March 2006
In this month’s edition:
 Active Management is on Holidays!
I am off to IHRSA, not to present this year but to listen! Then I will head to Mexico for 3 weeks to relax, unwind and maybe have a couple of Margaritas! I will be back for Filex, where I hope to catch up with you.
So please don’t call or email me until after April 12th, as my laptop will not be opened!
Keep Active . . . Justin
Searches Up 55 Percent, Google Accounts for Half
The total number of U.S.-based searches conducted across approximately 60 search engines in December reached nearly 5.1 billion - or an increase of 55 percent from the 3.3 billion searches conducted in Dec. 2004, according to Nielsen/NetRatings.
Google accounted for nearly half - 48.9 percent - of the searches, increasing its share by 5.7 percentage points from Dec. 04's 43.1 percent. Yahoo accounted for 21.4 percent of searches in December, and MSN Search was third with 10.9 percent.
The number of searches conducted on the top three search engines increased by double digits compared with December '04 numbers. Searches on Google increased 75 percent, to number nearly 2.5 billion; Yahoo searches increased 53 percent, to nearly 1.1 billion, and MSN Search searches increased 20 percent, to 553 million.
You know you can increase your web presence by advertising on Google? This is a cost effective method for marketing your business.
Marketers Talk About Word of Mouth
A study from two US organistaions Osterman Research and BoldMouth.com reported on the state of word of mouth marketing in the US.
It appears that there is significant interest in this type of viral marketing. 50% of US marketers surveyed are using word-of-mouth marketing at the present time and 21% are planning to use it.
It seems that their confidence is merited, at least on the consumer side. According to a another study from December 2005, word of mouth marketing is the most influential media when it comes to making purchases in the US.
Clearly, those who use word of mouth marketing expect results quick. Over 44% say they anticipate the benefits to come in anywhere from a few weeks to a few days, while a bit under 20% feel it will take 6 months or longer.
What are you doing to promote word of mouth advertising?
How to Manage Your PT Business for Success
1. Spend 70 to 80% of Your Time with Clients.
If you are sole personal trainer intend to work a 30-hour week, only 21 to 24 hours should be paid client hours. If you are a club, use the same ratio for the number of clients/sessions your trainers should be working
2. Spend 10% of Your Time on Business Administration.
Whether you work in a club or by yourself, this is a critical area for making money. If you get behind here it will cost you business. These hours let you step back, evaluate and do some creative thinking while you take care of the details of running your business. Plan these hours as you would any other appointments.
Here are some activities to include in this area:
- earning and tracking CECs
- updating your computer, equipment and promotional materials
- bill paying and budgeting
- tax preparation
- client billing
3. Spend 10 to 20% of Your Time on Business Development and Planning.
How much dreaming, planning and strategising can you accomplish in just 3 hours per week? Pick an ideal time that allows you to get away and do some real thinking and planning on your business.
4. Use KPI’s to judge your performance.
KPI’s take out the subjectivity of judging your performance. Reality can be harsh: you may think you are busy when you look at the numbers, you may have so much opportunity! You may think you are a great PT or have a great PT Department because they are always busy, but look at the number of renewals and you could get a shock!
For a FREE article on tracking PT performance, send Justin an email: jt@activemgmt.com.au
NEW Round Table for Club Owners! And spots for personal trainers!
The very successful Rex Round Table program has continue to expand in 2006. The program is designed to help you work smarter not harder. We look at improving your business strategies, marketing, human resources, pricing and more. With the end goal of you making more money and working less hours! For more information on the Round Table go to http://www.activemgmt.com.au/roundtable.
This year we are launching another Round Table for Club Owners! The first meeting will be in June but you will need to act quickly as there can be only 14 members and we have 4 already!
So if you own your own gym, health club or fitness centre and you would like more information on the Round Table program, please email Justin at jt@activemgmt.com.au.
Attention: Personal Trainers!
We also have a place for you! Our PT Round Table has met several times and we have 6 places left for PTers who have a studio or mobile business. If you would like to know more email Justin at jt@activemgmt.com.au.
Profit Centres in Your Club
 A new addition this year to our e-news is that we’ll share with you some ways you can add income to your Club with new products. This month, we are excited to share a product from the Health Australia Project.
As members love to know more about weight loss, why not come to the experts for information – YOU! Your opportunity to demystify the facts about weight loss can come by selling this fantastic book!
The authors are Kerry McEvoy & Rowena Szeszeran-McEvoy with forward from Prof Robert Newton and Matt On-Neill, Australia’s leading dietitian. And you can have the book tailored to your club with your logo on the front and 8 pages for your personal messages, programming philosophies or vouchers for the club.
You will purchase the book for about $13 and then be able to sell it for around $25. Excellent profit!
You want to know more? Contact Daryle Calder on 03 9804 5007.
Your Club can be Even More Successful
Live your Passion at FILEX 2006!
21-23 April 2006
Sydney Convention Centre
Would you like to:
- Share in the most current and successful business management information from leading fitness business presenters?
- Network with fellow facility operators and managers?
- Keep your knowledge about fitness business practices and industry trends on the cutting-edge?
Would you like your staff to:
- Become motivated and inspired?
- Feel appreciated and valued?
- Remain on the cutting-edge with their knowledge?
- Be eligible for re-registration?
By attending FILEX 2006, all of these things can be achieved!
FILEX has over 30 business sessions to choose from, the FILEX one day Business Summit, a Business Breakfast, a Business Lunch and with the Business Gold Pass, there are many other fantastic opportunities packaged together.
Run in conjunction with the Australian Fitness Expo, this annual convention provides the ultimate fitness event all under the one roof.
Remember, as a Club Network member of Australian Fitness Network, you can save almost $400 in total off registration fees to FILEX! Contact Network for more details.
For more information on FILEX, go to www.fitnessnetwork.com.au/FILEX or contact Network on 02 8424 7200.
 
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