Clickbait – A form of false advertisement which uses hyperlink text or a thumbnail link that is designed to attract attention and entice users to follow that link and read, view, or listen to the linked piece of online content, with a defining characteristic of being deceptive, typically sensationalized or misleading……..

“Jump Start The New Year And See Results!” (Input photo of man with bulging biceps).

“New Year, New Bod: 5 Fitness Trends That Will Shape 2020!” (Input photo of woman with ripped abs).

Every year, I receive countless emails from graphic designers, social media marketers, and web developers, asking me if we would be interested in using their advertising services to promote our business online. And even though I understand that marketing and advertising a product and/or service is essential in order for that product and/or service to successfully grow, I don’t want to use complete strangers to promote what we offer. And what we offer is a valuable, professional, reputable, educational, and life changing service. And we don’t devalue ourselves or try and manipulate potential clients to purchasing our services by using cheesy generic New Year’s sales tactics in order to make a few quick bucks. Quite frankly, if someone is willing to put their own service on sale due to a particular time of year or seasonal change, then wouldn’t it beg the question as to just how valuable that service truly is throughout the remainder of the year?

Buy One Get One Free and 50% Off If You Buy Today!!!

I think that most people are under the impression that Personal Trainers make a fortune every single January due to the influx of New Years Resolutioners in the gyms. Now while it is true that most gyms become busier during this time of year, I don’t think the same increase in sales resonates with Independent Trainers. Granted I can only speak on behalf of our company and the other Independent Trainers that I know across the Lower Mainland, however in my experience, January has always been like any other month for us…..BUSY!!!

I had a client ask me the other day as to why we don’t offer sales on our services during the Holidays to try and entice new clients to come and work with us in the New Year. Well to be completely honest, we don’t really want to work with people who are looking for “sales” and “discounts” in Personal Training. We want to work with people who want to get fit, healthy, transform their physique, and improve their overall quality of life. And we want to work with people who are not motivated to train with us because of a price tag. Now that’s not to say that there is anything wrong with bargain hunters. However in my opinion, looking for the cheapest option when it comes to your health and your physique, will only leave you with cheap looking and cheap lasting results.

Insulting Your Intelligence

Look, I’m going to be completely honest with you – I will, and never have promised any of our clients guaranteed results. Not only would this be foolish of me to do, it would be completely dishonest of me as well. I don’t like to be bullshitted and therefore why would I expect my clients to like being bullshitted? Sure, I believe in setting SMART goals, however I don’t believe in setting and promising goals that I know are not realistic to achieve. I also don’t like setting limitations either though. This is why when someone asks me how much weight they should lose, or how much muscle I think they should build, I can’t and I won’t answer that question. There are numerous factors to take into consideration when creating an equation for building muscle and losing fat. Very few of which by the way have to do with the number on the scale.

You Get What You Pay For

I’ve always believed in offering a higher grade quality of service, that exceeds our customers expectations, while at the same time, marketed at a reasonable rate. I believe that this is the foundation to building a loyal and long term clientele base in which we ourselves have been able to achieve during these past two decades. Most people hire a Personal Trainer with the thoughts of using that Trainer for a few weeks or months and then going off on their own to train and workout. Well, I’m proud to report, that over 70% of current clients have been working with us for over a decade now, some even as long as 18 years! Sure, we’re not perfect. And yes, we’re still a young company and are bound to make a few mistakes from time to time. However, we respect our clients and want them to achieve their health and fitness goals. We understand that accountability on our part is crucial which is why I personally work 7 days a week, and respond to all emails and texts within a few hours, regardless of what time or what day it is.

Closing The Sale

If you’re a new and potential client reading this week’s blog, have I closed you on my sales pitch yet?

If I have, then great! Contact me today and let’s set up a time to meet for your consultation! ;^)

In all honesty though, my objective to writing this week’s blog was not to promote our services and explain as to why we don’t offer sales. My objective was to simply remind people that when it comes to improving your health and transforming your physique, to not get sucked into cheesy sales gimmicks, fake fitness fads, and online clickbait. Be weary of training services that are offered at discounted rates and question something if it truly does sound to good to be true.

Remember, your health is an investment, not an expense. Although it will eventually become an expense in the future, if you don’t take the time to invest in it today.

Yours in Good Health and Happy New Year!

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance