Marketing and Sales Articles

Customer testimonials can be fantastic tools for driving new business to your door. But boring, photo-free client comments buried deep inside your website are unlikely to do the trick. To quickly capture the imagination (and training dollars) of the masses, it is critical to breathe life into client success stories. So what makes some testimonials tedious and others terrific? Follow these four steps to avoid the mistakes of time-wasting customer snooze stories. Bring your facility’s testimonials back from the brink—and attract new-member dollars to your door.newsletter_teaser: Customer testimonials can be fantastic tools for driving new business to your door. But boring, photo-free client comments buried deep inside your website are unlikely to do the trick. To quickly capture the imagination (and training dollars) of the masses, it is critical to breathe life into client success stories.

For almost 30 years, IDEA has operated on the premise that trained, certified professionals are key to helping individuals get positive results, remain highly engaged and become “inspired to fitness.” The August 2010 launch of IDEA FitnessConnect, our free online fitness directory, delivered the power of this philosophy right into your hands.

While social media is a valuable way to communicate with current clients and reach new ones, traditional forms of media—print, TV and radio—still have a substantial audience. Combining social and traditional media may give you a stronger edge in a busy marketplace. What Is the Real Difference Between Social Media and Traditional Media?newsletter_teaser: While social media is a valuable way to communicate with current clients and reach new ones, print, TV and radio still have a substantial audience. Combining social and traditional media may give you a stronger edge in a busy marketplace.

We’ve seen the power of social media—it can create brand ambassadors for your company; it can directly affect sales and increase your customer base; and it can be a platform for outstanding customer service. There are also countless stories of social media coming back to haunt people, sometimes with disastrous results.newsletter_teaser: We’ve seen the power of social media—it can create brand ambassadors for your company; it can directly affect sales and increase your customer base; and it can be a platform for outstanding

The United States is experiencing profound demographic changes, and if fitness centers want to remain successful they must take these changes into account. Minority groups are increasing in sizeon their way to becoming the majority of the American population.newsletter_teaser: The United States is experiencing profound demographic changes, and if fitness centers want to remain successful they must take these changes into account. Minority groups are increasing in size on their way to becoming the majority of the American population.

Converting Facebook fans into club members is easier than you think! After a year of interviewing facility operators and businesses that were experiencing remarkable success using social media, I found the common thread: they were giving people a reason to do more than just “like” them. The following three steps illustrate how to make it happen for you. Step 1: Solve People’s Problemsnewsletter_teaser: Converting Facebook fans into club members is easier than you think! After a year of interviewing facility operators experiencing remarkable success

In this five-article series, we have covered the nuts and bolts of creating an in-home personal training business from scratch. First, it was critical to do all the background work to determine whether starting a business in your area was feasible and could support you full-time. Second, you created a business identity by looking at your core values, needs, vision, purpose and mission. Third, you outlined your financial needs and ideal work schedule and set 1-, 3- and 6-month goals.newsletter_teaser: In this five-article series, we have covered the nuts and bolts of creating an in-home personal training business from scratch. First, it was critical to do all the background work to determine whether starting a business in your area was feasible and could support you full-time.

What can you do to bring clients through your doors? We asked studio owners and program directors to tell us their marketing secrets: What works to attract students to Pilates programs—and what doesn’t work?newsletter_teaser: What can you do to bring clients through your doors? We asked studio owners and program directors to tell us their marketing secrets: What works to attract students to Pilates programs—and what doesn’t work?

You’ve decided to take your business into the 21st century and dip your toe in the social media world. You’ve mapped out your objectives, identified your audiences and created the messages necessary for a strategic communications campaign. Now, how do you effectively use all of the tools at your disposal to implement a campaign that’s as effective as possible?newsletter_teaser: You’ve decided to take your business into the 21st century and dip your toe in the social media world. You’ve mapped out your objectives, identified your audiences and created the messages necessary for a strategic communications campaign. Now, how do you effectively use all of the tools at your disposal to implement a campaign that’s as effective as possible?

By now you know it is to your distinct advantage to set up a profile in the IDEA FitnessConnect online directory. Whether or not you use all the features, it at least ensures you one more point of contact for potential clients. Why not take things to the next level and maximize how you promote yourself and your business? Here are 10 ideas (plus a bonus tip) on doing just that.