Protecting Yourself Online Passwords AntiVirus + Wireless MESH Routers. What are they and why do you need them

 As a PT much of your business will be done online nowadays.  Good online habits are the first and foremost defence against online viruses and other threats. Avoid sites that are well known to host viruses ( mainly porn sites). Don’t click on links in emails unless you have verified they are from official companies that you have an ongoing relationship with or that you recognise as you have had dealings with them before. Never give out details or sign up to something that is too good to be true. And be careful downloading things online that may carry viruses.

Back Up

Back up all your important files to a separate drive, then back up your operating system to a different drive. You can use USB thumb drives for this purpose, an external HD or for files you can use a cloud service.

Use secure Password services built into Web browsers.

All web browsers now suggest strong passwords for your online accounts and allow you to store them encrypted in the cloud. This stops you from using the same password for multiple sites and the passwords are very secure with a random mix of numbers and letters. 

Google Wifi Pro

There are multiple virus protection services available, and its worth looking for services that include security software or looking for discounts at reputable online stores. Many security software companies also offer free basic protection which may be fine for many people who generally keep their internet usage to emails and social media.

 So, your broadband provider gave you a wireless modem as part of your package - why would you pay good many for something that you already have?

Well, the router provided by your broadband company is not the best. That is putting it lightly, in fact, its pretty terrible. You may have noticed the drops, the slowdowns when there are many devices connected and the poor reception is some places. Buying a decent wireless router gives you the most out of the money you are paying monthly for broadband with faster more stable connections. 

Many wireless routers also come with good parental controls that can block access to adult websites, block certain apps access to the internet and set times that your kids devices are allowed to access the network. This is a great boon for parents that need to set specific bedtime routines but who also may use it as a discipline/ reward mechanism. 

A good wireless router is also the first line in defence from viruses, scams and attacks that lurk in the World Wide Web. 

A MESH router is a system that helps eliminate dead spots in large houses. They provide one stable connection throughout the house - but they are only feasible for very big houses or homes with lots of interference with the signal. 

 

How to create and remember good passwords

A good password should be easy for you to remember but hard for anyone else to figure out, and it is important to secure your online accounts with a safe and effective password.

It sounds simple, but is often a pain and somewhat difficult to implement properly, but there is a way. And it involves including Mnemonics. Mnemonics is a system used to aid information retention. It is very powerful and can be used to create great passwords only you can remember easily. So lets start with some general tips on creating a strong password:

General tips for creating a good password

• Avoid using information that many people know about you, like your birthday, where you always go on holiday, the names of your pet/children etc.
• Avoid using actual words. Yep, don't use words. If someone is serious about getting into your account they will be able to run programs like a dictionary to try to get access.
• Always use upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters such as % or *
• Now use the journey method below in Mnemonics with Acronyms to create a great password!

Using the Journey method to create your password 

Lets create an over simplified password for an example. 

Os@Mm1fs 

This was done in a few seconds, and uses the Journey method to help you to remember it. 

So this simply means Online shopping @ M(GVT) my number 1 favourite store 

- Now you can read this out to yourself, and as you create it. It's a password for a shopping account so I used that for the first 2 characters, then the name of the store where I am shopping. Then something about the store I like. Using the letters of each word, plus a special character and number and you have an easy to remember password. Associate images and sounds to each character, even move along a path in your mind if it helps, and see the different characters, you should be able to say your password and type it as it appears above, second nature after a few attempts.    

If you really struggle you can always use a Letts Password Book

Social media has made keeping in contact with friends and family so much easier and has made the spread of information far quicker than at any other point in human history. But this does not mean that it is always positive. Its has also contributed to the spread of misinformation, lies (now called fake news), cyber bullying, depression and anxiety among a whole group of negative things.  Like with all things it should be used in moderation with strict time limits and periods in place especially for kids. The best way is to have a certain time of day to check so ial media and reply to messages., and to choose friends carefully. 

Each site is has different aspects and you may find one suits you better than others, below is a quick overview of some of the most popular sites. 

Social media sites

Facebook

One of the original sites,  with tons of features for keeping in touch,  sharing content selling items etc.  It's free but does track everything you (including outside Facebook) do to sell your info to advertisers. 

Instagram 

Owned by Facebook with similar features but focused more on sharing images and now videos. Uses the same process as Facebook for selling your behaviour to other companies. 

