Network Magazine autumn 2015 | Page 50

FILEX 2015 PRESENTER BRAND FAME BUSINESS GAIN To achieve long-term success, your fitness business needs to stand for something – and continually deliver against it WORDS: RACHEL BEVANS s a business owner you should want your fitness enterprise to be famous – whether it be globally, nationally or within your local community. The question is: do you want to be a one-hit wonder or stand the test of time? One hit wonders, exit stage left. To stand the test of time, you need to stand for something – and keep delivering against it, day in, day out. Ask yourself: what do you want to be famous for, renowned as, an expert in? What’s your purpose? What do you believe? What’s important to you? What are you consistently good at doing differently and better than anyone else? How is this important to your customers? A The 30-second article • To win your share of the fitness – and lifestyle – market, you need to stand for something unique and continually deliver against it • By creating an authentic brand for yourself you can stand out from the competition • You must decide whether your focus is on building your personal brand or your business brand • Your brand is not just a logo and tagline: it drives everything you are, say and do 50 | NETWORK AUTUMN 2015 There are tens of thousands of fitness professionals and thousands of fitness businesses across Australia and New Zealand, all fighting for their share of the fitness industry voice, people and profit. And it’s not just the fitness industry you play in. You’re competing for a share of the lifestyle wallet too – ‘do I have a PT session or go to the movies?’ People are bombarded with brand and lifestyle choices, receiving an average of 3,000 messages across multiple media every day – in the shops, on TV, driving to work, talking to people, online… so how can you make your message heard? Build your brand to drive a sustainable business Your brand encapsulates what you stand for in a way that is relevant to your customers. By doing so, it gives you a competitive position in the marketplace. Your brand is not just a logo and tagline: it drives everything you are, say and do – your PT product, your behaviour, business card, flyers, Facebook profile and website. Your brand has the power to make you stand out in the crowd. To build credibility and trust in your brand you must consistently deliver against your promise by meeting and exceeding the expectations that you establish in your first interactions with your customers. Does personal training mean personal branding? The first decision to make is whether your focus is on building your personal brand or your business brand. What’s the difference? Personal brand Your personal brand is you – all of you. There is no place to hide. You need to be absolutely true to yourself. You need to behave in a