The start of each month is a great time to get on top of your paperwork.
There’s nothing worse than having client forms, invoices or receipts laying around the house or office.
Schedule a half a day each month to get on top of all your filing, bills, invoicing and any other admin work you might have.
If you’re not great at managing your finances - then this is even more of a reason to get this done. Believe me, a few hours once a month with your head buried in excel spreadsheets...
Lets finish the countdown and check out the final 3 reasons that 'growingmoney.com' identified for why companies use Social Media.
8) To increase Search engine rankings. In short, using brand names and keywords in your profile can help generate traffic for your social media sites and for your home page.
9) To integrate Social Media results in Search engines. Search engines are interested in indexing and ranking videos and posts (among other things) from social media sites, in turn, creating...
Last week we covered off the first 4 reasons that 'growingmoney.com' identified for why companies use Social Media, now lets check out reasons 5, 6 and 7!
5) to find new customers through a company profile - Your company profile gives you opportunity for you to post regular updates on your activities, but also tell readers about important news and trends in your industry.
6) to generate site traffic. Essentially if you regularly update your social media sites (facebook, twitter etc) and then...
According to GrowingMoney.com, there are 10 key reasons companies use Social Media -- they are detailed, so were going to break them down! Here are the first 4:
Number 1) Brand Recognition -- social media reaches millions people across the world, getting your brand on social media gives your business the opportunity to reach this mass audience
2) Brand Monitoring -- engaging your business with social media means you can gain a better understanding of what current and potential customers are saying...
Let's talk Goals. I bet Goal setting is one of the first things you do with a new client, but do you do it for yourself?
Do you do it for your business?
I'm sure you're familiar with 'SMART' goal setting, but in addition to putting pen to paper to write out your goals, why not create a Vision board, and cover it with pictures that inspire and excite you.
Focus on the outcomes you want to achieve for yourself and your business. Ask yourself the question - What does success look like? What...
When it comes to marketing your business, relevant and low-cost options may be closer than you think!
Here are a few things to consider.
Where is your business located?
Are you taking advantage of its location?
If you're on a busy road then do you advertise in the studio window?
If you train at the local park, do you always wear branded clothing and have an A-Frame sign out when your training?
what about if you're a Mobile PT? Do you have signage and a phone number / website...
Lets talk Big Ideas! To keep at the top of your game and keep your clients coming back for more, it's important to make sure you regularly come up with new offers, promotions, competitions and challenges!
Mind mapping is one of the best ways to generate ideas for your business. Its simple! Grab a hug piece of blank paper. Pick a subject - say for example: Client retention. Then write down every thing that comes to mind that you might consider doing to retain your clients. I mean everything! Nothings...
Last week we looked at 4 great tips to streamline your email management. We've got another 4 lined up for today, so lets get straight into them:
5. Create automatic templates - if you often send similar replies. Eg: Thanks for your enquiry, Boot Camp classes are held... Then just customize the template with the person's name.
6. Only read emails when it's relevant. Be honest, how much time do you waste reading spreets or living social emails in between work emails? Put a rule on any subscription...
Today we are heading into Time Saving territory with some tips on EMAILS management.
There's no denying we are all plagued with emails every single day. They can get overwhelming and annoying and an inbox full of unopened, unanswered emails can spell trouble.
But here are 4 quick and easy rules to apply which will give you a little clarity and a lot of time back in your day!
Number 1:
1. Process your emails once a day. Set aside a time and focus just on that task.
2. Prioritize...
Being old fashioned isn't always a bad thing :) Yes its essential to have an Online presence and be aware of digital marketing trends.
BUT! Theres an exception to the rule and Ive stolen this line straight from Microsoft because they say it perfectly:
"Develop an electronic mailing list and send old-fashioned letters."
Yup - that's it! Everyone does e-newsletters these days, and there great but, if you really want to stand out from the crowd, then occasionally send out a hand-written,...
Building a relationship with your client is one of the most important roles of being a Personal Trainer.
