Which social media networks should I use to promote my new business?
Hi Fit Pro and Thank you for the great question! Years ago it was easy to answer your question with a few simple methods of making and distributing flyers on car windows (making people mad), and placing ads in the newspaper (expensive).
Nowadays there are many more options for Fitness Professionals in marketing a new business. The following are a few that you can incorporate in social media as soon as you finish reading this:
FACEBOOK: Well this is a no-brainer…or is it? I’ve found that if you have a personal facebook page, you should add a “business” page, which is free. The reason to add another facebook page is that you don’t want potential clients to read or see anything from your personal page that may put you, and in turn, your business, in a bad light. So for both males and females, here are a few do’s and don’t’s to having a business facebook page:
1. Do – Announce your business on your personal facebook page. Let your family and friends know that you have one.
2. Don’t – Close your personal facebook page in order to get more viewers on your business page. It doesn’t really work out like that.
3. Do – Ask people to “Like” your page or be “Fans”. Do you want people to “like” your business page, or become “Fans” of you and your business? I’ve only become a “Fan” of a few pages, but I do “Like” many more.
4. Do – Invite people to “Like” your facebook page from your personal facebook page.
5. Do – Make your business page inviting. Make sure that you include hours, location, your business bio, etc.
6. Don’t – Have provocative pictures on your business page. Half-nudes, booty shorts, etc, may get you noticed. But as a Fitness Professional, is that how you want to market yourself? If you do, then go for it. If not keep it clean and professional.
7. Politics – Don’t get involved on your “business” page. What you do on your personal page is your business, but what you put on your business page is your potential clients business.
Marketing on Facebook: You can place ads to generate interest in your page for as little as $1.00 a day. Notice those ads/like pages on the right of your facebook page? Yeppers…those are ads and you can place an add too!
Your business ads can be about an upcoming event, grand opening or just to get your page noticed (aka liked). When placing an ad, just make sure you complete your ad…completely. Include how long you want your ad to run. The neat thing about facebook is that if you place your ad for $10.00 a day, for 7 days, Facebook will show you that you will (roughly) be billed at the end of your period. The larger your daily ad amount, the more people you can reach, but I would suggest, if you’re on a budget, starting with $5.00 a day for 7-14 days and seeing what business/interest you’re able to generate.
When going for your target audience groups, you’ll be able to click on the following: men, women, both, and age demographics (16 – 75), but those are the simple ones. Go BIG in your advertising! When it comes to your demos (as in who do you want to target), facebook says pick 4, but you can go as high as 10, such as:
• Your city
• Weight loss centers
• Nutrition
• Diet
• Personal Trainer
• Boot Camp
• Outdoor Workouts
• Weight Loss
• Obesity
• Bodybuilding
See what I mean? And that was a quick 10 I rattled off in my head. Lol
LINKEDIN: LinkedIn is great but it is more for business networking with other fitness professionals and companies, than for marketing your business to potential clients. This is not to say that you can’t or shouldn’t advertise on LinkedIn, but it’s not going to be your best avenue.
TWITTER: I love Twitter! You can tweet your classes, workshops, grand opening or anything else you’d like to. Get more bang for your time and link your Twitter account to your business Facebook page. By doing this, anything you post to your Facebook page will automatically post on your Twitter account, but anything you post on your Twitter account will not post to your Facebook page.
Because Twitter is free, check out and follow those that you like (fitness professionals, celebrities, friends and fitness companies, etc). Follow and be followed, tweet and re-tweet and build up your followers.
TUMBLR: Although I don’t use Tumblr as a whole, I do follow some people for great fitness information, inspirational stories as well as to get some great laughs. Pictures, videos, and blogs are all on Tumblr, so the sky’s the limit. Your goal is to follow and be followed by as many people as possible to get your word and brand out. Tumblr, as with most social media platforms, is free and you can link it, as well as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others, to your website.
BLOGGING: I won’t go into the benefits of blogging as I think most of you know about blogging and how to use it. Make sure you connect it to you website as well as connect it to your Twitter and Facebook pages.
INSTAGRAM: Instagram is an awesome way to get yourself and your business noticed. Like all forms of social media you can follow those who you have an interest in and hopefully be followed back, as well as by their followers. Instagram also allows you to upload videos so if you have a 30 second workout (ie Plyo squats, partner push-up claps), or anything that you have an interest in, even your walks, cycling or your favorite views, Instagram works! If you have a GoPro…even better! Check out Instagram today and look at some of the posts that are currently out, and get started. Remember to post often and frequently because like other forms of social media you need to stay in the public eye and post things that are important to your business.
PINTEREST: Although I do use Pinterest, I don’t use it to it’s full capacity. I love the motivational quotes, recipes and workouts. The best part about Pinterest is that you can “love” and “share” any pins you see. In turn, the pins will go onto your “board” and you can also pin to others, on your Facebook page as well as on your Twitter page. One stop marketing, made very easy.
I hope this excites your business senses to get started right away on one or even all of the above types of social media. Remember they’re all free and if you want to market your brand and get your name out there in the public’s (not just other fitness professionals) eye, this is a great and inexpensive way to do so.
Keep in touch, as I would love to hear what you’re doing and you may be the spark that lights another Fitness Professional’s fire.
Cheers to Life and may Success be yours!
Fitfully yours,
Lisa Lorraine Taylor (aka TrainerLisa)
www.MyTaylorMadeFitness.com
www.Facebook.com/Taylormadefitnesssd
www.Twitter.com/Obtrainerlisa
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Lisa Lorraine Taylor
Lisa with a B.S. in Holistic Nutrition, and a minor in Nutrition/Optimum Fitness has expanded her business to include being a Beachbody Coach, and a Fitness Consultant in helping others in the Fitness Industry and well as individual Personal Trainers to grow and market their business.
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