Your Fitness Specialty in the Tropics

Now, only two days away the move will begin.

A couple more things i want to cover with you this time to ensure all 13,000 members are prepared:  1) The site will be shut down on Friday the 30th at 11:59pm EST.  2) Have you take a look at the side-by-side view of each of the premium account types.

Getting a bit more indepth on those…

THE MOVE:

Friday the 30th, 11:59pm Est we will be putting up a “under construction” type of sign letting you know we started the move to the new social commerce platform.  If you a need to check on a date or make a booking you’ve been planning on, Fit Bodies is still open for business.  You can reach them at Phone: 859-341-0830

We expect the site to be once again live with it’s slightly new look, new searchable features, new account access, and new premium benefits by Monday morning.

PREMIUM ACCOUNT BENEFITS

Following is a link to the side-by-side review of each of the membership types.  A few highlights everyone will want to notice…

all premium account types will go up in price on the 15th of January.  *two weeks to check it out and upgrade your account prior to the rate change.

basic accounts will have limited access.  all intentions are to always have a free option available with great choices, but now those choices will be limited to just under 1/4 of the total options available to those who invest in the community and program via premium accounts.

The upper level premium accounts, medallion and enterprise, will now receive an automatic reduction in fees by 5% and 10% respectively in addition to their other benefits.

Options have been created that allow for change requests up to 45 days prior to travel.  The fee for taking action on this change option varies from $150 to $50 running from Basic to Enterprise.

With just these few items you can easily view the value of premium membership depending upon your use of your account and travel habits. The following link will bring you to the current side-by-side listing of all account features.
These are still subject to change at any time, but there are a couple that could moderately change by Monday.  :-)

==>Fit Pro Account Side-By-Side<==

Those of you who have already upgraded, your set.  Although you might want to renew if it’s not too far away (another new feature is under the ‘account’ tab you can see when your renewal is due now) you may want to grab it before the fees rise just a bit on the 15th of January.

I’ll follow up this weekend to let you know how things are going.  Any questions?

I recently contacted all of the fitness professionals who have upgraded their accounts at Fitness Pro Travel to a premium type.  I did this just to remind them of the many benefits that come with the upgraded Fit Pro accounts.

They are essentially VIP’s of the community and get a bit of hand holding and personal support in addition to the benefits that naturally come with the premium account types.

I posted the bulk of the contact message I sent below…  (not mentioned, but noticed each year by the premium account holders… renewal always includes discount opportunities for the next years membership as well as discount opportunity for travel on ANY available dates.)

Fitness Pro Travel: Home of the Fit Bodies, Inc. Teaching Vacation Congratulations on your upgrade to a Premium Fit Pro Account.  We all appreciate your commitment to the community and to the travel program and hope to assist you in taking full advantage of your new account options. ... Haven’t Upgraded Yet?  Get at it HERE (log in first) Contact Us – Fit Bodies staff for all questions on travel and FIT Launch staff for all questions on your account functions. A few areas to highlight to ensure you gain maximum benefit: Groups – Qualify for discounts available only to group members, get “insider” information and tips, or network with fitness pros having similar interests. (Premium accounts may join multiple groups) Start with the one specific to your account type – Travel Accounts – Medallion Accounts - Enterprise Accounts Join other Groups as discounts and insider info may be found. Affiliate Referrals – (commissions for your referrals) Login and hover your cursor over “Affiliate”.  The drop down menu that appears provides links to your summary and “Tell-A-Friend” tool.  Be sure to fill in the “Pay Out Info” page so your referrals can be tracked. Basic Account -”Thank You” Travel Accounts - 8% commission on referrals that purchase premium accounts. Medallion Accounts - 15% commission on premium accounts AND 1% commission on future referral travel purchases. Enterprise Accounts – 20% commission on premium accounts AND 2% commission on future referral travel purchases. Be sure to review the terms page as well as follow the graphic question mark for the affiliate area for tips on simple ways to share your affiliate link. Premium Savings Visit the “Partners” page as each of the listed partners offer special discounts or bonuses for those who have invested to premium account.  That would be you. Annual Renewal Discounts Each year you are provided discounts not only on renewal, but also a discount for any teaching vacation travel you book at that time.  Yes, this means with renewal just one trip can make your premium membership free.  Book a couple weeks and now you’ve made money.     Promotions – (yours or something you are attending) Premium accounts can post events to the event calendar, classified items to the consignment area, post jobs to the job board, and articles to the article directory.  With 10K+ members of the community, word can spread quickly. Enterprise and Medallion Accounts, don’t forget to click “Advertising” under the events & biz category.  Upload your graphic and link it directly to your own website. In Health, Tom Bomar Managing Director FIT Launch, Inc. Fitness Pro Travel PS – As a premium member you are truly a VIP of the community.  As such we hope you always feel free on contacting us to provide personal assistance with your travel or fitness industry networking needs.

