Is there anything that we can’t find online these days? From sriracha keyholders to electric cars, one can find pretty much everything. Indeed, the internet can turn anything into an instant success, especially if in the hands of popular influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers.
Since 2020, many businesses have had to find online alternatives for their in-person activities. That’s when top fitness companies worldwide began to partner up with fitness celebrities in the social media sphere. The fruits of such marriage? Fitness apps. Read more about it here.
Why Not?
If the title of this article was reworded from “why do” to “why wouldn’t”, the reader would have a pretty short article in hand. Both would be missing out a lot by not launching apps these days. After all, about 80% of the world has a smartphone today. So, mobile applications are the perfect extension of the realm that influencers and fitness companies have created in social media.
Besides, the market for mobile apps is thriving and should cross the USD 437 billion mark this year. Social media apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, and mobile gaming apps, such as NetBet, dominate the market. Fitness apps were responsible for at least USD 1 billion in revenue in this sector last year.
“People Like Us”
Subscribing to fancy fitness brands, such as Barry’s Bootcamp and SoulCycle. Getting tips from your favourite bodybuilder on Instagram, on the other hand, is not. Most fitness influencers have something that big brands lack: inspiration and relatable stories. It turns out that people feel much more motivated by examples than by flashy commercials and premium subscriptions.
Apps like Plankk Studio create a space for influencers and audiences to meet outside social media. Users can pick their favourite Instagram instructor for lessons and workouts.
The concept isn’t entirely new. Nike has done something similar with its app Nike Training Club. This app allowed users to get lessons from Nike-accredited trainers. In such apps, users can pay for specific workouts on demand. It usually costs only a fraction of a regular gym subscription. Fitness companies worldwide have understood the message. Many are now investing in mobile solutions and more affordable services.
Applied Technology
Fitness apps aren’t only budget options for those willing to work out; many of them offer flexibility that no land-based gym can offer. Apart from apps with training sessions, there are also those apps for booking fitness classes nearby, anywhere. The app ClassPass, for instance, offers options in Sydney, London, and New York.