Networking with the right people can not only better serve your clients, but also elevate your own performance, as well as profile. A quality referral network provides several powerful benefits, including increasing the number of potential clients you can serve.
So if you have completed your fitness or Yoga training from a good institute, and also have certification, its time for your to start building relationships within the fitness industry. You have to do the usual promotions in order to get clients, but make sure you spend time networking too.
A quality referral network not only provides outside resources to help you better serve your clients, it can also work to elevate, support and promote your professional services.
A robust referral network can be beneficial in several ways, such as:
-
Improves Your Professional Profile
Referral networks offer great marketing opportunities. By establishing a variety of connections, you will have several professionals willing to promote and support your efforts.
-
Reduces Liability
While you have a long list of skills, there are certain services that fall outside of your scope of practice. This is where a strong referral network can bridge the gap. Imagine, for example, you have a client who is complaining of an injury. If you have a physical therapist or athletic trainer within your network of professional contacts, you can refer that client to someone who possesses the skill set to effectively examine and treat a suspected injury. This allows you to remain within your established scope of practice.
-
Make New Connections
It’s important in any business or professional pursuit to establish connections in the community. These connections can serve as information resources and business partnerships, and as an avenue to influential individuals who may be able to provide you with advice and mentoring opportunities.
-
Better Prospects
A referral network offers “outside the box” business opportunities. It may mean a discounted ticket to a relevant conference or community outreach//educational endeavor. Consider partnering with a local registered dietitian to offer a four-week healthy eating class for underserved populations. Or explore the feasibility of partnering with a physical therapist to craft “after therapy” transitional exercise programming for graduating patients. The possibilities are endless. It just takes some creativity and conversation with members of your network.
-
Mutual Benfits
It’s safe to assume that each person within your referral circle has his or her own network, and the services you offer as a health and fitness professional may be enticing to another individual within your contacts’ networks. You refer clients to those in your network for services you can’t provide and, in turn, they send potential clients to you.
-
Professional Reference Pool
Today, most people don’t tend to stay in the same job for years on end, especially when starting a career. Establishing a solid network provides you with a long list of professional references should you decide to pursue a new endeavor.
-
Friendships
The professional connections you cultivate and nurture may evolve into lasting friendships. Success is not meant to be a lonely journey—who better to travel it with than the friends you make along the way?
A referral network is crucial to the success of your business, but it takes time to build quality relationships with professionals outside of your health club or gym. Invest wisely in these to cultivate success.
Can you think of some more benefits? Please feel free to share here.
Full article on acefitness.org. Read more here.
Leave a Reply