"Net Profit" - tips for fitness professionals who wish to make money from the Internet

American Fitness, May, 2001 by Bernard Hicks

There is a new solution. AFAA's Professional Internet Portfolio[TM] program. This program allows you to have your own Web business with access to fitness tips and information, patented software such as AFAA's Fitness Triage[R] System, e-commerce with thousands of fitness products available and online schedulers for client appointments. These features are provided by AFAA, so you don't have to know anything about computers, software code or e-commerce procedures. All you have to do is supply your photograph, contact details and your bio so that the Web site may be personalized to you. After you have completed the application paperwork, AFAA takes care of the rest.

Currently, the program is being introduced in California, Ohio and New York and is being offered free to any AFAA certified professional who lives in those states and who signs up for the program: soon to be added are Florida, Connecticut and Missouri. Eventually, most states will be available. As this is a new program, AFAA does reserve the right to modify or cancel the program at any time.

The important aspect of the Professional Internet Portfolio program is that you are now able to profit from the Internet. AFAA will pay you a referral fee on any products and services that your customers buy directly from your Web site. This payment can be earned from the sale of AFAA certifications, educational products and workshops. Referral fees vary by product group but an example would be three AFAA certifications sold online to your fellow instructors yields approximately $50 in extra cash for you. It can also be earned from the sale of fitness products such as treadmills, bikes, sports drinks, books and videos that your clients may purchase. If a client spends $2000 in a year on a treadmill and monthly supplies, you get approximately $100 in referral payments. The ZIP code locator may bring you new clients. Online schedulers may help you book additional client appointments even when you are not there to answer the phone. Just one more appointment a month can add up to $600 per year (based upon average hourly rates for personal trainer sessions). All of this is additional income for you and it doesn't take long to realize that the more clients and colleagues that use your site, the more money you make--with minimal effort! AFAA cannot guarantee the amount that you'll make but, since there is virtually no investment required there is every reason to sign up.

With a Web site in your name, you are ready to do business. The rest is up to you. You should include your Web site on your business cards and stationery. Where you are allowed, put up posters in your local community to advertise that your site features thousands of sports and fitness products, often at discounted prices. Make sure you tell everybody you meet including friends, family and relatives, not just your clients. That's because you are now in the sports and fitness retail business and even non-clients may want to buy a golf club, tennis racquet or bowling ball. Every sale is another referral payment for you. Remember, these are your personal contacts and they will trust your site because they know you. Just point out that with many Internet scams out there, companies closing or operating dubiously, incorrect or even dangerous fitness advice and many other issues, it's simply safer for your contacts to buy from you. You are a respected, AFAA certified fitness professional and AFAA itself has been doing business for almost 20 years with an excellent business reputation.