How to Grow Your Online Fitnesswear or Sportswear Brand in 2021
This last year has been quite the challenge for many due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While many new businesses are lucrative, just as many businesses are struggling to find growth. But it doesn’t mean that you should struggle too!
In this episode of the Eurofitness Resources center, we’ll talk about the most important ways to grow your active wear brand online in 2021. All you’ll need is time, patience and effort!
If you haven’t already started your online sportswear business, then check out ‘Choosing the Best Sportswear & Fitnesswear Manufacturer for Your Brand‘ to help you make better decisions and save costs!
We’re also manufacturers of high quality sports and fitness wear so if you have any queries or are looking to get started with your new products, do get in contact with us – or alternatively, have a look through our brochure.
Marketing is 80% of the Work
If there’s one thing that you can do to grow your online sportswear brand more than anything else – it’s to promote and place your product in front of customers.
But in this online era, blind marketing won’t get you anywhere. You’ll need an edge over your competition.
This is where you let your creativity shine. As well as creating a marketing plan that lists your objectives, your audience, your products and how you’re going to promote the brand – you need to pay much more attention to your brand aesthetic.
Like most successful online sportswear and fitnesswear brands , you’ll need to be active on Social Media platforms – particularly Instagram and TikTok.
Your Instagram Profile is Crucial
To really grow your sales and hook new customers into your brand, you’ll need a compelling Instagram profile. It’s free and is the only portfolio your brand has to showoff with.
This means that the images you use, the models, their poses, their dress and the locations all play an important role. Ask yourself some of these questions:
- Where do you want your customers wearing your products?
- What kind of people will wear your products?
- Which activities do you imagine your customers doing with your products?
- What colours represent your brand and how can you best convey them in the image?
Try to make it personal with your customers and show them what they want to see: that is, how they see themselves wearing your products.
It’s All About Aesthetics With Fitness wear
Are you using interesting camera angles to shoot your models? Are your models in interesting locations? It’s more important now in 2021 than ever to have a unique ‘aesthetic’ to your brand.
If you have an Instagram or Tiktok profile for a Tennis Wear brand for example – you should have photos showing your products in the courts, on models playing tennis etc.
This takes a little bit of creativity and planning. If you don’t have the expertise or time to do this yourself, you can alternatively hire a freelance photographer to shoot photos with a model or two. This should cost you a fraction of your budget – but will give your brand appeal beyond any other means.
Post Consistently and Regularly
As well as posting interesting content, you need to post regularly (at least 2-3 times a day) and more consistently (not posting pictures in a different style to your identity).
Only post what you want your customers to see. On average, it takes between 6 – 12 months before your brand has sufficient following so let that be a general indicator on how well you perform.
It also helps to sometimes add competitions and giveaways so that you can reach even more of your audience.
But think of your Instagram or Tiktok as an extension of your business – it really is a product in itself.
Use Advertising as a Catalyst
Paid advertising such as PPC, Facebook Ads and Google Ads are a very popular way to generate quick sales for online sportswear brands. But if you are not familiar with this method – it can quickly turn very expensive and provide little returns.
There are thousands of online resources that explain how to properly use paid advertising so it isn’t something we need to cover here.
But as a general tip – paid advertising is a good way to kickstart your online business. Instead of buying fake followers or likes on your social media, it’s wiser and more effective to directly communicate your products to them.
It can be as simple as creating a compelling video that shows your products in action, or a single picture of a model that attracts viewers.
We recommend setting aside a daily budget of anywhere from $5-$50 depending on how much you can afford. And if you don’t have the skills to do it, then you can often find startup-friendly marketing agencies that can do it for you.
In fact, successful online businesses have been built on the back of a single, well-made advertisement!
Keep Up With the Trends – Or Start One
Fashion unlike other products doesn’t have an expiry date. However, fashion comes and goes in trends. You’ll want to keep up with trends if you want to grow your sales – because that’s what the market wants.
What are the fashion trends of 2021? The single biggest trend since last year is – you guessed it, facemasks. Everyone is wearing one (or should be!) Now facemasks are featured in practically every clothing brand.
You can always search the internet for the latest sportswear trends – or if you’re bold and resourceful enough, you could start one!
It has never been more convenient to market your sportswear apparel. You can contact social media influencers (particularly on Instagram) to form potential partnerships. This is a popular way to push a trend into the market!
To Sum it Up
There really is no secret or fast-track to growing your online sportswear brand. But you can accelerate the process by being more consistent in your online marketing campaigns, your social media profiles and your content.
In 2021, creating a sense of community is one of the best approaches you can take. This means engaging directly with your customer through Instagram Stories or sharing what your customers are doing on your community page.
We’ve been manufacturing clothing wear for nearly 12 years to both local and international suppliers and brands. If you need help with bringing your designs to life, then reach out to us and we’ll help you get started
We are especially attractive to new sportswear, activewear, fitnesswear and gymwear startups who are looking to make an impact in the industry!
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our Whatsapp Channel or email – info@eurofitnessapparel.eu
