Game On – Boosting Member Engagement with Gamification & Wearables
Many gym-goers today are no longer working out just to sweat. They want to earn points, reach goals, and see their progress during each workout. People get excited when workouts feel like games, which encourages them to visit more often and train harder.
Many members in the U.S. use fitness watches or bands, and these different wearable technologies allow gyms to create various fun challenges with the use of the data collected through the members’ workouts. Fitness gamification turns workout data into motivation.
To keep your members happy and wanting to continue coming back, you need to provide them with simple, fun, and motivating workouts.
What Is Fitness Gamification and Does It Work?
Gamification refers to the use of gaming concepts and mechanics in designing workouts.
Gamification can take many different forms, including:
- Points awarded for effort.
- Badges are won for reaching specific objectives.
- Leaderboards.
- Team challenges.
- Small rewards for completing objectives.
- Recording and monitoring progress.
Gamification makes workouts more engaging, and members enjoy seeing their progress and being recognized for their success. Fitness tracking devices, such as wearable technology, can now track your heart rate, how many steps you’ve taken, and how many calories you’ve burned. Fitness gamification strategies use this data to set clear goals.
Members enjoy fitness gamification because:
- It is exciting.
- It builds their self-confidence.
- It provides a team-building opportunity.
- It produces measurable progress.
When members earn small successes in their workouts, they can feel successful in their own right. The accumulation of small successes ultimately results in much larger habits. Studios that implement these strategies often see higher attendance and better member retention.
Benefits of Using Wearable Technology in the Gym
Gyms using wearable technology provide members with the opportunity to use items, such as heart rate monitors and smartwatches, to track their progress in real time. This creates a goal-focused mindset during workouts.
Live Heart Rate Boards
Some studios have available heart rate boards that display heart rate zones and help members work toward their target range. Members can look at the following information displayed on a live heart rate board:
- Heart rate value
- Effort level
- Time spent in the target heart rate zone
Displaying members’ names on the heart rate board encourages members to push themselves harder as it takes on an element of competition.
After-Class Reports
Some studios provide members with after-class reports showing:
- Calories burned
- Effort points
- Personal records
After-class reports motivate members to train in the right heart rate zone throughout the week.
Studio Challenges
Wearable technology studio challenges can last from weeks to months. For instance:
- Walking at least 10,000 steps per day
- Burning calories as a team
- Maintaining a heart rate in the target heart rate zone for at least 15 minutes
Members sync their wearables so every workout counts, even when they exercise at home. A strong fitness community can be built through friendly challenges between members or teams.
Ideas for Gamifying Your Fitness Studio
You do not need a lot of money to create fun experiences for your members through gamification. Many ideas are easy to implement and inexpensive.
Simple Ideas
- Stamp Card—Members will earn a stamp for every 10 classes they attend this year, and once they fill the entire card, they will be able to redeem it for a prize.
- Workout Bingo—Create a bingo card with small tasks (e.g., try a new class, bring a friend, or beat your plank time).
- Level System—After completing 10 classes, members will reach Level 1; after completing 25 classes, members will reach Level 2, and celebrate members who have leveled up.
These types of gamification events are simple to run and can be very motivating to members.
Advanced Technology Ideas
If you use wearables, you can take advantage of digital badges, team step challenges, and seasonal competitions. Gyms with wearable technology systems can track all of these types of activities with very little extra effort.
Level the Playing Field and Enjoy the Game
Not everyone enjoys competing with others. Some participants feel shy and therefore do not want to compete; this is perfectly acceptable.
Fitness gamification works best when it focuses on personal improvement instead of just winning.
Recognize Improvement
Recognition for:
- Most improved participant
- Most consistent athlete
- Best spirit of fellowship and teamwork among athletes
- Best display of a positive mind and attitude
Heart rate training is based on personal effort. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced athlete, you can succeed by giving your best effort.
Utilize Team-Based Games
Many gym challenges that utilize wearable technology (FitBit, BodyMedia, etc.) are designed to be completed in teams.
Team-based games also provide participants with an outlet to display compassion for one another; therefore, they will create a network of support.
Examples:
- Red team vs. Blue team for steps
- Group calorie burn goals
- Partner challenges
The key is simple, to make the members feel included.
Maintain Your Momentum
Do not run just one challenge and stop the engagement. You should continue with a variety of engagement opportunities throughout the entire year.
Change Your Themes
You can have a:
- January challenge
- March steps contest
- July fitness games
- Holiday challenges
Using new themes keeps the engagement fresh.
Share Your Winners
With permission, publish winners in:
- Studio boards
- Social media
- Email newsletter
This builds excitement and will help attract new members.
Connect to Rewards
Points earned from gym challenges using wearable devices can be redeemed for rewards such as:
- Free classes
- Guest passes
- Small gifts
This motivates members.
Fitness gyms that utilize wearable technology and continuously gamify fitness programs build strong communities.
What Does This Mean for Retaining Members?
Members develop behaviors (habits) through working out.
These habits lead to long-term commitment.
Members who take part in fitness gamification:
- Work out more frequently.
- Are connected to the gym.
- Track their performance.
- Invite their friends.
Your gym creates a workout experience, not just a place to exercise.
Members will be excited about the concept of working out.
Conclusion
Fitness gamification makes workouts simple and enjoyable. This gives members the feeling that exercise is a game.
Using fitness tracking devices like heart rate monitors and step counters creates healthy competition and helps members train safely. Even small ideas like stamp cards or bingo boards are easy to run and can help members stay motivated. When building a studio that members want to visit regularly, focus on making workouts fun, simple, and comfortable so they keep coming back.
FAQs
What are fitness gamification strategies?
Fitness gamification strategies make it fun and social to stick with a fitness routine by adding points and rewards to your workouts.
How do gyms using wearable technology help their members?
Wearable technology helps gyms and their members keep track of heart rate and step count, allowing them to set goals and create challenges to achieve those goals.
Is it hard to run gym challenges using wearable technology?
Not at all. Many members already own a fitness watch or other wearable technology, and studios can use simple tracking tools to run challenges.
What does engagement through heart rate training provide?
Engagement through heart rate training allows the participant to visualize their effort in real-time and keeps them safe and engaged.
Can small studios benefit from fitness studio gamification ideas?
Yes! Simple things like attendance-based rewards will help increase engagement for members at smaller studios.