During this time of year, we are placing many things in a
box and wrapping them up to look great. The only think we cannot keep in the
box this part of the year is our creativity! We, as professional trainers, have
to think outside of the box to not only keep our clients motivated, but also
find a way to fill the voids we may have in our schedule due to holiday
traveling. A void in our schedule could mean a void in our paycheck!
There are ways to be
creative that will not only bring value to your clients (even if they are
traveling), but also to you and your economic world. Try these three tips and
see what else you can come up with.
Tip 1: Advertise a traveling workout program. Many people
love to travel during this time of year, but they do not want to lose the
momentum they have gained over the past year with their hard work. Unfortunately,
they may not be going to a place where a fitness facility is readily available.
Offer to design workouts using resistance bands and regular household items. Maybe
a client that would train three days a week could double up on the weeks before
leaving town to learn the traveling regimen. This will ensure that all
sessions for the month they would normally train with you are accounted for. Encourage
people to continue moving forward with their progress while on the go!
Tip 2: Advertise your free times for holiday-available
clients. With many of your existing clients out of town for the holidays, you have
more openings in your schedule for a couple of weeks, but the holidays mean
that there are opportunities to fill those openings with different clientele. Those
visitors that are in town on holiday that are dedicated to their fitness progress
will find their way in to your club. You will also see faces of people that
come much earlier in the day due to work schedules. Many times I found there
were clients who wanted to train with me. The challenge was that their schedule
did not allow them the time to take advantage of using my services. Now that
they are off for the holiday, they are no longer bound by work schedules and
can get at least one good week of training and education under their belt
rather than holiday candy! And the only way for these potential clients to know
you have an opening is to tell them. Be sure the advertisement it is a holiday
opening only so you do not overbook and bump off an existing client.
Tip 3: Family training packages can be fun. Advertise a
package for a week where a significant other can train with an existing client.
Many of my clients wanted their spouse to see how hard they are working at the
gym and wanted to challenge them to do what they had been doing during their
time with me. This idea allowed me to not only have fun with the client and
their spouse, but in many cases, it also turned the spouse into a regular
client as well. Sometimes, it put an end to a client's spouse asking them to
discontinue training due to the costs involved.
Whatever creative method you use, remember to make it a
win-win idea. Your clients have to see the value in the special that you are
running and you have to still make a living during a time when people are
committing their finances to family gifts, travel and food. With the holidays
at your doorstep, if you fail to plan for success, a wreath won't not be the
only thing you'll be hanging! Happy training and Happy Holidays!
Mike McDaniel is an authority of leadership, goal-setting disciplines, sales strategies and corporate physical fitness. He has been a professional trainer for over 18 years and owned two health clubs, employing over 75 personal trainers. Mike can be booked for speaking engagements, sales training or consultant at www.askthewhyguy.com.
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