A Funny Thing Happened at the Gym

This month Amber from Albany in Western Australia shared a funny moment for her staff (potentially mentally scarring them for the rest of their lives) an incident that occurred just last month: “We had a casual visitor to the club who did a weights workout in a t-shirt, runners and a pair of speedos! We don’t have a pool… The gym floor staff didn’t know what to say (or where to look!)”

And to show not only do members have funny things happen to them, a funny story from Broni in New Zealand this month: “in my days as a GI I'd often get across the Cardio room by stepping from 1 treadmill deck to the next.  Not the ones people were on obviously.  One day someone had left their treadmill on and gone off to the toilet.....(apparently they did not want to lose tally of how far they had gone!) and sure enough when I stepped on it thinking it would be off, I went flying through a partition and landed in another area of the gym!  It only ever happened once!” Thanks for being honest Broni!

If you have any funny stories that have happened to your members or clients or even yourself . . . we’d love to hear them. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Quick Facebook Fan Page Tip

On the wall of your Facebook fan page, you have a space to write a little bit of info about your website. In this space I see people putting how long they’ve been in business, what they do, who they’re looking for, and all this is good.

But did you know that if you post your website address (using http://) then it becomes a clickable link?

Make it easy for people to click through to your website – put your web address in the left hand box and don’t make them search for it by having to look through your posts or click on the ‘info’ tab – us internet users have short attention spans you know!

Let me know if this makes a difference to you!

Google Goes Local

This means, that the new feature will allow users to filter their search results based on a geographic location that they can set instead of appending location names directly to their search.

It means you need to start thinking differently about how you market your site. It used to be that location didn’t matter.

Google ranked sites based on the relevance to a particular keyword or phrase. More and more we’re starting to see Google giving more prominence to information that is relevant based on other factors.

Local is more relevant. You need to ensure that Google knows where you’re business is located. That means getting the proper local citations, making sure your Local Business Listing is accurate and that you localize your Web content by using a complete address.

Your Easter Calories

For those of you who have already indulged in some Easter Eggs or bought Easter Buns as part of your weekly shop, you should be ashamed – unless you have upped your working out!

Easter sees many of us add extra chocolate and Easter Buns to our diet and will see you with an extra kg or two of weight gain by the end of the month.

Welcome to Alicia

We have a new Team Member here at Active Management, Alicia!

Alicia is our new Virtual Assistant and will be helping ensure we deliver everything we promise! She is absolutely thrilled to be working with Justin and the Active Management Team as she shares a passion for health and fitness – being addicted to Les Mills classes. She has has been a member of her local gym for many years and find the benefits of exercising on a regular basis gives me the much needed energy to raise a family and run my own business whilst taking care of my health and stress levels.

You can see all about Alicia’s business at www.absvos.com.au.

This month JT’s blog article got some great feedback on the Active Management Facebook page.

Check out this month’s blogs:

Reduce Business Stress by Embracing Technology – even basic stuff!
Where Do You Start To Get Healthier & Happier?
Fat People Are Sending Aussie Broke
Guest Blog I – top 10 healthy lifestyle eating choices
Guest Blog: Why Are you Tolerating that?
Message to Media: Don’t Glorify Really Fat People!
Insights from Malcolm Gladwell’s Presentation at IHRSA 2010

Did You Miss IHRSA?

IHRSA for 2010 has come and gone there were over 100 Aussies in San Diego. To be honest I thought it was a bit light on this year. I felt the concurrent educational sessions were not the normal caliber or is it just after 15 years of going to IHRSA there was no real educational innovations.

Nevertheless, one thing that IHRSA do very well is have great key note speakers and this year Malcolm Gladwell did not let us down. His message to the fitness industry was fantastic – reframe what you do because what you are doing isn’t working! WOW . . . what a profound insight! You can read more about his insights on my blog: Insights from Malcolm Gladwell’s Presentation at #IHRSA2010.

The trade show was it’s usual giant self but I didn’t really see anything new. Of course there was the release of newly tweaked products but I felt mainly cosmetic changes to products.

While I admit to being biased but I really think Filex is a better conference. In fact I caught up with Joe Cirulli at IHRSA and he told me how much he was looking forward to Filex this year.

Anyway back to IHRSA . . . should you attend in 2011. If you have never been, then I would say “Yes!” If you have been, wait to see the speaking faculty or use IHRSA as a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and learn more about the industry through these connections.

Your Social Media Fans Buy...

This month I was excited to see the results of a study published by e-marketer:

More than one-half of Facebook fans said they are more likely to make a purchase for at least a few brands, and 67% of Twitter followers reported the same.

The power of earned media gives a further boost to brands: 60% of respondents claimed their Facebook fandom increased the chance they would recommend a brand to a friend. Among Twitter followers, that proportion rose to nearly eight in 10.

The researchers also explored why social media users become brand fans.

The top reason to friend a brand on Facebook was to receive discounts, followed by simply being a customer of the company and a desire to show others that they support the brand.

On Twitter, discounts, up-to-the-minute information and exclusive content were the main draws; only 2% of respondents followed brands on Twitter to show their support.

If you would like some help establishing a social media campaign, then please drop This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or give him a buzz: 0438 015 677.

Dynamic Blogger

Justin is now an official Blogger for one of Australia’s major small business web sites. This means every week he shares health, fitness, exercise, wellness and general stress management strategies for the millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Australia.

The Dynamic Business website is a great tool for you to check out. Loads of educational information and opportunities to help grow your business.

You can see Justin’s blogs here>

Sales Webinars Coming in June

We are very excited to launch this month the Active Webinar series! Beginning in June will be our Sales Series.  These bit size monthly chunks of sales information will be packed with education, motivation and interaction to ensure improved performance in your sales performance.

These will be on the first Tuesday of the month at 2pm (Sydney time) and go for just 30 minutes!

The agenda is:

• Answering any questions from the previous month;
• One area of focus of this month; and
• Answering specific questions on this month’s topic.

As you can see it will be driven by our attendees to ensure maximum value for your 30 minutes. If you like it is a 30 minute personal training session to improve your sales! Our calendar will be:

• June 1^st
• July 6^th
• August 3^rd
• September 7^th
• October 5^th
• November 2^nd
• December 2^nd

And the topics will be announced in next month’s
e-news . . . don’t miss it.

The cost . . . $150 for a single webinar or $30 for a minimum of 6 months. For this small investment you can access the webinar as many times as you like afterwards, you can have as many people from the one location participate and you can download the notes. Enormous value – less than a 30 minute PT session!

Keep your eyes peeled for registration details!

On Hold Music Sucks – Silence is worse!

A Queensland study found that 90% of people on silent hold hang up after 40 seconds! Music on hold can entice your customer to stay on hold for up to 3 minutes!

The study found Greensleeves the most infuriating on hold ‘noise!’ Irritating jingles and the local radio station came in 2^nd and 3^rd!

A telephone call could be the first contact a potential customer has with your business, help make it enjoyable with a professional massage.

Free Stuff – all yours and no catch!

Last month we were inundated with requests for the free 360 Leadership Survey. But did you know on the Active Management website there are heaps of free reports you can download. Click here to see them.

And you can receive free information on a regular basis with our Active Bite Size Chunks.
Click here to see them.

Fitness Australia is at Filex

A message from the GM of Operations at Fitness Australia: “We want to let JT’s Fans and Followers know we support Registered Exercise Professionals and Registered Business Members at FILEX2010 and the Australian Fitness Expo. You can meet your Relationship Manager or one of our Executive Management Team in the Expo Exhibitors Lounge or roaming the Expo and FILEX floors.”

See Justin at Filex

This year you can see Justin everyday at Filex:

• Thursday 29^th April – MC’ing the Business Summit for his 6^th year
• Friday 30^th April – New and updated ‘Managing A Successful Fitness Business’ all day power workshop
• Saturday 1^st May – The Rockefeller Habits to grow your business at 10am
• Saturday 1^st May – Talking Fitness Business on the Trade Show floor (12 to 1:30pm)
• Sunday 2^nd May – Talking Fitness Business on the Trade Show floor (11 to 12:30pm)
• Sunday 2^nd May – The future of selling health club memberships at 1pm

And don’t forget . . . pre-register now to save $25! www.FitnessBiz.com.au

If you have any questions about your business or if you want more information about any of the topics discussed in this issue of Active Report, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me direct at 02 8007 0347.

Until next month, be well and stay active!

Justin Tamsett

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