The bond they form with you, can not only influence their training results, but also their ongoing commitment to continuing personal training and their motivation to recommend you to their family or friends.
Always remember that building a relationship with your clients should extend beyond the time you spend with them in the gym or studio.
Make sure you schedule in "connection moments"...
How organised are you? Do you keep your client information on an excel spreadsheet? In a online system? or just scribbled on their original pre-ex forms and shoved into a ring binder?
Its essential to keep a reliable and safe record of your client information. That means the Ring binder just wont cut it!
Investing in a good CRM (thats Customer Relationship Management system) is a great way to keep all your customer info in one place.
The key is to make sure you enter in info as you get it, that...
Sir Richard Branson said this about promoting a business " Using yourself to get out and talk about it, is a lot cheaper and more effective than a lot of advertising"
How often do you talk to people about what you do?
Do you encourage your clients to tell their friends and families about what you?
Word of Mouth promotion is a highly effective way to get more customers and increase your brand awareness.
Just think about it, aren't you more likely to buy something if its been recommended...
When was the last time you did a SWOT analysis of your business? Identifying your businesses Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats is a process you should do at least once if not twice a year.
In order to grow a business and be profitable, its not good enough just to rely on hard work and hope! Successful business owners invest time in understanding their business as well as the environmental changes that happen around them.
They constantly look for new revenue opportunities and avenues,...
Have you ever considered conducting a survey as a means of meeting new customers? Asking a potential customer to participate in a questionnaire is a great ice-breaker.
It gives you a chance to introduce yourself and find out a little more about them through the survey questions.
You could ask them leading questions:
How many times a week do you exercise?
Are you happy with the results you are getting from your fitness routine ?
You might choose to reward them with a Comp session...
Why is it that so many PT websites and flyers are filled with information all about the owner?
The truth is, when someone reads your marketing material, they want to know what YOU can do for THEM.
They want to hear that you're going to help them, lose weight, get stronger, look leaner or run faster.
The question they are asking is: "What's in it for me' and THAT is the question you need to answer -- way before you start sprouting off a long list of your PT qualifications!
So take the time...
Talking to a client about money can sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable. But there will come a time, that you will need to increase your fees.
Why?
Well because your expenses will go up, the cost of living will go up, petrol will go up Equipment will go up.
Here are a few tips to make the conversation a little easier.
1) Get your clients onto a direct debit system. That way a small % fee increase is easier to apply than if they are paying cash and you go from 80 a session to 84.50...
Heres a quick and easy way to make the most of every opportunity.
Always have your business cards with you. Whether you are grabbing a coffee, going to the supermarket or going out for dinner, each time you get into conversation with someone, introduce yourself and hand them your business card.
Make it your goal to hand out around 30 business cards a week.
Plus, why not make your business card work for you...you could put a special redemption offer on the back, for example - visit my website...
When it comes to closing the sale, stick to the KISS principal, Keep it short and simple
Your pricing brochure should have just 2 options.
Don't over complicate it with a plethora of packages, discounts, student rates, peak, off peak, summer, winter etc.
Just stick to 2 options and be sure to position your preferred option on the right hand side of the page.
While your at it, lose the $ symbols. Yup, all you need is the package information and the number value. for example - 1:1 training,...
The way you look, the way you act, talk and walk all form a part of your 'PT Package'. You may not know it, but as a Personal Trainer and business owner, you are always "selling" your services - or at least you should be!
Be aware of the way you dress, be conscious of your body language when meeting new people and always be mindful of the way you speak and what you say.
Something as simple as a BBQ at a friends place, or coffee at the local cafe might just be an opportunity to meet new clients....
As a personal trainer, you are expected to keep up to date with current fitness news and information, trends and research.
But its fair to say, life gets busy we work long hours and sometimes its easy to let it slip for a few months right?
OK, so lets be really clear about this one. Keeping your PT skill set (which includes reading new research, learning about new equipment or training techniques, updating your first aid and CPR) are ALL parts of running your PT Business.
The fitness...
Looking for a great way to encourage your clients to refer your services to a friend or family member?