Related articles

• International Fitness Presenter Benefits (fitprobiz.com)
• Three Steps to Share Your Affiliate Code (fitprobiz.com)

Be The Fit Pro For Celeb Retreat

It reminded me of a new feature we offer our member fitness professionals.

The new feature hasn’t been highlighted much as our collaborating partners are still working out final details with the all-inclusive resorts they contract with.  But, ultimately it will be an opportunity to participate as part of a rock star celebrity entourage when they do one of these travel based marketing events or even more often when they seek a celebrity retreat get away for themselves and family or friends.

Playing the role of celebrity can be difficult to turn off and get away from.  This is the reason some of the higher end Caribbean hospitality settings we send our fitness professionals to are requesting we work with them to provide private celebrity group fit pros while they enjoy their time out of the spot light. A bit of a celebrity retreat.

This will be very exciting and prestigious for the Fit Pro…. So how do we sort to the right Fit Pro?

With thousands of fitness professionals in our fitness industry network it could be quite a task in sorting through and selecting the celebrity retreat Fit Pro. We do have several methods of sorting through based on experience and education.

From there we will sort based upon  the account type of the Fitness Pro.  I believe when those opportunities arise to travel with the Rock Star and join in on a “celebrity retreat” it is important that we support those who most support the community first. (as a matter of fact, many decisions will follow that pecking order).

This does not mean that just because you have selected a “Travel” level account that you have no chance to occupy the coveted celebrity retreat fit pro spot, but if all else is equal you may fall behind another fit pro.

I pass on this information to highlight this very cool new travel based marketing and celebrity retreat program that has begun recently with the other changes to our network, primarily for your information and secondarily to highlight one more instance where your consideration of a premium account at Fitness Pro Travel can bring you any one of many benefits.

Adding these new benefits to the other premium account privileges and the Fit Pro Partner benefits – well you get the idea.  Looking forward to see you inside.

BTW – I’m putting my name in for when Bret Michaels and the Rock of Love contestants need to break away for a little rock star get-a-way time. - Which celeb would you most want to be the celebrity retreat fit pro for?

That’s where ICI/PRO comes in. They deliver the steady, nutritious diet of Information, Motivation and Entertainment Instructors need to stay Fresh and Informed.

Reading a profile can be enjoyable, but sometimes not practical, so much of what we deliver comes in the form of Audio PROfiles. Exclusive to ICI/PRO Members, Audio PROfiles are a short Podcast mp3 that explain the inner workings of a class taught by Master Instructor Jennifer Sage or other experienced Instructor. Many ICI/PRO Members access the Audio Profiles via a Super Secret iTunes Feed. Their online training videos show you exactly how to do it.

Each Audio PROfiles is a complete class. Not just the ride profile, but also queuing, presentation ideas, motivating language and a suggested playlist you can use to bring a fresh perspective and maybe some much needed excitement to your next class.

ICI is a great group of fitness professionals dedicated to the specialty of cycling.  I suggest you take a look at their opportunities as there is likely benefit via membership – Take a look at what their membership consists of.

Did I mention 7 Days free?

7 days membership free is what got me out here to blog… That’s a nice deal, but it’s only available until the 15th of January. Interested – Hurry!

]]> http://fitprobiz.com/fitpro/fitpro-opportunities/cycling-instructor-ici-pro/feed/ 0 http://fitprobiz.com/fitpro/fitpro-opportunities/nutrition-program/ http://fitprobiz.com/fitpro/fitpro-opportunities/nutrition-program/#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:14:41 +0000 FitPro http://tombomar.com/?p=164 Continue reading →]]> In 15+ years of participating in and around the fitness industry, the challenge of addressing client nutrition has been an ongoing issue.

