your market and your competition, it’s critical that you define how you want to position yourself in the market. Why should athletes train with you, not them?

If your prices are higher…

If you are going to price your training sessions higher than other businesses in your area, what do you provide that is worth the extra investment? Do you have access to exclusive equipment or state of the art technology? Do you provide deeper insights into athlete data to help accelerate their development?

If your sports lesson pricing is higher than other businesses in your area, be sure to highlight your unique selling points in your marketing, and be sure to share with prospective clients what sets your business apart from others in the area.

If your prices are equal…

Similarly, if you choose to price your offerings the same as competitors in your area, why should athletes choose to train with you over other businesses? Just because your prices are comparable to other sports training academies doesn’t mean that athletes will automatically flock to your website to schedule a lesson. You still need to prioritize your marketing strategy to showcase your value proposition. Similar to if your sports lesson pricing is higher than your competitors, be sure to highlight why your business is different, and what athletes will gain from training with you and your staff.

If your prices are lower…

You may also decide to price your offerings below competitor rates; perhaps you’re newer to the industry, or are still looking to build credibility in the community. You may believe that by lowering your prices, you’ll become more competitive in your industry. While this is an okay strategy to implement, just be mindful of the expertise you bring to the table, and be careful not to undercut the value you are able to provide to athletes.

5. Think about ways to “package” your offerings

There are multiple ways you may choose to “package” your offerings, from a single session purchase to a multi-session package or monthly membership. By offering opportunities to purchase packages or enroll in a monthly membership, you are encouraging repeat business and client retention.

Let’s say your business model primarily revolves around private lessons. Once you set your price for your individual lesson, for example $60, you’ll be able to make decisions about other pricing tiers. Maybe you decide to offer a 4-pack of lessons for $200 (saving $10 per lesson if you buy 4 lessons up front).

Or, if you find that you are having a lot of repeat customers who consistently buy packages or single sessions, you may want to consider implementing an auto-renewing membership. Think through how many sessions your clients typically purchase each month or what products or services they consistently buy. Then, package those offerings into a membership that will introduce recurring revenue to your business.

While you may offer a few different types of sessions or price points, be careful not to have too many options. This can be overwhelming for clients, making it harder to find the program that is right for them. As the saying goes, K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid). This same concept applies to your sports lesson pricing.

Bonus Tip: There are other ways that you can provide flexibility to your customers. For example, you can offer payment plans that allow clients to pay down a larger balance over time. Or, you may choose to offer a discount code or promotion for new or longtime clients, or around a particular holiday.

Related: 3 holiday promotion ideas you can steal today

Putting it all together

Again, there’s no right or wrong answer as to how you set your prices. Nor is there a “magic number” we can give you. But, by doing research, planning your budget, and determining your positioning in the market, you’ll be well-equipped to make these decisions. Once you’ve decided on those prices, stay firm in your decision. This doesn’t mean you can’t make adjustments to your sports lesson pricing. But, it does mean that you need to believe in your prices, yourself, and the research you’ve done.

Looking for an easier way to manage your sports lessons? Upper Hand can help. Schedule a demo today to see how you can grow your business with lesson scheduling software.

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]]> https://upperhand.com/sports-lesson-pricing-tips/feed/ 4 23 Ways to Provide an All-Star Client Experience https://upperhand.com/23-ways-to-provide-an-all-star-client-experience/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:00:53 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=36878
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23 Ways to Provide an All-Star Client Experience

Creating an all-star experience for clients and athletes is not just a goal but a necessity for sports business owners striving to excel in a competitive market. Whether it’s a large sports club, training academy, or recreational team, the success of any sports business hinges on its ability to create an environment where clients and athletes feel valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their goals.

In this era of heightened competition, those who prioritize the all-star client experience not only stand out but also cultivate lasting relationships with their clients. Let’s delve into 23 strategies and practices that can elevate your sports business to all-star status.

1. Ensure that every person who walks through your door is greeted with a smile

First impressions are very important – they set the tone for the entire customer experience. Ensuring that each client who walks into your establishment is greeted and provided with what they need gives you a competitive advantage.

You know how awkward it can feel if you walk into a business and the front desk staff doesn’t speak to you or isn’t even there. Instead, a warm greeting will help clients (especially new clients) feel welcome in your space, starting their experience on the right foot.

2. Write personalized notes for new clients

Writing a handwritten or digital note for new clients is a great way to treat them like the all-stars they are. Let them know that you are happy they tried out your business, and that you hope to see them again soon. This is another great way to make new clients feel welcome in your space.

3. Say thank you

Life is busy, and your clients are choosing to spend their time and money on your business. Make sure to thank your clients every chance you get for that. This is a tremendous way to show them that they are all-stars.

4. Highlight athlete wins on social media

Everyone likes to be recognized for their hard work. Utilize your social media to create a community of athletes and reach new clients. Post your clients on social media when they reach a goal, break a record, or show a great attitude.

