Stop.
Hammer time. I mean wasting time.
Wasting time on ‘busy’ tasks like checking your email for the nth time or your Facebook page or spending 3 hours adjusting the spacing on your Canva project so it’s juuuust right.
Or maybe you are just procrastinating like a boss.
Instead, spend 20 minutes doing some work to intentionally move your business a step forward.
Here are 22 small, quick tasks you can do in one sitting that will help you towards building a thriving bootcamp.
Some of these are something you’ll just do one time. Others would be great to pick up as a weekly habit.
Make your community more awesome
1. Call a lead (15 minutes)
Go to your folder of enquiries in your email, pick out a lead and call or email them. When you set up your enquiry form, always ask them for when and how they prefer to be contacted. It takes the guess work out of things.
Don’t have any leads? Check out the quick tasks you can do to get more leads below.
2. Call or text one client (5 minutes)
Pick one of your current clients and call or text them to tell them something you have noticed them improving on. Or just tell them how thankful you are that they are a client.
3. Interview a client (1 hour)
Take a client out for coffee or a drink and pick their brains about what they are looking for in a fitness solution.
Try to listen more then talk. Ask open ended questions like: ‘What does being healthy mean to you?’
Avoid closed or directed questions like: ‘Do you like bootcamp or one on one sessions?’
And always go deeper by asking Why. You will know when you hit the real reasons for them wanting to exercise when the answers start being emotional instead of practical.
4. Create something free for your clients and other visitors to your website (3 hours)
This helps people get to know you before they even turn up to a session and adds extra value for people who are already coming.
This free thing could be a short workout series, an ebook to surviving bootcamp or just blogging/vlogging/Instagramming on a regular basis.
5. Write a newsletter (30 minutes)
Write a newsletter for your campers updating them on all things about your bootcamp. BUT also include something of value like a home workout, interesting article or healthy recipe.
Tip: Stay away from a PDF newsletter. Join us in the 21st century and either publish the newsletter as a webpage or use something like MailChimp or GetResponse which has newsletter email templates.
6. Film a short introduction to new members (1 hour)
Don’t wait until the first session to get in contact with your new campers.
Use your client interviews (number 3) to compile a list of FAQs about their first session that you can then record on your phone.
Filming yourself is easy. Buy a tripod like this and then just use your iPhone. Apple actually film all of their ads on iPhone’s, the quality is that good.
Then to edit use just work with the default program on your computer. Movie Maker on PC’s or iMovie on Mac’s.
Increase your chance of being found online
7. Set up a website (1 hour)
A Facebook page is not a replacement for a website. Nope.
You don’t own that space, Facebook lends it to you. And the last few years has proven that Facebook is more than happy to change their algorithm on you and dictate how you can interact with your followers.
Instead, get a Squarespace account and set up a website in 6 minutes. Other great platforms are Weebly, Wix and WordPress. Which one you use doesn’t matter as much as taking the time to set one up.
8. Write a blog post (30 minutes)
Google likes regularly updated websites. It wants to give searchers the most relevant information. Blogging on your website is great way to keep your site fresh and also give your clients cool tips and information.
Don’t like writing? Make a video, start a podcast or work with a graphic artist to make awesome infographics.
9. SEO your website (1 hour)
Make sure your website is Google-friendly. Read a free SEO guide and apply the basics.
Streamline your business
10. Set up an email list (20 minutes)
Scenario: You have a Facebook page but no email list.
Dude! Again, you don’t own your likes, but you do own a list of emails.
Set up an account with Mailchimp for free or pay for something more powerful like ConvertKit. Then import your existing email list if you have one.
Use this email list to keep in contact with potential leads and existing clients.
11. Get clients to pay up front/monthly (30 minutes)
Are you selling drop ins or 10 class passes and having issues with attendance and retention?
Maybe it’s time to get clients on an automatic rebill or start selling them 4+ weeks of classes at a time. Spend 15 minutes working out what that would look like price wise and then 15 minutes considering how you will implement it.