Knowing that a client has the ability to unravel a perfectly designed exercise program with only a few poor consumption decisions on their own time has left many a fitness professional frustrated… and I’m sure a few just plain pissed.

Clients as well as the majority of the population love to search out and buy into the latest greatest diet fad creating an often uphill battle with the topic of nutrition.

Because of this, I have for years been on the lookout for a scientifically based, sensible dietary tool that could be used to assist the client without taking myself out of my scope of practice.

That solution has been found, used by us locally, and with a little negotiation I am very happy to be able to provide this same opportunity to other trainers…

You already know the truth:
Real success for your clients comes from just a few basic elements.

• complete balanced nutrition
• at the correct level of calories
• from real healthful foods.

Our company FIT Launch has entered an excellent collaboration with Vitabot. I’ll get to details in a moment, but through that partnership you have an opportunity to utilize their technology (under your own brand) at a better price than through any other source.

The Vitabot system works with you like your own private nutritionist to help you create completely balanced diets using your favorite foods, evaluate (grade) client diet’s, print shopping lists, track assessment data, and/or offer access directly to the client.

As a Fitness Professional you can view all details on utilizing this program and the benefits of doing so on the FPT Vitabot page……..  If you are nervous about the relatively small investment to get your own program started you might also consider purchasing your own account and then when you receive a diet log from one of your clients, simply plug it into your account to gain valuable information you can pass on to you client.  The system evaluates the program for you and offers appropriate suggestions.

Check out one of the ways we are offering this program to our clients through our Diet Grader program.  There are many great reasons you should be offering something similar to your clients as well (you don’t have to build a specific website for it… don’t even need one at all)

This type of program will be a bonus to your client and make you look like a hero as their likelihood of goal obtainment will go through the roof.

It can also be a stand alone tool, similar to the primary option we have at Diet Grader. This makes it excellent for group fitness and mind/body instructors to offer for the benefit of their students…. Coaches & Athletes, its not only built to handle weight loss. It is a very versitle tool that is great for the fitness professional and client.

In working with several thousand fitness professionals from various specialty backgrounds I most often am asked two simple questions.  I want to share those answers with you here.

1. What is a Wellness Coach – Answer: A proactive advocate for the overall wellness of the client.
2. What is best training for becoming a Wellness Coach – Answer: Health & Lifestyle Coach Certificate from the National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH).

Want further details on the reasoning for these conclusions? READ ON.Wellness Coach definition, if you search for just a few minutes, has apparently many different means. All generally related to being a wellness advocate.  Ultimately for the fitness industry professional it might be easiest to note that there are Wellness Coaches who are nutritionists, trainers, instructors, chiropractors, etc., but not all who have those specialties are Wellness Coaches. Related yes, but generally a bit different in approach.

Wellness Coach, Doug Nau’s article speaks to the Wellness Coach roll

Wellness Coach Training… It’s fairly simple why I point to the NIWH program for Wellness Coaching training. We have a great deal of information on their program available on the website, so I’ll bullet some reasons below.

• NIWH has more than 30 years of institutional education experience
• New On-line programs for convenient accessibility
• Program instructors are comprised of a variety of industry leading doctors and therapists
• Successful completion not only gives a title… Also provides you the ability to bill insurance companies for services rendered to clients. (Insurance company buy in doesn’t come easy)
• Established referral network to assist in the new career elements
• They offer discounts to Fitness Pro Travel Network members not available from their own site

Wellness Coaching is a growing trend in the Health & Fitness Industry.  The Health & Lifestyle Coach Certificate is an excellent program should you want to move to this cutting edge of client wellness. You will be viewed a bit more as an Allied Health Professional and it may open up several new doors for your career or fitness business.

One of the primary excuses is that they are “stressed” and/or “over worked”.

These same issues face the fitness professional as well. Whether its bootcamps, private training, lecturing, or related… as an individual/business it takes a lot of time, effort, and energy to keep the fit pro business side healthy.

It may be time to take advantage of your fitness specialty and get away to recharge the batteries. A working vacation makes for a happy fit pro in paradise.

Your expertise qualifies you to “work” at tropical resort locations at a fraction of the cost. In fact all companies who offer this service allow this opportunity for not only you, but also a guest (and some locations kids).