5. Support athletes outside of the facility

If you run a sports training business, you can support your athletes by attending their school or club games. If you have athletes who go on to play collegiately, you can keep up with their games, show your support, and continue to be their cheerleaders. This shows your athletes that they matter to you – whether or not they are training with you.

6. Prioritize Flexibility

Embracing flexibility is key to providing an all-star experience for your clients. Life is unpredictable, and when unforeseen circumstances arise that require your clients to reschedule their appointments, showing a willingness to accommodate their needs can make all the difference. Strive to adjust and reorganize schedules to meet their requests. Employing a team that is adaptable and understanding shows a commitment to client satisfaction. While it’s understood that accommodating every request is not always feasible, demonstrating an effort to be as flexible as possible reinforces the message that your clients are valued and their needs are a top priority.

7. Customize each training program

Each athlete and client is different, and each training program should reflect that. Customizing programs differently for each client shows that you go the extra mile to differentiate from your competitors.

8. Hire staff members who reflect your values

You may not have the time to get to know every single client on a personal level. Hiring staff who are committed to your vision will help you reach your goals. If your staff is committed to your goals, they will go the extra mile to give clients an all-star experience.

9. Keep in touch with your clients

Keep in touch with your clients, whether you see them every week or haven’t seen them in years. Maintaining relationships with clients shows that you care about them. And, they may decide to come back later or refer a friend to your business.

10. Set client goals and stick to them

Of course, you know that setting goals for your clients is important. However, sticking to and evaluating them sometimes falls through. When setting goals, make sure to have a measurable outcome with an amount of time you have to reach said goal. When a client can visualize a goal and see their progress, it makes the hard work worth it. If they don’t reach their goal, that is an opportunity to make a change to their plan. As they reach their goals, they will see themselves as an all-star too!

11. Emotionally connect

One way to connect with your clients on a personal level is to remember a few details about their personal life and ask about it when you see them. It is very meaningful when someone remembers a small detail you told them, despite the many conversations they have everyday. Your clients know that you’re busy and you are an inspiration to lots of people, so it is significant when you show that you care about them.

12. Send birthday cards

Sending birthday cards to your clients is a wonderful gesture that personalizes their experience with your business. It’s a simple yet impactful way to show clients they are more than just a number to you; they’re valued members of your community. Recognizing their special day not only strengthens your relationship but also reinforces their significance to your team. Whether it’s a traditional card or a digital greeting, this thoughtful act of kindness demonstrates your commitment to celebrating personal milestones alongside them.

13. Engage with parents

If you run a youth sports business, your athlete’s parents are the ones paying for their programs, driving them to training, and supporting them. A great way to build relationships with your clients is to engage with and thank their parents for all they do. Not only do your youth athletes deserve to be treated like all-stars, their parents do too.

14. Cultivate a client community

Creating a sense of community among your clients is a powerful way to enhance their overall experience. Organize events, competitions, or group training sessions that encourage interaction and camaraderie. These activities not only foster a supportive environment but also motivate clients by surrounding them with like-minded individuals who share their goals and passions. Building this type of community within your business can lead to lasting friendships among clients, increased motivation, and a stronger allegiance to your brand, as clients feel they are part of something larger than their individual goals.

15. Administer cleanliness and safety

Ensuring your facility is not only clean but also safe is paramount. A clean environment shows your clients you respect their health and well-being, making them feel secure and focused on their training. Implementing cleaning schedules and safety protocols demonstrates your commitment to an all-star client experience.

16. Ask for feedback

Engaging with your clients by asking for their feedback is crucial. It shows that you value their opinions and are committed to continuous improvement. Utilize surveys, suggestion boxes, and direct conversations to gather insights, and actively make changes based on their responses to enhance their experience.

17. Streamline processes

Make registration, scheduling, and payment processes as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Utilizing a sports management software like Upper Hand to streamline these operations can significantly improve client experience, reducing frustration and allowing more time for what matters most – their goals and progress.

18. Offer member-exclusive discounts

A great way to make your clients feel like stars is to provide discounts on training and merch, and offer events exclusively for members. This not only adds value to their membership but also encourages them to take advantage of your training, enhancing your relationship with your clients. Upper Hand’s client management software for coaches offers great ways to reward your loyal members!

19. Introduce Auto-Recurring Memberships

Auto-recurring memberships simplify the renewal process for clients and provide a steady revenue stream for your business. Ensure clients are clearly informed about the terms and benefits, making it an attractive and convenient option for continuous engagement. Upper Hand’s membership management software allows you to make your memberships auto-recurring.

20. Communicate well

Clear, concise, and effective communication is the key to avoiding misunderstandings and building trust. It is important to communicate with clients, parents, and staff and always make sure that the communication can go both ways. Be open to feedback and opinions! Whether it’s through newsletters, social media, or face-to-face interactions, make sure your messages are timely, relevant, and reflective of your brand’s voice.