Snapchat

Great for keeping in touch and giving little updates to your friends and family. Is rather fun with great filters for sharing funny moments. Messages disappear once read unless you decide to keep them. 

Twitter

Bite sized updates you can send to everyone who follows you.  Use dmostly for sharing opinions and news. 

LinkedIn 

More career focused site used for job hunting and career progression. Has since expanded into a learning platform.

Starting an Online Fitness Store

 A good option for a diversified revenue stream for personal trainers is to give your clients a bespoke fitness store experience. Give them exclusive rates and free delivery with their next session. Below lets brake down some essential ideas for setting up an online fitness store.

Setting up your online fitness store : choosing an e-commerce platform 

 There are many free platforms that might tempt you into choosing them. This is what I originally went for as I was looking for minimal start up cost. This was probably my first mistake. You end up with very little support, and a basic website that ultimately costs more. I went with woocommerce due to it being free, then the upsells of various plug-ins soon mounted up, costing more than I originally planned. Those plugins soon went out of date needing a new purchase. I’m not saying these are not good platforms, but I would say they are more suited for those with teams that have web building experience or if you are prepared to invest in a complete unique storefront.

This has lead me to ekm. First of its not the perfect platform. None are. But I think it does strike the balance between features, price and support. For the reasonable monthly cost you get a website that is kept up-to-date, and a decent level of support from an account manager, who may be able to give appropriate  advice and experience right at the time when it is most needed.

They also have a high tier that helps you create a completely unique website based on your ideal.

A website will be the best option one day, and for that I recommend ekm, but if you are just starting out the best e-commerce platforms are probably eBay and Amazon, and Onbuy. Not only do they have a low cost of entry, but they attract millions of views organically or from their adverts. Something that is impossible for you to do at this point. 

Choosing a Platform - Start up in eCommerce - eBay 

eBay can be a good place to start of your online store as long as you know the audience that eBay attracts, plus you do not give your PT customers a bespoke experienced . For this reason however I cannot recommend eBay as a long term solution if you are looking to build a strong high profit margin brand. You may create a successful business selling low margin products in high volume. This is ultimately the eBay customer - Consumers who want to buy things on the cheap. The second main product category for eBay is higher margin, and that is rare items. In fact if you have a good source of rare items you may do rather well selling on eBay. 

For most people it’s best to use ebay to get started selling cheaply and get the revenue coming in. Many companies started off selling cheap products then gradually investing in building their brand into powerful high value brands. HTC did this to great effect at the beginning of the company - mainly selling oem products until they could invest in marketing their own brand. 

Bit of you have PT customers I would target them with a great experience rather than get caught in the rase to the bottom low margin products with eBay.

 Bonus tip: If selling fitness gadgets then remember: Base models sell better - no upgrades so don't include extras.

When selling on eBay it’s pertinent to know what will sell quicker and for as much margin as possible. EBay will provide different results compared to your own website. This post deals exclusively with tech and gadgets with the aim to furnish you with the right information for you to get the most out of your listings. This is great when you have to sell old laptops etc but invaluable if you are going to make selling tech your market segment. 

Base configurations only. 

It important to understand the type of person who will be buying your product. If it’s second hand then it’s someone who doesn’t want to pay full retail price, he wants a deal to buy in the cheap. This is why keeping products at base configuration is the best way to sell especially pcs and even more so Apple Macs. There is only a marginal return for upgraded versions - they just don’t hold there value in the same way a base configuration will. Remember the typical person buying second hand or refurbished is looking to save money and so will be more served by buying the base configuration pc. This should be kept in mind if looking to sell upgraded hardware too. 

Gadget bundles

This principle also applies to tech with accessories like cameras games consoles etc. it is tempting to put stuff all in and this can be a great way to clear stock quickly but it doesnt get you the same value as splitting things and selling individually. Again most people won’t be looking for a camera with a spare battery most people are happy enough paying less and having one battery. Same with lenses, the pre owned shopper is more interested in paying less rather than getting more.  

High Volume Low Profit Margin Items

having studied the typical eBay customer, they are generally after second hand products or low cost new items, this should also be evident from the marketing communications from eBay itself. 

Pre-owned, Refurbished or Returned Items

Using eBay can be an effective way of selling pre-owned & returned items without sacrificing space on your main platform brand. 

Outlet / Sale Items

One way Apple builds strong high value consumer trust is by not putting their products on sale. If you need to clear old / out of fashion stock using eBay as a separate entity outlet store can be a good avenue. This will help clear stock out but will protect your main brand. 

eBay Alternatives

Shpock

Facebook Marketplace

Village

Paperclip

Onbuy 

Once you get enough revenue to build and invest in your business it it always the best idea to move to your own platform. If you have a good business model selling on eBay then it may be worth while staying with them, however if you are looking to make more profit per item, looking to build your brand and can invest in the advertising required to get people to your site then using eBay until your no longer need them is a good way to go forward

eBay as a way to diversify income

If you have access to cheap high volume items.  This is a good way to diversify your revenue stream if maintaining your own website is not commercially viable. 

Considerations: fees and postage 

When using sites like eBay you will need to factor in all postage costs (including tape, labels, boxes etc) plus all associated ebay fees. Note ebay takes 10% of any postage charged to the customer by you. It's up to you if you want to absorb this cost or pass it on to the customer. 

 Finding Products to start your online store

This can be the trickiest part especially if you have a low budget. The best start you can give yourself is to learn how to make products yourself. This can give you a unique selling point and complete control over product creation, stock and prices. Try to find what is missing in the market or at least not as well catered for. 

If you find product creation almost impossible or don't have the time, you can get products for your online store from sites like AliExpress. The products are cheap enough to provide a modest margin of profit and you provide a service of having products in stock near to the buyers location thus providing faster shipping times.

SEO basics for new online stores

My advice would be to target your current customers, those who you have an established relationship with, then expand to those in your local area (10 miles). 
Improving your SEO is a fine experimental art. As with anything there is no right answer, 
but there are good practices. So how do you improve your local SEO? 
The first step is to get a well designed website for your business. 
Then use the below steps to improve your websites Local SEO

List yourself in directories

The main areas are Google & Bing, then you should look to local directories in your area. 


After getting a website , this is the second best thing you can do, not only will it improve your SEO but give you a communication line to your clients and enable them to share news about you to their own followers. Makes sure to link your website and include your contact information. This will help the search engines to place you in local searches and the more links you have to your site the better for your SEO in general.

This is the third best thing you can do. But also the first! After you have taken care of the above, this will be your main tool for SEO. Reach out tow blogs and websites and get articles written about your service with links in the blog post! Links outside the post count for less with search engines. The more of these the better, on more sites the better. Nothing else from this point will beat links inside of posts and articles. So get a press release sorted, anything. Remember - there's no such thing as bad press.

Old fashioned trick

Either find an online printer or take a look at buying your own, but a tried and true tool for increasing SEO indirectly is to go door 2 door posting leaflets through. 

Instead of putting your number or web address on the leaflet your call to action should be ‘search for Daniel Craig personal trainer’ or whatever your pt service is called. This way google will find that many people searching for a pt in your area are searching for you and clicking on your website. 

Local billboards, screens, newsagents and adverts in public spaces should fallow the same principle. People don’t always have time to stop and write down your number or website address so having a call to action as search [this] is a great way to mitigate any obstacle to people finding your pt business. 

Find local business or events 

Back up your files plus Collaborate & host files to achieve continued growth & success

 Boost your chances of success with mega.nz

As someone who used to work in it I have seen how much new online companies neglect to keep a decent back up of their important files and more important product images sure you have images on your website and possibly keep them on your computer but to be sure and safe you should keep them on a cloud hosting platform such as mega.nz  This way you have piece of mind in case anything goes wrong with your site or computer  it also gives you the added benefit of accessing images anytime anywhere a huge plus if you are printing your store on social media  

Using cloud hosting for collaboration 

Most successful business start ups are created by partners. Whether they are brothers, friends or just share the same business interests. This is because starting a business is incredibly hard work and often takes a good investment of time and certainly money. This means that effective communication and collaboration is very important to a successful start up. A sound investment is an online service that combines large space for file uploads including video, a chat function and video calls or meetings. 

Best eCommerce Business Purchases: Mailing Scales

The very first business purchase I made after I set up my online store was Mailing Scales. Before this I was either quing for a long time at the post office, guessing the weight or trying to use kitchen scales and even the Wii U balance board. It naturally became apparent that I needed the right tool for the job!