Get organised
12. Decide on your most important task for the day (5 minutes)
What is the one thing you are going to get done today that will put you one step closer to your goals?
Read this article for more on this.
13. Write a list of general workout ideas for the next month (30 minutes)
Write a list from 1 to 12 and then write down 12 general workout ideas. It could look like this:
- Fitness test and bootcamp game day
- Bodyweight only team chipper workout
- Explore park and bring ropes to do exercises along the way
- Boxing tabata workout
- Kettlebell partner strength ladder workout
- Hill sprints
- Band and bodyweight circuits
- Long distance run
- Bootcamp monopoly
- Thrash boxing workout
- Cell phone workout
- Fitness test and team challenge
Learn new tricks
14. Do a free course on copywriting (1 hour)
Copywriting is the art of writing something for marketing.
Seeing as everything you do in your business is in some way marketing your brand it’s really helpful to learn how to write in a way that let’s you spread your message and call people to join your mission.
Copyblogger has a free ebook that will teach you the basics.
15. Register for a workshop (15 minutes)
Don’t just earn your minimum CECs each year with workshops and courses. Keep things interesting for you and your clients by investing in yourself every 6 months.
It may seem hard to spend that money when you are not earning much but you will see it pay off with more enjoyment for you and fuller classes.
I highly recommend Motivate To Train’s Bootcamp Instructor courses.
16. Join a local entrepreneur meet up group (10 minutes)
Being a solo entrepreneur is lonely. Especially if this is something new and most of your friends still work day jobs.
It’s hard because you kind of feel like no one ‘gets’ you. It’s time for you find some peers.
Check out Live Your Legend Local. They have fun, active groups all around the world that meet monthly and share ideas.
17. Book to attend another bootcamp/group fitness class (15 minutes)
Too cheap to pay for a professional workshop or course? Book yourself into a popular bootcamp in your area as an attendee.
Get some new ideas, see how they run things and maybe even make a new friend in the trainer.
Get more leads
18. Tweak your Bootcamp page (10 minutes)
So that it has a Join Now or Enquire Now button. Don’t expect visitors to have to spend time working out how to contact you.
Make it easy for them.
19. Add a testimonial to your Bootcamp page (5 minutes)
People want to know what something is like before they buy it. How often have you read a few Amazon reviews before clicking ‘Add to Cart’.
If you haven’t got any testimonials, ask some of your longest clients (face to face) if they can write something up for you.
20. Make a list of what makes your bootcamp different (30 minutes)
Why should someone join your bootcamp and not another bootcamp in the area? Write down all of the things that makes your bootcamp different.
Some examples:
- ‘We run outdoors all year round. No florescent lights, no loud gym music. Just the weather, grass and the birds.’
- ‘No screaming drill sergeants here. We use encouragement and expert training to get you results.’
- ‘You won’t run farther than 20 metres in our sessions. Enjoy our running free sessions where we use strength exercises to get you into the best shape you’ve been.’
If you can’t think of anything different and you are struggling on getting people to your sessions, maybe it’s time to work on being more different.
21. Create a USP (30 minutes)
A USP stands for Unique Selling Proposition. Similar to the last point this is about working out what makes your bootcamp different and then wrapping it up into one or two sentences.
Read this article on how to come up with this.
22. Make all roads lead to bootcamp (15 minutes)
Make it obvious what action you want people to make with your business. If you want them to join your bootcamp, make it obvious and easy for them to get there.
Make sure you have links on all your website’s pages to your bootcamp page. Add a link to your email signature. On your Facebook Page and on your Twitter and Instagram accounts.
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Running a business rewards those that show up and work smartly day after day.
Try out some of these quick tasks today or tomorrow and let me know how you go.
What would you add to this list? Share with us in the comments.
Kyle Wood created Bootcamp Ideas in 2010 when he was hunting around on the internet for workout ideas. He ran a successful bootcamp in Victoria, Australia and spends his spare time managing this site, adventuring (or lazying) with his wife and find new ways to make bootcamps even better.
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