Monday, 9 March 2009

How To Avoid Burnout In Your Fitness Business


Here's another question!


"Hi Dax,



With all that you do, how do you avoid burnout? 



Amanda"

Hey Amanda

I avoid burnout in numerous ways actually, but first and foremost among them is that I mostly work in areas that I’m very passionate about. More than passionate, in fact, but purposeful.

I’m very fortunate that most of my goals are exciting to me (initially at least) but that ultimately, they fall in line with my passions and my ultimate ‘big picture’ purpose which is…

‘To have a lasting positive impact on the lives of every person who I come into contact with, whether in person or by other means’

With such a purpose I genuinely go through my day every day asking ‘am I achieving my purpose?’ and I can answer it easily.
That’s not to say I always achieve it. I don’t.

I get upset, angry, impatient, frustrated the same as everyone else, however, I’m aware that those feelings are taking me off of my purpose and so I’m able to correct course pretty quickly and get back on target.

This, I believe, is a huge part of avoiding burnout. Knowing what you’re here for and spending most of your time working toward that end.

On a more pragmatic level, I ensure that my year is divided into phases.

I don’t believe that we can run full tilt all the time without burning out, no matter how passionate we are or how inspired our purpose. Sometimes you just need to charge your batteries.

So, instead of letting the batteries run out and being forced to rest and recharge them, I and my family have adopted what we call ‘the 12 week rule’.

This means simply this; we will NEVER go longer than 12 weeks without taking a family trip or adventure somewhere. Normally for 2-4 weeks though sometimes longer and often a little shorter.

The beauty of this approach is that we all know IN ADVANCE how long the next ‘race’ is to be run. We know that I may be working flat out for several weeks, that I may be traveling or working on time consuming project, but they also know for certain that it will end and that we’ll be going somewhere great at the end of it to spend time together.

Oftentimes we’ll not even wait for 12 weeks and go somewhere much sooner, but it’ll never go beyond that.

Want to avoid burnout?

Simply draw out your finish line IN ADVANCE and ‘run’ as hard and fast as you can with your goals safe in the knowledge that your chance to recover and get your breath back is never that far away.

Hope this helps

Dax Moy
www.personaltrainersuccessacademy.com
The Home of fitness marketing and personal training Success

P.S - Here's my 'anti-burnout' trip that I took this weekend. Along way to go for a couple of days but really recharged my batteries : )


Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Fitness Marketing: Guarantees and Getting Known Locally

Yesterday's affiliate marketing question seems to have stirred up a few people. I got some great email feedback but realise that I forgot something VERY important.

About commissions.

Traditional wisdom says to pay as much as you possibly can afford. as affiliates are pretty greedy and will be more inclined to work on your behalf if they get paid more.

Makes sense I guess, but personally I prefer to take this approach.

If the affiliate sale is about SALES then I normally pay about 50%, sometimes more. Given that my products are not cheap, this, I believe, is a decent commission rate and fair to both.

However, if I'm about listbuilding so that I can remarket later, then I'll give away as much as possible.

So it depends on the goal.

But I see no reason why you should have your affiliates making more money than you from your efforts. Maybe I'm wrong, but hey, that's my belief about this.

Anyway...

Today's qustion is from Andy Sloane.



"Hey Dax, Good shout on this post, as a relative novice it'll be great help.

1. What's the best way to attract clients from my local area so that they sign up with me?

2. Do you think that my offering guaranteed fat loss results is the way forward? I've had great results with all fat loss clients thus, far, the latest girl lost 9cm off the waist after 6 weeks, so I'm pretty confident in my methods, but think perhaps I've still not had enough to want to guarantee results?!)

Thanks bro

PS- bought your cookbook yesterday, big fan of the lemon dill chicken ;-)
Andy"



My answer...

Hey Andy,

There are lots of ways to get 'slightly famous' in your local area but here are the most effective.

1. Write... a lot! - The truth is, no matter how good you are at your job, if you don't exist in Google then it's like you don't exist. Even if I read a flyer or ad from that grabs my attention, I'm still going to check you out in Google to see what you're about.

If there are only 5 entries for your name then I'll probably skip your services. If there are 15,000 then you stand a good chance I'll call.

So write articles, put up regular blog posts, submit youtube videos, make comments on other people's forums or communities... but get known!

2. Don't advertise... educate! - Most people are sick of being advertsised and sold to but they're happy enough to have someone educate and teach them something they want to know.

So teach!

Instead of putting together flyers for your business saying 'Hire Me', put together colour handouts with sample workouts, fatloss or nutrition tips. More work, for sure, but more effective too!

3. Talk! - The only way we truly know if a person knows their stuff or not is to hear them say it. When they talk, we ascertain their level of expertise right away. We know if they are the real deal... or not.

So talk!

Hire a hall or other venue and invite people to hear you talk on a subject that you're already comfortable with. You'll wow them and they'll want to work with you.

So simple!

Of course, there's a lot more but that's a start : )

Now, as to guaranteed fatloss, the answer is a resounding 'yes'!

Yes, you should offer a guarantee. Not just on fatloss but for all your services.

It will elevate you and your business massively in the eyes of your prospects and make you the obvious (and only) choice for training.

My company offers a double your money back guarantee if we can't help you lose a clothing size in 21 days.

I personally offer a 10 x money back guarantee for the same.

Does it work?

Well, I'm the highest paid personal trainer in the UK so it's certainly not hurting, right?

Offer the guarantee.

Watch your business change...

...overnight!

Hope this helps : )

Dax Moy
For more Personal Trainer Marketing Tips
Visit www.personaltrainersuccessacademy.com



Got more questions?

Post 'em!

Monday, 2 March 2009

Your Questions Answered: How To Attract Affiliates To Your Product Launches




















Well, I asked for questions about how I could help you with your fitness business and I certainly got them... HUNDREDS of them!

Yes, I got a few here on the blog but my Personal Trainer Success Community PM inbox and my private email box got a ton too.

So it looks like you'll be getting a good few blog posts from me for a while as I answer them all : )

Now, my first question has been asked by about 20 people so far so I'll start with this...


"Hey Dax

I need to know how to get good affiliates on board to help sell my Go Sleeveless program.

I've become all to aware that you can have the best product in the world, and even a decent sized list, but if no affiliates are interested, nothing happens.

I am assuming most of the steady flow of traffic and daily sales on most fitness pro's sites are driven by affiliate sales, so that's why I ask.

Maybe I am wrong on this? Maybe we need to drive our own traffic?

Dunno, I'm confused.

Love to hear your input mate!"


Rylan Duggan

My Answer...


Hey Rylan (and everyone else with an affiliate question).

Whilst I'm not the leading expert on affiliate marketing, I've had a fair bit of success at being an affiliate myself and recruiting others to my own products so I'm confident that what I'm about to share with you will work well.

First, the key to affiliate marketing is to be prepared.

By this, I mean having your product 100% finished, your website up, your copy written, your affiliate provider (clickbank for instance) prepared, your download pages ready, your auto responders set up and, to all intents and purpose, a fully functioning product that I could buy right now if I wanted to.

Nothing kills possible affiliate deals faster than having to wait for things to 'get ready'. Affiliates, the good ones anyway, are business people and they want ready-made.

Second, have all the traffic generation materials prepared .

This means keyword rich articles (in abundance), youtube videos (again, keyword rich), blogposts etc that your affiliates can point their lists to during the course of the promotion you'll be running.

Failing to provide this material pretty much kills any affiliate promotion dead.

Third, test small.

Start with a 'soft launch' to your own lists and gather data on click through rates, conversions etc before you approach the big boys. I know this is different to most of the launches you've seen but understand, these are to bigger lists with networks of other trainers supporting them.

As a first timer or newbie you need to think differently.

Gather your data and THEN approach the bigger affiliates and tell them how well you convert... and they'll love you for it.

As they say 'time spent in reconnaissence is never wasted'.

Fourth, use a 'reason why' approach to your launch

People will act if you give them a reason to. 'Because I'm Launching' is rarely one that engenders action. Sometimes it does but not often. Tie it into something. A national day, a movie release, your birthday. It doesn't matter, but give your release a reason why.

Fifth, don't just 'go for the goodies'

Most launches look like this;

Friday you announce a three day sale starting monday.

Monday you launch with an email telling people to visit your site and buy your product.

Tuesday is the same.

Wednesday you tell 'em to hurry as the sale is ending.

Game over.

That's it.

Sure, there's a bit more... but not much!

Instead, play the long game.

Think of a launch as a 28 day conversation.

This reduces the 'stress' to sell.

Have a conversation about fat loss, ask what the main problems your readers (or your affiliates readers face), answer their problems, give them articles related to your product, send them to videos that reinforce your message and, of course, funnel them through an opt in page.

DON'T squeeze them for the sale.

Just talk.

As you move toward the last week, put them on standby for the main event.

If you do this right, you won't need to sell, they'll want to buy. Big difference!

In short, make your launch an 'event' NOT a sale.

People don't like to be sold, but they'll line up around the block for an event, right?

And so will affiliates who, when they see how your launch is lined up, will smell easy money and jump at the chance to work with you.

There you go! : )

Dax Moy
www.personaltrainersuccess.ning.com
The Web's Largest FREE Online
Community For Fitness Professionals

Go on then... gimme more questions : )

Thursday, 26 February 2009

Questions, Questions!

Questions are powerful.

With good questions come the potential (if you're paying attention) for great answers and great actions.

Great actions can completely change the outcome of your life. I know, asking some great questions about my own success has completely turned my own life around over the last 6 years.

So...

I've a question for you.

If you could ask me absolutely anything you wanted to know about achieving great success in any area of your fitness business what would you mos want to know?

What if you could ask me any TWO questions... On ANYTHING related
to the success you most dream of?

That's what I'm offering all of my readers today.

Just post your 2 questions about fitness business success in the comments section below and I'll do my best to answer them in the coming days.

Go on, post away! : )

Dax Moy
http://www.personaltrainersuccess.ning.com


P.S - If I get a lot of similar questions I'll host a series of
free teleseminars to answer them... so get asking! : )

Monday, 23 February 2009

How I P%$$ed Off All The Local Gyms In My Area

Hey Guys

So here's the deal...

I run a personal training studio in Central London with 7 gyms within 5 minutes of my centre each of which offer pools, classes, sauna, steam, juice bar, hair salons etc, etc.

They all operate memberships of several thousand members.

My studio is PT only. 3000 Sq Ft, no pool, no steam room, no sauna.

You get the picture.

We do not offer unaccompanied use of the studio for training. You're either getting PT or you're not. If you're not, you train elsewhere.

So, we recommend our clientele to the gyms nearby, choosing each based upon the program needs, the available budget and convenience in terms of our clients' travel arrangements.

We've always done this and, despite speaking with gyms about cross referrals, we've always been told that they operate their own PT's so can't refer, but that they're 'happy to help US out by giving our clients somewhere to train' (Nice of them, right?)

Anyway, here's how I pissed them off today (and will remain pissing them off all this week).

I've had my team members distributing flyers for our PT services near each of these gyms.

Not on their premises, mind you, but in the public areas outside.

Why?

Well, believe it or not, NOT because we're trying to compete.

We're not. In fact, we Can't!

We're doing this for 2 simple reasons.

1. Go to where the target market are - Our target market are those who are looking to achieve their health and fitness goals. Where better to find them than gyms?

If you advertise in a magazine, you (presumably) put your ad in a publication that will be seen by those who are interested in your services. Doesn't it make sense to do the same in the real world?

2. Offering services that others cannot - Those that are interested in PT in their gyms have taken them on already. Those who do not either don't want what they are being offered OR have tried the service already and did not find it fit their needs.

That being the case, we're offering services that the gyms can't/don't/won't.

Again, no competition necessary.

Well, that's my take on it.

Seems the gyms have another view.

They're not happy.

They're upset.

My team are being told to move on (though they're not moving).

I'm getting phone calls and emails of complaint.

Apparently, it's 'not done'.

Personally, I don't care.

Bottom line?

This is an aggressive move, but aggressive isn't competitive. It's vigorously energetic, it's boldly assertive and yes, it's making an all-out effort to win. But that doesn't mean that others lose.

Shame the clubs don't see that.

They'd rather me lose than share a market that isn't using their services.

I don't mind us BOTH winning but I don't plan to lose!

Dax Moy
****************************************************************
The Internet's Biggest And Best FREE Resource For Fitness Professionals
WWW.PERSONALTRAINERSUCCESS.NING.COM
****************************************************************

P.S - On a side note, this strategy has been applied to the big chains only. The small, independent gyms and PT studios in my area are not on my 'to be pissed off' list. I figure they've taken enough of a battering from the chains already...

Saturday, 21 February 2009

The 3 Rules Of Fitness Marketing Success

Watch this short video of the Fitness Success Blueprints workshop I did with Craig Ballantyne last year and learn not only the 3 rules of fitness marketing success, but also the deadly four words that are keeping you from experiencing it for yourself.

Once you learn them... everything changes!




Don't forget to leave a comment!

Dax Moy
www.personaltrainersuccessacademy.com

P.S - Are you a member of the fastest growing FREE personal trainer success community online?

www.personaltrainersuccessacademy.ning.com

Friday, 13 February 2009

Last Call For Thailand Supercamp

Hey Guys

This is my final push for any 'stragglers' for the Thailand camp in May.

