Back on the road

This week sees Lucy and I in Manchester for our second Slammin Social Media and again we have a full day ahead and even more interesting developments in Social Media that we are going to be adding. SM is moving SO fast and there are SO many ways  to promote your fitness business and network with potential customers and clients using Social Media. If you have been reading my Blogs and newsletter etc then I'm sure you are all exploiting Facebook and Twitter but LinkedIn is the way forward if you want to get yourself in front of local businesses. We are going to look in depth with how you can work LinkedIn and get maximum exposure for you and your business.
Also Miss Parry and I hit the road at the weekend with Freestyle Fusion Tour. We filmed the DVDs last week and had a run through of the day and its going to be so much fun! Jo and I have been great friends for many many years but this is the first time touring together. I'm super excited as well to showcase our music and to teach the 80's Perfect class and my raunchy Burlesque Bar,after being on the road recently doing loads of Fitness Pilates and Functional training this tour is going to be a massive breath of fresh air and a nice change.
Therefore I'm going to enjoy my bank holiday and do very little apart from chill out with my friends, as I'm going to be on the road pretty much the whole of June and July.
Hope you are having a fantastic bank holiday xx

Pay as you go OR Paid up front -

It's been hot, hot, hot this week and as the UK basked in the beautiful sunshine what is it doing to our class numbers? Judging by Facebook many Instructors classes on Monday looked like their numbers were halved, my numbers were definitely down during my morning classes and of course we are now faced with the WORLD CUP and its impact on fitness classes, so is it really time to look at limiting the amount of pay as you go classes and look seriously at paid up front courses or even operating a monthly subscription to your community sessions. Whenever this issue comes up I always get a huge in box from instructors who run very successful businesses as pay as you go,. so possibly, changing a pay as you go class to a paid up front class is not the way to go. Byouut any new classes that you start then I seriously think you should consider running them as courses or monthly subscriptions. 

Here are all of the pros and cons I could think of to help you make a strategic business decision when setting up new community classes or Bootcamps. But first let's look at Football. If you want to see when England plays or any other team check out http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html Last world cup I remember having 3 and 4 people turning up instead of the usual 30, my classes were pay as you go so a nightmare, what with the snow at the beginning of the year, hot days and Football is it time for a rethink?......

I have run pay as you go community classes for the last 23 years and the income has always been up and down. You take the good with the bad and that's how it's always been. For years I didn't have holidays, I never had a week off or a break and, of course, suffered badly during the summer and bad weather. I was a slave to my pay as you go community classes and they controlled me. Recently, there has been a mind shift  and many trainers now are realising that it's smart to get clients to commit up front to a course of classes. You run your business rather than your business running you. 

So, I know many of you who run successful businesses may not agree and as I have said I don't think you can change a pay as you go into a course but if you are planning new ventures this summer at least way up the pros and cons. All of my new community classes including Fitness Pilates Bootcamp, will be run in 4 week courses no exception. I would love to get your views and opinions so please do post on the forum or my Blog http://Rachelinfitness@blogspot.com

Running classes in courses/pay up front

1.You get all of your money up front in one go enabling you to pay your room hire fee and know exactly what your profit margins are.

2.Commitment - Customers paying up front are committed and will think twice about not coming or cancelling as they have already paid in advance.

3.Time management - You can schedule your courses however it suits YOU. e.g. you could run courses during term time and have the holidays, or run 4 weeks on with a week of in-between courses. Running on going classes every week can be very very draining.

4.Goals Orientated - Great for your marketing...In 4 weeks you will...... Drop a dress Size..... or Lose Inches or....Strengthen your Spine or whatever it is your class goals are they can easily be measured in a shorter time frame.

5.If it 's 100 degrees or snows or football is on. You have already been paid and it's up to the customer to ensure they turn up regardless.

6.You can budget more effectively for tax, bills and business planning.

7.Makes you IN CHARGE of your business. Customers are more accountable to you as they have paid up front, you have a clear set of terms and conditions stating your policies and procedures.

8. You can guarantee results if you know someone is coming every week for a set amount of time.

Running classes as pay as you go

1.Some customers work shifts or cannot commit to attending a class every week.

