HyperStrike-Partners

How To Price Online Training

I receive many requests on how to price online training.  It is a complex answer as I believe different trainers warrant different pay - just as different levels of in person training exist.  I also know that different markets - such as San Francisco versus Grand Rapids, Michigan - warrant different payment scales due to cost of living differences.

We have several trainers that are setting up their training with HyperStrikePro in many different ways.  Here are some examples:

• One training group has a 12 week transformation program where the client comes in for an initial consultation in person and then the trainers put the 12 week program on their HyperStrike fitness calendar.  There are weekly virtual weigh ins, email coaching through the messaging boards and that accountability works wellf or this group. They charge one bulk price for the 12 week program.
• One trainer sells their service by the workout. 
• Another trainer sells their base service of the auto-HyperStrike program and then sells by the program for his customized workouts and program.
• One gym charges their members a monthly access fee to the tools  - fitness and nutrition.  The trainers at that gym sells packages - 1 week program, 1 month program or 3 month programs.
• One trainer only does a combination of in person training combined witwh virtual sessions each week.

The way that I have heard trainers and gyms price are also as follows:

• A gym has their trainer charge 1 week of virtual training - 3 sessions equals 1 in person training session in price.
• One trainer charges $20 per virtual workout for his market.
• One trainer charges a base price for the virtual workouts and then upsells the unlimited email coaching as another item.
• One example from one trainer is a 12 week program - 4 workouts per week for 12 weeks costs $600.00.

What I find to ring true with all of our trainers and gyms is that good service, good workouts, great follow up and understanding the clients' needs are critical for success.  A solid combination of in person plus phone and email coaching with the tools also works very well.  What works for you?  Please send us your feedback and success stories that you wish to pass along to others.

Keep moving!!

Top Ways to Attract and Retain Clients - Grow your Business

INTRODUCTION

As a fitness professional, you are most likely always looking for ideas and ways to discover new markets, find new clients and most importantly, keep the clients you have. Anticipating new fitness trends, as well as emerging markets, is essential to keeping your business growing and moving into the future. Trends can help you determine where to focus marketing efforts and what new services you should offer. You need to have the resources or ability to do market research as well as use your instincts in the training field to be able to determine what direction you should go. You need to be an “industry watcher”. You also need to think about the clients you currently have and make sure you aren’t so focused on the future and finding new clients that you forget to take care of the ones you have. Successfully servicing your existing client base will prove to be the most profitable thing you can do regardless of any other effort to increase your client base. So, how do you find the time to stay on top of all of this while maintaining your day-to-day training business?

PROPER MARKETING AND RESEARCH

Don’t second guess yourself when it comes to marketing your business. The name you choose, the logo you design (or have designed) and the website you create (or have created), will give your clients the first and lasting impression of who you are and what

your business is all about. Make sure if you are just starting your business that you don’t limit yourself by the name you choose. While generic or personal names will work, take some time to think about the image that you really want to portray. Are you limiting yourself to a certain type of fitness or audience by the name you choose? Think about expansion into the future as well as where you are today when selecting a name.

The same applies to the logos, brochures, and signs that you use to market your business. If you have no experience with graphic or artistic creation, now is not the time to start. Select an experienced graphic artist to design a logo for your business once you have settled on a name. Do not compromise and select someone just because he or she is available immediately. This is a one time expense and if you have to wait a few weeks to get the best, it is worth it for the future of your business.

In addition, you must have a website. In today’s society, it is almost impossible to fully reach your target market without web presence. Keep it simple and informational. Research what you need to do and whom you should use to create it. Then build the page or work with the company/designer who is building the page and simply launch the site. When deciding on a domain name, remember to stick with something that identifies you and also something that people can remember.

Once you have all your marketing tools in place, you will need to do some market research. Don’t let the term or the idea of it scare you. It isn’t complex and it doesn’t need to require a huge time or dollar investment. A good marketing plan can help you

expand on your ideas, know your target market and allow you to keep your business growing.

So, what are the basic steps of market research?

􀂾 Determine the needs. What needs in your market place are not being fulfilled?

􀂾 Do your research. Gather all the fact related to the needs that you identified in step one.

