How To Go Virtual For Trainers

Since we don’t go to the gym, yoga class, or the pool anymore, virtual and DIY classes are flourishing.  People are hungry for activity, and far more likely than before the pandemic to attend live-streamed classes on exercise, meditation, or healing practices. In many ways, virtual classes are more cost-effective to run and accessible than in-person events. Both practitioners and students have the potential to benefit from the flexibility of remote learning.

 

What are some strategies to cope with the changes?

Instructional workout videos are booming, healers are hosting Zoom sessions on at-home care, and meditation/mindfulness groups have gone virtual.  

 

Yoga studios and fitness trainers have used Facebook, Instagram, Zoom, and Eventbrite to create events, advertise them, and monetize their online classes. A lot of fitness industry people have joined forces to give clients the option of buying a monthly fitness package where they pay a certain price (usually between $20 and $50) and then receive access to a calendar of work out classes and Zoom codes. 

The video sharing app TikTok has also become very popular with healers and fitness experts. You can post 15-60 second guides to your practice to draw attention to your monetized classes. Check out this article on “FitTok”.  

 

What services can be helpful?

Keep in mind: whenever you plan an ongoing, recurring or one-time event, you should immediately submit it to be featured on our Arts Oasis calendar. 

    

If you’re a yogi, trainer, or meditation guide that would like to share your talents with the world and get paid, you have many options!  Below is a guide on how to use these different platforms. 

 

How to set up a business Facebook page

Login to Facebook and go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/create/ 

Once you’ve filled out all the information and uploaded a profile and cover image, then you can click the Events tab and create an Event. 

Facebook gives you the option to make it a recurring event if you want this event to happen consistently each week. 

You can then put an Eventbrite link in your Facebook event bio. 

 

How to make an Eventbrite event 

Go to eventbrite.com and sign up for an account (you can just login through your Facebook account if you want). 

Now create an event and fill out all the info pertaining to your upcoming event. 

Be sure to click the “Online Event” option under “Location”. 

You’ll have an option to create free, paid, or donation based tickets. 

Publish your event! 

You have an option to edit the payout method to receive your funds from ticket sales. 

Under the “Invite and Promote” tab you can link your business Facebook page to Eventbrite or just click the “VIEW” button in the top right bar and copy the link once you're there.

Share this link in your Facebook event bio and Instagram page bio. 

Then, Invite all your Friends to the Facebook Event and advertise it on your Instagram. 

 

How to maintain a business/brand Instagram account 

Create a new brand-only Instagram account or use your personal one. 

Post daily on your feed and story to advertise your upcoming classes/events. 

Use apps like Canva, PicsArt, or Adobe Spark to create aesthetically cohesive content. 

Use Planoly to plan what you will be posting.  

You can even use Instagram’s LIVE feature to record yourself and your talent and share it to people for free and get them excited about your work. When you’ve ended your LIVE session, you can keep it for 24 hours or share it to Instagram’s IGTV featured option. 

More on how to do this here https://help.instagram.com/225190788256708 

But if you want to be getting paid for your work, it’s best to stick to sharing your instructional videos through Eventbrite and Zoom or other video platforms listed below. 

 

How to Monetize Your Youtube Channel 

You could alternatively make a Youtube channel but it’s a bit more complicated to make money through Youtube. “Forbes estimates that for top talent, a YouTuber can make about $5 for every 1,000 video views.” More information on how to make money through Youtube can be found here: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72857?hl=en 

 

Alternatively to Zoom, there is also Skype and Google Meets. Below is a comparison of the top three group video platforms. 

 

Google Meets 

  • Free and unlimited until September 2020

  • After September 2020, it will have a 60 minute time limit and a 100 participant limit

  • Available on iOS, Web, Chromebook, and Android

  • You’re able to admit/accept or deny people from entering your meeting 

  • You can send people a link to invite them to your meeting

  • 16 people can be displayed at once on the screen 

  • Alternative plans available for $10 and $20 a month 

  • You can share the screen 

  • Recording available

 

Zoom 

  • Free version allows up to 100 participants and calls limited to 40 minutes

  • Alternative plans available for $14.99 and $19.99 a month 

  • Known security issues https://www.maketecheasier.com/security-researchers-develop-tool-harvests-zoom-meeting-info/

  • 49 people can be displayed at once on the screen

  • You can share the screen 

  • Recording available 

  • You’re able to admit/accept or deny people from entering your meeting

  • Can change virtual background 

  • Offered “Webinars” And “Meetings” 

Webinars are when you expect the audience to mostly just listen 

Meetings are when you want more back and forth interaction with everyone 

 

Skype 

  • Offers majority of its services completely free

  • Available across Windows, iOS, Android and Mac

  • 50 participant limit 

  • You can share the screen 

  • Recording available 

  • Some say it makes your computer run slower 



More helpful tips for how to host a digital event through a video conference platform can be found here https://blog.zoom.us/best-practices-for-hosting-a-digital-event/