Now work is a relative term. Even on vacation I would venture to guess that all who read this blog are people likely to exercise anyways and answer questions of other gym goes as requested.  A work exchange program provides you the opportunity to do just that for short periods each day while the remainder of the time you and your guest(s) enjoy all-inclusive resort amenities. 

Depending upon the position and location you travel to the duties may vary, but all within your scope and hardly a chore when you’re back on the beach enjoying your beverage of choice.

As a fit pro in paradise, there are many other benefits to participation.

1. An opportunity to positively benefit lives from all around the world
2. Gained experience in this unique resort fitness professional role
3. Marketable authority as an international presenter/trainer/instructor

Fitness professionals, just like the rest of the global work force, need time away from the normal daily stresses to energize themselves.

Because of their specialty, Fit Pros have the opportunity to take advantage of a unique
program that makes getting away to incredible tropical locations very cost effective.

I encourage you to take a break to keep yourselves healthy, which in turn will assist you in having the energy to keep your business healthy, which ultimately will best allow you to keep your clients healthy.

For more information on these types of programs check out these teaching vacation options.  We’ll cover other benefits of joining that program in future blog posts. This opportunity is built around a fitness professional network with outside the box solutions for the fitness professionals.

…but the travel opportunities are certainly worth you taking a look right off the bat.

The most glaring example to me, at the moment, occurs when I am discussing membership levels to the Fitness Pro Travel site.  The fitness professional sees the option of upgrading an account and can only equate the value of that membership in how fast they can make that money back in discounts.

I have to tell you, the discounts are simply thrown in as a small bonus to the other features from both Fit Bodies and FIT Launch.  Should you want to travel 5-8 times each year you can make all your money back, but that is certainly not the idea behind it. It’s just a piece.

… We are intending to go outside the box and offer far more to you than any other website or community through the tools we have developed.

Any one of the current (yes, there is intent for more) promotional tools (ads, jobs, classifieds, events, etc.) would cost you no less than $50 per month to utilize outside of this FPT community.  That’s $600 for the year, for just using one of them. You can do the math if you used them all.

These items are made searchable and viewable to thousands of fitness professionals, and soon will be made viewable to many times more enthusiasts in our partnering sites.  That puts you and your offerings in-front of a large targeted number of people.

A chance to earn commissions is another overlooked feature.  Affiliate programs have been common place on the internet for at least 10 years.  It’s ok if it is new to you, but take a look at how it works.  Our Business and Enterprise members receive 20% commission on their referrals to this community (free accounts still receive 8%).  That’s about $75 for every one fit pro you refer that also buys into a member level.  Additionally, you receive a smaller percentage off of all future purchases that referral does.

Continuing with affiliates, we have partners who offer greater commissions for their products to our advanced members. Ultimate Ice Wraps gives greater commissions to our business and enterprise members than they do to affiliates who sign up directly with them as does the Healthy Gatherings programs.  There will be more affiliate opportunities when we release the Better Body U and Wellness together websites directed to enthusiasts.

Our phase II features includes the feeding of the your advertisements and content to our consumer sites. Business and Enterprise members not only have greater quantity of their materials that will go these sites, but all referral widgets that we set on third party sites will list those FPT community members first.  Not to penalize everyone else as you will still be in the referral que, but to best support those who support the community.

It does not bother any of us if you are a part-time fitness professional who simply likes to utilize a working vacation from time to time.  Continue on use any of the features that are available at the free level (there are several).

…But, even the “part-time” or “club employee” will benefit with a few simple steps to get outside the box and expand yourself.

If you are not on the internet with at least a simple brochure site you are falling behind fast. These can be done easily and provide simple communication and information tools that your club yoga students (athletes, participants, etc.) WANT to see from you. I guarantee they are looking somewhere online for that support right now, and I’m pretty sure they would like to have a bit more access to their trusted fit pro – YOU.

Once you accomplish that step, the world outside of the standard fitness industry career is immense.  You can utilize this and thousands of other affiliate programs and list them as advertisements on your simple site. You can build a list and offer a digital newsletter. You can get fancy and learn the tools for putting together online video or webinar trainings.  The list goes on and many have not even been thought of yet.

Comments strongly encouraged on this post. What else should be considered for adding at Fitness Pro Travel, what do you never foresee using, what still makes no sense at all?