If you feel that you can get by without this essential purchase, I urge you to reconsider. Mailing Scales have saved me enough money on mailing costs and time that I know it has paid back its original cost many times over. I have used it on every sale, and sometimes it has been the difference between paying 99p or £1.50 for Royal Mail postage. This may not seem like much, but once you are sending out many of these parcels the savings or costs add up very quickly. If you are to be successful in ecommerce, saving money and maximising profits is going to be key.

Best Business Purchases : Label Printers

One of the first good items to invest in for your online e-commerce store is a label printer.  In fact, I would prioritise a label printer over a regular inkjet or toner printer if you don't already have one. So first ask yourself if you need an all in one printer, will you be scanning, copying or printing invoices, letters etc. Most things are electronic now with an emphasis on using less of the worlds resources including ink and paper but many businesses still rely or want printed copies so spend some time to see what your business needs

Either way a label printer or inkjet will provide the more professional look a proper label gives you over paper and tape. Here are the two main reasons to consider a label printer, please take a look.

Time Saving

Label printers generally print within seconds while many inkjet printers can take a while especially when they decide to clean the print heads before a print. I have often waited up to 5 minutes before my canon printer  managed to start printing. There's no messing around with inks or tape and you can even use them for the packing list ( just tear off instead of peeling). 

Cost Saving

As noted above there are no costly inks to buy with label printers, and with inks being one of the most expensive parts of owning and running a regular printer this could potentially save you a great sum of money in the long run. 

Ease of use

Generally with a good label printer you select your label size and print. It can be that easy. Whereas there are extra steps to take with a regular inkjet printer including sizing and placing the shipping labels for the Correct label sheet such as Shipping Labels

If you already have an inkjet printer then at least at first it may be financially prudent to stick with it. 

Please take a look at the following recommendations for printers:

All in one:

Label Printers:

Zebra 4" Thermal Label Printer, Wireless

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Protecting Your Passion: Why Personal Trainers Should Get Insured

Personal training is a fulfilling and rewarding career that allows you to help individuals achieve their fitness goals and lead healthier lives. As a personal trainer, you invest significant time, effort, and expertise in designing personalized workout routines and providing guidance to your clients. However, regardless of how careful and professional you are, accidents can happen. That's why it's crucial for personal trainers to prioritize the protection of both their clients and themselves by obtaining insurance coverage. In this blog post, we will delve into the reasons why personal trainers should consider getting insured against client injuries.

As a personal trainer, investing in insurance coverage against client injuries is a wise decision that safeguards your professional and financial well-being. It provides legal protection, instills trust and confidence in your clients, and ensures that you can handle unexpected events without compromising your financial stability. By prioritizing insurance, you demonstrate your commitment to professionalism and responsible training practices, allowing you to focus on what you do best—helping your clients achieve their fitness goals while maintaining a secure and successful career.

Legal Protection: Even the most experienced and diligent personal trainers can face lawsuits due to client injuries. Whether it's a simple sprain or a more serious medical condition, clients can hold you responsible for their injuries and seek compensation. The legal expenses associated with defending yourself against such claims can be overwhelming, potentially jeopardizing your professional reputation and financial stability. Having liability insurance safeguards your interests by providing legal protection and covering legal costs, giving you peace of mind while you focus on delivering exceptional training.


Client Trust and Confidence: Obtaining insurance demonstrates professionalism, responsibility, and commitment to your clients' well-being. It shows that you take their safety seriously and are prepared to handle unforeseen circumstances. By having insurance, you establish trust and confidence in your clients, reassuring them that they are in safe hands. This can lead to stronger client relationships, positive word-of-mouth referrals, and a solid reputation in the fitness industry.


Financial Protection: When accidents occur, the costs associated with medical bills, potential rehabilitation, and lost wages can be substantial. If you are held liable for a client's injury, the financial burden could be devastating, potentially putting your personal assets at risk. Insurance coverage for personal trainers helps mitigate the financial impact by providing compensation for medical expenses and legal fees. It ensures that you are not personally responsible for covering these costs, safeguarding your financial stability and protecting your future.

• MGVT - Linux PC’s

Coverage for Various Situations: Personal trainers work in diverse environments, including gyms, private studios, and clients' homes. Each setting presents unique risks and potential for accidents. A comprehensive insurance policy tailored to personal trainers typically offers coverage for various situations, including injury or property damage caused by equipment failure, accidents during group classes, slips and falls, and negligent advice or instruction. Understanding the risks associated with your specific work environment and choosing appropriate coverage ensures that you are protected in all scenarios.


Compliance with Gym or Studio Requirements: If you work at a gym or fitness studio, it is highly likely that they will require you to have liability insurance. Many fitness facilities demand that personal trainers provide proof of insurance before allowing them to work with clients on their premises. Complying with these requirements not only allows you to continue working at these establishments but also indicates your commitment to professionalism and accountability.

Public Speaking: Health Fitness & Wellbeing

 

Did you know that the ancient Greeks believed public speaking was one of a few skills that every person should acquire if they were to become a useful citizen? The rather rare talent of being able to speak publicly and with skill - Will no furnish you with an essential PT skill that will have a direct impact on your success in the fitness industry.

Please take a look at some of the suggestions below to improve your skills at public speaking. This will help you attract more people through duping public talks on health and fitness, to improving your classes to improving your one on one personal training sessions. 

 

1. SET SMALL GOALS

Studies show that smaller goals that lead to the same outcome as opposed to one big goal have a much higher chance of success, so break your goal down into smaller goals that can be easily achieved by doing just a few minutes a day. Buy some pre-paid vouchers and assign each to one of your goals. When you achieve each small goal, you could allow yourself to spend one of the vouchers, in this way you have double the incentive and reward! Make sure to give yourself good time, it’s best to start now, even if you have no plans to ever speak publicly – you never know what the future holds.

 

2. PRACTICE SPEAKING

Train your lips, voice and elocution, from having to think consciously on pronunciation, projection and presence until it they all become second nature. An ancient technique by one of mankind’s best orators was to have a small pebble in your mouth as you speak to train your lips, tongue and pallet until you are clearly understood. This really will train your speaking apparatus and soon you will be delivering worthy performances! Another technique based on ancient wisdom is speaking aloud while music is playing until your friends and family can clearly hear you over the music. Amiel’s Journal is a fantastic book for this! Lastly you may try speaking while you exercise, as loudly as you can. Do this until you can complete your speech and not be out of breath. This is going to really develop your apparatus and the power of your lungs! Take a look at are great fitness products here.

 

3. PREPARE WELL

Write what you are going to say down several times, eliminating anything that is not essential to your core message – always think of the end first, or the ‘effect first’ – what you want them to understand and do. Now practice delivering it, a thousand times will not be enough unless you have completely memorised it, until you no longer need your script (although do take it with you). In fact did you know that if you delivered a speech from paper in ancient Athens, nobody would have respected you? You would have been expected to be capable enough to say what you needed without notes! We do not have such a high standard, so you can relax. Arrive early and have a look at where you will be delivering your speech.  How we dress affects our mood and confidence. So make sure you not only dress appropriately for your audience, but you also dress for confidence – we have prepared a collection of clothing for this purpose here.

 

4. BE HUMBLE

Speaking about yourself and how you know your field or the wedding couple will mean you are taken more seriously, it will also humanise you. Though you should probably not give too much away, less is more as they say. Respect your audience and try to eliminate any accent - they are endearing to some, but are either offensive to the ears of others or at the very least very difficult to understand – you want to be understood don’t you? Why bother otherwise! Also, DON'T IMAGINE ANYONE NAKED! Imagining them naked shows a lack of humility and respect. Concentrate on your message, your voice and style. Correct preparation for delivering your speech will be rather more rewarding and beneficial than imagining anyone naked.

 

5. HAVE FAITH

No one gets it right all the time. Give yourself a break, just doing this is a fantastic achievement. No matter how it goes, learn and improve all the time. So relax and enjoy the moment. People will want you to be good and will remember the good parts better than the worst bits. If you make a mistake don't hide it, use it, it will even help you by making you more relatable.

To be a great Public Speaker, is something that everyone should know how to be. And its a crime that this is neglected at many if not most schools. If you are looking to influence, if you are interested in changing minds to your cause, learning public speaking is of upmost importance. Below are a few extra suggestions

 Bind yourself to a self  contract

Whether it a reward for completing your goal, or you hide money away with someone you trust, or you bind it to your future success. Find some way to commit to learning the art of public speaking. It is a skill that has built the Roman Empire, persuaded nations to go to war and placed people in our senate or parliament. Realise its importance and bind yourself to learning how to master public speaking.