21. Listen to and solve problems

When issues arise, listen attentively to your clients’ concerns, take responsibility, and work towards a swift resolution. Demonstrating accountability and willingness to rectify mistakes builds trust and shows clients they are valued. A great leader jumps on any opportunity to create a better experience for their clients- whether it’s stocking toilet paper in the bathroom, helping a staff member get a client checked in, or providing a discount for someone who had a poor experience, being ready to solve any problem shows clients that they are all-stars to you.

22. Send reminders

Life gets busy, and clients appreciate reminders about their upcoming sessions, events, or renewals. Personalized reminders not only help reduce no-shows but also enhance the client experience by demonstrating your attentiveness and organizational skills. Utilize Upper Hand’s marketing and contact management tools to send automated reminders to clients!

23. Collect data

Gather data on client preferences, attendance, and feedback to inform your business strategies and tailor your services to meet their needs better. This data-driven approach enables you to make informed decisions that can significantly improve client satisfaction and retention. Upper Hand AI is a great tool to collect data while you focus on training athletes.

Incorporating these strategies into your business model can dramatically enhance the client experience, setting your sports business apart as a leader in providing an all-star service. By focusing on these aspects, you’re not just meeting expectations; you’re exceeding them, fostering loyalty, and building a community of clients who feel valued, supported, and motivated to achieve their best.

 

Read more about how you can utilize software to manage your sports business!

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]]> 5 Reasons Why you Should be Tracking your Athletes’ Progress https://upperhand.com/5-reasons-to-track-athlete-progress/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:00:24 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=25603
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5 Reasons Why you Should be Tracking your Athletes’ Progress

Seven.

That’s the percentage of high school athletes who will go on to compete at the collegiate level.

This means that many young athletes with aspirations to play in college, and maybe one day the pros, are looking for more than just a place to work out.

They’re looking for a competitive edge.

The training and coaching you provide athletes are pivotal aspects of their development, but how do you convey that value to them and their parents? How can you show them, not just tell them, that they are improving?

It all comes down to tracking their progress.

Every athlete’s goal is a little bit different, but regardless if they’re aiming for the Olympics or to live a healthy, active lifestyle, athlete progression tracking will help validate the work they are putting in, their progress toward their goals, and their investment in your brand.

Here are 5 reasons why you should be tracking your athletes’ progress.

 

5 reasons why you should be tracking athlete progress

1. Show improvement over time

Results keep people coming back. Being able to show proof of progress motivates your clients to stay committed to their goals. One of the biggest reasons for athlete progression tracking is to show that improvement over time. You’ll be able to establish a baseline, set a goal, then set up milestones and training progressions to tackle along the way. Without a plan to track athlete progress, it becomes harder to objectively recognize improvements.

 

2. Reduce injury and burnout

By tracking an athletes’ training, you’re able to see changes in their output, and identify when to push forward and when you might need to scale back. Monitoring an athlete’s movements and improvements empower you to detect potential sources of injuries or setbacks – before it’s too late. This will ensure your athletes have positive experiences with their sport, and continue to progress toward their goals.

 

3. Individualize your training

Especially as you grow your brand, your programs will reach a wide range of clients. To individualize group training sessions, or to efficiently schedule high numbers of private lessons, athlete progression tracking can help you break down your workouts and programs into different tiers. As athletes master certain skills or reach a certain benchmark, they can progress to a more advanced training level. Likewise, if an athlete still has room to improve, they can remain at a certain weight, rep count, or drill. This allows your training to become more valuable, and provides flexibility without creating additional work in program planning.

 

4. Give more valuable feedback

We’ve talked a lot about giving athletes feedback and evaluations – how can this translate into progression tracking?

Many athletes lack the self-awareness of their technique, form, or even in-game execution. Tracking progress allows for feedback on performance, specifically how certain movements have improved an athlete’s speed, endurance, strength, and more. As you bring attention to both strengths and areas of improvement, you will reinforce positive behaviors, and appropriately make adjustments to address weaknesses.

 

5. Build your coaching reputation

Not only does athlete progression tracking have benefits for your athletes; it can also help you as a coach or trainer. As we’ve mentioned before, results keep people coming back. Tracking your athlete’s progress will empower you to show documented results that will build your reputation. This will help you continue to grow your brand and expand your reach. And, once you begin tracking the progress of your athletes, you’ll become more in-tune with your coaching, programming, and the value of your offerings.

Read more about how you can utilize software to manage your youth sports training business!

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]]> Why You Need Sports Club Management Software https://upperhand.com/why-you-need-sports-club-management-software/ Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:33:43 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=36649
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Why You Need Sports Club Management Software

Managing a sports club is undeniably challenging, with your list of tasks stacking up each day. From coordinating schedules and managing memberships, to handling registrations and facilitating communication, the demands of running a sports club are extensive. Manually handling these tasks can be overwhelming and lead to inefficiency and errors. Enter the game changing solution-sports club management software.

Upper Hand’s powerful tool streamlines and automates various aspects of sports club management, offering a comprehensive solution to these challenges. Here, learn the reasons why investing in a management software for your sports club is not just a convenience, but a strategic decision for club efficiency and success.

Manage memberships

Memberships are a very important aspect of sports clubs, and are oftentimes your biggest source of revenue. As an owner, manager, or coach, building relationships with your clients is crucial, and sets you apart from other clubs.

Having a membership management software like Upper Hand creates a positive experience for every member visit. With software that creates a seamless member check in, allows member discounts, and more, you can focus on building that foundation of a great partnership. Upper Hand’s membership features also empower you to:

  • Offer automatic discounts for select memberships
  • Automate class and program credits for members
  • Offer retail discounts exclusively for members
  • Give members access to exclusive programs and events
  • Leverage data to increase member retention
  • Incorporate optional join fees, commitment lengths, pre-launch momentum, and more

Improve client experience

With Upper Hand’s sports club management system, your clients will appreciate the seamless booking, registration, and payment processes. With automated reminder notifications, clients won’t miss another session. You can also give them the freedom to book with specific instructors for lessons. A client management software for coaches helps add that human touch to your client transactions.

Track athletes’ progress

Athlete progression tracking not only helps athletes improve their skills, but it also elevates their experience, as they are receiving careful instruction based on data. Over time, that data you’ve collected allows you to create even better individualized plans for each athlete.

Manage your staff

Your staff are the godsends that help your sports club run everyday. With Upper Hand, your staff can manage their availability and facility booking preferences, clock in and out, and more. You also have access to payroll reporting. Each staff member receives an Upper Hand login portal, and you can assign staff to different levels of access depending on their role.

Never double book again

You know firsthand how embarrassing it can be when a facility space gets double booked. With Upper Hand, you never have to worry about this happening. Utilizing a sports facility booking app increases client satisfaction, efficient operations, and overall organization.

Why Upper Hand’s sports club management software is worth the investment

Upper Hand assists in managing all aspects of your business. With software taking care of your tasks, you have less problems to fix and more time to train athletes. In fact, Upper Hand saves an average of 8 hours on administrative tasks, allowing you time to create more programs and increase revenue. On average, businesses reported a 107% increase in revenue during the first year using Upper Hand. And, with affordable pricing options, each sports club can benefit from using Upper Hand.

If you don’t yet have a sports club management software, Upper Hand can help! Get a demo of Upper Hand AI today, and see how you can start making better decisions backed by data.

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]]> 3 Email Automations You Should Be Using https://upperhand.com/3-email-automations-you-should-be-using/ https://upperhand.com/3-email-automations-you-should-be-using/#comments Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:00:08 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=23913
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3 Email Automations You Should Be Using

You want to stay connected with your clients. After all, they’re the reason that you do what you do. You love establishing a personal connection with each of your athletes, and seeing them improve over time.

But, you know as well as anyone how valuable that time is. Wherever you can automate processes to make them more efficient, the better, right?

Automations empower you to gain time back to focus on other areas of your business, like building out new programs and events, preparing a sports camp agenda, or offering a new type of class at your facility.

You see automations in a number of areas in your business. With Upper Hand, for example, you can automate your memberships to drive recurring revenue. You can also automate your payroll and commission tracking to eliminate room for human error and save time on the tedious administrative side of your business.

But, have you considered how you might automate your email marketing?

Think about the emails that you receive each day–promotions for new clothes at your favorite store, a birthday coupon to treat yourself, or a reminder that you might need to schedule that doctor’s appointment.

Setting up recurring email communications will allow you to keep in touch with your clients and prospects, without taking time away from your already busy schedule.

What are email automations, and which ones should you incorporate into your marketing strategy?

 

What are email automations?

Email automations empower you to plan and send automated messages to specific clients at certain times–without doing the manual work every time. By automating the process, you are able to focus on other areas of your business while still staying in touch with your clients and building positive relationships.

There are a number of reasons why you should automate email messages. First, it allows you to engage with your customers and prospects on a regular basis. Personal connections will always be a priority. But, especially as you grow your business, it can become extremely cumbersome to manually send out targeted emails from scratch. Automated emails can still be personalized, and will help you continue building those connections behind the scenes.

Next, email automations save you time to focus on important areas of your business such as your programming and offerings. By streamlining your marketing communications, you’re able to strategically invest time in your business and clients in a way that will show value.

Email automations also provide an easy opportunity to celebrate your clients. This will ensure no special day goes unnoticed, and will greatly contribute to your client satisfaction and retention. For example, you may choose to send a birthday email with a special coupon code to sweeten the deal. Whether these clients are working out with you frequently or haven’t been in for a while, it will show that you appreciate them and care about them as more than just a number.

There are a lot of ways to use email automations. But, to get started, here are 3 email automations that you can start using today.

 

3 Email Automations Your Business Should Be Using:

1. Prospect Nurturing Email

Prospect nurturing email automations are emails that you trigger to send to prospective clients. These are individuals that may be interested in your business and offerings, but haven’t yet signed up. By automating an email marketing campaign after someone fill out the form on your website or sign up for your newsletter, you can immediately begin to establish a relationship with them.

Research has found that nearly 50% of leads aren’t ready to buy. By using email automations, you’ll keep your brand top of mind so when they are ready, they come to you.

When writing a prospect nurturing email, be sure to use this as an opportunity to share information that potential clients may want to read. Ease any hesitations, answer commonly asked questions, and provide resources that can help them make an informed decision about which offerings might be right for them. By personalizing the experience, you are more likely to convert your leads into long time clients.

 

2. New Client Email Automation

A new client email automation is a triggered email that is sent any time you gain a new client. This gives your new clients a positive first impression and a warm welcome to your business.

New client email automations are a great opportunity to give an overview of your offerings and answer commonly asked questions. For example, you may give an overview of event schedules, staff contact information, or any other details that will be important prior to showing up for their lesson or class. As with prospect nurturing email automations, these emails establish a positive first impression with your brand, so they should be customized to fit your brand’s voice.

 

3. Birthday Email Automation

As the name suggests, birthday email automations are sent on clients’ birthdays. Birthday emails are an easy way to make your clients feel special and to strengthen your relationship with them. Recognizing their big day shows that you care about them more than just as another face in a class.

Birthday email automations are proven to have high transaction rates, meaning they are effective. You may consider sweetening the deal by adding in a special coupon or added perk. This will also encourage clients to come back to your business or to try something new.

For more on birthday email campaigns, check out this article on how to build a customer birthday campaign in less than 30 minutes!

 

Conclusion

As you build these marketing automations, remember that even the smallest actions can have a lasting impression on your clients. Putting in a few minutes on the back end to build and schedule these automations will help you continue positive engagements, influence prospective clients to come train with you, and make your clients feel important.

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]]> https://upperhand.com/3-email-automations-you-should-be-using/feed/ 1 How to Use Upper Hand to Increase Efficiency at Your Sports Business https://upperhand.com/how-to-use-upper-hand-to-increase-efficiency/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:06:09 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=36602
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How to Use Upper Hand to Increase Efficiency at Your Sports Business

Whether you’re a sports business owner, manager, coach, or trainer, you know firsthand how administrative tasks pile up. Keeping operations running efficiently can be a struggle with all of the tasks that you juggle.

Upper Hand is designed to help your business run more effectively and cater to your business needs. Here are some ways that Upper Hand can assist in making your sports business more efficient.

Improve operations

Upper Hand streamlines all of your operational tasks, resulting in more time for you to train athletes. Features such as scheduling and registration, resource management, marketing tools, payment processing, and more will help you keep your business organized.

An owner of a baseball training academy says this about his experience using Upper Hand:

“With Upper Hand, group training is a lot more possible than without it. And I think with the groups, we can get a 20 to 25 percent revenue increase that we wouldn’t have had. If it wasn’t for Upper Hand, it would be tough to do it because there’s not enough time in the day and it probably would have just burned me out completely.”

Not only does Upper Hand help improve operations, but it also opens up time for you to create more programs, resulting in a revenue increase.

Improve client experience

As a business owner or coach, your relationships with your clients are very important. There is increasing competition in the sports business world, and the human touch that you bring to the table is what sets you apart from the competition. Many clients or athletes won’t think twice about switching to another training facility if they have a bad experience.

With Upper Hand, you can ensure a seamless booking experience. From a smooth scheduling and registration process to sending automated reminders and marketing emails before your events, to allowing a variety of payment options, your clients will be happy doing business with you. And, with less confusion on logistics, you can spend time getting to know and building relationships with your clients.

Offer an easy training process for new staff

Utilize Upper Hand’s education resources when training new staff. If you have front desk staff that often rotates, whether they’re summer employees, high school students, etc, you may find yourself tired from having to train your staff. Upper Hand University is a great way to train your employees without cutting into your busy schedule.

Upper Hand University (UHU) features videos that walk through each software feature. Utilize UHU to train staff how to use Upper Hand, and select the tutorials you need depending on the features you use the most. Take some training tasks off your back with Upper Hand University.

Ditch the pen and paper

Going digital is the key to increasing efficiency in your business. Gone are the days when you have to write down attendance, manually organize data, play phone tag with clients, and remember to collect payments in person. Having all of your information in one sports management app will save you time and headaches. With Upper Hand’s mobile app, you can manage your business from anywhere while getting ahead of the competition through data collection.

Athlete progression tracking

Athlete progression tracking is a great example of utilizing data collection to improve. Track your athletes’ workouts, improvements, injuries, and more. By seeing your athletes’ data in one place, you can make informed decisions when individualizing each training program, coaching your teams strategically, and monitoring progress.

