With the evolution of the Internet, social media – now a commonplace business strategy - is proving to be a valuable asset for health and fitness professionals, said Fred Hoffman, M.Ed., author, speaker and international fitness and spa consultant, at the American College of Sports Medicine’s 16th-annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.
March 29, 2012
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN IMPACT THE FITNESS PROFESSION
Web 2.0 and user-generated content are valuable resources for competitive professionals
LAS VEGAS – With the evolution of the Internet, social media – now a commonplace business strategy - is proving to be a valuable asset for health and fitness professionals, said Fred Hoffman, M.Ed., author, speaker and international fitness and spa consultant, at the American College of Sports Medicine’s 16th-annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.
In addition to building an online community with colleagues or clients, social media can also aid in recruiting staff members, promoting the business with the ability to shape the content, and providing top-notch customer service due to enhanced two-way communication.
Hoffman shared a number of strategies and tactics for taking the plunge and learning which social media platforms can be used for different objectives. For starters, he emphasized the missed opportunities that come with not participating, specifically in an evolving online world where conversations about your brand and business are already taking place.
In addition to understanding the practical applications of these tools, Hoffman also discussed:
- The importance of listening to your audience and creating an online community
- Advice for generating useful content
- Basic introduction to a wide mix of social media platforms and the unique function each offers
- Proper social media etiquette, in addition to do’s and don’ts on what to say and how to respond
- How, when and why to comment on others’ content and employ the ubiquitous “Like” button
- Time management tips, especially when handling multiple social platforms
“Social media is not a trend,” said Hoffman. “It is here to stay and constantly evolving; now is the time for health and fitness professionals to jump on board. Otherwise you are not only going to be lost, but you are going to be lagging ‘way behind your competition.”
In his experience working with health and fitness professionals around the world, Hoffman cited getting started as the most difficult step. Once professionals witness the practical application, he said, they get a clearer direction on how to integrate social media into their business strategy.
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The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 45,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. NOTE: Information presented at the Summit represents the professional opinions of the presenters and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the American College of Sports Medicine.