Author: ezfacility

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Determine Your Goals With Outside-In Perspective

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I’m going to tell you about the wonderfully underused ability of perspective shapeshifting. I will be up front and firstly state that this particular type of transformation does not affect your outer physical attributions, but rather one very special part inside your body; the brain. Everything inside your brain is about to change. Your memories, your business knowledge, your favorite foods—block them out—because in order to successfully complete this transformation, your mind will need to be completely clear. Only then can you become the “next client”.

It is not easy to clear one’s mind, especially those of us, who are in high positions of authority, constantly making decisions on the go. It may also not be easy to agree with this perspective choice of mindset you will be tapping into. Why a “next client?” Why not a current client or a loyal client? Here is the answer. A new incoming client questions everything. They are skeptical and more likely to evaluate and criticize the same as one from inside the business. That is precisely why becoming the next client’s brain is an important step in improving the quality and draw of your business appeal.

So, take a deep breath and clear your mind.

Are you ready?

You are now the next client.

The “Perfect” Balance of Experience and Authenticity

The next client (now you) has a lot of high expectations whether they say so or not. Studies show how first impressions can practically cement opinions despite attempts of rectifying an initial impression and you (as the next client) want a good impression. You also don’t want perfection, but an environment that instead realizes potential growth and strives to be the best.

You’re not as hard to please as your friends and family may think. At the end of the day, you just want someone to trust. You want to hear earnest words like “appreciate,” “value,” and humbling rejections instead of flat refusals such as “No,” and “I don’t know” that offer no framework for a solution. You want to hear encouraging phrases that show a sense of thought like “You have the right to customize” and the usage of “we” that confirms a teamwork relationship. You get a feeling that harmonious staff who know each other will be able to run a business in the best way possible…and you’re right! Research from the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science described that caring, inspiration, and respect define the positive teams that ensure productivity.

Assure Health Trust & Safety Measures

Now that you know your investments are secure, how about your health? Does your future instructor know about how stopping short when running can increase the risk of a heart attack? Do they know CPR and other medical procedures? Does the facility have medical equipment for unexpected emergency circumstances? And will staff reach out in a communication effort beyond the standard hello and goodbye to notify you on all these regulations? In short, you want an open communicator who has a welcoming personality and cares what you say. Open communicators read their subjects by their expressions and body language when words aren’t enough. They are the ones who will know when to say: “Do you have any questions for me?” or “Are you sure?” and “I’m here to help.”. Most of what ensures a trust in your future client-trainer relationship is authenticity and if established from the very beginning of the meeting, your client will obviously be more inclined to extend their trust. In their securing presence, you will also feel secure.

Affirm Security Concerns

The next expectation on your checklist is complete security. In the near future, you are going to give away private information so it’s certainly fair that the one receiving your data knows just how securely your information will be protected. Naturally, you want to feel safe knowing it’s in the most responsible of hands and the best way to ease out that anxiety is to hear a confident and knowledgeable voice saying their payment system is certified. For example,EZFacilityis certified at PCI DSS Level 1, validated procedures by Trustwave, verified privacy practices by TRUSTe, and offers free merchant processing consultation to settle any questions or concerns. Since nearly half of Americans feel their information is less secure online this could come in handy from time to time. You could be part of that percentage, but yet you will feel pleased, knowing EZFacility offers an option to fully understand the heavy text and lingo that warrants the protection of your data.

If you are wondering more about effective examples of gym management software, we recommend signing up for a free demonstration of one the most highly experienced, ranked, and trusted gym management software solutions.

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The Big Game and Your Business.

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The Big Game is almost here and it can really help your business. Yes, that’s absolutely right. As long as you tread extra carefully from using trademarked words such as “Super Bowl”, the Big Game can help improve the status of your business. The idea of celebrating while presenting your business may sound like a huge multitasking feat-but with the help of social media, the idea is a lot easier (and even fun) to accomplish. Here’s how you can get started right away.

Words and Phrases To Use On Social Media Posts: The Big Game, The Big Day, The Big Football Game, Pro Football Championship, American Football, The Game, Football Fun, etc.

Facebook Live is Your TV

A 30 second TV advertisement during the Super Bowl can cost as much as 5 million while videos shared on Facebook can cost a total of nothing. According to Salesforce, 73% of Super Bowl viewers use two devices while watching the game.This allows a wonderful opportunity to use Facebook and its many methods of post engagement, namely Facebook Live. By going candid, clients will be drawn in by a casual aura-and it doesn’t have to be a long video. It could be a 10-second clip of asking gym patrons for a cheer vote of their Pro Football Championship winner.

