What Can I Do For You?

Hey Bedros

What are you like on writing killer press releases?
I have downloaded and bought all sorts of books…..but am still missing something :0( have also started using PRweb for distribution…..what do you think
Cheers

Spencer Cuckney

Who can we set up EFT with? We need a reputable resource.

Hey Bedros, I have been working super hard focusing on EVERYTHING you have taught me through the Art of Selling Fitness and all your emails. The one thing I would like more info on is transitioning clients who have been used to buying small packages into being charged monthly through EFT. I love all your emails, thanks for helping my business grow! I just bought GetShape.net software and I am super excited!!

Mr. “Make it Happen” B.K.,

Happy Hew Year to you and your family.

I have one for you:
1) What is the cheapest ($0) and second most cheapest way of getting SEO?

-Ryan Bishel

Hi Bedros

I sent you an email on a subject asking for some advice on EFT as I do not use this at present and 2010 is time to change.

But had NO reply,,,,

I have brought many of your products in the past and future, but this just mentions to use EFT. I need to streamline and receive consistancy with my payments at present its all a bit hit and miss. cancellations, holidays, etc. What is the best way and whats others doing.

Do you they use start and finish dates, contracts. My clients tend to be a bit relaxed about the whole thang!!

Can you advise?

thanks

Hi Bedros,

Love your blog.

Fear is stopping me from starting a bootcamp.
I am afraid I won’t have enough money to pay for renting a space, if I don’t get enough campers. Is there some kind of deal I could make with the owner of a space?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Noreen

Just wondering what everyone else covers in their fitness eval? I’m wondering if there’s a way to make it quicker. I do photos, 1 mile/1.5 mile jog/run, 1/2 situps, pushups, belly button, BF%, weight, step test (1st time), stretch test

Not sure how I got myself into this ride, but my biz has been an extreme roller coaster this last year. How do I level it out again?

Hey B

I would like to read more on business management. Software systems to use, time management tactics. And how to create killer video and web content. And the systems you use for outlining it.

And how to pick up chicks.

Thanks,

John

I think a blog post on how to write blog post that potential personal training clients would find interesting and helpful. I feel like I would have no problem writing fitness marketing post since I read a ton of them from you. but what a potential client wants to here would be great.

I agree with spencer press releases seem to be harder than other writings I do. Its such a good tool to use for the local media but Im so scared of doing it wrong that I dont do them at all. Any direction on that would be great. Thanks for all your hard work bedros I appreciate you very much.

Josh Henri
Solid Ground Personal Training
Gresham, OR

When doing a short term boot camp, say the 21-Day Rapid Fat Loss, do you do a full eval? I figured I’d just do photos, weight, BF% and belly button…?

Boot Camp Marketing, and Press Releases

Hi Bedros,

I’d like to say awesome job with everything you do! Your PT Business Course and Close Clients DVD answer most questions trainers would have. But here is my short list of post ideas:

Lead Generation for the Independent Trainer (w/o studio)
Improving Website (SEO and who can handle that)

Hey Bedros,

I have trained in a corp gym for 3 years now and recently struck out on my own. I have your close clients DVD and my closing ability is spot on. Here is my problem

1. My market is absolutely saturated with tons of trainers. Way too many! Your average 10,000-20,000 sq foot gym here has right around 30 trainers working in it. So many that very few are full time because there simply are not enough clients to go around. And most of these trainers have no clue what they are doing and deliver little to no results. If they do its by dumb luck.

2. Craigslist is inundated with 50 or more posts per day in the services section.

3. Approaching people in public does not seem to work very well as people tell you know before you can get out of your mouth a hello.

Because of these three factors, people are extremely skeptical. I’m just having a hell of a time growing any business and the only reason I have stayed afloat is the 5 clients from my gym that followed when I left.

I’m on the verge of hanging it up, going back to the gym part time and getting another part time gig if I cant get things going.

What would you recommend to someone starting out on their own with little to know financial resources for any sort of advertising, a nearly hostile market, and a limited clients base to draw referrals from?

Thanks for all the great stuff so far.

Leaving a 1675ft studio and going to a 5000 ft gym. Now I can offer indoor BootCamp, group training, monthly memberships, and so on. Now I need some help I can’t do it all. Need some advise on staffing the place asap. Thanks Big Rod.

