TrueCoach App Reports 300 Percent User Increase
The popular coaching App TrueCoach saw an increase in new users by 300 percent from February to March 2020.
Why this might be significant: The app is predominantly used by coaches who offer individualized programming to their clients, explained Raechel Sinuk of TrueCoach.
- “Several coaches (also) use the platform for nutrition coaching, habit tracking…(but) individual design is the most common,” she said.
The app allows coaches to share training programs, upload videos, track progress and communicate back and forth with clients. The app itself also contains 1,200 preloaded movement videos for coaches to use.
Sinuk’s prediction: A continued upsurge in individualized training programs, now and beyond COVID-19.
- “I think especially now there will be an increase in individual program design. But mostly an increase in online remote coaching in general…The TrueCoach platform has opened up a whole new avenue for coaches to train online and remotely that may have not previously been doing so,” she said.
From the gym owner’s side: While Zoom classes have been given all the pandemic training hype, many affiliate owners, as well as other independently-owned functional fitness gyms, say offering individualized training programs is responsible for their high client retention since closing their doors.
- “We have put nearly two-thirds of our athletes into TrueCoach, (and) teamed (them) up with a coach for one-on-one personal customizations of our daily at-home programming. I’m certain we would have lost many more clients had we not done it. And my coaches are still getting paid,” said David Rubin, the owner of CrossFit Durham in North Carolina.
Joe Dahl, the owner of CrossFit Oxnard in California said he credits individual program design for maintaining an additional one-third of his clientele that he otherwise would have lost. He posts all his gym’s group workouts of the day online for anyone to see, so he felt like he needed to offer more since closing his doors.
- “Anyone can get the broad strokes online for free, so it’s working in the fringes with an actual coach where the difference happens,” Dahl said.
- “Zoom calls and Facebook live have a purpose but are somewhat lacking in the actual fitness department. They are good for (the) community, and then the individual design gives them the fitness. A recent survey indicated that (clients) absolutely love it and many of them want to continue even when we’re open,” he added.
New business acquired through TrueCoach: Freddie Dorman, the owner of Dorman’s Sports Performance in Altoona, PA was using TrueCoach for his competitive athletes and weightlifters before closing his doors and has increased his use of the app since. Doing so has even helped him pick up new clients, he said.
- “Since the shutdown, we were able to increase our online reach to remote athletes, and our current athletes who have the ability to train at home. I would say it is very much helping us retain clientele,” he said.
He said the platform’s ability to easily upload videos to the training programs has been particularly useful.
- “It helps athletes feel more connected to coaches and vice versa,” he said.
CrossFit 7 Mile in Grand Cayman is another gym that has acquired new clients through TrueCoach — not just individual program design clients, but also clients who have been following their general at-home workouts, as well as their running program.
- “Our website is now about our remote coaching options and leads go into a remote coaching journey from UpLaunch when they fill out their details,” said owner Carl Brenton.
So far, he has added five new remote clients and 20 new remote running program clients.
Keeping coaches employed through individualized coaching: For Brandon Couden, the owner of Grandview Barbell in Columbus, Ohio, increasing his individualized programming services has helped him not just retain clients, but also continue to pay his coaches.
- “I’ve kept my coaches employed by (having them) take on large groups of clients, (and) customize their training based on their equipment, training goals etc,” said Couden, who was only doing a limited amount of individualized programming prior to COVID-19.
- “I honestly feel like (individualized programming) is the difference between us asking for charity (from our clients) and providing a service that is delivering in the value of the membership they’re paying while people are training at home.”
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