How to choose the right supplement line to carry?
Now you don’t want to go out and just align yourself with any product line. All supplement companies will claim to be the best. But the proof is where it is at. Because it is an unregulated industry by the FDA, there are so many ludicrous claims made and so many ridiculous ads in the magazines and on infomercials on such unbelievable stuff. There IS a quick checklist that you should utilize when looking to purchase a product for yourself as well as recommend to your clients:
- First, ask what kind of information is available on ingredient specifications, safety, and quality testing. I am not just talking about the research done to design the product, but also proof that everything that comes off of the manufacturing line is 100% of what’s on the label is in the bottle. The company I use does hundreds (even thousands) of tests a year on every product to make sure it is checked…double checked…and triple checked before it is ever shipped out to the consumer.
- Second, if there are health or performance claims listed on the product, make sure they are based on real scientific data and not hypothetical information. The company I use has a ton of published clinical studies that you can find either on the National Library of Medicine or some other peer reviewed university study that are proof of the products safety and effectiveness. We are talking about proof that the products our clients are taking will be delivered within the system and perform as desired. Look to see if the science is there or if the company is just claiming that their product is “the best.”
- Third, does the company even have published clinical studies. Do you know how many most companies have? Zero. They will have marketing and advertising, but no science to back the product. Even if they do have studies, it may be fraudulent. I have seen supplement companies who will set up their own publishing company just to claim that they have clinical studies backing their products. Can you see how confusing this can all be? Make sure it is a peer-reviewed, published clinical research. If it is not, then it is not real science and it is not proven to actually get results. If you can not look the study up in a credible source (like the National Library of Medicine or other university study) then it simply is not verifiable.
- Last, look to see if the company invests in and operate their own Research and Development center. And do they have their own manufacturing plant. Most companies do not. They will go to a manufacturer of material, just slap their own label on it, call it their own, and sell it. There is no science nor is there quality control. Real companies make their own products and invest in making sure that they are the best. Do not waste your time representing anything less than “the best“ to your clients. Don’t fool around with anything else if you want to be successful and truly help the people you do business with. It is your reputation that will be on the line. It all reflects on you. Get “the best” and don’t except anything else.
Alright already…What Supplement Line Do You Use?!
My introduction to nutritional supplements was just like everyone else. I had been using them for several years as an athlete in my sports training. I took several basic products that I knew would be beneficial to my training (multi-vitamin/multi-mineral product, protein powders, etc.). I started to reach a higher level and excel in my sport. I was training at an elite level with higher volume and greater conditioning, and I noticed my health starting to decline. I was catching colds easier and more frequently and functioning at a much lower energy level. I was having a hard time keeping up with my training volume and intensity. It was then that a colleague of mine introduced me to the product line that I use today. It was introduced to me as something that was better than the supplement line that I was utilizing and after I made the switch, I personally had a tremendous response to the products. I found them superior to anything that I was taking or had taken before. They really helped me achieve not only my bodybuilding goals, but better health all around. To this day, I never get sick. Needless to say, I was pretty impressed with the product line.
The manufacturer is Prograde Nutrition. They have been around for a few years. They have manufacturing and distribution right here in the United States. They are a company that was started BY trainers, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts FOR trainers, atheltes, and fitness enthusiasts. That have has seen some serious growth over the last few years since it's inception and there is nothing better, that I have found, than their products and their systems. Before I agreed to get involved with the company, I made sure to do all the research. After looking into it, I was overwhelmed.
Nevertheless, when certain people hear the word “Prograde” they think network marketing company trying to push a business opportunity. Heck, I used to think that myself. Boy was I ever wrong.
Why Prograde
The first reason that I use Prograde, as well as recommend and provide it to all of my clients, is simply because Prograde has thee superior product line available in the supplement market. I know that every supplement company says that “they have the best products” or their products have “the best science behind them.” Truth be told, the science behind Prograde products are absolutely second to none (more information is available on their website).
They have those multiple published clinical studies on their products that I talked about. Every single product that they make has a study behind it that is peer-reviewed (it can be viewed on the National Library of Medicine, PubMed.com, or any third party site like Consumer Labs) and backed by legitimate science at a University level.
The second reason I use and recommend Prograde is that their quality control is top-notch. Prograde makes sure that every thing they make has 100% of what’s on their in their products. Tied together, these first two components are of utmost importance to me in recommending them to my clients. I need guaranteed product purity, safety, and proven effectiveness.
Thirdly, Prograde has the distribution systems in place that make this whole process work for Ultimate Lifetime Value. Remember, if you just sell supplements off of your shelf (buying wholesale and selling retail) you will make a couple of extra dollars, but you are not maximizing your lifetime value. Prograde takes care of everything on their end as far as research and development of supplements, manufacturing of the product, and the distribution and fulfillment of the order to my customers.