Twitter is Your Radio

In a statistic run of Twitters activity, audience views during Super Bowl 50 were at 4.3 billion. One way to take advantage of Twitter during the game is through the rotation of play by play tweets known as live tweeting. Note that the The Big Day doesn’t have to be the main event of a live tweeting session, especially if you want to put your business directly in the spotlight and not beside it. Think Budweiser (Yes Really) According to a 2012 study from the  American Veterinary Medical Association, 36.5 percent of the United States population own dogs. It’s possible Budweiser was aware of this when they added a puppy to their iconic Clydesdale in their latest commercial hit. (Fun fact: the Clydesdale was first introduced in 1933 during the end of the Prohibition Era as a method of transportation. As of this time, it is now recognized as a promotional symbol.) It’s important to recognize what Budweiser has done better than other businesses, and that is creating and maintaining a good business icon. The steps to establishing a mascot tend to be costly but with free-to-use social media platforms at your disposal, there’s nothing to lose when you put your pet on camera.

The Power of Food

According to the National Retail Foundation, viewers of Super Bowl 50 spent an average of $82.19 on food, team apparel, and decorations. Another zero cost strategy would be to share a healthy game day recipe on social media. You can even take the project one leap further and post your own how-to video across Facebook and Twitter. If the content resonates with fans, use it for other popular events and holidays. (And congratulations by the way, you got yourself a theme going!) Contests One of the best ways to ensure client engagement on social media is by using the words “contest” or “prizes”. With some imaginative thinking, you can turn the next Big Game into an effortless marketing campaign for your business facility without giving up a single penny.

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Boost Client Conveniences And Business Reach With MemberMe+

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You’re looking to expand the reach of your business and the idea of integrating a mobile application comes to mind. Look no further. EZ Facility’s MemberMe+ can get you started in building upon both customer convenience and satisfaction. When was the last time you saw a client forget their coupon or membership id? With MemberMe+ you and your client can leave those bad experiences behind and step forward toward a better relationship.

Here are some of the many advantages that MemberMe+ provides.

– Virtual Incentives-

The ability to send digital offers and promotions allow convenience for your customers constantly on the move. We improvised upon this method by giving the client the ability to accept offers in real time, taking that “Yes” directly to a calendar for scheduling asap!

– GPS Functionality-

Location is one of the most valuable assets for social media and one of the fastest methods for clients to share your business and their social life. Users can “check in” with Facebook, expanding your business reach with ease.

-All-In-One Efficiency-

Your business may never move but your client is another story. They could be on their way from a new town or coming from a jetlagged flight. They could open up a separate app to find your business and then another to open your calendar… Or they could just use MemberMe+.

-Cross Compatibility-

We want the best possible level of client immersion available so along with the likes of Twitter and Facebook- MemberMe+ is available on iPhone and Android. The budget for a cross compatible app has often been known to be costly, however, when we take a look at our testimonials, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

-Registration of Member ID Cards-

Make your clients commitment easier by giving them the option to digitally store their client membership identifications. Once it’s registered, there’s simply no more time wasted looking for that small rectangular key card. (And no excuse to avoid the gym either!)

-Reporting-

Administer the application from your computer and generate reports on user activity such as download statistics, popular features used by clients and much more. The data gathered from our app can prove to be a vital tool on upholding and improving engagement level among clients.

-Updates & Push Notifications-

Operate efficiently through an admin portal where you can change image formats, add more links and send out notices. After all, surprises are for presents, not extended hours or the opening of a second location. Keep your clients always in the know on what’s going on with your business.

-Info Customization-

Just like your website, you can include a variety of info to your clients, from contact details to an “about us” summary. Also, the customization does not stop at written text. MemberMe+ also allows the inclusion of photos, particularly helpful for biographies of your trainers and or staff.

Imagine what you can do or always wanted to do with extra time. With MemberMe+ helping your business out, you can make that extra time completely yours, and we know you deserve it.

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5 Methods of Communication Due For A Comeback

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You need to contact a client and are considering between a phone call or an email. After a pause, you choose email. Ideally immediate results follow, the clients response is swift, and you move on now that your objective is complete….or is it? We all want to keep our clients happy and we all hope we are doing everything to ensure that they’re satisfied at the end of the day. Yes, we hope. But do we really know for certain this is true? Here are some methods of consistent engagement to utilise so you can ensure a healthy, happy client relationship to maintain.