Hi, Bedros, first I would like to say, I made my first large sale, using your closing techniques. The words came spewing out of me like I knew what I was talking about and they bought it. I had geared up for this, watching your closing video, over and over until I OWNED it. After I closed the sale, I was in a state of euforia, I think, I was weird all that day. It’s hard to explain that feeling. Thank you!
My question I have now is after I made the sale, the whole scheduling technique through me off. Way too much time spent on that. Help me! Robin

Would you also go into more about EFT and your suggestions Thanks Robin

Hi Bedros
Youa re amazing and I love allthe great info you give me. I really need all the help I can get. But I really wantto know how to do the best food tour in a supper market. Do you have something I can read about this.

I really need ot improve my closing ratio in fact I suck I can sell but I wantto sell more. Last month I sold over $8k but I could have closed a lot more month before it was $7K But I see more peoepl than I close???

Ive got someof your programms adn am thinking about getting the PT business course.

Please help me.

Regards Jodi

Grass roots marketing (networking, referrals, and the things you and Steve talk about) have helped me get my boot camp to a level where I’m making money, but this year I want to at least double and preferably triple it. JVs have pretty much sucked. I think hairstylists hear are a different bread. Most small business owners just don’t think outside the box (which is probably why they’re failing) so it’s hard to get them to understand. I think it’s time to start more “big-boy” marketing. I like the 2-step ad ideas for newspapers. I get Dan Kennedy’s newsletter every month and have learned a lot about direct mail, but damn is it expensive. I want to take the jump, but I’m nervous about shelling out a few thousand dollars and not getting a return. I’d love to see more blog posts related to advertising.

Thanks for everything!

Justin

If you are a startup fitness business on a budget, what’s the best way to get a make looking website. Also what is the best way to move in new trainers to run your bootcamps.

Thanks
Bryan

Yo Bedros,

Just been watching some DVDs I got from your sale, great information but still not had my 9/10 Client DVD, which i ordered at the same time, if you can look into that, would be great.

Can you please do a post on ‘transition’ from say a in a big chain gym trainer to owning your own small studio… Benefits, basic costs needed etc.

I went from PTing 1-1 to starting a morning bootcamp here in the UK, it’s going ok but need to find an evening location. I’m stuck on deciding what I want to do now and am wondering whether to go back to the big chain gym here in the uk and implementing some 30 min session ideas etc or starting my own small pt studio, but the overheads will be higher.

What to do, what to do.

How to transition members in GX into paying for small group functional training like TRX

Bedros,

I just left the big Corp. box gym and I am doing in home personal training.

A lot of your material, Steve and Chris’ is about group training and bootcamps and so forth.

How can I apply some of your techniques like the Human Billboard when I have limited time and travel?

I want to open my group training studio but right now the funds are low.

Thanks,
Brandon

Hi Bedros, fantastic articles and information, I need some help in clever marketing, I have some ideas which are different but I could with some more options

Keep the good stuff coming, I appreciate it

2010, the best year ever!

Also,

How about a mini guide to hiring other trainers if you’re in a chain gym and you’re burned out - the simple steps to getting them on board, how much you pay them etc, the rules you set down etc. That would be an awesome post that a lot of people would like.

You could call it ‘Hiring Other PTs When You’re Burnt to The Max’

though i’m sure you’ll come up with a much better title.

Also, i use a bit of software from Paul Hartunian called ‘Headline Generator’, do you know of it?

http://instantheadlinegenerator.com/

I second the EFT posts. Maybe a review of the top couple of sites that you would recommend with a short run down of the pro’s and con’s of each. That would make for a great post.

In response to some of the other posters, here’s my two cents:

@gavin. My suggestion is to move. Barring that, I noticed that you didn’t put a link to your website (that is, your name isn’t clickable). Do you have one? If not, no one can find you online, and that’s the only place people look. My websites are hardly polished, but at least when someone types in Olympic Weightlifting and Portland then I pop up high on google. This filters a huge number of people in my market (sports performance and strength training).

