American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By: Shannon L. Entin

The Internet has exploded onto the fitness scene! With more people coming “on-line” every day, the World-Wide Web is becoming an essential marketing and communications medium.

A useful tool for educating yourself, making contacts, and establishing yourself as an authority in the fitness industry, savvy fitness professionals are using the Internet to market themselves and to build their businesses.

Are you taking advantage of these opportunities?
Building your presence on the Internet takes time and effort, but it allows you to reach millions around the world at a relatively low cost.

Your online presence allows you to differentiate yourself from other trainers — to position yourself as an expert in the field, on the cutting edge of technology.

EDUCATION

Education is the key to a successful fitness training business. Numerous resources exist on the World-Wide Web for continuing education, and there are many opportunities to correspond with other fitness professionals about the latest research, training techniques and other topics. You can stay on top of the latest fitness trends by participating in newsgroups and mailing lists.

Like cyber-bulletin boards, newsgroups and mailing lists are electronic discussion groups where the inexperienced and the professional alike can post messages to discuss common issues and to ask or answer questions.

By monitoring these postings daily, you can learn about the fitness concerns of the average person. If you can offer any insight that might clarify a confusing issue, you not only help people, but you also position yourself as a valued resource and a credible fitness professional.

REPUTATION

On the Internet, one message may be broadcast to millions of people instantaneously. In no time at all, you can be known as a reliable, supportive source for training info - or you can be known as a self-serving braggart. Be careful how you answer questions online.

Subtle self-promotional opportunities will arise frequently if you are honest about helping and educating people. Learn to use, not abuse, such tools as signature files, Web pages, and Internet “links”.

The Internet is about helping people learn, and marketing on the Internet must be done with this in mind. To truly differentiate yourself from other trainers, find out what people want to learn, then provide a forum where they can learn it. By positioning yourself as an educational leader in the fitness industry, and by providing timely information on current fitness concerns, you will be building a strong foundation for the growth and success of your business!