1: Positive Body Language

Chances are you can remember this exact moment. Think of the last time you raised your hand for a high-five and received nothing in return. It certainly makes an impact and you probably remember the person. This is the power of a bad impression and it can be quite a powerful thing. So what can be done? You’ll be pleased to know the answer is practically effortless. Just like a good pre-workout stretch, opening up your body and standing up straight enables a confident atmosphere for both you and your client. According to a study published by the American Psychological Association , something as small as a firm handshake leaves an impression of extroversion-one of the utmost ideal traits of an entrepreneur. We also recommend keeping those arms unfolded and open for interaction to create an environment of approachability.

2: Handwritten Cards/Letters

Yes emails are easier, but Grandma still mails you birthday cards doesn’t she? And they’re signed in that unique penmanship that makes you think of her and her only? Maybe there’s also a little drawing or message attached. Something that becomes a symbol of them and their love. While we probably don’t want your client to love you like Grandma does, we can agree they should feel content at the mention of your name and or business. Of course like Grandma you should stick to about 1-2 cards a year maximum.

3: “Lets do Lunch”

Think of treating your client as you would a new friend. Recommend them locations of local parks and healthy eateries local to your business. Work these mentions between conversations with existing customers and make flyers for newcomers. A good way to remind clients that you care is to hand out coupons relevant to your suggestions. If a client declines these suggestions or offers-make note of it. Even if there’s no connection at the end of the conversation, there still was a takeaway moment to learn from the experience and in time, develop a different angle of approach.

4: Courtesy Calls

Try not to let “Goodbye,” be the last thing you hear from a client on a daily basis. Through follow up phone calls or emails- you can turn that “Goodbye” into a “Thank You!” or maybe even something better! If using a phone call follow up, use this opportunity to ask questions that flesh out your client as a person-“We’re doing a birthday checklist and noticed you’re not listed. Want to sign up?”. If your emailing, you can use this moment to attach a quick survey for feedback. On the off chance the follow-up proceeds to a negative response-this gives you a heads up to rectify and learn from the situation. An unsatisfied client that is willing to communicate is more than likely to be accommodated than one who chooses to suffer in silence. On the flip side however, initiating a follow up call or email gives the silent sufferer an opportunity to voice their opinion.

5. Asking More Questions!

It’s time to one up your client trivia by using EZFacility’s CMS where the most detailed account profiles are made possible. When you think about it, account profiles are absolutely everywhere from Panera Bread to AutoZone, but how personalized are they beyond a name and a birthday? How much easier would it be to add new programs to your business if you knew what activities your clients enjoyed the most? By using EZFacility’s CMS you can get started on your next move.

If you are wondering more about effective examples of gym management software, we recommend signing up for a free demonstration of one the most highly experienced, ranked, and trusted gym management software solutions.

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The Sales Minefield: How to Avoid the Biggest Selling “Bombs”

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Read below to learn a few tips to avoid the biggest selling “bombs”:

1. Not understanding the value of what you’re selling.

The key thing to remember here is that you are providing a solution, not just a contract or training sessions.  Prospects come to your club because they have a problem. Whether it be they want to lose weight, tone up, or just develop a healthier lifestyle, they are looking to you to provide them a way to reach these goals.  Additionally, each prospect has different, unique fitness and health priorities and there is no real way to put a price tag on what they value. 

2. Thinking selling means you have to “sell your soul”

There are many cartoons that depict salesman as slimy, evil-eye browed villains in suits. This is not an accurate depiction.  You do not have to manipulate prospects to make a sale. 

Selling should be an inquisitive, educational experience. You need to get to know your client in order to sell them exactly what they need to reach their goals. As you begin to understand what your client is looking for and what they value, you can establish yourself as the best positioned person to help them achieve.  When you make a sale, don’t think of it as a number towards your bottom line, instead think of it as an opportunity to change someone’s life with your skills and knowledge.  

3. “Stealing” money.

We all spend money on products or services that bring us value. Your services bring value to your clients’ lives so never feel like you are tricking them into spending money on them.  The more you motivate your clients to stick to the program and drive results, the more likely they will commit to see the program all the way through and come back for future services and purchases. 

4. No repeatable sales system

You need a consistent, repeatable plan. Trust us, this will eliminate so much stress for you. Do not just wing it. I repeat DO NOT TRY TO WING IT. Professional athletes and successful business owners develop and follow repeatable processes to perform top notch. 

