I have to admit – I Suck at Social Media!

I have to confess – I Hate Social Media!

And I have to announce – I’m Leaving Social Media!

Well partly anyways………

Real Life vs Fake Life

Now, I can’t speak for our competitors, but our business is a referral based business. I don’t need to “crunch the numbers” in order to figure out where the bulk of our revenue comes from. I don’t need a financial report to show me where the majority of our sales are made. And I don’t need to have a sit down meeting with our accountant in order to calculate what percentage of our annual income derives from clients who were referred to us organically verses clients that found us through marketing online.

We’re a small business. Always have been, and most likely always will be. We take a customized approach to our clients’ workouts. I give no credence to generic training programs and I have no faith in cookie cutter diet plans. I believe that ridiculously large group classes are pointless, training philosophies like CrossFit to be dangerous, and working with a Personal Trainer who has no game plan in helping their client achieve his or her health and fitness goals, a complete waste of time.

I don’t trust gyms that give away “Free Training Sessions” in exchange for signing long term/loosely worded contracts. I’m apprehensive towards purchasing a so-called “Customized Workout Program” or “Tailored Diet Plan” from someone who does not put a cap on his or her roster and the amount of people that he or she is working with at any given time. And I’m fearful of falling victim to a shameless supplement scam from a Social Media Influencer who offers me their “code” in order to save 10% off pixie dust and placebo in return for a supplement that doesn’t even offer a transparent ingredient label.

I’ve got issues….

Building The Dream Team

I used to think that in order to have a successful business that I had to have a huge team of people that worked both with me and for me. However as I’ve become older and more experienced with working in this industry, I’ve realized that it’s more important to surround myself with quality, hard working, and ambitious individuals, rather than just numbers of people who are just working to collect a paycheque. And in my opinion, this is the only way to grow both a successful AND a sustainable business for years to come.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this week’s blog – I suck at social media. And because I really do loathe social media so much, I honestly have zero desire to learn how to become better at marketing our services by sticking a cellphone in a client’s face and posting it online for the world to see. Receiving more “likes” and gaining more “followers” just doesn’t interest me. Helping clients who WANT to work with us achieve their desired health and fitness goals excites me. Receiving a referral from a client who is so happy with their results and is so confident enough with our level of service to refer their friends and/or family members to us, motivates me to exceed expectations. And ensuring that every single client we work with does eventually achieve their health and fitness goals, stops me from the possibility of entering an early retirement (even though I’ve contemplated it numerous of times).

Is Social Media Evil?

Well I guess it can be depending on how you view it. I’ve had conversations with both male and female clients who have told me that they themselves have felt poorly about themselves when they occasionally see others who are either doing better financially in life or appearing more attractive, fit and aesthetically pleasing on “the gram” (even if it is a heavily filtered selfie). I personally don’t take Social Media seriously. And as I’ve always said, as soon as I do eventually leave the iron jungle once and for all, I will officially log out from Social Media for good.

But is Social Media necessary in this day and age when it comes to establishing a reputable and profitable business?

Ofcourse it is!

But even I have my limits and refuse in compromising our level of service to our clients by constantly filming them training for marketing purposes rather than instructing them and helping them perfect their technique in the gym.

Closing Statement

I really do suck at social media. However I honestly do believe that I am an excellent Personal Trainer and a smart Business Owner. Sure, I make mistakes. In fact, I make ALOT of mistakes – both in business and on the floor at times. However I am always fully attentive and completely committed to helping every single person that works with us achieve their health and fitness goals. And I honestly don’t do this purely for financial gain. I truly do enjoy helping people and I want to help make a difference in their lives through diet and exercise.

So where does this leave me and my rocky relationship with Social Media?

“It’s Complicated” I guess…….

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance