• 72: He teaches me how to make gym videos people actually watch and share
    Jun 10 2025

    Today we’re talking about how to create better videos for your fitness business.

    In the first half of the episode, you’ll hear Dan talking to professional videographer, Bruce Garrod from Gingerbeard Media. This was part of a webinar he ran for the business owners he mentors.

    Bruce teaches us how to create better video content with our phones. He covers the fundamentals of filming, lighting, audio, framing, composition, camera techniques, editing tips and the tech needed to get the most out of your phone.

    Then, in the second half of this episode, Bruce analyses your Instagram feed, as well as those of other fitness business owners and shares his advice for how to improve them.

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    50 mins
  • How to live a full and good life
    May 26 2025

    Here's something very different from my usual stuff.

    Here’s something I wrote for myself to help me ‘work out life’.

    It helped me.

    Maybe it can help you too.

    I cover:

    • The role of pain and suffering in life. How do I remove them? Should I remove them?
    • How can I balance ambition with contentment? Striving with settling? Journey and destination?
    • How can I balance work, productivity, time and money, to give me a ‘good life’.
    • When I strip back the work I do, who am I?
    • Do I use busyness and work as a distraction from the question of what I actually want to do with my life?
    • What are the elements of a ‘good life’, and how do I get more of them?
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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • 71: How this Exercise Physiologist doubled her Medicare conversion rate
    May 11 2025

    In this episode, I explore how Jesse from Bloom Allied Health consistently converts short-term trial clients into loyal, long-term customers, sharing her proven strategies to double client conversion rates.

    5 things you’ll learn in this episode:
    - How Jesse consistently converts 30–50% of trial sessions into long-term paying clients—double the industry average.
    - Three practical strategies to effectively turn short-term or trial clients into committed, long-term customers.
    - Why shifting your client’s motivation from external referrals to internal goals dramatically boosts retention.
    - The importance of offering flexible, affordable entry points to build client commitment without compromising premium services.
    - How Jesse built an award-nominated business while balancing motherhood, lecturing, and research commitments.

    Your action steps:
    - Set clear expectations from day one that short-term sessions are just the beginning of a long-term journey.
    - Ask deeper questions to uncover your client's real, personal motivations for engaging with your service.
    - Provide financially accessible options that allow clients to remain involved beyond their initial sessions.
    - Use future-focused language consistently to shift your client’s perspective toward ongoing commitment.
    - Automate and systemise key business processes now to create freedom and flexibility in your future.

    Listen now on The Business of Fitness Podcast: podfollow.com/the-business-of-fitness-podcast

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    33 mins
  • 70: A two year waiting list - how this Exercise Pro did it.
    May 8 2025

    In this episode, I explore how Grant Hancock built a thriving fitness business with a 167-person waiting list by uniquely positioning his services, overcoming burnout, and balancing growth with life priorities.

    5 things you’ll learn:
    - How Grant created overwhelming demand in a regional location with minimal competition.
    - The hidden downsides of rapid business growth—and how to handle them.
    - Practical strategies to use scarcity ethically in your business to boost demand.
    - How Grant transitioned from burnout to a balanced business model that supports his lifestyle.
    - The power of defining a niche to become a market leader, even in competitive industries.

    Your action steps:
    - Clearly define your ideal client and position your services uniquely to meet their needs.
    - Regularly assess your pricing and adjust based on market demand rather than guilt or undervaluing your services.
    - Implement a waiting list management system that regularly engages your audience through valuable content.
    - Focus on building your business to fit your ideal lifestyle rather than letting growth control your personal time.
    - Prioritise your wellbeing by creating non-negotiable boundaries around work hours and personal activities.

    Listen now on The Business of Fitness Podcast: podfollow.com/the-business-of-fitness-podcast

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    45 mins
  • 69: Delivering an Experience: The Strategy of 'Being Different'
    Apr 29 2025

    Exercise Professionals shouldn't sell 'exercise' or even 'results'. To create positive, long term change, they need to deliver an EXPERIENCE. In this episode, Dan explains why the best business strategy is to be DIFFERENT, not better.

    5 things you’ll learn in this episode:

    • Why trying to be better isn't enough—and how being different creates your own category.
    • How to write a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) that actually makes you stand out.
    • Why common claims like “personalised care” are no longer differentiators, but expectations.
    • How to prove your USP with 20 repeatable actions that back up your claims.
    • How to create micro and macro client journeys that make even mundane moments memorable.
    If you enjoyed this, you’ll also enjoy the following, they’re some of my most popular podcast episodes on topics similar to this one:
    • 63: 10 ways to ensure your side hustle idea will make $50k.
    • 53: The four Es. A framework to build fitness businesses
    • 48: 9 Ways To Pivot Your Fitness Business To Earn More
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    21 mins
  • 68: Your missing marketing strategy. The power of storytelling.
    Apr 16 2025

    Stories are the most powerful marketing tool we have for sharing ideas and experiences. In this episode, Dan shares the content from a presentation he's giving at the Exercise and Sports Science Australia National Conference in Hobart. He'll teach you how to craft and share stories to benefit your business, your career and the impact you have on the world.

    5 things you’ll learn:

    • Why stories outperform facts in driving behaviour change and building trust with potential clients.
    • The evolutionary reason storytelling is hardwired into human communication—and why it still works.
    • A five-act storytelling formula used by top-grossing films and how it applies to fitness business marketing.
    • Why your clients should be the heroes of your content, not you or your business.
    • Practical ways to tell stories across social media, Google reviews, video, memes, and more.