Here are a few steps to consider when overcoming selling “bombs”:

1. Qualifying Prospects 

I cannot stress enough how important this step is. It will save you SO much time in the long-run. Before you make a sale, you need to make sure the prospect is the key purchase decision maker and that they are aware of the price of your services and can afford them. Your time is valuable and you do not want to spend a dedicated amount of time on someone who is unqualified from the get-go. 

2. Building a Rapport

Get to know your prospects. Make casual conversation to ease any anxiety about communicating what they are looking to get out of your services. Not everyone who walks through your club doors are in shape and may be nervous about discussing their weight and measurement or allowing photos to be taken that they may find unflattering.  Ease their anxiety by showing them your club is a judgement-free zone and reassure them that you will do everything in your power to help them reach their fitness goals in an engaging and healthy way. 

3. Discovery Questions

There are three main questions to ask in the initial conversation with a prospect are 1) What are your goals? 2) Why do you place value on these particular goals 3) How much work are you willing to put in to reach these goals? (ask them to rate their motivation on a scale of 1-10). The last question is key in helping you develop a program that will bring results and will keep them engaged.

4. Identify Needs:

While there is more easily accessible information about health and nutrition out there thanks to the internet, most people are, in fact, not experts (no matter how much they believe they are). You need to make sure both of you are on the same page.  You may know what your client’s needs are such as getting more sleep, making better nutritional choices, etc, but they may come into this meeting with their own preconceived notions. Help them understand and identify their real needs in a positive, encouraging way. 

5. Diagnose the Problem

So, you’ve established your client’s needs, now it’s time to diagnose the problem.  A vast majority of the time, clients are having a hard time reaching their goals because( a) they don’t have a structured, sustainable program (b) they have chaotic schedules and need help fitting workouts and right nutrional choices into their normal routines and/or (c) they don’t have a network of support motivating them to reach their goals. You may need to do a little bit of hand-holding in the beginning to show them the right path.

6. Provide a Solution to the problem

There are a myriad of different ways to show clients the path to success. Choose the ways you know from experience will help this particular prospect. Share success stories from other clients and provide detailed explanation of the journey you set them on.

7. Close the Sale

Just like finding a solution, there are many different ways to close a sale. Provide the prospect with multiple options so they may choose the one that feels right. Giving only one course of action may seem restrictive and intimidating, especially to those who have never really followed a program before.

8. Handling Objections

Don’t get irritated when prospects show hesitation or offer objections about the program you have proposed. Remember, they may be nervous about trying something new and that they are unfamiliar with. Instead, let them communicate their concerns and never interrupt. Clients will appreciate that their concerns are heard and talking things out generally helps provide a mutual understanding and solution!

The key thing to take away from all of these “bombs” is that you need to be confident in your abilities, services and the value you are bringing to your clients’ lives. Forget all the negative connotations you’ve placed on money and sales and concentrate on providing the best possible solution to help your clients reach their goals. When you show that you are fully capable of providing solutions in a stress-free and judgement free environment, clients will respond genuinely to this and hold you in high regard. Think of all the lives you can change with your training and expertise! 

 

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Free Weights are Here to Stay!

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With all the hype about new, top-of-the-line fitness equipment it’s easy to overlook the value of free weights.
These durable, easy to use, versatile and conveniently portable gym staples still continue to be in high demand in clubs all over the world, and they are not going anywhere.
Perhaps the largest benefit of free weights is that they can be used by virtually anyone at any fitness level. Personal trainers, group class instructors, and athletes continue to incorporate this type of equipment into their programs. While these fitness gurus are interested in adding new equipment to their repertoire, they are also finding that using equipment that clients are already used to and then developing new variations in their use goes a long way in improving client engagement and longevity.
Instead of reinventing the wheel when it comes to portable, versatile equipment, the fitness industry is working to improve on what it already has. This has resulted in different forms of free weights made of different materials. Instead of cast-iron dumbbells and kettlebells (a new favorite in recent years) manufacturers are encasing this equipment with coloured vinyl and rubber to improve grip and reduce the risk of injuries as well as damage to studio and facility floors.
A recent study indicated that there is an ever-increasing interest from club owners for commercial products that are made for high-volume use as well as versatility, meaning, this body-weight equipment can be used in conjunction with other types of programming such as cardio intervals, outdoor obstacles and races, and boot-camps.
The key takeaway here is that free weights are an ongoing trend and a great investment for clubs. They are durable, versatile, simple to use and essentially maintenance-free.

