Practical, Forward-Thinking Marketing Education for Fitness Conferences & Events

Speaking

Connie Holen

Marketing Leader • Tech Stack Strategist • Advocate for practical Studio Growth

The boutique fitness industry is entering its next era — where visibility, booking technology, and client experience must work together seamlessly.

My work focuses on helping studio owners build businesses that are visible, profitable, and supported by systems — not stress.

From AI and search visibility to website conversion and booking infrastructure, my sessions translate industry shifts into clear, practical strategies studio owners can implement immediately.

Industry Experience

For more than a decade, I worked alongside boutique fitness studio owners — not from the sidelines, but in the trenches.

As the founder of Pixality Design, a digital agency serving 350+ studios, I helped operators navigate churn, thin margins, platform changes, and evolving consumer behavior. My work included designing conversion-driven websites, implementing scheduling software stacks, and building lifecycle marketing systems that turn first-time visitors into long-term members.

Today I serve as Head of Marketing + Client Experience at Zipper, a SaaS platform built specifically for boutique fitness studios.

This perspective — working both with operators and inside a technology company — allows me to connect the dots between:

  • visibility and search

  • booking systems and revenue

  • marketing strategy and daily operations

My sessions are grounded, strategic, and immediately actionable. Attendees leave with clarity, not overwhelm.

Who I Speak For

I speak at fitness, wellness, and boutique industry conferences for audiences who want more than inspiration — they want practical insight they can apply.

My sessions are ideal for:

  • Boutique fitness studio owners

  • Pilates, yoga, personal training, and wellness operators

  • Franchisees and regional leaders

  • Fitness technology companies investing in customer education

  • Industry associations focused on sustainable business growth

What Event Organizers Can Expect

When you invite me to speak, your audience receives:

  • Strategic clarity in a rapidly evolving industry

  • Actionable frameworks — not just marketing tips

  • Clear connections between visibility, systems, and revenue

  • Balanced perspectives on AI and emerging technology

  • An engaging, conversational delivery style grounded in real-world experience

I focus on helping studio owners build businesses that are modern, profitable, and operationally sound — without sacrificing the human experience that makes boutique studios special.

Selected Speaking Engagements

Mindbody University — Faculty Presenter
Mindbody BOLD Conference — Marketing & Web Strategy
Yoga Journal Business of Yoga — Workshop Instructor
Squarespace Circle Day — Speaker (2023, 2025)
Health & Fitness Association (HFA) Show
National and regional fitness industry conferences

Contact Connie

Popular Speaking Topics:

My presentations equip fitness and wellness studio owners with the strategic clarity and practical systems they need to grow sustainably in a rapidly evolving industry.

Drawing from my work in vertical SaaS, digital marketing, and studio operations, I translate complex industry shifts — from AI to consumer behavior to booking technology — into clear, actionable insights.

Audiences leave not just informed, but confident in how to apply what they’ve learned to strengthen revenue, visibility, and client experience.

  • Your website is no longer a brochure. It’s your most important decision-making tool.

    Today’s fitness consumer moves quickly — comparing options, scanning reviews, and often arriving through AI-influenced search results. In just a few seconds, your website must answer unspoken questions, build trust, and guide visitors toward taking the first step.

    In this session, Connie breaks down the psychology behind how people evaluate fitness studios online and introduces a practical framework for mapping the visitor journey — from “Am I in the right place?” to “OK, let’s do it.” Through real-world before-and-after examples, she shows how small changes to messaging, structure, and the new client experience can dramatically improve conversion.

    Audience Takeaways

    • How today’s fitness consumers evaluate studios online

    • The five psychological stages visitors move through before booking

    • Why clarity, trust signals, and reassurance matter more than information

    • Simple website changes that reduce anxiety and increase action

  • Before someone books a class, they have to find you.

    Today’s fitness consumers discover studios through a mix of AI-assisted search, online reviews, social platforms, and real-world visibility in their local community. If your studio isn’t showing up in those moments of discovery, you’re invisible to potential clients who are already looking for what you offer.

    In this session, Connie introduces her Visibility Framework — Search, Social, and Signage — a practical approach to helping studios show up consistently both online and in their neighborhoods. You’ll learn how local search, community-driven social content, and physical visibility work together to create a steady stream of new prospects.

    Audience Takeaways

    • How today’s consumers actually discover local fitness studios

    • How to create a marketing plan that puts the important actions first

    • Why reviews, local listings, and social proof drive discovery in AI-powered search

    • Practical ways to increase local awareness and word-of-mouth in your community

  • AI-powered discovery is reshaping how clients find fitness and wellness studios. From Google’s AI Overviews to conversational search tools, the path from “I need Pilates” to “I booked a session” is evolving fast. But SEO isn’t disappearing — it’s becoming more strategic.

    In this session, Connie breaks down what studio owners must understand about the new visibility landscape and how to structure their website, local listings, and content to stay discoverable. This isn’t about hacks or chasing algorithms. It’s about building digital infrastructure that supports long-term growth in an AI-first search environment.

    Audience Takeaways:

    • What AI search actually changes (and what still matters)

    • The foundational visibility signals every studio must strengthen

    • How your website and booking experience influence search performance

    • A clear 30-day action plan to protect and grow your discoverability

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WHAT ATTENDEES SAY.

WHAT ATTENDEES SAY.

  • "Connie’s recent presentation at MBU Atlanta was filled with useful and practical information. She took an overwhelming topic and broke it down into easy and actionable steps. The list of ideas she provided are clearly explained and can be implemented quickly. It was worth the price of admission!"

    Terri Fry
    Owner, The Hot Yoga Factory

  • "I’ve known and worked with Connie for over a decade across events, consulting programs, and educational content-design projects — and she continues to set the bar for excellence every time. Connie brings the same efficiency, precision, and steady focus she honed as an Air Force pilot to every project she touches."

    Katie Philipp
    Education Programming Strategist, Health & Fitness Association

  • "Connie Holen is an incredibly thoughtful and engaging presenter. The Mindbody Education Team regularly hires Connie as a speaker for our Mindbody University events, where she uses her extensive knowledge of marketing strategies to educate the business owners in attendance. I highly recommend Connie as a speaker and contributor for any kind of training/education event."

    Patrick McClintock
    Senior Business Education Specialist, Mindbody

  • "Connie’s presentation had me buzzing with ideas for my business and and feeling confident it was time to take the next steps. Connie makes the move forward doable!"

    MaryDawn Taggart
    Owner, Maddog 5/1 Fitness

  • "Connie has such a depth and breath of knowledge when it comes to websites, scheduling software, SEO and how it all works together.”

    Bill Hanks
    Owner, Huemn Optimization + Wellness

  • "Connie is an all-star collaborator. When I was at Mindbody, we partnered to create content around building websites for fitness and wellness businesses. She is both an expert and a talented writer and communicator — a content marketer’s dream. When my career took me to Squarespace, Connie was my number one call. She has been an invaluable contributor to the Squarespace content marketing team, and every time we work together I am confident she’ll deliver."

    Katherine Wernet
    Content Marketing & Strategy, Squarespace

  • "Connie is truly wonderful to work with. She’s strategic and knowledgeable, with an incredible ability to explain things clearly, making even complex topics feel accessible. She’s thoughtful, collaborative, generous with her time, and always brings a positive energy to every project."

    Drew Rapp
    Product Marketing, Squarespace

Interested in bringing Connie to your next conference, workshop, or leadership training?

Use the form below to inquire about availability, event details, and speaking topics.