    If you enjoyed this, you’ll also enjoy the following, they’re some of my most popular articles and podcasts on topics similar to this one:

    • 45: A gym advertising guide for every budget
    • 44: How to get more clients using marketing psychology
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    16 mins
  • 67: 6 steps to a multiple income stream side hustle
    Apr 1 2025

    In this episode Dan unpacks the six-step system he uses (and recommend to fitness business owners) for launching a successful fitness side hustle – from identifying real problems to testing and scaling the idea. This is based on the process we follow in the Fitness Side Hustle Project.

    5 things you’ll learn in this episode:
    • Why starting with a problem, rather than an idea, is the key to building a viable fitness side hustle.
    • How to generate and filter multiple business ideas using your avatar’s real pain points.
    • The frameworks I use to evaluate and prioritise ideas with low risk and high reward.
    • What a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) actually looks like in the fitness industry – and why you should never build before testing.
    • How to assess whether your side hustle is scalable, sustainable, and worth growing.

    Resources mentioned:

    • The four Es. A framework to build fitness businesses.
      Read the article | Listen to the podcast
    • 9 ways to pivot your fitness business to earn more.
      Read the article | Listen to the podcast
    • 10 ways to ensure your side hustle idea will make $50k.
      Read the article | Listen to the podcast
    • A strategy guide to generating multiple income streams for Fitness Professionals.
      Read the article
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    19 mins
  • 66: How she grew her business by being locally famous (strategies)
    Mar 24 2025
    Dan sits down with Renee Cabassi, who gets 80% of her new clients and members by being 'locally famous'. Renee walks us through the actual steps she took to make her fitness business widely known and talked about in her local community. This episode is extremely practical, and offers up clear and immediately actionable steps you can go out and take starting tomorrow. If you want to create local buzz around your business, this is the place to start. Renee offers up this actionable take-away you can implement immediately: 'Put on your branded shirt, go to a local café, buy a meal or coffee, post a photo or video online tagging the business, leave them a positive review, and genuinely engage in your community.' Here's a summary of the key strategies Renee and Dan discuss: Offline Profile Building Strategies: Tell people what you do Strike up conversations at parks, playgrounds, sports training, etc.Don’t hide what you do; be friendly and approachable, not salesy. Network with Local Businesses and Health Providers Connect and regularly meet with local healthcare providers (physios, acupuncturists, nutritionists, coaches, etc.).Actively share and tag them on social media; promote each other.List these trusted advisors or partners publicly (website, social media). Support Local Businesses Regularly visit local cafes, businesses, and actively promote them online.Tag local businesses on your social media.Host events or meetups at local businesses. Attend and Engage with Local Community Events Participate in council events, community gatherings, markets, fairs, etc.Share and promote these community events online. Use Car Magnets for Branding Place branded magnets on your car; strategically park where your target audience will see them.Increase local visibility through regular presence. Wear and Gift Branded Clothing Create appealing branded clothing that clients proudly wear.Gift branded clothing to local business owners and community members.Consider meaningful branding (e.g., core values printed on clothing). Donate or Sponsor Local Events and Fundraisers Provide prizes or vouchers for local fundraisers, school P&C raffles, quiz nights, sports clubs, etc.Offer free training sessions or events for local clubs (e.g., youth sports clubs, netball clubs). Volunteer and Get Actively Involved in Your Community Volunteer for local groups or committees unrelated to your core business.Show genuine care for local issues; build authentic community connections. Use Studio or Facility Signage Ensure clear signage if you have your own space.Leverage visibility even if in a shared/community space (car magnets if signage is limited). Distribute Flyers and Posters (Strategically) Place posters and flyers strategically at locations your target audience frequently visits. Give Talks or Workshops at Relevant Local Groups Offer free educational talks or workshops to mother's groups, daycares, community groups. Enter Local Awards and Recognition Nominate yourself or your business for local business awards, community awards, or similar recognitions. Online Profile Building Strategies: Build a Strong and Clear Digital Presence Maintain a clear, consistent presence online (website, social profiles).Ensure it’s immediately clear who you are, who you serve, and your USP. Create Valuable, Authentic Content Consistently create content aligned to your niche.Focus on authentic, relatable, observational humour, or real-life struggles relevant to your audience. Engage in Community Facebook Groups Be an active, helpful, genuine contributor in local community groups.Rarely, if ever, directly promote your business; instead, participate as a community member. Leverage Client Testimonials and Word-of-Mouth on Social Media Encourage clients to mention you in online groups when relevant conversations occur.Actively thank or acknowledge these recommendations publicly. Create Facebook Events When hosting events or fundraisers, create Facebook events and encourage clients to share. Have a Cheerleader Group (Micro-influencers) Set up a group (e.g., Messenger or WhatsApp) of loyal clients who can promote and share key posts.Sparingly use them to amplify important social media content. Create Locally Relevant Guides or Articles Write articles or guides (e.g., “Pram-Friendly Walks in Bayswater,” “Family-Friendly Bushwalks”).Share these resources widely online, tagging councils and local groups. Regularly Perform the “Google Test” Regularly Google yourself and your business to ensure your online presence aligns with your desired personal and business brand.Make sure top results reflect positively, demonstrating active community involvement, quality content, and clear branding. If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll also enjoy the following, they’re some of my most popular articles and podcasts on topics similar to this one: Episode 55: The 19 ways to get more gym clients (podcast | article).Episode 54: How his referral ...
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    57 mins