􀂾 Create and fulfill. Make sure that your target market knows that you offer the service and are able to meet their needs.

􀂾 Market, market, market. Do what it takes via the web, advertising and word of mouth marketing to make sure that everyone knows what services you have available.

􀂾 Ask for the business. Gain the trust of current clients, as well as potential clients -- and ask for their business!

BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A CLIENTELE

First of all as a trainer, you must understand why people hire you. If you don’t, how can you confidently sell your services? You have to believe with confidence that the service you are providing has value! Because we are so ingrained in what we do every day we often lose the true perspective on what we do and the value that it brings to our clients.

Think about this…you probably wouldn’t cut your own hair, represent a friend in court or perform surgery on your dog. You hire people who are highly skilled and trained in these areas. That is why your clients hire you…you are highly skilled and trained in the area of personal training! Most people do not have the knowledge it takes to train alone in a gym and get the results they are looking for while staying injury free.

You know that the service you offer is of value, so how do you get clients?

􀂾 Create a packet that introduces you and your services.

􀂾 Do your market research and know your target market. To do this, honestly evaluate your strengths and limitations.

􀂾 Know your qualifications and market them.

􀂾 Ask for referrals from professionals and other clients.

􀂾 Make new acquaintances in the professional market. Introduce yourself to physical therapists, nutritionists, doctors, chiropractors, retail fitness owners and hair dressers.

􀂾 Use direct mail and online marketing campaigns.

􀂾 Barter your services with other professionals. Make sure you target those people who can help you professionally such as accountants or attorneys. You can exchange services and if they are happy with you, they can provide some great referrals.

􀂾 Offer specials. By giving someone a few training sessions for free, you can showcase your expertise and services. If they like what they get, they are likely to sign up as a client. Even if they don’t sign up with you, they can become a great source of referrals.

􀂾 Create a promotional brochure. People can’t hire you if they don’t know about you and what you can offer. Distribute the brochures in public places where your target market will frequent.

􀂾 Continue to reinvent and sell yourself. Stay on top of your client base, your target market and the latest industry trends.

But what if gaining new clients isn’t your focus? How do you cultivate, make the most of and retain your current clients?

􀂾 Fine tune your interpersonal skills. This cannot be stated enough!

􀂾 Put safety first! If a client gets injured they won’t be able to work out and when they are feeling better they may not want to continue with you. Worse case scenario, they may sue you for damages and lost time.

􀂾 Target training to clients goals. Even if you think gaining muscles mass is the way to go, if your client insists she doesn’t want to gain muscle, keep her goals in mind when you develop the training program. Knowing that you are listening to her and keeping her goals at the forefront of all you do will keep her a happy client.

􀂾 Keep things positive. The world around us provides enough negativity. Make sure the training session is nothing but positive, both physically and mentally.

􀂾 Change it up. Variety, as well as fun and enjoyable workouts, are sure ways to keep your clients coming back to see what else you have up your sleeve.

As a personal training professional, much of the success of your business is up to you. Remember that your clients are business priority number one, always. Without them you have no business to grow. Take a proactive, not reactive, approach to growing and developing each client’s program. Follow-up with them regularly via an email or a face-to-face talk to ensure their satisfaction. Be flexible and adaptable if the training situation or a client’s personal situation changes. Make sure you are in tune with each client’s health issues and any special needs. One way to do this effectively is to use a web portal. This is a great way to keep yourself and each client’s data organized, stay in touch with clients and even train them virtually when you can’t meet with them in person. You can use this type of service to create custom workouts for each client as well as monitor progress online and update workouts virtually. Some services, such as those available via the Personal Trainer Portal at HyperStrike.com/gopro provide a dashboard so you can view all your appointments online no matter where you are as long as you have internet access. You can provide client feedback, motivation and encouragement to clients via the online portal as well.

Just remember to always present yourself in the most professional manner possible. Being honest, professional, and credible and always putting your clients first will keep your busine

The Cost of Being Sick

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a growing problem in our country and it seems that the smarter we get and the more technological and scientific advances we make, the worse the problem becomes. This doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it?

