For entrepreneurs and independent business people, the internet is an invaluable resource that allows them to advertise, reach new clients and engage their existing client base. It has also given way for enhanced competition and market saturation.
Standing out from a crowded online content space can prove difficult for those who aren’t web savvy or versed on the latest digital trends and sites. Fitness expert and professionals find this especially difficult, in part because they are also grappling with competition from local gyms and fitness centers.
For those in health and fitness, such as fitness instructors, diet coaches and trainers, a dual strategy of online and traditional marketing proves most successful. However, this can get costly. For fitness experts, selecting which tools to use in their marketing and promotion is key to ensuring future success and keeping costs low.
Below is a short list of some digital tools that fitness experts can implement to better market, promote and facilitate their business.
- Social Networks
Social networks are a powerful tool because they are free and full of people interested in engaging with one another. Fitness experts should have a few accounts over a variety of networks for maximum exposure. However, not all networks are the same, so it’s important you are active on the right networks.
For a Zumba instructor or someone who is versed in exercise for those with limited mobility, Facebook is probably the best social network to target the right demographic, while pilates and yoga instructors should use Instagram to reach audiences (women ages 18 to 34) who are most likely to use their services.
- Digital Scheduling Tools
As any personal trainer or fitness expert will tell you, their schedule is the lifeblood of their business. Despite this, many fitness professionals use basic scheduling software (if any) to keep track of their client schedule.
Using a more advanced scheduling tool like that offered by Virtuagym allows fitness professionals and trainers to spend less time managing their business and more time training clients, which, in turn, translates into more revenue.
Not only does Virtuagym let users schedule clients, it also has tools to create customized workout plans, track nutrition intakes, mass and individual messaging capabilities, as well as billing tools.
- Content Monetization and Generating a Larger Audience
Social media is a terrific way for fitness professionals to market and advertise their services and business. However, it lacks a way for fitness experts to monetize their content.
For fitness professionals who post videos online or write health and fitness articles, being able to monetize their content is big. After all, creating engaging health and fitness-related content and being able to monetize can become a second income stream for fitness professionals.
ConnectPal, a content publishing platform and marketplace, enables its users to create an easy-to-navigate profile page, similar to pages on other popular social networks, with one key difference. ConnectPal allows users to build a virtual pay wall around their content.
The user then sets a monthly subscription fee for their readers to gain access to their unique content. Fitness professionals can then use their social media accounts to post links to their pay-protected ConnectPal page, thereby generating a new source of revenue.
Trying to expand their client base is naturally a goal shared by most fitness instructors. But, it should be realized just how powerful the internet has become in expanding businesses, fitness businesses included. Using the tools mentioned above will help any fitness professional retain their client base, attract new clients and even generate brand new revenue streams.