2.Many people don't like to commit but will still come most weeks - therefore this can be a selling point.

3.Weather/What's on TV/Cinema all have a bearing if customers turn up or not so income is up and down.

4.Cover - It's difficult to have time or weeks off.

5.Lack of cash - These days people don't have so much cash rattling around in their purse , every thing is paid for by card.

If you don't want to keep running courses then you could always do monthly standing orders so if you run several classes in one area then offer a monthly package for a set amount and advertise the customer can cancel at any time.

Ideas for Summer Courses

So if you are sold on the idea of kicking of some courses how about these for ideas:

1.Outdoor Bootcamp - Everyone is doing it! Find a park and get stuck in. I've written tons about this over the last few years so what on earth are you waiting for?

2.Bootcamp for softies - There is a huge market who don't fancy a hard core, kick ass Bootcamp so what about Bootcamp Lite or Bootcamp for Softies or Beginners Bootcamp? Great selling point and USP.

3. 1 week intensives - A class every morning/morning or evening for 5 days on the run - Bikini Bootcamp together with a weeks detox diet plan.

4.Fitness Pilates Package - 1/2/3 or 4 week Intense Pilates course with a diet plan

Let me know what you think

Love RAchel xxx

Swimming in Soup

Sometimes days and weeks go by and you make massive amount of progress in business and in your personal life. I'm listening to the Secret in my car reading all the right books and doing all the right things to get where I want to be, last week so many new oppertunites came along - Presenting in the US has always been a dream and Lucy and I sorted it with our first US event, I was buzzing after Bio Sig and loads of others bits that all came together than this weeks been like swimming in soup....One of those weeks where nothing seems to move forward and problems pop up every step of the way but its all part of being in business and life would be so boring otherwise dont you think! I should have my new VLOG up later on here so would love you to stop by and have a look!
Hope you arnt swimming in soup today and your day is as productive as mine is going to be ;-)
and I hope Lucy Lou's back is feeling better today xxxx

FAT LOSS for Cougars part 2

Hey, I hope you are all well and happy and at last enjoying some better weather. How good does it make you feel when the sun is out, classes have been booming this week and everyone seems energetic with positive minds, which I am sure is down to the weather.  I've been holed up for the last 6 days in the Comfort Inn, Heathrow doing Charles Poliquins Biosignature Level 1 course  and was it worth covering all my classes, missing a girls' holiday, having to work on the websites and study every night in the hotel. YES, YES and YES! Charles was/is phenomenal.  I've been to Charles's lectures at Fitpro several times and have always fancied the Bio Sig course. A trainer friend of mine, James, did this last year and loved it and he has been Bio Sigging me for the last few months. Since which I've been following the paleo diet and  I have lost 4%Body Fat ready before the course, so I kind of knew what to expect, but the 5 days were absolutely outstanding, the nutritional information is relentless. Charles totally knows his stuff and you can't write down the information fast enough, I've also been taking Fish Oil, HCL, Magnesium. Zinc and Estrogens Clear and Charles explains all the supplements and what works for what in which combination. For example, if you are storing fat around the sub scapular area this shows a low tolerance to carbs so a low carb diet and supplementation would be beneficial, fat round the middle could mean lack of sleep, stress and Estrogen, fat around the calves could show lack of growth hormone. There is so much more information and I am still pouring over my books and making sure I understand all of the protocols and of course practising the BioSignature 12 site measurements with my lovely new shiny skin fold callipers. Bio Sig 2 is in October in Sweden and I'll be booking on for sure. I'm now working on my Fat Loss and Fitness Package for Cougars (over 40's) and a Nutritional Package for Menopause, both subjects I'm really interested in, so if you would like any more information on these packages when they come out then you can sign up on http://RachelHolmes.Biz  For more information on Charles Poliquin and Bio Signature go to www.CharlesPoliquin.com

After nearly a week away it's been great this week to spend most of time working on and finishing new projects. I have been writing and filming a new Fitness Pilates Business Package, which includes audio lectures, business plans, class plans, downloads, music for Fitness Pilates, and  also as a free bonus a 30minute Fitness Pilates Coaching Call with me, where we can talk about your business set up, promotion, ideas, PR and Fitness Pilates content. I have 20 packages that I will release first so if you would like to get on the early bird list then make sure you add your email to http://FitnessPilates.biz

Outdoors Bootcamp -  I have written so much over the past few years about doing an Outdoors Bootcamp that I decided to film some outdoor Bootcamp ideas. They are all non equipment and you don't need music, so why not take your class outdoors and go for it!