 Prepare

Practice, practice practice. Watch videos on YouTube of great speeches, Practice in front of a mirror, in front of people, anywhere & everywhere. Have an engagement to speak at an event? Write your speech or whatever it is you want to say, down on paper or 'Tablet'. Practice delivering it, memorise it. Did you know that if you delivered a speech from paper in ancient Athens, no body would have respected you? Arrive an hour early, or at least get to know your 'stage' somehow. See yourself there. Visualise.

Speak about yourself

Why are you the expert on this? Speaking about yourself and how you know your field  will mean you are taken more seriously. It will bring people onside and they will be more eager to learn from you and take on your opinions.

Don't expect to win

No one gets it right all the time. No on is funny all the time - even comedians. Give yourself a break, just doing it is a fantastic achievement. No matter how it goes, learn and improve all the time. So relax and enjoy the moment. People will want you to be good and will remember the good parts better than the worst bits. It takes experience to become a true great at public speaking. 

Put a pebble in your mouth

To train your lips, tongue and pallet until you are clearly understood even with a small stone in your mouth.  This really will train your speaking apparatus and soon you will be delivering great public speeches worthy of any great public speaker.

 Go for a Run

Not just any run. You are going to sing while you run. As loudly as you can. Do this until you can complete your song and not be out of breath. This is going to develop your apparatus and the power of your lungs.

 You vs. Anything loud

Put music on loud, or the TV or if there happens to be a tornado near you go out and deliver your speech until you can be clearly heard above all other noise. This is another effective way to train your voice and make yourself heard - the keystone to success for any great public speaker.

  

   Improving the power of your lungs is essential to a strong convincing voice. If you want to win the argument, a soft, stuttering voice won't convince many people. That doesn't mean shouting, but it does mean speaking with clarity, firmness and authority. How powerful your lungs are make all the difference, no matter what side of the argument you are on. 

Aim to build a powerful voice

 

 

 

First Exercise

Get a Ping-Pong ball or something similar. Put it on a table or other flat surface, at best on a slight lean towards you. Then keep blowing the ball up against the wall. Let it come down and blow it back up again. Do ten of these to begin with, then, once you are used to the exercise keep adding ten more. Reversal: Try sucking it towards you, when the table leans away from you.

 

Second Exercise

Keep your hands by your side, take in a deep breath, all the air that you can. Then, force the air out, pushing until your lungs are empty. You should feel the system of core muscles tighten with this exercise, if not, try harder. Do ten of these to begin with, or if your lungs are week, just as many as you can. Then start adding ten more to your exercise.

Third Exercise

Go for a run with a difference. If you struggle to run at this stage, walk. Then jog. Build your fitness up until you can run for a sustained period of time. During each stage, instead of listening to your iPod, you are going to sing or deliver a speech, at the top of your voice. By doing exercise and physical activity you are improving the strength of your lungs by a huge margin. You should see massive gains in the power of your voice and breath. If you are worried about singing aloud in the open, start by going up and down the stairs at home, or jogging on the spot in-front of the TV on loud. Or take your iPod and sing along to the music. Whatever you have to do to get there, it doesn't matter. Victory buys glory, not the method.

 

By doing the above exercises regularly you should start to see improvements in your internal fitness, and your ability to keep from becoming breathless after exercise.  The most important aspects of this are keeping alive longer than you would have done, plus, if you are ever trapped in a burning building, your strong lungs could be the difference to survival and death. But, more important than that, you will win more arguments and be able to beat Beyonce on karaoke.

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10 Ways to the Perfect Gym Personal Training Job Interview

 First make sure you have understood that in order to work in a gym as a Personal Trainer you will need to invest in a course or multiple courses. Those are Gym instructor Level 2 & Personal Training. You will also need First Aid, Exercise to music and another class based qualification such as Spin in order to get many of the top positions. The Interview is the final test, before landing your dream job.  So having a good interview with the correct answers is the most important part of finding work. Follow the 11 ways to the perfect job interview:

1. Do your research for the Job Interview

If you want to prove you're the best, you've got to do your homework. Know your industry! Check out their website to find out what they do, where the company is headed and who's who.
You also need to have a good idea of the interview process you're about to experience: will it be a face- to-face meeting with one person or a panel interview? Imagine how you'd feel if you prepared for a straightforward one-on-one meeting, only to find you were in for a 'fun' day of team exercises and video presentations?

Ask the personnel department for more information rather than approaching your interviewer directly. What's the procedure? Who will you meet and when? What's the objective of each meeting or assessment you will undertake? Find out the names and titles of your interviewers and memorize them.

Next, make sure you're up-to-date with the latest fitness news and developments  - especially if you've been out of the job market for a while. Check out the latest trends and buzz words, find out who's up, who's down, what's in and what's out. Look in recent issues of industry magazines and journals. Go along to networking groups or join relevant online newsgroups.

From the moment you get that confirmation letter or call, you need to start thinking also about what you want to say at interview. Interviewers want to know three things: Can this person do the job? Will this person do the job? Will they fit in? Put together a list of questions you might be asked, and include those that you might stumble over if asked on the spot. Jot down some appropriate answers and rehearse
these until you sound convincing.

It might sound artificial if you reproduce these absolutely word for word on the day, but the process will build confidence. And if you're prone to interview stage fright, you'll have something solid to fall back on.

2. Think positively about the Interview

Revisit your CV and take a long, hard look at your mission statement. If you've never written your own profile, however, begin by writing down what you do well and where you want to go in the future. Then in no more than 30 words sum up why you think you should get the job. Be proud of your achievements and ambitions - interviews are not the time for shyness!

Remembering this statement will help you walk into the interview thinking - and believing - 'I'm going to get this job'. You've got to this key stage because the recruiters believe that you've got the skills they want. Now you need to convince them that you're the best person for the job.

3. Look and play the part for the Interview

Arrive early. Some experts suggest checking out the location of the building, before finding a cafe for a pre-interview drink. Use the time to have one last flick through your notes.

Get to the building early, too. Check the noticeboard and read company press releases and brochures - this is a good idea if you're looking to ask up-to-the-minute questions. Go to the loo and draw breath. Don't ever be late - if there are leaves or cattle on the line, call as soon as possible. Take a mobile just in case.

Take the minimum hand luggage so that you look professional - clear out your briefcase and your handbag before you go. Aim to look like a stereotypical employee for the job you want, so don't go for a youth TV job in a pinstripe suit. But if in doubt, dress up, not down. Dark colours tend to look more powerful, and remember to keep jewellery to a minimum. 

Emanate energy: employers want fit, healthy workers who can work hard. Start with a firm handshake and look interviewers in the eye. Don't cross your legs, except at the ankles, and keep your hands away from your face. 

4. Control the interview

Your interviewer won't know how good you are or why you should get the job unless you tell them. Don't boast or keep saying 'I'm brilliant', but stress your strengths by using anecdotes and examples of your achievements.
Use examples to illustrate how you can help make the company more productive and profitable. Talk in terms of 'results' and 'benefits'. Use positive language - 'I can', 'I will', 'I know' rather than tentative words like 'I think I might' or 'I probably would'.
Keep your responses short and to the point. If the interviewer is talking, listen carefully and respond when they've finished. If you don't understand a question, ask for an explanation rather than blunder out an inappropriate answer.

5. Turn your weaknesses into strengths

It's the interviewer's job to probe and ask difficult questions. They need to be able to trust you and be 100 per cent certain that you're the best candidate. If you've prepared properly, you won't be daunted by enquiries about gaps in your CV, problems you encountered in your last job or your reasons for wanting to move on.

Successful candidates are able to turn negatives into positives. If you were unemployed for a short period, tell your interviewer how you used that time productively and what you learned about yourself. Perhaps you used the time to re-evaluate what you wanted out of your career, and the break put you on the path you're on today.

If asked 'What are your main weaknesses?' saying something along the lines of, 'I can be over-committed and tend to push myself too hard', ought to win brownie points rather than do you a disservice. Make sure that all the personality traits you mention are accurate but you don't have to go into details.

• Rehearse your answers to tough interview questions

6. Be enthusiastic

Companies hire people who want to work for them. Tell your interviewers how much you enjoy your work and how wonderful you think their company is. Say you know that it's the right job for you and that you could do it really well. But always make sure that you explain and back up your assertions or your enthusiasm could sound false.

7. Ask intelligent questions

Show you care about your career and that you've taken the time to research the company and its recent successes. Memorise a few key questions before you go into the interview, but use your conversation to generate more.

