Tips To Utilising Social Media For Business

In 2020, having an online presence for your business is a MUST. Before purchasing a product, customers need multiple touchpoints which these days are delivered predominantly through social media. Whether it is an Instagram post, a targeted ad on Facebook, a blog post shared via Twitter, or a workout video posted to your Instagram stories, each touchpoint counts.

Your online presence is essentially your storefront; you want it to stand out, provide value, draw in customers and most importantly, appear professional throughout each of these touchpoints.

Having a professional social media presence for your personal training business can be extremely beneficial for gaining clients and increasing awareness, as long as you get it right. It’s easy to create a profile on Instagram, Facebook or even TikTok for your business, but what isn’t so easy is ensuring that everything you share online aligns with your career objectives.

We have compiled our four best tips for professionalism on social media so that you have the best possible chance at online success when stepping into the industry.

1 – Respond in a Timely Manner

A 2018 study by Hubspot reported that 90% of consumers expected a response within 10 minutes of contacting a company online with customer service related question. Although you may not be able to meet the 10-minute expectation every time someone sends you a message or leaves a comment, it is important that you set aside time each day to check your business socials to ensure people are hearing back from you.  A timely response to a query exudes professionalism and will help you capture their interest in your offering for as long as possible.

2 – Separate Personal From Professional

The most valuable piece of wisdom is knowing how and when to separate your personal and professional life. The easiest way to create this barrier is to put your personal profiles on private and to create a second, public business account. This allows you to still do and post what you like online to your friends and family, without it being broadcasted to potential clients. Ensure that everything you share on your business account is ‘on-brand’ and provides some sort of value to your audience. If it’s a selfie of you in your activewear, a photo of your dog or a picture with your significant other, it might be best suited to your personal account. Save your business account for relevant health and fitness content that provides value to your audience by educating, inspiring or informing.

3 – The Newspaper Rule 

Everything you write online is a reflection of you and your business. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable having your words on the front page of the newspaper with your name attached, then don’t write it. Don’t swear, avoid political or controversial topics and re-read everything before you press send. When it comes to responding to negative reviews, ensure your tone is polite, you are empathetic and you take it on board as constructive criticism. Remember that potential clients will look through your reviews, and your responses too.

4 – Grow Your Audience Organically

There was once a time when Instagram was first born, where people would purchase followers and likes, to make themselves appear as leaders in the industry. This is still possible today (and still done by many), however, it is near impossible to get away with it, with apps and websites that can detect fake followers and the ability to see the engagement rate of offending profiles, which will often appear extremely low in comparison to their follower count. This is a red flag for most customers who see this as a sign of unprofessionalism. Growing your followers organically may take time, but it will result in an audience of real humans who can be nurtured through your content to become clients. Post creative, relevant content consistently, and watch genuine followers grow.

Want to know more about running a successful business, both online and offline? Check out our Fitness Business Essentials course! You’ll set yourself up for success by learning how to identify business opportunities and grow your fitness business through effective marketing.

• Bio

AIF

The Australian Institute of Fitness

The Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) is the largest and longest established fitness training organisation in Australia, with dynamic training methods and expert course coaches nationwide - spanning fitness, massage and nutrition. The AIF qualifies more fitness professionals than any other provider in Australia, as well as offering a broad range of continuing education courses (CEC), upskilling resources and partnership programs for existing industry.