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Friday
Control with Questions “YES” It Really Works
Through reading numerous books on communication and field-testing hundreds of techniques, a few fundamental patterns have become very apparent in the fitness industry and in the business world. If you have ever been on an interview, or at a networking event, you may have noticed some of these social patterns as well. Control with questions is a valuable communication skill, a skill that can make a major difference in the outcome of what you are trying to accomplish.
Before getting involved in an interaction with someone, ask yourself a couple of questions:
1. How can you make people feel important upon meeting them for the first time? (Show a sincere interest in them.)
2. Are you trying to sound interesting or truly interested in them? (This is very important.)
3. How can you stand out without knowing what they expect of you? (Product knowledge)
By realizing that most people are very similar and possess some fundamental qualities by which you can appeal to them, you will be able to stand out and excel in your interactions. Remember, it never hurts to pay attention to people, to compliment them, or to highlight their strong suits.
A properly placed question can showcase your intelligence, product knowledge, and interest in the person, as well as direct the conversation toward your intended outcome.
Appeal To All Senses – When interacting with someone, ask questions that appeal to all their senses. This will make you more interesting and, most importantly, memorable.
Be Sincere, Be Interested – If you are going to ask questions, it will help if you have a sincere interest in the person. Not being sincere and faking interest could very well be taken as an insult.
Pay Attention – If you are interested in crafting brilliant follow-up questions, then this is a crucial step. Use what the person says to steer the conversation deeper into whatever direction you like. It's okay to take notes along the way.
Ask Open-Ended Questions – If your goal is to keep the person talking and open up to you, then ask questions that require more than just a yes or no.
For more information on this subject, give us a call at 925-672-4800.
Thursday
Treat Every Business Day as the First
As we head into midseason, sometimes
fitness facilities find themselves in
a "rut.” This staleness may be due to the boredom of
repetition from the day-to-day grind. Thus, many fitness facilities would be
wise to devise a plan that would keep them out of trouble and moving forward.
Was your New Year’s Resolution to kick your advertising
program in the ass and have a serious talk with your landlord starting in January?
Guess what? It’s Summertime! My dad once told me, once the Grand Opening
or Open House Party is over the real work begins! Boy was he right. So in this issue, I’m going to give you a few brief pointers to get
you moving. Before we get started, please understand that I’m only giving you a
smattering of what you need to know based on space limitations.
First, let’s discuss landlords. The foundation for a successful business is in the lease. It has always been my opinion that tenants don’t get what they deserve, they get what they negotiate. When it comes to your facility rent, now is the perfect time to visit your landlord and see if you can get a possible concession or renegotiate your lease.
Now Let’s Move on to Marketing and Advertising. Traditionally speaking, you should be spending 7-10 % of your gross income to further grow your business and the monies should be spent equally internally and externally.
Next up … Social Media. This form of advertising can be very successful. Social Media can change your business and bring in more new customers, but it can also consume many hours of your time and be a lot of work.
And lastly … Your Internet Footprint. Consumers are searching for you on Google, Yahoo, and Bing, online before ever stepping into your gym. And unfortunately, many gyms are missing out on that traffic by not being consistent with their business listing information.
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