@Kristina. I keep my evaluations pretty short. I’m an Olympic Weightlifting coach, so that colors my evals for sure. I make everyone who comes in do a set of overhead squats with a broomstick. If they can sit in the bottom position with their arms locked, heels on the ground, and stick just behind their head, then I have just learned a TON about their starting point. If not, I’ve also learned a lot about what’s wrong with their body mechanics. I never bother with body fat tests - their notoriously inaccurate anyway. Just a simple tape measure around the waist - if that goes down, then they know they lost fat. Last, put them through a sample workout - FOR FREE. If they are struggling more than you think they should, make a note of it in your head and ask yourself in what WAY they struggled.

@Josh Henri. Looks like we’re in the same general area, brother. In fact I went to high school in Gresham (Sam Barlow). I live in SE Portland now and train out of Loprinzi’s gym. Any time you want to get together and talk training or business, I’m always down.

As a side note: I don’t buy into that not-enough-clients-to-go-around-so-trainers-should-view-one-another-as-hostile crap. We’re all different, we all have different styles that will appeal to different people, and upwards of 50% of the population of the US is overweight and more than 70% are out of shape. There are MORE than enough clients to go around (except maybe in Gavin’s neighborhood), you just gotta find ‘em and convince them you’re the guy (or gal).

Nick Horton, USAW
http://www.TheIronSamurai.com
http://www.PDXWeightlifting.com

Need some new, creative ways to get folks to attend my fitness seminars for extra income besides personal training. Thanks.

Hey Bedros, to be honest dude i think all the free info you have given me over the last couple of years since following you has made my business grow its all about putting it into action. Add to this everything i gained from being at FBS09 traveling from the UK to the U.S, i would need to take months off just to apply it all.
Bedros i would say just keep doing what your doing bro, because everything you, steve, chris etc produce can help everyone. So the way to help me is to keep doing what your doing dude.

Hey guys, thanks for your great work. its really great learning from the best.

I am wondering how do you manage bootcamps? How large are the camps (what is still confortable to work with, 10,15,20 or even more people?)

The other thing is, if you have multiple bootcamps at different locations, do you just hire trainers or do you sell your concept as a license?

and how would you manage the indoor bootcamps (since its pretty cold and snowy at this time) we have to pay about 50 dollars per hour for indoor locations.

Thank you so much

Daniel from Switzerland

1) How to Do a Grocery Tour Step by Step (w/real tour recorded)

2) Human Billboard 3.0 Marketing(if created yet)

3) Blowing Up with HiTech Trainer -extra attention there

4) Sell 1-on-1 training, outsource, and keep a percentage

(hmmm, these are giving ideas for an info product ^_^ )

What it do Bedros!!!!

I have your Art of Selling Fitness, Close 9/10 Clients, Fitpronewsletter, Fitness Marketing Manifesto, and a Market Annihilator Member. All your products and Chris stuff is off the hook and made me and my family a ton of money.

My wife and I own a pt studio that is killing our competition in the Bay Area and I opened up 2 boot camp locations using your gorilla tactics.

I have a good problem, we are too busy to handle all the leads right now.

I want to hire other trainers, but don’t know what the right compensation is for them. I would like to know how you would pay out an independent contractor.

Thanks

I use Authorize.net. I’ve been successfully using them for several years, both as an independent contractor and brick-&-mortar. It’s all on line with a virtual terminal on their web site for individual transactions and I subscribe to their ARB (Automated Recurring Billing) service that has worked fabulously. Auth.net is also connected with the studio management system, Fit Quake.

Hi Bedros! Love your stuff! This is the only question that comes to mind when I’m ready and studying your materials.

Are there pitfalls to showcasing one trainer that represents a personal training studio that also has other services to offer? How do I spread clients around with other trainers when the clients responded to an ad with a particular trainer pictured?

Hi Bedros,
I really like getting your emails and blogs. I own your close client CD and the only problem I come across is that I train alot of women and closing them based on the premies that their body fat is high is not working for me. It is not that body fat should not be a major indicator of where some one is health wise, its just that discussing to makes allot of women feel bad and ashamed, not like they want to buy.I would like to see a blog post thatadresses: What other selling points can a session be hinged upon other than a clients high body fat?
Thanks
H

I would love to know more about systemization- creating, implementing, and prioritizing systems. Step-by-step initiatives to take in different aspects of our business to help things run smoother.

As entrepreneurs its hard to act as a manager. Figuring out systems to set in place (and then find people to run those systems) would be huuge.

