FREE is Holding Back the Fitness and Supplement Industry
Look, I like free as much as the next guy, but enough is enough. The fitness and supplement industry is plagued by brands and “experts” giving everything away for free. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to get a little help every now and then as well as try some free supplements, but consumers are now EXPECTING this to be the norm. And when it isn’t, they want to bitch and complain and wish the worst case of diarrhea upon your brand and business.
Free content from writers in the fitness and supplement industry
I made a social media post a few months back where I told writers in the industry to stop working for free, that you’re damaging the industry not only for every writer out there, but also setting a sub-par standard that getting free content is expected. I have no issue with new writers giving out a few free pieces of content to get their foot in the door, but you need to strategize and figure out your path to monetize. You can’t work for free all the time, otherwise you’re doing yourself a disservice as well as moving towards running your business into the ground due to zero sales and revenue.
Many writers want to build their portfolio, yet they turn the content and copywriting industry upside down by offering their services for free or for very cheap. Then when they want to monetize everyone turns them down because in the past they got it all for free—so why would they want to pay you? In addition, the publications will wait for the next guy to come along “looking to build his or her brand” and offer free services. It’s a never-ending cycle that plagues the fitness and supplement industry.
Majority of these writers are putting out amazing content too, full of knowledge bombs. So, why shouldn’t that be worth something? I went to college, got a degree in kinesiology and business, and got certified as a strength coach, personal trainer, and sports nutritionist—my knowledge is worth something.
Do you think Steven Spielberg would write a script for a movie, and GIVE it to another person to make a movie without looking to be compensated for his time and intellectual property? Heck no! He’d say “who’s got my money?!” Why would the fitness and supplement industry also think that it would be acceptable to take content from a qualified professional for free? Some of these website and publications don’t even give author credits!
Free programs from personal trainers
I worked at a chain of gyms here in Pennsylvania where I live when I was in college and just after graduation. While the gym was fairly successful, they never valued the trainers time. They wanted to give everything away for free. Free workouts. Free nutrition consulting. Free assessment of body composition and strength. You name it, they wanted to give it away for free as an “amenity” of joining their chain of gyms.
Again, I didn’t spend all that money getting a college degree in the field and getting certified to work for free. Therefore, I voiced my opinion and was told to fall in line or get out. So, I threw up the deuces and left.
My time is worth just as much as the next guy in line. And if he wants to work for free, then more power to him. I don’t go to the doctors and expect a free physical to be done. Or when I’m sick go to the doctor and have him diagnose what’s wrong with me and write me a script for medication out of the kindness of his heart without being compensated.
When I sit down with my accountant or attorney for advice on certain aspects of my business, he’s not slotting me into his busy day out of the kindness of his heart. I’m taking up that slot in his schedule because I’m PAYING FOR IT. They aren’t going to sit down with me and explain how I should change certain aspects of my business to help me make more and save more money and they themselves not get paid for their time and knowledge. That’s counterproductive.
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