Upper Hand AI

Another way to collect data efficiently is to utilize Upper Hand AI. Upper Hand’s dedicated data team interprets your business data and provides visuals to help understand it. Upper Hand AI allows you to:

  • Track which event types and times bring you the most revenue
  • Gather geographical information on your audience to make better marketing choices
  • Forcast industry trends that will drive revenue
  • Gain access to marketing insights from other platforms

With Upper Hand AI, you receive data that can be used to make informed decisions and drive revenue each year. You also do not have to go through the hassle of collecting papers, keeping track of data, and interpreting it on your own. Upper Hand’s data team is passionate about what they do and excited to help you grow your business through data analysis.

At the end of the day, you can run your business using a pen and paper. However, you can expand your business to new heights with Upper Hand. Not only does Upper Hand’s sports management software help your business run more efficiently, but it also allows you to introduce more programs, grow your revenue, and focus on what you love- training athletes.

 

If you don’t yet have a sports management software, Upper Hand can help! Get a demo of Upper Hand AI today, and see how you can start making better decisions backed by data.

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]]> The 6-Step Process for Forecasting Sales at your Sports Facility https://upperhand.com/6-step-process-for-forecasting-sales-sports-facility/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 13:48:52 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=36528
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The 6-Step Process for Forecasting Sales at your Sports Facility

How often do you check the weather forecast?

If I had to guess, you probably check it daily. Maybe multiple times a day.

Before you go outside. Do I need an umbrella?
As you get dressed for a workout. Is it shorts weather?
While you’re packing for a trip. Ahh, yes, warm and sunny all week – perfect for the beach!

Forecasting the weather helps you make decisions and plan for the future. You rely on the forecast to make plans or best prepare for a day’s activities.

But, are you checking the sales forecast for your sports facility?

Sales forecasting plays a pivotal role in financial planning for a sports facility, providing a clear estimate of future revenue and anticipated expenses.

Forecasting helps you efficiently allocate your resources, staff, and equipment to meet client demand without overspending. And, it helps you make strategic decisions. To help combat seasonality, you can use this information to identify peak seasons and low demand periods, and identify opportunities for marketing, pricing, and promotion adjustments.

So, what exactly is sales forecasting, and how can you get started for your business? In this article, we’ll dive into these answers.

What is sales forecasting?

Sales forecasting is the process of estimating future sales performance based on historical data, market analysis, and other influencing factors. For sports facility owners, sales forecasting can help you make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and proactively adapt to changing market conditions.

Sales forecasting can not only help from a numbers standpoint but also when it comes to resource allocation, staffing optimization, and marketing strategies in alignment with anticipated trends. Additionally, it can help you make better, more informed decisions as you navigate potential opportunities for growth, expansion, or investments.

How to Forecast Sales for your Sports Facility

Step 1: Understand your market (and clients)

The first step when forecasting sales at your sports facility is to gain a strong understanding of your market. It’s likely you already have a good sense of the types of programs you offer, how you are different from your competitors, and what kinds of athletes you serve. But, market research is paramount to forecasting your sales, as it sets the tone for the rest of your strategy. Without a comprehensive understanding of the market, you lack the context you need to make informed decisions that lead to growth.

Start by conducting a thorough analysis of the demographic factors in your area. Identify the age groups, economic backgrounds, and sport preferences of your potential (and current) clientele. And, take a look at your competitors through conducting a competitive analysis. This will help you identify your unique selling proposition, thus helping you capitalize on your strengths. This understanding will equip you with the information you need to strategically position your facility in the market, tailor your services to meet the demands and needs of your clients, and ultimately help you accurately forecast your sales.

Step 2: Analyze historical data

Analyzing historical data stands as another critical and foundational step in the sales forecasting process for sports facilities. In order to get to where you want to be, you must understand where your business is in the present. By diving into this information – for example revenue, program utilization, and customer retention rates – you’re able to uncover patterns, trends, strengths, and challenges. This context provides the essential baseline for making informed predictions and strategic decisions that affect your future.

Using a sports management software like Upper Hand makes it easy for you to view your past finances at a glance. Upper Hand AI, empowers you to maximize your sports facility business potential with data-driven insights through advanced reporting and visualizations.

Step 3: Explore seasonal trends and patterns

The next step when forecasting sales at your sports facility is to explore seasonal trends and patterns within your sports business. Inherently, there is seasonality in sports, and demand for your programs likely fluctuates based on external factors like school breaks, holidays, or in- vs off-season training seasons.

Recognizing and understanding these seasonal patterns is crucial when forecasting your sales, as you can proactively prepare for peak periods and optimize resource allocation during slower times. Additionally, you can gain a greater understanding of when your programs are most in demand. This empowers you to strategically plan marketing campaigns, promotions, and staffing needs to capitalize on these time periods. Conversely, you can identify your “slower” seasons, thus providing an opportunity to implement targeted initiatives like special promotions or events to stimulate demand.

Ultimately, identifying seasonal patterns enables sports facility owners to manage their resources efficiently. Knowing when to expect a surge or decline in demand can help you better manage your inventory, staffing, and overall operational planning. You’ll not only ensure that your sports facility can meet the needs of your clientele, but also contribute to a more stable business model that can navigate the ebb and flow of seasonal demand.