By the way, I love your stuff. I have all your albums and a life-sized Bedros cardboard cutout in my room. I’m your biggest fan =)

Kristina, I would add a few more measurements- calf, arms, chest etc.. This way the client will see more inches lost. They may loose from other areas other than bellybutton, as I am sure you have experienced. Just a suggestion

HEY BEDROS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON PUTTING UP A WEBSITE. I believe you have highly recommended someone before…but i can’t seem to locate that information.

Do u have an idea of cost …??
a range of cost would be helpful….from a very basic website, to an average one and one with alot more bells and whistles!

Any suggestions would be appreciated…

KEEP IT REAL AND KEEP ROCKIN’ THE FITNESS WORLD BEDROS!

PAUL BARRETT
[email protected]
Runnemende, New Jersey

Hey Brendos,

Mate I am just starting up my biz in pt and would love to know what the best ( and cheapest) methods of marketing and advertising I can do to get my name out in the local community ? Love the blogs mate you bloody champ !

Jordie from Aus

How to Generating referrals and higher quality leads.

Great post. Figure out what your market wants then deliver. great way to stay connected with your clients.

A

How do you physically make a one page sales page or squeeze page? Like hosting and layout design.

Could you make a series of ‘Cliff notes’ for some of the marketing and sales books that dig into the meat of it?

My niche is people over 60 with medical problems who don’t go to gyms, they want in home training. They aren’t up to boot camps. Reaching this market isn’t easy. Relying on the medical profession dosen’t work because alot of my clients are frustrated when health professionals tell them “at your age there is nothing we can do for you” Tthe population is aging and alot are not in good shape—they want to be able to do more. They are afraid of “gung ho” trainers.
I know there are gyms in California and Texas that only deal with seniors.The people that deal with this group need help.
Thanks in advance for any imput.

I do majority of my personal training on an Air Force Base where the rules and regulations of how a can contractor can run their business can seriously limit your business growth. They don’t allow EFT or for you to control how you get paid. It’s like they want you to have a job rather than a true business. I want to establish myself outside of the base. What are some of the ways you would market yourself without spending any money on advertising to establish yourself.

Advice for approaching and talking to strangers and getting contacts would be a great help!

Hi Bedros,

First of all thank you for the information I have received over the last year.

I feel I am in a different situation than most in our field of Wellness trying to get their business really working or at least going in the right direction. I don’t have the money that most people have to invest in all of the great products that you have to offer. Also, I live in a small town in Indiana where health and wellness is one of the worst in the entire country. The economy is terrible and people don’t even want to spend $50 a month on boot camps (example) let alone $150-200 plus. I started my business offering boot camps - it has been 9 months and I went from making about $800 a month to about $400 tops. I am at the point where I am not sure if I should continue even though I really have not done anything to promote myself other than word of mouth which really has been the only thing that brought people - even this is not working very well. I need something that can help me start from scratch that I can do every day in my environment (my unhealthy - no money town) to get myself going in the direction of having a long term future for my business. I need ‘real’ answers for a ‘real’ person.

Thanks,

Brian

I would like to see a blog on how you would handle Gavin @ 10:34 am situation. Some of what he is going through is what I am having to deal with. Thanks for everything you have done!

Hi Gavin,

Just wanted to let you know…I am in a very similar situation as you. I just posted my comment above as well. I understand and have the same worries. I have a wife who for the past few months has really been on my case and worried about me not making much money at all and not having enough clients or hours to ‘work’. I have 2 college degrees and 2 certifications - was a collegiate track and field letterman, work many different types of jobs and currently model locally - my point here is - all of my friends and family don’t understand why I am not making some good $ and building a good business…I don’t know why either? I run a couple of boot camp classes with just a handful of people per and charge each a pathetic $40/month!!!! and still some of them had to drop because they say they can’t afford it or they say they can join the local YMCA for this price…as much as all of us trainers - wellness professionals know the difference between personal training and boot camps compared to joining a gym…it still comes down to the person - they just don’t get it for the most part. It is very disappointing. Ex: the other day I had a woman call me who saw a flyer I put up for my boot camps - she wanted to get started right away BEFORE I told her the pricing per month - $120 / month or $100 if you buy 3 months in advance. She couldn’t believe the price and said there is no way she could do it…I can’t afford to do it any less than this……

Oh well,

Sorry for the rant.