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Pokemon Go and YOUR Business

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Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard about the new augmented mobile app exploration game, Pokémon Go, that has become an almost overnight sensation.

Downloads of the game have surpassed even the most well-known apps, including Tinder, Snapchat and Bumble and it’s percentage of daily active users has doubled that of Twitter. Users around the world are spending a shocking amount of time travelling around communities, visiting local restaurants, stores, and other businesses in their search for Pokémon. Some even go so far as driving to other nearby towns in attempts to “catch” more rare types of Pokémon.

Many businesses, both big and small have caught on to the possibilities of this growing phenomenon and are capitalizing on it by using creative marketing campaigns and app purchases to drive large amounts of traffic through their doors, with the ultimate goal of converting players into paying customers.

Health Clubs can easily jump on this growing craze at virtually no cost and with minimum allocation of time and resources–all you need to do is know how to play the game.

There are many different ways you can use Pokémon Go to attract local players to your location and, hopefully, convert them into paying customers.

1. Is your Club a “Gym” or a “PokeStop”? The two types of locations this game that attract players in droves are called Gyms and PokeStops. Thus, either of these locations can be used in any strategy you choose to promote colossal sales. Pokémon Go runs off of an augmented reality HUD (also known as a heads-up display) of the real world. Each player creates an avatar “trainer” in the game that explores the virtual world as they navigate the real one. Players flock to PokeStops to collect rewards, collect Pokeballs and collect potions. PokeStops are usually buildings or businesses (in the real world). Although there is no official map that lists and locates all the Gyms and PokeStops, players have uncovered a workaround by using a searchable world map developed for another game by Niantic called “Ingress”. Players realized that the map for Ingress maps almost every PokeStop and Gym, the only difference being they are known as “portals” in Ingress.

To access this map, install the Ingress app on your phone and sign in with your google account. (If you don’t have one it’s very simple to make one and takes very little time). Once set up, you will be directed to a searchable map with all the listed “portals” which, again, are actually Gyms or PokeStops.

While many of these stops are businesses, even if you’re isn’t, there is most likely a PokeStop or Gym nearby that will still drive traffic your way.

2. Host a Lure party! Many businesses are jumping on this marketing strategy. Here’s how it works. A “lure module” is something you can buy in the app to lure wild Pokémon to a location, which, needless to say, attracts players to that location as well.

Businesses typically will buy a package of lure modules and advertise a “Pokémon Go Lure Party” for one night. Each lure is active for 30 minutes so businesses will set them to be back-t- back in order to attract the most amount of players possible for the entirety of the party. This can be extremely effective if your business is or is near a PokeStop. It’s easy to set up and costs virtually nothing. Let’s break down the cost just to show how little you need to spend to reap massive rewards:

Let’s say you decide to spend $100. This gives you about 14,500 Pokecoins which is the in-game currency. An eight-pack of Lures costs about 680 Pokecoins. Let’s break this down some more to see the real ROI this presents:

14,500 Pokecoins/680 = 21 eight-packs of Lures

(21*8)/2 = 84 Hours

$100/84 hours = $1.19 per hour

So, at the price of about a dollar per hour, you can attract crowds of players to your place of business. We also recommend offering special deals for Lure Party attendees to encourage even more participation.

3. If you are located near a Poke Gym, host a Battle! There are three different “Teams” that “trainers” (users) can be a part of in the game. These teams are called Mystic, Valor and Mystic. Teams “battle” each other at PokeGyms and the winning team “takes control” of that gym. As a result of this, users are constantly meeting at gyms anyway, so there is no need to purchase Lures, so you’ll have a constant influx of new potential customers.

To find out if your business is close to a gym, you can refer back to that Ingress map or open the game in your phone and look for tall building-like structures with Pokémon at the top. They are pretty hard to miss so you will see right away which ones are closest to your location. Businesses can take advantage of these PokeGyms in a number of different ways. Most of these methods rely on some creative marketing on your part. Here are just a few ideas:

  • Customized Pokémon Gym Badges: Everyone loves getting free stuff. You can easily customize these badges to incorporate your business name and logo when ordering from a supplier. Simply search online for “Pokémon Gym Badge” and “custom orders” to find suppliers.
  • Winner Discounts: Advertise which team has current control of your gym and offer discounts on memberships, packages, merchandise, etc for that team. You can do this on a poster, sandwich board, or any other physical advertising materials you have at your disposal.
  • Utilize Social Media: I’m sure by now you’ve seen followers on facebook posting screenshots of the game. Follow their example and post ongoing battles with searchable hashtags such as #pokemongo or #teamvalor.
  • Organize a PokeHunt: Here’s another example of a lucrative creative marketing tactic. This strategy is allows for a little more flexibility as it doesn’t rely solely on how close your business is to a Pokestop or Pokegym. Organize a Pokémon hunt that ends at your businesses with an after party to make a lasting impression and facilitate brand recognition. This is fairly simple to set up as it just requires an advertisement stating the start time of the hunt. Allow time for players to show up, and then have your staff (wearing your logo of course) lead them on this excursion. This is a really great way to promote brand awareness and establish your business as an inviting community that players or potential clients want to return to.
  • Social Media Deals: Last but not least, offer discounts for clients who post pictures of Pokémon they find at or around your facility with a hashtag that names your business. This spreads awareness on social media and let’s other players know what types of Pokémon are near you.

While it is still in its early stages, the Pokémon Go app has already presented numerous possibilities for businesses both big and small. As new updates and developments are added to the game, the opportunities will only continue to grow. If you’re business hasn’t jumped on the Pokémon Go band-wagon, it’s about time you started!

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Social Media No No's

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I’ve addressed this area before, but I cannot stress enough how crucial social media is to your fitness or sports business. Last time in my blog, 8 Best Practices For Promoting Your Business On Social Media, I spoke about all the tactics you SHOULD be using with your various social media platforms. But, what is also, if not more important, is what you should be making sure NOT to do.

The following is a list of major “DON’Ts” to abide by in the digital space.

1. Sending automated twitter messages to new followers.

I know it’s hard to avoid the siren call of “automated” anything. Let’s face it, we don’t want to waste time individualizing each reply, but, believe me when I tell you it goes a long way. I can’t even tell you how many times I have received an automated reply that goes something like this:

“Thanks for the follow! Get my free e-book here!” or, “Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc., or my favorite, “How have you stayed motivated this week, download my blah blah blah.”

The point is, automated messages–no matter how witty and clever you think they are– give the impression that 1. I am just a number 2. You just want to clog my inbox with promotional materials instead of get to know me and my specific needs and 3. I am just not intelligent enough to realize this is an automated message and you don’t really care how motivated I was this week.

Key Takeaway: Automated messages are no beuno.

2. Grammatical Errors.

You may think it’s no big deal to make a mistake here or there, but if you think your followers aren’t judging you for each wrong use of “there”, “their”, and “they’re”, you’re dead wrong. Also consider your client demographic. Do you work in a high-end gym or boutique? If you do, grammatical errors can be extremely off-putting.

3. Responding to public negative feedback in a condescending or defensive manner.

Even if the feedback is completely untrue, responding in a kind, gracious manner makes you look really good. Getting into long-winded debates over what did or didn’t happen and what is or isn’t true not only leaves a sour taste in this complaintant’s mouth but also for your other followers and potential clients. Be the bigger man (or woman) and take this feedback as constructive criticism. It helps to think of complaints as gifts. For every person that voices a complaint, there are probably at least a dozen others with the same complaint who would rather leave than voice their concerns. Use this negative feedback as constructive criticism to improve on and build your brand and business.

4. Not having a “like” or “follow” button on your business website.

Do we even need to explain?

5. Not taking interview requests.

Interviews are a fantastic way to promote your business! Always say yes and always respond in a timely fashion. Even if the publication asking for an interview isn’t industry-specific, you are still reaching a variety of audiences and the more your brand is out there circulating, the more publicity and attention your business will get. Plus, while the interviewer may be from a smaller publication now, that doesn’t mean they will stay that way forever! And, on the same note, when the press publishes nice things about you, make sure to acknowledge them in a gracious manner. Keep that positive rapport going to capitalize on possible future feature pieces.

6. Not responding to tweets/posts/comments from people who are NOT followers.

This an opportunity to build a relationship with non-clients. Interact with these users, educate them about your brand and mission (without shoving it in their face) and eventually they just may become clients.

7. Failure to acknowledge bloggers/publications in your local area.

Follow them, repost their relevant content, like the heck out of their posts and invite them to participate in events and social functions at your facility. Start small and target local channels before attempting to step into the big leagues.

8. Having no social media presence at all.

This should go without saying—especially in a world where almost everyone is online and on some form of digital platform. The benefits of promoting your brand on these different channels is astronomical and should NOT be ignored. This is the easiest way to tap into a myriad of audiences from different demographics. While you’re at it, start up a blog too and develop a consistent schedule so subscribers know what to expect each week.