Every fitness professional knows the importance of generating referrals as it relates to business growth – so why do so many struggle to implement referral programs in their business?
My guess is that they don’t set deadlines to implement what they know. So I’m going to set some deadlines for you. Here are 12 months worth of referral generating ideas. All you have to do is follow the formula and watch your referral business grow!
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The easiest add-on Profit Center of all…Autoship Supplements.
Maybe you can’t find the time or space to deliver the other two programs I’ve talked about.
Maybe you don’t enjoy teaching Weight Management classes and don’t want to hire someone else to run the program.
Perhaps you just don’t want to run those programs.
No sweat. There still is an easy option to add another revenue stream to your business.
Start offering autoship supplements.
This one is the easiest of all. It doesn’t require a significant investment of time or money.
It doesn’t require any inventory – though you can keep a few products on hand for sampling or display if you want.
In fact, unless you philosophically have a problem with offering supplements (and if that’s the case you will probably want to pass on the remainder of this post), this is a no brainer.
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17 February 2010 - by admin
Coaches love quotes and clichés.
It’s almost impossible to find a coach that doesn’t have quotes or clichés all over their office or locker room.
I was no exception.
I love distilling things down – a checklist to teach a system or sentence that conveys a bigger message.
So here are 5 of my favorite rules for business and a sentence or two about what they mean:
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15 February 2010 - by admin
I love stories.
That’s a big part of why I prefer to meet with people in person or talk on the phone over sending emails.
It’s easier to share stories.
Sharing stories are one of the easiest ways to get to know someone – and if you’re selling, they’re one of the easiest ways to build rapport.
This weekend at the IYCA Summit I shared my personal story with the audience so they could better understand where I was coming from when I offered business advice.
Based on the feedback I received, it was the best thing I could have possibly done.
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9 February 2010 - by admin
No matter what industry you’re in – problems create opportunities.
Walt Disney developed Disneyland in response to the fact that amusement parks left a lot to be desired.
Wal-Mart grew like crazy because retailers ignored markets outside the big cities.
If most of the fitness industry is going to ignore the problems at hand – that equates to opportunities for you. Here are the most obvious opportunities as I see them:
Become ‘The Solution’ For a Targeted Group of People In Your Area – In Boston baseball players seek out Eric Cressey’s gym. In Edison, NJ wrestlers flock to Zach Even-Esh’s Underground Gym. If you’re in Santa Clarita and want to lose fat, you go to the Cosgrove’s gym. If you want sports performance training in Watchung, NJ, Jason Ferruggia’s Renegade Gym is the go to solution. In Pembroke, MA young athletes seek out Dave & Andrea Gleason’s Athletic Revolution.
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6 February 2010 - by admin
Following up on the previous post “What’s Wrong With The Fitness Industry”, I wanted to share my thoughts since so many of you we’re good enough to share your take on the problems our industry has.
First off, I think there are a variety of problems, not just one or two. So here’s my list:
A Focus On Everything But Results – If you go to the mechanic, you go to get your car fixed…not just worked on, right? It’s pretty much that way for any service.
If I drop my clothes of at the dry cleaner, it’s because I want them clean and pressed.
In fact, if my car isn’t fixed or my clothes aren’t cleaned – the service provider didn’t do their job.
The fitness industry’s job is to get people results. Not just ‘work them out’.
These are far from perfect analogies because they deal with objects like cars and clothes – not people – but the point remains.
If gyms and trainers were graded on the outcomes they deliver to their clients – most would get an ‘F.’
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1 February 2010 - by admin
The fitness industry is broken.
Plain and simple.
Only about 16% of people belong to a fitness facility or program in the U.S.
Of the ones that belong to health clubs, only about 30% are active users.
The average personal trainer makes under $30,000 per year.
Most people who enter the personal training profession depart soon after to get a ‘real job.’
I’ve got my own opinions on why things are the way they are – opinions about the consumers, the commercial clubs and the personal trainers.
I suspect you do too.
I’ll share mine soon enough – but tell me yours first.
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27 January 2010 - by admin
If you want to build a business that is resistant to struggle, then I think you should have at least 5 different revenue streams.
How many do you have?
Here are 21 that you can choose from ‘a la Carte’ style: Read the rest…
25 January 2010 - by admin
I wrote an email the other day talking about considering myself a coach – not a marketer or an internet marketer.
The email generated a ton of feedback – most positive, with a couple negative comments from people that consider themselves internet marketers. Fine by me.
It’s not up to me to decide ‘what you are.’
It’s up to you.
Personally, for my entire adult life I’ve considered myself a Coach and felt my mission was to help people reach their potential.
So what I want to know is this:
What do you consider yourself?
What’s your job or your mission?
Do me a favor and let me know below.
Dedicated to your success,
Pat Rigsby
Pat Rigsby is a Co-Owner of the International Youth Conditioning Association & the youth fitness franchise Athletic Revolution as well as a fitness industry consultant serving thousands of personal trainers and fitness entrepreneurs. Sign up for his fitness business free newsletter to discover proven marketing, sales and business strategies, along with blog updates, news, and more! While you’re at it, follow him on Twitter.
