| You might be uncomfortable wondering about | | | | one-on-one fitness sessions with your cutomers. |
| how your business might change in the near | | | | This may seem like bad news to you. But don't |
| future. That's especially so today. The economic | | | | forget, your clients are busy people. They're |
| doldrums means that all of us are focusing on | | | | working longer hours and taking on more |
| getting through the next month or week. But | | | | responsibilities. They simply don't have time for |
| business owners need to think about where the | | | | 60-minute workout sessions. You may need to |
| fitness business is heading, and the changes that | | | | concentrate more on half-hour or 45-minute |
| they'll have to make to bring in clients and earn | | | | sessions. |
| higher profits. | | | | Don't get too upset at this. You can cram a lot of |
| I know that no one enjoys hearing the word | | | | fitness education in half an hour. Shorter sessions |
| "change." It's a word that frightens many business | | | | also allow you to schedule more clients during the |
| owners. I'm bringing good news, though: Most of | | | | workday. This might be a profitable move for |
| the changes to the personal training industry will | | | | your business. |
| help you and your business earn more money. | | | | The larger the class, the bigger the earnings |
| Let's start with online marketing. You may think | | | | Get ready to work with larger groups, too. People |
| you're doing well with print advertising. Maybe you | | | | enjoy working out with big groups of fellow |
| regularly take out an ad in the community | | | | exercisers. There's a certain amount of |
| newspaper. You might rely on placing flyers in local | | | | togetherness when many students gather |
| coffee shops, diners and beauty salons. That | | | | together for a unified goal. With this in mind, don't |
| strategy won't work much longer. In fact, it | | | | forget to to offer several group classes |
| probably isn't good enough right now. | | | | throughout the week. You might also think about |
| Marketing on the Internet is key | | | | hosting specialized fitness boot camps throughout |
| Today, and definitely in the future, you'll have to | | | | the year. Like group exercise classes, these |
| focus more of your time on online marketing. You | | | | intense camps are steadily gaining popularity. |
| should be marketing your newest classes on | | | | Finally, you might find that your students want |
| Facebook. You'll have to Tweet on Twitter to let | | | | more from you than just the newest exercises. |
| students know about your new referral program. | | | | They'll ask for your thoughts on creating |
| You'll benefit from creating and maintaining a | | | | heart-healthy meal plans. They'll seek out your |
| fitness blog. And you should consider writing and | | | | advice on the best home exercise machines. |
| filming short videos to post on YouTube. | | | | They may even wonder if you know any local |
| If you don't accept this change, if you ignore the | | | | doctors who focus more on alternative medical |
| online social networking sites, you'll miss out on | | | | treatments than on recommending the newest |
| the growing youth market. You might as well hurl | | | | drug. In short, they'll want you to become a |
| your money in the garbage. You shouldn't look at | | | | complete health adviser. |
| online marketing as a chore, though. It's not easy | | | | Again, you should see this change as a good thing. |
| to master online marketing. But once you do, | | | | If you're acting as your students' health adviser, |
| you'll discover that it's a great way to boost the | | | | you're more crucial to them. That makes it more |
| size of your client base. And remember that this | | | | difficult for them to cut you loose when their |
| type of marketing is either cheap or free. | | | | budgets tighten. It also gives you the chance to |
| The growing importance of Internet advertising is | | | | sell eBooks and other multi-media products to |
| just one of the many changes coming to the | | | | clients who now look at you as an integral part of |
| personal fitness business. For example, you'll also | | | | their health programs. |
| have to start offering less time-intensive | | | | |