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The world of fitness entrepreneurs is filled with thousands of qualified professionals who live and breathe fitness. If you want to stand out as the best of the best, you will have to work hard to rise above the crowd. Strategically planning for stellar status involves hard work, determination and patience. Persistent and consistent effort will pay off over time if you follow the some basic guidelines.
Lay a Solid Foundation
Knowledge is power, and experience is a great teacher. To gain the recognition you crave, take a hard and honest look at your credentials. Ask yourself whether you are knowledgeable enough to stand toe-to-toe with your fitness heroes. If you know there are gaps in your education and experience, take steps to fill in the blank spaces. Enroll in courses, volunteer your services, do research, find a mentor. Transform a client’s life, and document the metamorphosis.
Define Your Market
Most successful entrepreneurs have a well-defined niche market. Working with a specific demographic can become your ticket to fame and fortune. As a fitness professional, your time, energy and financial resources are limited. Trying to be all things to all people can lead to burnout and a sense of futility. Narrowing your niche will enable you to highlight your strengths while having a profound and positive impact on the lives of those you serve. Focus on a target group in need of professional intervention. Youth, older adults, obese, and disabled are just a few of the markets that need your expertise.
Create Your Brand
Your brand tells customers who you are and what they can expect from you. Branding is defined by how, what, where, when and to whom you plan to communicate and deliver your services. Your logo, the look and feel of your website, your mission statement, the benefits and features of your business and the qualities you embrace as a professional all contribute to your brand and image. Your brand should align with your market niche. Using language and images that appeal and speak to your niche audience is fundamental to establishing your rockstar reputation.
Toot Your Own Horn
If you want to be a big fish in a big pond, you will have to work hard to gain recognition. Fortunately, all the tools you need to build your reputation are literally at your fingertips. Building a website, creating business cards and fliers, advertising and networking with other professionals are all success strategies that can be executed online. Social media in particular can be a powerful tool for accentuating your awesomeness. “Business Insider” offers several tips for using social media to promote your business. They recommend consistently producing quality content aimed at your niche market. Be open and engaging, and cater to the unique culture of each social media network.
Resources
If you have the need to succeed and the drive to thrive, then W.I.T.S. is here for you, offering online business tools and courses that will set you on the path to prosperity. Check out our Business Success Skills, Fitness Management, Certified Personal Trainer, and Certified Older Adult Fitness Specialist courses. We are here to help you succeed!
References and Credits
Business Insider: The 5 Social Media Rules Every Entrepreneur Should Know
http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-strategy-for-entrepreneurs-2013-6
CC Marketing Online: Why It’s Important to Define Your Business Niche
http://www.ccmarketingonline.com/why-its-important-to-define-your-niche/
Entrepreneur: The Basics of Branding
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/77408
*Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.
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