 

A Blog/VLOG

So a Blog/Vlog mix would seem to work. Ok Ill do a VLog post for tomorrow and you will have to tell me what you think.
Rachel xx

to VLOG or BLOG??

Morning All - So, its where to start this morning my assistant Grace and I are working on my Fitness Pilates business package today plus putting the my new Cougar Fat Loss Plan together. I need to make headway with these 2 products and finally get them in the can.
I trained like a lunatic on Monday doing loads of old skool muscle beach leg training - I haven't trained like that for ages and ages and I squatted with 2x 20kg plates, followed by dead lifting 60kg and Kettlebell swings with 28kg and I proper enjoyed it! But OMG I couldnt do anything in Fitness Pilates last night and I can barely move this morning...serves me right.
As I'm sitting at my desks looking out into the garden it looks like being a sunny day! YEAH so I'll hit the gym and train upper body, teach Aerobics and Aqua then back to the office.
Steve Watson, Jo and I have been working on Steves new release on Infitnessmusic.com and I've been having it on non stop, Id forgot about loads of the tracks on the mix and when I used in class for step yesterday everyone was going mad. I do have a very eclectic mix of people attend my step in Nottingham religiously and they were all shouting and screaming and giving me the thumbs up as every track came on...Just like the old days.

Anyway just before I go - Do you prefer to watch a little video clip on a BLOG (VLOG) or prefer to read a Blog???? Let me know

Hope you all have a perfect day
Love Rach xxx

If you an audiobook junkie like me and like to listen to stuff in your car try:
Michael Port - Book yourself Solid!

Fat Loss for Cougars

2 Blog posts in 2 days!! Radical dude, you can tell Im holed up in a Premier In for 4 days!

I have not seen many of you this week as I've been away studying on a nutritional course by one of the worlds leaders in Nutrition, Supplementation and Training Charles Poliquin - you can check out Charles website www.CharlesPoliquin.com  

 

I have learnt so many new methods and up dated information that I cant wait to get back and create fat loss and workout packages for you guys. I am particular interested in providing fat loss information for 40+ women and will be putting together nutrition packages especially for this age group.

 

I will be teaching all my classes as usual this week and have got loads of new choreography, workouts and ideas that I cant wait to share with you.

Its exciting times in the world of fitness, training and nutrition and I'm looking forward to sharing this information with you, ensuring 2010 is your best year yet!

If you would like any further information then drop me an email or I will see you in class next week.

Much Love and Happy Staurday

Rachel xxx

Its been a MONTH OMG

OMG Its been a month since I blogged! How rubbish is that I promote myself as a social media expert and here I am slipping up on the blogging front!
WELL, it been a hectic one in the last 4 weeks Jo Parry and I launched a brand spanking new digital download music site for which is going great guns. The mixes are AWESOME and I will say with my hand on my heart our mixes are the best. Every choon is inspiring, uplifting and CURRENT no fillers, no rubbish just the best so make sure you check us out http;//infitnessmusic.com.


Lucy and I launched Slammin Social Media for Fitness which is a new service for Fitness Instructors wanting to use social media to its best. We can guarantee you can find over 1000 new leads in your area who are interested in YOUR services, coming to you Bootcamps, becoming PT clients and attending your group X classes. We look at niche marketing, business plans, strategies, social proof, testimonials Its 2010 people and the dawning of a new era in fitness marketing.


As i write this Blog I'm just of to Day 3 of Bio Signature with Charles Poliquin and he has blown me away the nutritional and supplement information is second to none. Mr Poliquin is a walking. talking, No Bullshit oracle of information...so I better get of ready for Day 3 and Ill bring you a complete run down  in the week.


Have a fab and productive Friday


Love always Rachel xx