Many folks have asked me recently, “How can I help others realize their health and fitness dreams?” “How do I grow my health and fitness business?” And “How do I help people who don’t want to change?”
Changing old habits and unhealthy patterns of behavior we have developed over years and years is not an easy task. Similarly, marketing health and fitness programs, products or services to individuals who are bombarded with a plethora of health and fitness messages on a daily basis leaves many “stuck” and unable to move. I have spent the last 20 years trying to figure out this complex puzzle of adopting new healthier behaviors and marketing health and fitness.
What I have found of most value in helping others live healthier lifestyles is providing them with an “experience.” As a trainer, I have found, instead of “talking about exercise”-it is better that “I exercise with them.” Instead of talking about eating healthy-I literally “show them how to eat healthy.” Whenever I employed this strategy, whether in a seminar, or over a friends house or casually chatting with others- time and time again I have found everyone is willing to give something new a try-especially if it is non-threatning and fun! Pretty soon, once they try it-they like it! Then it begins to spread! Many people begin to share their experience with others-like a good movie or a great book-we just have to tell someone!
Related to business, a few years ago I ran across a great book called, “Pyromarketing”. This book talks about the idea of thinking of marketing as a “fire”. The author of the book, Greg Stielstra, said it best: “The best way to understand marketing, the way its messages are sent, received, acted upon and spread, is to think of it as fire.”
Below I have summarized the Pyromarketing approach and applied it to the health and fitness business. I hope these 4 steps will help you in your business or in helping those around you that you care about improve their lives.
4 Steps to Ignite Your Health and Fitness Business Success!
Step: #1: Collect the driest Tinder: Promote to the people most likely to buy
Who are the driest tinder for your program, product or service? What makes them so interested? Who do you know who is interested in improving their health and fitness? Who do you know who would like to lose weight? Look and feel younger? Get in better shape? Take a moment to think about them and write your top 3 down.
Step #2:Touch it with a match: Give them an experience with your product/service
- Start a walking group, or 4321 workout group or hiking group. Show others how easy fitness can be-not only does this help your customers, friends or family improve their health-it also helps you stay accountable to moving for life!
- Create abuddy system online-use Twitter or Face book to journal your exercise and nutrition.
- Email a workout and challenge them to try it (or do it with them!)
- Email health and fitness blogs to clients (or if you liked a “Tweet” -“Retweet” to your list)
- Encourage others to Take the FREE Online Challenge (See “Take 10 Challenge”)
- Invite them over for a “cooking party”! Share healthy recepies with eachother as you enjoy some fellowship and food together!
- Walk them through the 4 Steps to Optimal Health (see previous blog)
- Email the link: http://www.4321fitness.com I try to offer interested readers information that will apply to their lives-quick, easy health and fitness tips we all can use-even when we are moving a the speed of life! Feel free to email forward! My goal is to see them help others!
Step #3: Fan the flames! Help them tell others
- Gather all testimonials
- Take Before and after pictures
- Share success stories and pictures via email
- Post on Facebook
- Send updates on Twitter
- Provide tools so they can tell others (e.g. postcards, emails, flyers).
- Share the business opportunity-if your business model allows for distributorships, affiliate programs-share the opportunity to work together and help others.
Step #4: Save the Coals: Keep a record of who they are
- Keep a list of your ambassadors
- Extend an invitation to your list to “experience” your new program, product or service.
- Continue to Coach, support and build your team!
I hope this helps answer some of your questions! Please feel free to shoot me a note and let me know if you have other ideas or questions. You can “tweet” me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook and let me know your thoughts! Together we can help a lot of folks who have been stuck for years!
Remember to Finish Strong!
All the best everyone!
Coach Sean
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