What is being done to prevent obesity? Clearly not enough. More than 65% of Americans are now considered overweight or obese. Many diseases that are leading killers in our society are preventable. That is correct. I am talking about diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer. The medical community has convinced the general public that treatments for these diseases are readily available instead of focusing on the prevention of them. Why? Because these treatments are what put money into the healthcare system, not the prevention of the disease itself.

One of the most startling statistics of all…70% of all cancers are lifestyle related. They are not genetic or caused by environmental factors, they are lifestyle related which means if we would make changes to our lifestyles, the development of the cancer could be prevented. Read on to determine ways that you can make changes and prevent some life threatening illnesses as well as lower your health care costs!

PREVENTION AND HEALTHY HABITS

The hardest step to take is the first one. However, if you set a goal of creating healthier habits for you and your family, just like a goal of painting your family room, you will get it done. If you never plan for it, you will never make the changes. Goal setting is the first step to healthier habits. Healthier habits are the first step to prevention and prevention is the first step to saving health care dollars. Most of us are investing in some sort of a retirement fund. We think of places we want to go, things we want to do and things we want to see when we retire. We dream of the things we don’t have time for now. However, if we don’t take the steps to prevent obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and a host of other health issues, our retirement funds will end up being spent on medication and health care instead of traveling and enjoying life’s golden years.

Here are some keys that you can incorporate into your lifestyle starting today to make changes that can lengthen your life, improve the quality and keep some healthcare dollars in your pocket.

􀂙 Get Started…Today. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzkey said that in his early years a coach once made a great impression by sharing these words of wisdom: “You miss 100% of the shots you never take”. This is so true and applies to just about any situation in life, including creating healthier habits. If you never make the choice to start, you will never incorporate the healthy habits. All it takes is making the choice and moving ahead one step at a time.

􀂙 Plan. It is that simple. We have all heard the old saying “failing to plan is planning to fail” and that applies here as well. You must have a plan of what you intend to do, how you want to incorporate healthier choices and then simply follow the plan.

􀂙 Know where you are. Get a benchmark of how healthy you are right now. In order to determine the progress you make, you need to know where you are right now.

􀂙 Know where you are going. Use a journal to track your progress. This will help you stay on track and on the days you feel like you aren’t making any progress, you can look back at the last 30 (60 or 90) days and see how far you have come.

􀂙 Be Patient. Change takes time and seeing progress is going to take time as well. Chances are you didn’t see the “bad” changes happening to your body overnight and it will take time to see the positive ones as well.

􀂙 Keep it fun! Trying to follow a plan that is too strict or regimented is a sure fire way to fail. Keep a fun attitude, involve family and friends and make your new habits something that you look forward to.

􀂙 Expect obstacles. Just as knowing where road construction is happening can get you to your destination more quickly, knowing that obstacles are going to appear on your path to creating healthier habits will help you plan for them and get back on the path to your goal faster. Holidays, birthdays, celebrations, parties, emotional situations such as death, divorce or loss of a job are all things that can get us off track. As long as you expect some obstacles and plan for them, you will be better equipped to handle them and move on.

􀂙 Sleep. Sleep is underestimated in the role it plays in good health. We think that staying up an extra hour or two to complete a task is the best way to be productive. In fact, if we would “hit the hay” for some good rest we would wake up in a much more productive state and not only get the tasks from the night before completed but be in a better frame of mind for today’s tasks as well. Studies show that we are more likely to make poor eating choices or overeat when we are tired as well.

􀂙 Get support from friends and family. Engaging your network of friends and family is a great way to ensure your success. And, you might help them create some healthy habits along the way to add years to their life and life to their years! Accountability goes a long way in staying on track and creating a healthy lifestyle.

􀂙 Consult your doctor. Anytime you are planning to start a new eating/exercise plan it is a good idea to let your doctor in on your plan and your goals. Your doctor can help keep you on track and monitor your progress. Doctors can also

help you monitor things that you can’t see or monitor on your own such as cholesterol and sugar levels.

􀂙 Exercise! In addition to eating better, make an effort to move your body for 30-60 minutes three to five days a week. This is the best medicine available.

