Nov 11
7
LAZY Bootcamp Marketing!
One of the things that people forget is, how tough it can actually be to have a successful fitness business.
I’d even say there’s a little bit of luck involved.
Despite this there’s something that concerns me about trainers trying to get busy bootcamps these days.
What is it?
Well there are actually a number of things but the main thing is:
HIDING BEHIND THEIR KEYBOARDS.
COME TO MY BOOTCAMP!- ITS THE BEST! HONEST!
Listen, I agree with you. A website is crucial to your success, as is a decent Google ranking for your blog etc and as you know I’m a big believer in facebook for building a tribe (note: not shouting ‘buy my shit’ everyday)
Thing is though, if you RELY on this for your marketing, then you’re pretty much F*CKED.
Sure, you gotta get on there daily to post useful stuff. Congratulate your clients etc etc but its all really just a form of NOISE
And I have to say it’s also LAZY.
There I said it. Trainers are getting LAZY.
You see, its EASY to post a status update and share the awesomeness that is a ‘before and after photo’. SUPER EASY.
Anyone can do that shit.
It’s not remotely uncomfortable.
You don’t have to talk to anyone; you don’t have the risk of someone saying ‘NO’ to you.
Richard Branson (I think anyway) once said something like this “Your success in business is often correlated to how many uncomfortable conversations you have”
Facebook is comfortable. (Most of the time anyway)
I could be guilty of ‘Lazy Marketing’ too I suppose, but with both my GLP (http://facebook.com/19daygetleanproject) and its follow on AHP programs bringing in serious money and being housed WITHIN facebook- I have a REASON for being on there a little more than most trainers.
SO I though I’d put this little ‘kick-in-the-ass’ article together for you guys that need a little reminder that it takes HARD F*CKING WORK and a lot of HUSTLING to get clients.
I want you to take a pen, a piece of paper, sit down and answer HONESTLY with a DATE (if you’ve EVER done the ‘thing’. that is) for every one of these.
I’m not putting any pictures in this- i don’t want you to get distracted
So… the proceeding words before EACH of these is …
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU…
* Wrote an article full of useful information and shared in not only on facebook but on your blog, and on article submission sites to prove that you actually know something?
* Printed that article out and handed it out to ANYONE that you thought would read it?
* Recorded a useful, informative and even motivational video that you also shared- so your clients and potential clients can get to know you, your voice and your face. FACEbook remember?
* Sent a NEWSWORTHY (that means NON promotional) press release to the local papers and followed up PROPERLY?
* Called EVERY SINGLE ONE of your FORMER clients and tried to get them back on board?
* ASKED EVERY SINGLE ONE your current clients to their face or by phone if they know anyone that wanted great results like them?
* Leveraged EVERY SINGLE… you get the idea…. current/past clients, friends/family to see if you can go and deliver a LUNCH AND LEARN in their workplace?
* Did a simple flyer drop in homes, offices etc?
* Attended a networking event?
*Sent a LETTER to your ex clients to try and re-activate them?
* Listened to the local radio and called in when they speak about something that’s linked to your niche?
* PAID for advertising in local magazines AND tracked the results?
* PAID for TARGETED ads on facebook?
*Posted for free on free ad sites such as Gumtree and Google local?
*Held a referral contest?
*Held a transformation contest?
*Contacted clubs, social gatherings, schools etc and asked if you can come along and give a free talk?
*Used traditional marketing methods such as getting your website/logo etc on your car?
*Thought about producing a book of some sort to increase your ‘status’ in the local area?
*Applied for business awards?
*Organized a Seminar for current/past/potential clients to attend?
*(SNEAKY one here) taught freelance classes in a local health club?
*Contacted local newspapers/magazines and newsletters and ask if they’d like a quality health and fitness writer to write a weekly/monthly column for them?
* Offered free training in exchange for having ‘cards/flyers etc’ in the workplaces of hairdressers, coffee shop workers and other places where your ‘ideal clients’ hang out?
* Approached a restaurant/café/take-away and asked if you could have ‘yourbootcampname’ approved items on the menu?
*Put a video up on You Tube that will help with Google rankings?
*Contacted ‘influential’ people in your area and offered your services? (Councilors, business leaders, public speakers, journalists etc)
*Stood outside of busy places and handed out flyers?
* Piggy Backed on other local business such as phyisos, chiropractors etc and offered to do joint promotion with them?
* Interviewed your current clients on their success and posted a video up on youtube/facebook rather than just being lazy and typing/copying and pasting it?
* Got a sandwich board or something similar next to where you teach so people actually know whom you are and what it is you’re actually doing?
*Given your clients ANYTHING that will help them get referrals? (Posters, flyers, business cards, plastic cards, car window stickers?
* BLOWN your clients away so much by doing something so ‘out of the ordinary’ that they tell EVERYONE about it? Remember, it’s NEVER crowded along the extra mile.
*Created a special report (not an article) that ‘breaks all of the rules’ and give it away for free
*Contacted a few people who you’d love to train but genuinely can’t afford your fees
*ASKED your clients how you can improve your service?
*ASKED your clients how you can make it easier for them to refer people to you?
*ASKED your clients what made them sign up with you? AND did more of the things they told you?
*Attended a school fete, xmas fayre, wedding fayre and instead of just standing behind a table handing out flyers, actually spoke to people and got their email address in exchange for entry into a competition?
So there you have it, there’s probably some stuff I’ve done that I’ve missed out but GET OFF FACEBOOK and get cracking with this list.
Oh and remember, doing this stuff JUST ONCE isn’t enough. Marketing is also about CONSISTENCY!
