I've got some good reading suggestions for you this week. If you're interested in discussions on
resume design, mainstream media coverage of the fitness industry, and customer service tips, you're in luck.
First, let's start with an interview I did for the good people of Deluxe. In it, I discuss some of the biggest mistakes new gym owners make as they attempt to get a foothold within their local market, and the industry as a whole.
- Opening a Gym? Avoid These 8 Pitfalls - I cover all kinds of topics in this discussion, including the importance of market analysis, the implications of accepting funding from clients, and
much more.
My Friday FOUR:
Four pieces of content I've consumed this past week that will influence my future blog material and challenge me to think differently about how I manage Cressey Sports Performance - as always, I'm looking to bring you some business-specific information from outside of the world of fitness. Enjoy: - Gyms Ditch Machines to Make Space for Free Weights - I have two big takeaways from this Wall Street Journal (WSJ) piece: First, I am always thrilled to see mainstream
publications discussing the direction of our industry. The WSJ is doing us a big favor by reminding their business-minded reader base of the importance of this component of life. Second, as great as it is to see this increased awareness for fitness, this is also an important reminder for us "boutique fitness" service providers that one of our biggest competitive advantages (free weights and space) is starting to get away from us a little bit now that big box gyms are taking note.
*Special thanks to Nathan Stowe for putting this article on my radar.
- How Customer Service Can Turn Angry Customers Into Loyal Ones - This
article will give you an appreciation for the importance of responding to ALL comments relating to your business on social media. The authors of this piece did a study reviewing more than 400,000 customer service related tweets and the primary takeaway was that simply delivering a response - any response at all - will increase your customer's willingness to pay for your services at a later date. Pay especially close attention to the portion of this piece discussing the value that comes with
prompt responses.
- The Ad Community's Reaction to Facebook's New Feed Algorithm Change - A considerable chunk
of the fitness community chimed in last week to discuss the Facebook changes (myself included). From what I could tell, there was more complaining than constructive insight shared. This article was extremely helpful for me, as the recommendations provided are sourced from people who make their entire living in the world of advertising.
- Exactly What to Put on Your Resume to Land a Job Interview - Who would have thought that frequent references to being a "team player" in a resume would negatively impact the likelihood that you are offered an interview? This caught me by surprise, along with some other statistics
in this article relating to optimal resume content. An increasing number of businesses are apparently dehumanizing the application review process by using computers to scan resumes during the early stages of the candidate search. It stands to reason that smaller businesses such as fitness facilities may someday use similar technology if they come to the conclusion that it is affordable and time-saving.
Make sure to let me know if you
come across any material that you think I'd enjoy. More importantly, have a great weekend!
- Pete
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