FINAL WORD

Visualize how the world would be if everyone adopted healthier habits. Think about the 70% of those cancers that are lifestyle related. Think about the obesity problem that would no longer be an issue. Think about the average size of a women going from 14 to 8, and men going from a 44 inch waist to a 38 inch waist. Diabetes and heart disease would no longer be the killers that they are today. Each person has the power to make the changes and prevent these terrible diseases before they start. You have a plan, you know what to do. Find some good resources to help you and keep you accountable, such as the programs at www.hyperstrike.com. You are well on your way and you can make it happen!

Phone Personal Training: Does it Work?

Personal training is a fitness trend that is really gaining momentum.  A recent development is personal training via phone or email.  Most phone personal trainers will converse via email as well.  With most services, there is a part of the population that will benefit from and enjoy phone personal training.  However, there are definitely some negative aspects of doing personal training over the phone.  Each side will be outlined in order to provide you with an overall picture of how (and if) personal training over the phone will work for you.

Positives

Busier people will definitely benefit from this service because it enables them to workout on their own time and report in when they can.  People that do not have the leisure of scheduling a three-day-a-week workout at 9am, and instead have to stagger their workout times will find this service easier to use due to its flexibility.  Many phone personal trainers available advertise a weekly phone session to check up on progress so a workout plan can be adjusted. 

Most people know how to work out already; they are just looking for a personal trainer for motivation.  A phone personal trainer provides the encouragement and motivation that one needs; it still gives you someone to be accountable to and check in with.  Phone personal trainers provide more coaching than anything, mainly because they are not with you when you are working out but are tracking your progress nonetheless. 

Based on your specific goals, a phone personal trainer will still design a workout program specifically for you.  The weekly phone sessions are used to talk about the week’s progress and see what works and what doesn’t.  The workout plan is then tweaked from week to week to increase intensity and help you reach your fitness goal.

Negatives

The most obvious negative to using a phone personal trainer is that you lose that “personal” part—your trainer is not there with you working out because they only available over the phone once a week.  Some people need the motivation in the moment, not after the workout has been completed.  When working out with a personal trainer, they are going to push you harder than you would push yourself if they were not there.  Two more reps of an exercise or two more minutes of running can make a big difference in the long run—both for your body and for your self-confidence. 

A benefit of having a personal trainer in person and not over the phone is that there is immediate feedback on your workout.  Your personal trainer is able to coach you on form and technique immediately instead of a week later.  If you go a week doing a workout that was designed for you, and you are doing one part of it wrong because you weren’t sure of the technique, that could be precious time (and money!) wasted. 

The bottom line is that for some people, phone personal training will work out wonderfully.  For others, it will be a waste of time and money.  You have to figure out how motivated you are and whether or not you are comfortable with your technique and form in order to decide which option will best suit your needs.  Either way, you are gaining someone to be accountable to, and fitness goals aside, sometimes that is all people need.  HyperStrike has a feature on finding the best personal trainer so you get your money’s worth!     

How To Distinguish Your Health Club

INTRODUCTION

The world is a much different place than it was fifty, even twenty-five years ago.  One of the most noticeable differences is the area of physical fitness.  Emerging technology has created so many conveniences that where a person once had to walk into the bank or pharmacy, cook dinner every night and get up off the couch to change the television channel, one can now “drive thru” just about any where, grab carry out food from the convenience of a car while universal and programmable remote controls take care of everything from the television to our lighting and appliances. 

While in many ways these technological advances mean we are moving forward, in some ways we are going backwards as well.  The majority of jobs fifty or a hundred years ago required physical labor for 10-14 hours a day.  No wonder many of us recall our grandparents being able to eat large quantities of food while not gaining weight or suffering from heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.  Food was prepared fresh, usually from a garden and their own meat sources, without the use of boxes, cans and preservatives.  After consuming such a meal, they would go out and work…hard…all day.  They didn’t need a health club, treadmill or a Bowflex machine to make sure they were getting the American Heart Association’s recommended 30-60 minutes of moderate intensity activity each day. 