Why not get some PT Gift Cards produced (think Coles Myer or I-tunes style plastic card that fits in your wallet)
You could give each of your existing clients a $20 gift card to give to one of their friends to put towards Personal Training!
It's a great referral tool because the card is effectively seen in the same light as handing over $20 in cash!
Just make sure you have Terms...
Creating a profitable business isn't always about getting new customers, sometimes you need to take the difficult task of getting rid of the bad apples.
What I'm saying is, there needs to come a time when you stop training break-even or 'C' list customers.
The truth of the matter is, if you stop marketing to unprofitable customers, you have more time and resources for customers who actually grow your business.
What's the definition of a 'bad apple'?
Think about the clients who, don't...
Starting your own business can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time, but before you jump head first, there are a few things to think about:
1) Research your market, know exactly what your competitors are doing and what opportunities there are for you.
2) Gain an understanding about your customers. Who are they? Why should they come to you?
3) Consider where you will be based? Will you have a studio, work outdoors or will you be a mobile trainer?
4) Factor in all overhead costs:...
Want to improve the profitability of your PT business; here are 3 quick tips to help boost your bank balance...
1) Review your PT Rates on a regular basis, keep an eye on what the market is dong and plan to increase your rates at the same time each year
2) Keep on top of debt collection! Don't let you clients lag behind on paying you.
3) Chat to a financial institution, like Eze-pay, and set up your clients onto a direct payment system for automatic and seamless payment into your account....
Last week we covered off 4 areas to include in your business plan. Today we look at 3 more, plus the number 1 rule when it comes to writing an effective plan.
But first, section 5
3) Competitor analysis - what is your competition doing -- you need to know!
6) Financial analysis - all the numbers, your budget, your sales forecast,
your overheads, staffing costs etc.
7) Marketing plan. Including Strategy and actions for online and offline marketing. Collateral, promotions etc.
And...
Today we are onto my favorite subject - Business Plans!
As a business owner, it is your responsibility (to yourself!) to write a business plan each year. Without it, you will lack direction, focus and very possibly affect the long term success of your business.
So if you're new to writing a business plan, what should you include?
Lets go through some of the essentials:
1) Mission statement -- what is it you are setting out to achieve
2) Describe your business - in brief terms,...
I often see Personal Trainers who are completely exhausted or run down because they are simply working too many hours. As a result, they get sick, can miss days off work and in turn lose income and potentially upset their client relationships.
As a PT and business owner, it's your job to manage your time - that means both work and personal. Earning money is great, but if you don't allow time to rest in the short term, your business profitability - and your health - will suffer in the long term....
If you're in the market for a website, there are some key areas to consider.
While there are plenty of 'DIY options for creating website's, if you're not tech savvy, then my suggestion is to find yourself a good website designer/developer to help you set it all up.
Collate all your ideas and your wish list into a detailed brief, so you can get a firm idea of how much cost you will need to outlay for a website.
Be clear about what you get for your investment and be sure to ask if the cost...
Knowing what your clients want, what they think, if they're happy, challenged, motivated or demotivated doesn't have to be a guessing game.
You will find that most market leading businesses know exactly what their clients think and what they want, in fact, for many companies it's a huge part of their research and development budget and it helps them decide which products to create next, which ones are going south and which ones people want more of.
If you haven't yet discovered it, then check...
If you're a Personal Trainer working for yourself, then its important to remember that it isn't always going to smooth sailing and occasionally you might need a helping hand, assistance or support in different areas of your business.
This is especially important if you have come from working in a corporate environment where you might be used to having a team around you or a manager to motivate you!
The great news is, you're not alone and there are heaps of great resources for you to check...
So you have a new website set up, but how do you know if anyone is looking at it?
Well, the people at Google provide a great resource called Google Analytics.
The online tool allows you to track everything from, site traffic, which pages on your site people are looking at,
and even how long they are spending on each page, and those are just the basic stats.
If you head to google.com/analytics, there are a huge number of free analytics options to choose from and all are explained in an easy...