Ask questions based on the assumption that the company wants you for the job. Say 'What would you expect me to achieve in the first six months after the appointment?' rather than 'What would you expect the appointed candidate to achieve?'

8. Send a short thank-you note

Send a letter to your interviewer/s within 24 hours of your meeting. Some interviewers prefer an email, so check out what form of communication they prefer at the end of the interview.

Keep your note brief and simple, and sound keen and interested. Thank them for taking the time to see you, say how much you enjoyed the meeting, how interested you are in the position and reiterate how your experience matches their requirements. Even if it's not your ideal job, you never know how your interviewer may help you in the future.

'If a candidate is clever, they'll add something that they've found out about the job or company that makes them keener,' advises one employer in the media. Make sure your tone isn't obsequious or schmaltzy. If the job relies on client communication, remember that you're demonstrating your communication skills every time you write, phone or email.

If you secured the interview through a recruitment agency, then contact them immediately and give them some honest feedback.

9. Don't...

There are three key things to avoid during an interview - you might have done brilliantly, but commit one of these sins and you could jeopardise your chances.

So don't:

• Badmouth your last employer. It's a small world and it reflects badly on you
• Pressurise your interviewer for a decision
• Discuss salary or terms of employment - wait until the job's in the bag before the word 'perks' passes your lips

10. Write it down

How you feel as you walk away from your interview is often a good sign of how well you've performed. But we all have off-days, or make mistakes. 'I once kicked an interviewer, who was sitting about three inches away, in the shins,' recalls one embarrassed candidate, who decided to change her posture mid- interview.

Writing down your impressions of the company, the types of questions asked, and how you coped, could reap dividends. Write down what you did well and what you did badly. Did your experience match your expectations? If not, why not?
If you're then invited for a second interview, you'll be able to refresh your memory and use the information to devise more questions. If you're rejected, use it to prepare better next time - no interview experience is ever wasted.

Creating Classes : Fail to Plan Plan To Fail So Prepare!

 You would be surprised by how many professional personal trainers who teach regular classes only organise their class the night before or even worse within hours or minutes of the class happening. While it is entirely possible for you to get away with this for the best result for your clients and for your class numbers and therefore revenue you should plan ahead. There is nothing wrong with writing out classes for the next week, month or even year. 

One of the benefits for doing so is the ability on your part to practice your class, get everything down from the movements, to what you will say and when. 

If you work in a gym the chances are you will have some quiet periods, use this time wisely by planning your classes as far ahead as possible, then use any other quiet periods to practice your routines. Members of a gym feel more comfortable and encouraged when they see Gym Instructors/ PT's doing exercises as opposed to cleaning or just hanging around talking. 

Write your classes on cards or have a separate notebook on your phone / iPad, soon you will have a small library of exercise classes that you can shuffle and re-use. There is nothing wrong with doing the same class a month or two after but you can always adjust the timings if you feel like changing it up a little. 

As a Personal Trainer one of the best ways to earn extra money and build a pipeline of clients is to offer yourself as a freelance class instructor. In fact many PTs prefer this to one on one sessions! And if you have a library of exercise classes that you know like the back of your hand then there is every chance that you can provide fantastic classes that people enjoy, providing you with a good extra income!

The Door to Door principle | Getting Clients

Approaching people can be the most daunting - push yourself and reap the rewards 

Firstly don’t judge people by their autopilot responses. Some people are just silent until they discover that you are ok to talk to. Others a just shy and more still have a million and one things going on that means they just get on with it. Still more are just going on with their day and they just don’t expect someone to talk to them. These people are just waiting for some one like you to make their day more interesting & fun. 

While online advertising is a good way of getting clients many PTs forget that their main selling point is themselves; and their is still no better sales channel that suits PTs than the personal introduction. 

Get to know people in your area, Talk to them about their lives and interests - be interested and interesting. 

Aim for 1 out of 100 successful approaches. Not that you won’t get lots of interest straight away so look to make your first goals about getting it right through practice and failure. When the number of people you have approached reaches the thousands you should have a good idea on what you are saying and how you say it. You should notice an overall improvement in your delivery and success rate, and you should also be able to spot potential clients more easily - and to avoid those who are unlikely to be interested in changing their lives for the better. 

 

guide to Starting an online fitness store