Brian

Hi Bedros,
I’ve never met you but through all your amazing posts and videos, I’ve gotten to like you a whole heck of a lot. Looking forward to the Fitness Summit in April.

My question relates to boot camps in a gymnastics facility. The members do not know a boot camp is running there. How do I get the parents of these gymnasts to sign up? And how can I get the emails of these parents to do an email blast out about the boot camp, when the owner of this facility does not keep a computer database, nor is willing to share the contact info due to privacy issues (fair enough).

Do I need to get posters made and plaster them throughout the facility? Have a big ad sign outside the facility to bring attention to the boot camp? Offer a low-risk entry to the boot camp such as a free Saturday morning boot camp? A leads box for free 2 weeks of boot camp when they leave their name, ph # and email?

I know this facility has a ton of potential.It’s only been 3 months so I’m not throwing in the towel.

Thanks Bedros.
-Sara

Hello Bedros,
Just like everone here! I feel as if I know you very well!
I can’t wait to meet you in person:)it looks like everyone has the same concerns EFT…and a really good company to go with..
also just a clear contract that spells out everthing!!!!
3mos,6mos,ect;on getting started with a personal trainer.

Yo Bedros,

I love reading business autobiographies, 2 of my favouite are Richards Bransons: losing my virginity and The autobiography of Andrew Carnegie. It would be graet to read the autobiography of a certain fitness entrepreneur named Bedros Keuilian!!! are we likely to be grabbing these of the shelves anytime soon?

Hi Bedros,

I have created a kickass Personal training class at the gym, I havent started yet, but i will make the first 2 classes free, that way i drap people in because everyone wants something for free, Gets them hooked then i can start charging. Only problem is i dont know how to go about it..

Because it is at a gym i dont want people just walking in thinking its just another free class at the gym. I have asked reception and they cant pay at reception they have to pay me. With saying that i know i would get more people if they pay a casual visit and pay me on the day is that right?

Whats the best way to go about it?

When i tell everyone about the free classes should i get their email address off them? and when the 2 free classes are finished then i can say something like ” to continue these amazing classes you will need to pay $20 a class or pay in advanced for a discount”

Just say 10 people pay for the whole package that goes for 6 weeks. What if people come in on week 3 or 4 and want to do class? do i just let them in and tell them the class is $20? or tell them they will need to wait until its over for the 6 weeks until i start the other one?

Hey Bedros,

Thank you for the great blogs during 09, they have helped me out a LOT!!

In one of your blogs you mentioned the key to payroll was 1/3 wage, 1/3 retention and 1/3 commission…. Are you able to do a blog on how you used to motivate, pay and reward your staff? Any suggestions you have would be awesome!

Thanks again, Pete Tansley

PS I ran the 21 day R.F.L Boot camp again recently… and closed 12 of the 14 who started! Thank you SO MUCH

can you put all your emails into one email for the week? I sometimes find it hard to keep up with you and I have 45 from you I have to go through. Each and every one is worth its weight in gold I have to admit

Hey Bedros,

Thanks for the great input for 2009. I plan on starting the new year building a website. If you have any advice or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks, Eric Martinez

Bedro,how do I go about advertising class’s d circuits and Fit Ball; and I work for a boss who “know’s I have got avenue ready every wednesday for a class” yet before she wento Holiday yet again…….she put me down to work evey wedneasday this month! Frankly quite sick of this……..I tol her befre chrisatmas my plans.

joe

Happy New Year Bedros!
60 days + and I am so excited about Fit Body Boot Camp! I Just got engaged and have a huge goal to achieve. Career and a life change for me - I love it! I am all in…

I have one question, buddy. We have been experiencing 3 or 4 guest show up at once,which is a good thing. For the presentation, I am use to one Mrs. Jones/couple and now I am presenting to more than one client. What would you suggest on how to present to 3 or 4 different people, different goals and sometimes different objections?

I have not had a problem yet, but REALLY would love to find out what angle you would take on this.So excited about January 30th bro.
Until we meet again,
Your buddy,
Irma- CULVER CITY IN THE HOUSE!!!!

Getting more clients to sign up for my group personal training program