Step 4: Create a marketing and promotional calendar

The next step when forecasting your sales involves creating (and analyzing) your marketing and promotional calendar. Once you’ve established a solid understanding of your historical data and identified any seasonal patterns, it’s crucial to align your forecasting efforts with your planned marketing initiatives.

For example, if you are planning a summer break camp, you can forecast an uptick in registrations during this targeted period. Similarly, if you are offering a new client promotion for the new year, you may also anticipate an increase in membership sales during that time.

As you continue to fine-tune your sales forecasts, you can make them more accurate and actionable. Like mentioned in Step 2, you can update your marketing/ promotional calendar to stimulate new interest during lulls, or capitalize on times of high demand. Additionally, alignment between your operational and marketing initiatives makes for a holistic approach to business planning and growth for your sports facility.

Step 5: Gather and leverage customer feedback and surveys

Ultimately, while it’s crucial to use the numbers and data surrounding your business to make decisions, it is also important to engage with your client base to balance the quantitative data with qualitative data. The best way to do this – engaging with your customers and prospects.

Collecting feedback from your clients and prospects contributes to a more customer-centric approach to sales forecasting. This ensures that your predictions align with the evolving needs and expectations of your target market. A good way to start is through marketing surveys or collecting reviews. Ask clients about their experiences, intentions, the effectiveness of your programs, or areas for improvement. Understanding the factors that contribute to customer satisfaction or purchasing decisions can help you plan to meet these needs, thus helping you forecast sales for your business.

Ready to get started?

By following this 6-step process, you’ll be well-equipped to start forecasting sales at your sports facility. Whether you have a robust sports facility management software to store your data, or you’re just getting started with data collection, the hardest part is just getting started. Sales forecasting has a number of benefits for sports facilities – it can help you adjust your programming, help you navigate seasonality, and ultimately set you up for success both now and in the future.

If you don’t yet have a sports management software, Upper Hand can help! Get a demo of Upper Hand AI today, and see how you can start making better decisions backed by data.

 

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]]> What is Midjourney (and how can I use it for my business)? https://upperhand.com/what-is-midjourney-and-how-can-i-use-it/ Tue, 26 Dec 2023 12:10:40 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=36460
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What is Midjourney (and how can I use it for my business)?

In the dynamic world of ever-changing technology, it can be hard to stay up to date on it all. However, as a sports business owner or coach, you could be taking advantage of these advancements to better your business. Keeping up with the changes, advancements, and opportunities allows you to elevate the marketing design of your business.

One of these up-and-coming technologies is called Midjourney, and business owners all over the world are using it to gain a competitive edge in their marketing strategies.

 

What is Midjourney?

Midjourney is an innovative AI program that generates images from any description. The world of artificial intelligence is growing rapidly, and knowing how to use it can give you the upper hand when it comes to your marketing strategy.

 

How to get started with Midjourney

  1. Join discord. If you already have an account, log in.
  2. Visit https://www.midjourney.com/
  3. Click “Join the beta”
  4. You will be taken to the Midjourney Discord. Make sure to accept the Terms and Conditions.
  5. Before you’re able to type any prompts, you are asked to choose a payment plan; there are four different pricing options to choose from. Choose any plan depending on your needs, but the cheapest plan ($8/month) is a great option.
  6. Choose a “newbie” chat room to start generating your photos; you are sharing a space with other Midjourney users.
  7. When generating images, type “/imagine” followed by your prompt. (Example: /imagine a girls’ youth soccer team celebrating a win on the field during golden hour.)

 

How can I use Midjourney as a sports business owner?

As a sports business owner, you may not have many opportunities to get quality photos for your website. An AI image generator is a great way to elevate your sports business marketing strategies without hiring a photographer or using someone else’s photos.  You can use Midjourney to generate stock images for your website, landing page examples, logos, digital ads, and more.

 

Create images for your website

Through descriptive prompts, you can create the perfect photos for your website. The more detailed your prompt, the better your photo will turn out. For example, include words such as photorealistic, portrait, close-up shot, etc. depending on the look you want. Also, it is helpful to include the time of day, weather, the mood of a person/photo, lighting and size that you’re looking for. With these details, you can create photos that feel perfect and fitting to your brand.

 

Develop a new logo for your business

Midjourney can create hundreds of logo options for your business. Example: /imagine an svg vector image of Quarterback Academy, white background, logo inspired by Nike. Furthermore, if you simply want to update your current logo, the software can create new, similar variations of it.

 

Create fun wall graphics for your facility

Creating inspirational posters for your facility walls is simple on Midjourney. If you don’t have many ideas, try creating generic prompts to see what it comes up with. If there is a photo that you like, you can request to see new variations of it in order to find the perfect one.

 

Generate images to use in digital ads

Again, creating digital marketing materials on Midjourney is a game changer. No longer do you have to design or find ad images; Midjourney will provide them for you. This AI does not yet know how to write words, so it cannot yet create your ad text. However, this cutting-edge technology is always advancing, and it may be able to write text someday soon. The future is exciting in the world of AI, and now you are a part of it!