If you're even considering taking one of the 8 places I have left then now's the time to either commit or bow out completely. Sorry if that sounds pushy but I have to book the villa based on the number of attendees and won't really have the ability to add late attendees once all beds are taken.

Here's the villa I'm looking at right now...








As you can see, it's a gorgeous place and one that's mere minutes from the powder sands and turquoise sea that we'll be playing on and filming on daily.

Nice! : )

Can you imagine... (here's the wavy 'dream wiggles' at work now)...


...Waking up every morning to a beautiful tropical paradise and working out on the beach and then a swim in our own private 10 meter pool before a delicious breakfast prepared by our own private chefs?

...Spending a full 10 days in the company of other like minded, dedicated and 'going places' fitness professionals who share ideas and support freely to help you complete your projects easier and faster than ever before?

...Lunches on the beach, playing volleyball or indulging in water sports (or even just catching some rays) before getting 'back to the office' in time for an afternoon of result-producing masterminding and focused effort on your signature project idea?

...Evenings where you choose from relaxing in tropical paradise with a glass of what you fancy and your toes in the ever-warm Andaman sea or hitting the local town for shopping, eating, dancing or whatever else takes your fancy?





Sounds great right?

I'm excited myself and I've been there 18 times in the last four years : )

But look, it's not all chilling out and catching rays (though there will be plenty of opportunity for that), it's about finally finishing that product you've been meaning to finish for years but never really gotten around to.

The one that, once complete, will allow you to visit places like this at will AND earn money while you're there.

(That's why I'm taking you to 'another world', so that you can experience a little of the success you've always promised yourself you'd have when you 'made it'. I promise, once you have, you'll become addicted to success and want a lot more)

So there'll be a lot of work.

Each and every day there will be a task to complete in full. No if's, no but's. If we get the task completed we'll party and chill out in the evening. If we don't, we'll work until it's done, even if that means through the night.

I mean it!

See guys, the aim of the Thailand camp is to finally get you to do what has always eluded you in the past when you've tried to create your products alone.

Get stuff done. Get it finished. Get paid.

So we'll be dividing the mission of thinking up, creating, writing, filming, editing, copywriting and automating your product and site into 10 very distinct tasks and work them til they're done.

In short, you simply cannot fail to produce the work of art that lies within you and get paid for it.

On top of that, you'll be developing a distribution network of thousands of email addresses through all the other participants who will cross promote your product meaning GUARANTEED sales when the site goes live.

That's worth the cost of the bootcamp itself (especially when I teach you how to create a product launch that will ramp your sales off the chart).

So look, yes it's expensive (but considering it's 10 days in paradise and you're going to finally finish your product, it's a steal) and there's no way around that, but you're getting on the inside track on the only course of it's kind in the world.

Yes, it's time off work or away from your family. I know how that is. It's tough, but sometimes you simply have to bite the bullet and pay the price for the success you want. Unfortunately, success demands that you pay your dues in advance, there's no other way. Sure, family will miss you, but when you make the money you want to make from your product you can take them to Thailand yourself, right?

Yes, you may think you lack the knowledge, skills or abilities to create a desirable product but I'll prove you wrong. No matter how young or old, male or female, industry newbie or 10 year veteran, no matter what your niche (or lack of one), I'll show you how to create a killer product.

And no, it doesn't matter if you're a great writer or not, you don't need to be.

All you need is the desire and the commitment to take action and I promise you'll have something amazing at the end of 10 days and will be ready to make your own passive income in no time.

But look, as I said, I need to book this villa. There's no more time for hanging around with this or thinking about it. It's time to act. Either way.

I'd love for anyone who's serious to come along. I think it will make the event amazing to have the mental resources of more motivated and inspired people along but I also know that people are often stuck and find it hard to step away from their comfort zones. I understand and appreciate that, I really do.

I just think that if you're stuck and your life never seems to change for the better then there comes a time when YOU have to make a change. There is no other way.

Thailand offers the opportunity for you to change in many, many ways and will deliver the knowledge, skills and abilities that will set you up for life. I know it because they're the same ones I personally use and teach to my own students to help them get successful.

You'll get them in 10 days... and a tan! : )

Anyway, enough!

This was longer than I intended but I'm excited and passionate about this so my fingers wouldn't stop : )

You know as you read this if you want to come or not.

If you do, let me know by visiting www.personaltrainersuccess.ning.com and posting me a message.

If not, then thanks for listening to my mad ramblings : )

Dax Moy
www.personaltrainersuccess.ning.com

P.S - This is going to be crazy good : )