What is the best way to advertise - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[ldcjwee]

I have a upstart personal training company and I am trying to figure out the best way to advertise

[suzukideb]

Try on you car. There are so many different ways to advertise on your vehicle. From a magnet, to back window graphics to full or partial vehicle wraps. Prices can range from 50.00 for simple white letters to a few grand for a total wrap.

Deb

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

ldcjwee,

Like suzukideb says, using your vehicle as a means for advertising is a great idea. Even if it is just to get a personalized license plate that say " I Train U" or "Lose W8" or "xrcswme" something that indicates you are in the fitness business.

But also, look for low-cost marketing opportunities in your community. Volunteer at a community event that is going to get news coverage and wear your personal trainer tshirt with your company logo or name on it, submit articles on latest fitness trends to your local newspapers, radio and TV stations(there's a book in the library that will give you contact info for all these media outlets), team with Hair and tanning Salons to see if you can put "Articles" up about health and fitness in their magazines that people read while they wait for their appointment. Or if they'll post your flyer on their community bulletin board.

I have found that general newspaper print ads are not very effective for their high cost, so only use those as a last resort. You probably could do a direct mailing piece to your target audience for the cost of a print at and have better results.

Oh, and if you aren' t on the web. get there. build a web page, get on myspace, get on LinkedIn.com. All networking sites to help you get the word out!

Good luck,

Dave

P.S. Speaking of Myspace : www.myspace.com/exercise2u
opcorn:

[kettlebell king]

I posted an ad in the local magazine- i've hasd so few hits from it to my web page its been silly- complete waste of money- ive recieved fairly good success with door to door flyering- although time consuming- my best results have been through internet advertising and word of mouth

[megfit]

If you are willing to run an ad in your local newspaper for at least a year, it WILL eventually pay off handsomely. But you have to realize that people need to see your name/info at least 11 times in 7 different venues before they'll trust enough to contact you. So, if you are only willing to run an ad one time in whatever media you choose, you'll throwing your money away.

When I was still promoting my personal training services, I found the exact newspaper that targeted my specific market, and ran an ad continuously that spoke to my target market's needs. Not only was the ad very successful, but I would then have people contact me who would say, "I pulled your ad out of the paper last year and after seeing it again today, I decided it was time to call." This was EXTREMELY common!

So, since I know you're in this for the long-term (and OF COURSE you have your business plan together that outlines where you hope to be in 10 years from now), you have to market for the long-term. Sort of like saving money..

And, to go along with that, you should also be putting a marketing plan together that describes how you will ACHIEVE the goals and objectives you set up in your business plan! You ask some very simple questions that I hope are to help you with this plan and not for after the fact because business has been slow... But, if this is the case, that's ok, too, because we all have to learn.

With that said, Dave definitely has some good suggestions. The specific term of 'advertising' is paid marketing. For any start-up who may not have access to outside funding, you'll want to do as much as possible to spread your name and services without paying a lot!

Anyone today should have a website. You can do it yourself or you can hire someone (see my site; http://www.websitesmade-easy.com for a great e-book on both of these, plus how to write your website text), but no matter who you are targeting, people today search the internet even if you live next door! Even my very first personal training client, from 1996, who lives in my town, found me online! How you draw traffic to your website is a bit different than how you draw traffic to your door/phone, so I won't go into that right now. However, ask if you'd like some tips. I DO believe I have a classic article on this. However, today the 'traditional' sales letter site is a bit outmoded (although I've seen a lot, lately).

So back to marketing yourself to increase business: If you can write at all, and know how to find credible resources to help you with materials, contact the local newspaper and offer to write a weekly column. Some local papers like this, others get everything from syndicates, today. You won't know until you try. Also contact local reporters and let them know you are available to help them with health/fitness articles. You'd be amazed at how much exposure you'll get from a local story that uses you as the expert!

Also, Dave also hinted at this, but not put this way: You have to now conduct yourself as a business owner. This means networking with other business owners! Otherwise you'll never grow or establish a credible reputation. Visit a Chamber meeting and decide if you can afford membership. Then get involved. If you're at all interested in speaking, check into joining a Toastmasters International club. Get to know business owners. Consider collaborations with other professionals, too; physical therapists, dietitians, health spas, even yoga and Pilates studios. You may be a type of competition, but they may still have people come in and ask about personal fitness training services. Or THEY may be looking for someone who could add to their studio services. The options are unlimited.

Put your audio logo/elevator speech together so that anyone you come into contact with will learn how you can help them with THEIR needs! Of course you should also know who your ideal client is, too.

That's just a few suggestions!

Good luck to you,

Margie

[kettlebell king]

loads of really good info thanks margie- im pretty new at marketing myself- it has been hard and is by no means over it seems a constant struggle but it is worth it- I don't now know if to leave my advert in the magazine or not? Its been in for 5 months already and had very few hits to my web site from it- however it is in there until febrauary so hopefully something might come of it then- I mostly train gay clients and aim particularly at this market so the advert is in a regional gay news type magazine. do you think it would be worth keeping the advert in and putting another in g scene another respected gay news type mag?

[megfit]

You know, if you are trying to reach your target niche market, perhaps you should network in some online communities. Often what will happen in magazines is people will read the articles, which have MUCH more credibility, than read the ads. See what is involved in submitting an article, or maybe you can be the magazine's expert on fitness??

When you consider the cost of the ad and how many clients you have received from it, what is your return on your investment? This is an important aspect to take into account. They say you can expect to gain 1% of the people who contact you. Are you sure that the only people who have visited your website have come from the ad in the magazine? There has to be a really compelling message that hits the heart of your target market in order for them to take action and look you up on your website. Does your ad speak to their needs, or does it just give them information about you?

Anyway, things to think about.

Margie

[kettlebell king]

thanks- i've been thinking some time about how to get an article written on me- I dont want to do any thing garish to get there! :lol:
I might approach a couple and see if perhaps I can write a fitness column?

[theStoat]

many new webesites available for online advertising.

try: find a personal trainer

[portlandGymRat]

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