In conclusion, Midjourney can be a great resource for your sports business’ marketing. Playing around with its photo generator not only provides you with powerful and useful photos, it also can bring ideas and inspiration to the surface.

If you are interested in learning more about Midjourney, we recently hosted a webinar with many more details on how to best use the website. Click here to watch!

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]]> 4 Ways to Build a Positive Sports Team Culture https://upperhand.com/4-ways-to-build-positive-sports-team-culture/ Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:27:43 +0000 https://upperhand.com/?p=36387
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4 Ways to Build a Positive Sports Team Culture

Building and maintaining a positive sports team culture is important in creating a safe, enjoyable experience for athletes and coaches. Team culture is established by leaders (coaches) and reinforced by athletes who believe in it. This means that it’s truly the responsibility of coaches to decide they want to build a positive environment and work on it every day.

Figuring out where to start can be challenging, especially when dealing with teams composed of athletes who haven’t played their sport together before or if you’re coaching for the first time. Don’t worry, Upper Hand has you covered with 4 tangible things you can do to build a team culture that everyone is proud of.

While you’re here, don’t forget to check out our new Teams feature. Establishing a positive sports team culture just got easier when managing scheduling, payments, and team communication with Upper Hand.

1. Establish clear values and be the example

Team culture can be defined as the energy, traditions, and values of a group of people working toward a shared goal. A great way to kickstart an awesome team culture is to establish clear values and model those values as coaches and mentors. These values can include expectations for how to approach team participation such as hard work, teamwork, and responsibility. They may also include rules about how to treat each other on or off the court like sportsmanship, kindness and respect.

You should establish values that are simple enough for the age group you’re working with to understand and applicable enough for them to reiterate in all types of situations. Sometimes athletes need a little reminder in times of adversity or during a tough game that as a group they can still work together and they can still respect one another. As coaches, athletes often look up to you and if they see you working hard, sticking together as a staff, and respecting yourselves, they’re more likely to buy in and do the same. Practice what you preach and show your athletes how it’s done.

2. Balance accountability with encouragement

While it may be the not-so-fun part of coaching, holding your team accountable is crucial in building a positive sports team culture. It teaches them that there are consequences for actions that don’t align with team values and can help redirect them to a behavior or perspective that’s more positive. You may need to sit them down for a serious talk or repeat certain drills until they give their full effort when they’ve forgotten to work as a team or to show good sportsmanship. Holding your team accountable doesn’t mean highlighting every little mistake, but it does mean putting the well being of your team first.

It’s also important to note that an environment of solely accountability with no encouragment can be a recipe for disaster. This can definitely dampen the spirit of the team and make it difficult for them to see the fun in their sport. Balancing accountability with encouragement lets them know that the structure you’re providing is coming from a place of care. Words of encouragement, highlighting accomplishments often, and never forgetting to mention small improvements along the way lets them know that you see their hard work paying off and you enjoy being their coach.

3. Let your athletes take the wheel

Empowering your team to apply the skills they’ve learned gives them a sense of ownership over their experience. Feeling like they have a true say in influencing their own sports team culture can result in deeper investment and buy-in among them. This empowerment can come in many forms, from letting athletes lead certain drills to incorporating team captain input during pre-match pep talks and huddles. Letting athletes take the wheel in this way may give you insight into what they feel their team strengths and weaknesses are or what they enjoy most. You can use this information to your advantage when planning future practices or upgrading your list of team values.

Providing opportunities for your team to recognize each other’s accomplishments is another great way for them to take the wheel. Take positive feedback from being exclusively coach driven to being and teammate driven as well. Whether they’re voting for each other to win superlatives like “Best Hustler” or sharing a positive insight from their match in a post-game huddle, this type of peer to peer recognition can lead to genuine camaraderie.

4. Have fun!

Sports can bring joy to coaches and athletes alike. On your teams, it’s always a good idea to supplement the gritty work you all do with something light hearted. While athletes may find their sport to be one of the biggest parts of their lives, it’s important to remind them that playing sports is something that should push them but still bring them a sense of accomplishment.

Games, jokes, music, and non-sport team building activities are all ways you can bring fun to the time you spend with athletes. There may be an activity or song that they associate with their time on the team that bring back awesome memories for years to come.

Related: 6 Creative Ways to Keep Athletes Engaged in Essential Drills

Ready to build a positive sports team culture?

Establishing clear values, holding your team accountable, appreciating athlete input, and having fun while doing it may come easy to you. But, if it doesn’t, we hope you’re able to take some of the examples and ideas above and apply them as you work to build and maintain your team’s positive culture.

All it takes is one coach who cares and one team that feels like home to change an athlete’s life for the better. Your team’s culture plays a role in that. Every day won’t be perfect, but ensuring athletes show up to a safe, enjoyable environment will always be rewarding no matter if you win, lose, or draw.

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