Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Fitness Business Owners
By Pat Rigsby
| New Year’s is a time to reflect on the changes we want (or should) make. This year, savvy business owners will follow through on these five resolutions.
#1: Treat Clients Like Valued Friends The businesses that grow in 2009 and beyond will be the ones that treat their members and clients the same way they treat their closest friends. They continually look for ways to make clients’ lives easier and help them embrace a healthier and more active lifestyle. They don’t just provide workouts. |
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#2: Use The Turbulent Economy to Your Advantage In every economic downturn there are businesses that don’t survive – and those that thrive. The thriving businesses are the ones that best understand the marketplace’s “wants” and aggressively work to serve them. While your competition is cutting back on everything from marketing to service, strategically pick areas that you can grow to fill the voids that others are creating.
#3: Make Group Offerings The Focal Point of Your Business Semi-private personal training and fitness boot camps have rapidly increased in popularity over the past year – and with good reason. They allow more people to benefit from working with a fitness professional (due to lowered price points and increased availability at the desirable times). And they almost always produce better client results due to the social support and peer motivation.
#4: Tap Into The Growing Youth Fitness Market If there is a segment of the fitness industry that is virtually recession resistant, it is youth fitness. Parents will gladly invest in their children’s well being even when they hesitate to spend money on themselves. If you haven’t already, acquire the appropriate youth fitness credentials and begin offering programs that serve this rapidly growing market.
#5: Quit Wasting Money on Ineffective Marketing Instead of spending money on newspaper ads, glossy postcards and other expensive marketing tactics, re-focus your marketing efforts on building your network, positioning yourself as an expert and strengthening relationships with your current contacts. Do more public speaking, send more press releases, offer a newsletter and make sending personal cards a regular part of your routine. This will give you a much better return on your marketing investment, and will also open all kinds of new doors.
Pat Rigsby is the co-owner of several businesses in the fitness industry and also serves as an industry consultant focusing on personal training. For his free Fitness Business Rapid Success Kit, visit www.PersonalTrainerU.com.
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