THE ROLE OF HEALTH CLUBS IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY

Given the fact that drive thru conveniences and remote controls do exist and most Americans spend their day behind a desk, the role of health clubs has grown to an all new level.  People need to search for ways to be active now that the majority of daily life is sedentary.  Yet, many people are more aware of their role in preventing certain diseases and illnesses, as well as the responsibility of maintaining their health in order to live a longer, higher quality life.

Since the role of health clubs has become so vital, it seems in some larger cities there is some type of health club, personal training facility or studio on every corner.  As a health club owner or manager, how do you take advantage of the current trend of growth?  How do you set yourself apart from other clubs to obtain members?  And once you have the members, how do you retain them? 

In order to stay in business and be profitable you have to work smart.  You must do market research, stay on top of the trends and perhaps most importantly, know your competitors and what they are doing. 

SETTING YOUR HEALTH CLUB APART FROM THE PACK

Here are some steps you can take to set yourself apart from the masses of health clubs out there.

1.       Determine who your target membership audience is going to be.  Market and cater to the needs of that specific group and forget about the rest.

2.      Do not try to be all things to all people.  Determine what type of club you are running and stick with that.  If you are a yoga studio, don’t try to toss in a few low end weight machines hoping to gain a different crowd, it won’t work.

3.      Keep your facility clean!  News stories pop up constantly about the worst places to contract a cold or other virus and unfortunately for customers and health club managers alike, the gym is usually at the top of the list.  With the large number of people passing through each day, it is of utmost importance to keep your equipment, classrooms and locker rooms clean.  This is at the top of the list for many people looking to join a health club.

4.      Provide enough space for the equipment/classes you offer.  Don’t try to pack so much equipment into your space just to say you offer it, that your members are practically on top of one another trying to work out.  Don’t overbook your classes either.  Overcrowding of equipment or members is a sure fire way to keep someone from considering your club.

5.      Don’t offer “free” services or gifts that really provide no value to your customers.  How many times have you purchased something that you wanted and received a “free gift” that you had no use for at all?  Don’t offer your customers a towel or water bottle with your logo.  Chances are, they have a closet full of them at home and it isn’t going to entice them to choose your club.  Keep this in mind with “free” health assessments too.  Don’t fool your clients into thinking this will replace a physical with their doctor or use it as a way to up sell them into personal training.

RETAINING MEMBERSHIP

Once you have found your target audience and you have obtained a substantial membership, here are some tips to help you keep those members.

1.      Offer fair, reasonable and competitive prices for the services you offer.  With the market fully saturated, price becomes a place that customers compare.  They may not necessarily be looking for the lowest price, but the best value for what you offer.  Know what services your competitors are offering and what they are charging.  Make sure your prices are in line and even offer discounts to folks renewing their membership.

2.     Get to know your members.  People love it when the staff knows them by name and they don’t just feel like a number (meaning dollars!) to you.  Depending on the size of your club and your staff, try to take some time to get to know your members on a more personal level.  If they feel comfortable in the environment they will be more likely to use the facility and remain loyal at renewal time.

3.     Keep your equipment and classes up to date.  This isn’t to say you need to rush out and buy the latest and greatest piece of equipment every time the current fitness magazines shows a new gadget.  This just means keep the equipment you have in good shape and when a newer, truly better, technology is on the market, consider investing in it. And if Latin Dance classes are the rage, make sure you offer your customers what they are reading about or hearing their friends (who belong to other clubs) talk about over lunch.

4.     Don’t charge extra for things that should be included.  If you truly invest enough in equipment such as spinning bikes that you need to charge your customers extra for the class in order to be profitable, do it.  But if you are offering standard classes that don’t cost you extra, don’t charge your customers for the class either.

5.     Offer incentives.  Discounts upon renewal, special prices on classes or features that cost extra, or a free hour or two of your spa services are just a few incentive ideas to offer members to entice them to stay with your club.  Offer cash or gift cards for referrals.  Most people will be happy to refer friends and family if they are getting a little something out of it as well.

Remember to know your competitors as well as your target market when planning ways to increase and retain membership.  People like to feel valued and like you really WANT them to work out in your facility.  If you and your staff offer encouragement and really care about the member’s success and indicate that you miss them when they skip a workout or two, it will make a difference!