Your secret is out. People in the fitness industry get stereotyped as a bunch of self-obsessed jocks. Always ready to show off, always the center of attention…
But I know many of you personally, and you want to know the one personality trait I keep running into over and over?
Shyness.
Now let’s be clear here: I’m not saying you all don’t have the ambition and the willpower to make it as business owners. I know you do. But you can have all that and still be a shy person.
I’ll tell you what, man, I’m a living example of that. You might never guess it by looking at me, but I’m a shy dude. When I have a big social event coming up I still freak out, itch and sweat all over, the whole ordeal.
But then I do it anyway.
Today we’re going to talk about how you can still be a great marketer even if you’re shy. You maybe noticed I’m not a bad marketer myself, so check out my big tips below on how to DOMINATE your market.
Reason #1 – Shy and Awkward = Real
“Come on, Bedros,” you might be saying, “There’s no way I could honestly market myself. I’m too awkward! If people saw the real me they’d think I’m a train wreck.”
First off, you need a mindset tweak here, because odds are you’re drastically overestimating how awkward you actually look.
Second, if you’re a fitness professional who honestly comes off as nerdy or shy and you aren’t using that in your marketing…buddy, you’re wasting a GOLDEN opportunity.
Do you want to know the number one reason why qualified prospects don’t bother going to expert fitness professionals for weight loss help? These are people who are in serious pain and have the money to invest in a real solution…and yet they keep going back to silly fad diets.
Why?
Because they are intimidated by fitness professionals.
They see fitness professionals as too cool for them, too sexy for them, and so crazy in shape that they must just “have the right genes.” They see fitness professionals as something they themselves can never become.
Now you and I know that isn’t true, but until you can convince your prospects that it’s not true you can kiss your sales good-bye.
However, if you’re willing to show off your shy and awkward side, you can side-step this problem completely and start closing clients left and right.
Because you know who else feels shy and awkward deep down when they’re alone with their thoughts?
Everyone.
It’s a weird paradox – the moments we usually try to hide are often the moments where we become the most relatable and appear the most human.
And just so you know I mean it, I think you should know that I frequently use this effect in my own marketing.
Do I look cool in this video? Not exactly. Have people discovered me through videos like this and gone on to become my clients? YES.
So don’t run away from your shyness or awkwardness. Embrace it and use it to prove to your prospects that you’re a real person.
Reason #2 – Louder is Not Always Better
People who are outside of the marketing world have all these weird stereotypes about how marketing works. They think it’s simply a matter of being the loudest voice in the room. They think more volume = more sales.
Now I know for a fact that isn’t true. I could point to hundreds of marketers (online ones especially) that are loud as heck but barely have a penny to show for it.
However, I think there’s a more interesting angle here…how about those marketers who are quiet but still making the big bucks?
How about the wealthiest fitness trainer in the world?
I won’t spoil that post in case you haven’t read it yet, but the important thing to know is that most people outside of the fitness world have never heard of the guy. Actually, there are a lot of people in the fitness world who have never heard of him either.
So what’s his secret? How is he raking in the big money if he’s got such a low profile?
Well, he understands one of the most important rules of marketing in todays world…
He knows the best way to make money is to find your niche market and develop an intimate connection with them.
See, that’s why he doesn’t need his name plastered all over the media – the relatively few people who know about him are fiercely loyal to him. In their eyes, he’s not only the top fitness authority on the planet, he’s a dear friend.
And if you want your prospects and clients to see you as a friend, you don’t need to be the coolest, most charismatic person in the world.
You just have to be real.
And you have to solve their problems.
And you have to show them, through every action you take, that you care.
Reason #3 – Marketing is a Series of Formulas
This is another stereotype I want to tackle: the idea of a marketing “gift.”
Now to be fair, there are people who clearly have a gift for marketing and use that to create brilliant careers (although not always…)
But here’s the thing: I’m probably not one of them. And you don’t have to be either.
See, the way I found success in marketing was by putting myself through years and years of trial and error until I found what worked through sheer effort. Then, I took everything that worked and bundled it up into a handy set of formulas that I still use to this day.
And by the way, those formulas are now the basis for all my popular fitness business coaching programs and info products, such as Close Clients.
Think you’re too shy or awkward to effectively market your business? Think again. If you take all the formulas and advice I give out on this blog and apply it to your own business, you’ll be AMAZED with the results.
Committed to Your Success,
Bedros