Handing out fliers through the gym...?

[kristinpete38]

Looking through search, I came across the flier idea.

I'm trying to pick up new clients. Giving body fat checks tonight for a bit. Have down in my schedule to meet 3-5 new people in the gym each day. [fill in any other ideas you may have... ] We cannot do blood pressure checks

My manager wants me to sell at least one session pack each week.

Several potential clients spend their hour or two on the cardio machines. Headphones in. Unwilling to talk. The idea someone had here was to walk around to these people, passing out fliers, so that they are not expected to talk but know to connect with you if they have questions. The negative image I come up with, however, is one where my name on these fliers is littered across the floor of the gym by the end of the night. Trash bins overflowing.

Approaching members is difficult for me. I'm not necessarily shy. In conversation I may appear to have a lot of confidence and am friendly. But this is if the person responds well. If they just look at me like wtf do you want, I become very conscious and put off. On top of this, I feel other members witnessing this. I hate approaching and don't know what I could say. Not everyone has terrible form...

[PerFit]

what are you puting on the flier?

[kristinpete38]

Whatever suggested. I'm looking to give free sessions/consultations but at the same time, don't want just anybody.

[WoofieNugget]

Really bad idea and it really isn't going to get you any clients. It makes you look desperate. It takes time to build a business, and if you approach it like you HAVE to sign clients weekly, you're going to look bad. You're better off trying other approaches. I have no idea why managers always just default to their trainers wandering the floor pestering people in order to try to sign business. Totally ineffective.

[kristinpete38]

Really bad idea and it really isn't going to get you any clients. It makes you look desperate. It takes time to build a business, and if you approach it like you HAVE to sign clients weekly, you're going to look bad. You're better off trying other approaches. I have no idea why managers always just default to their trainers wandering the floor pestering people in order to try to sign business. Totally ineffective.

Haha, you say no, I won't do it. I hear the only way that works is getting people from the floor. Calling new members has always been ineffective.

[PerFit]

Yea i dont see too many people being happy about their workout being disrupted by a trainer trying to shove their services down their throat. If you talk to members, dont try and sell right away. Ask them about their goals or give them a few tips. Give them a little free info like this and they will love you. After you have that trust with them, thats when you can discuss your services. They may even be thinking about it before you get a chance to bring it up and who do you think the first trainer they will think of will be?....you!

One of the most powerful things you can do as a new trainer in a gym is create a newsletter or at least a single page article with info that will help the client (eg, 10 hot tips to fast fat loss that the diet companies dont want you to know, 8 ways to reignite your motivation to hit your goals in record time!). Place a small pile of them in a few places where people will see them (eg if they have magazines, a waiting area, reception, lockers).

Make sure your name and face is on it and you put a new one out regularly (monthly). people will slowly start to recognise you as the expert in the gym as you are giving them fantastic break through info (stuff which is common sense to us educated people). Thats when you have a bit more credibility and can approach people with less confrontation. you will become the go-to guy in the gym.

[TrainBetter]

I like the idea of leaving out helpful tips.

I had a body fat table tonight and it actually went really well. Several times, there was a group of people around the table. I scheduled 4 free sessions with people and talked to several others. Felt confident. Hope I can keep doing it this well.

Still need to work on talking to people on floor. Yeah, I agree selling on the spot wouldn't work. I try to ask about their workout, their goals, their day. I have had a couple alright talks with people. But I haven't don't it NEARLY enough. I admit I've been a bit disconnected with the members in my gym.

[PerFit]

I like the idea of leaving out helpful tips.

I had a body fat table tonight and it actually went really well. Several times, there was a group of people around the table. I scheduled 4 free sessions with people and talked to several others. Felt confident. Hope I can keep doing it this well.

Still need to work on talking to people on floor. Yeah, I agree selling on the spot wouldn't work. I try to ask about their workout, their goals, their day. I have had a couple alright talks with people. But I haven't don't it NEARLY enough. I admit I've been a bit disconnected with the members in my gym.

do you have a plan of attack after the people do the free session with you?

[kristinpete38]

do you have a plan of attack after the people do the free session with you?

No, planning on going about them as a consult/assessment/short workout. 50 minutes each

[PerFit]

No, planning on going about them as a consult/assessment/short workout. 50 minutes each

But I mean to sell your services. You really do need a plan of action otherwise people will do the session for free and say see you later.

[TrainBetter]

But I mean to sell your services. You really do need a plan of action otherwise people will do the session for free and say see you later.

How do you sell from these?

[kristinpete38]

But I mean to sell your services. You really do need a plan of action otherwise people will do the session for free and say see you later.

One of the four initially said he was thinking about getting a trainer. I didn't say free or anything. Another said she had had a trainer before, which I hear makes it more likely. But I'm not sure how else I'd do it, w/o saying "free"...guess I don't have much of one. Or I'm not sure what exactly you mean by this

[PerFit]

How do you sell from these?

One of the four initially said he was thinking about getting a trainer. I didn't say free or anything. Another said she had had a trainer before, which I hear makes it more likely. But I'm not sure how else I'd do it, w/o saying "free"...guess I don't have much of one. Or I'm not sure what exactly you mean by this

Sure, you will have those clients who will fall into your lap and they are great but sometimes you need to help people to see the value in your service before they commit.

The most common way to sell from these is to use these sessions for 2 main reasons:

1. For them to experience your service
2. For you to identify problems that you can help them with (VERY IMPORTANT).

Before or after the session you need to sit down with the client and ask them a few questions to find out their goals, what they have tried in the past, their level of commitment etc. once you know these things then you can 'sell' to them in a way that appeals to them (eg no use selling weight loss to someone wanting to build muscle).

When you find out their problems, you can then position your services as the solution. Think of all of those infomercials on tv. they all start with

'Are you tired of your love handles and clothes that don't fit?" "are you trying to lose those last few kilo's but they just wont budge?"...well we have the solution for you! introducting the fat blastermaster 200 pro matrix!!!!.

These are problem builders which makes the viewer sit there and get emotionally attatched and are begging for the solution to their problems.

This is what you need to be doing (but not so cheesy). When you sit down with them and listen to everything they have to say, then you can go over it all and mention 'ok so i;m hearing that you're overweight, not happy with your body and that your clothes arent fitting how they used to. not only that but in our session then we found that your fitness level and strength is rather low. does this soound about right to you?". BOOM now they realise their is a problem and now it should not be hard to explain how your services can FIX that problem. You can then show them through your different packages, show them the value in it and ask them what package is best for them.

This isnt shady selling. You are quite simply showing them the value in your service and how you can fix it.