After the first sale to my clients, I make sure that they are set up so they can be sent the products directly, as well as save a few extra dollars in the process. Everything is taken care of by Prograde. All I do is introduce the products. I get to open my emails to find my clients ordering more products and I collect my commission. All of these systems that are in place make it easy for me to do my job of making sure my clients get quality products while getting results with their program.
I wouldn't be writing about this if I hadn't done it myself.
When my personal training business started to thrive, I used to be approached by a lot of nonsense. You know what I am talking about. The "You can be making six figures as a personal trainer in 30 days" type of things. Complete nonsense. Complete junk. What I am talking about is something I have done, what I am doing today, and what many of you could be doing as well. It doesn't take long to go from earning a couple hundred extra dollars a month to a few thousand.
The System Produces Lifetime Value
We have already discussed the viral element of selling consumable products and the importance of the lifetime value of the customer to your success. Since utilizing Prograde‘s systems and products, it has taken care of itself. Once I make that initial recommendation of what supplements my clients should be utilizing and why, it all takes off.
From there, they purchase them straight from me or order them through me. Many times, a friend or family member wants to try them (viral element) and they place an order. While everyone is using the products, I continue to gain new clients (more supplement recommendations). Even the clients that I don't train anymore continue to use the products…lifetime value.
How is this making me more money? Prograde sends me an email saying that "John Doe" had his order shipped out, here's your commission. And "Mrs. Smith" had her order shipped out, here's your commission. More and more of these emails keep coming from clients that I haven't seen in a few months. Ultimately this grows from a couple of hundred dollars a month to over a thousand a month to, today, several thousand dollars a month. All for something that I would have done anyway to make sure my clients were getting what they needed and deserved.
When I talk to other trainers about the success of this part of my business, it is apparent that there is a whole other piece to this puzzle that most don't know exist. We are talking about ultimate leverage and lifetime value of a client. No more restrictions of just the service element of personal training.
The Dollar Value of The System
I would assume most of you reading this are wondering what kind of money you can really make with adding this element to your business. Let me give you some of my personal numbers to relate to.
I have a basic package of products I recommend to a client that costs in the neighborhood of $125 per month. My earnings off of that is around $37 when you add in the margin of sale on the product plus the bonuses I get on product sales. I have just about 100 of past and present personal training clients, family member, friends, etc. utilizing these products.
That is an extra $3700 a month.
Over $44,000 a year!
Over ten years, we could be talking almost a half a million dollars extra, whether they are currently training with me or not!
That’s a fulltime salary alone!
Other trainers that I know who have been utilizing this same system a little longer than I have are earning in the neighborhood of $3,000...$3,500...up to $5,0000 a month through their client base. One who has been in the business since the beginning works about 5-8 total hours a week and makes about $7,500 a month! Wow!
There are people out there, including myself, that are making it work. When you take into account that a successful personal trainer's average income is about $29,000 a year…do I need to say more? If you have ever heard the term "backend" profits, this is a business model that is truly unbelievable and, unfortunately, one that many of you are not taking advantage of. Too many trainers think short term and chase the "front end" profitability of more clients...more clients...more clients. The numbers are too large to ignore and you are still meeting your obligation of providing the best service to your customer as well as protecting them, helping them achieve their results, and providing them value.
It virtually costs you nothing extra.
Face it. We all have to pay in one way or another to get clients. Whether that be costs of advertising…marketing…what have you. Once you have your clients, it costs you nothing to get them to be a customer of your consumables. Instead of sending them out to purchase inferior products, you are providing them.
Plug the hole.
There is zero client acquisition and total lifetime value. It is the perfect marriage of businesses.
Believe me, your clients are going to investigate supplements anyway. And well they should. They are not going to optimize their results without proper nutrition in place. It only makes sense to position yourself to earn an income by being responsible and fulfilling your obligation. Save them from wasting their money, endangering their health, and wasting their time. You will better their results and attach a stream of income like no other.
Why do I use Prograde?
This should be obvious by now. Simply, they have the systems in place and the products that make the most sense for health and fitness professionals. It is not about the business opportunity, it is about the products. There are other companies out there that have similar models of distribution that will tell you to “go sign up your clients and tell them to go sign up more people to use the products…and they sign more people to use the products… and you can make a million dollars.” This is just complete and utter nonsense, not to mention unprofessional. I would never engage in it, nor do I recommend any of you do either. If you are a smart business professional, you will stay far away from it and not get scammed by it.
Deliver quality products to your customers. That’s it. You are there to answer their questions and give them the ways and means to get the best results from their fitness and nutritional program. Your clients need nutritional aids that help them get the best results from their fitness and nutritional program. What your clients do NOT need is a business opportunity. Prograde products will help to fill that nutritional void and ensure those results safely and effectively. This should be your focus.
Why Should You Use Prograde?
The preponderance of evidence that these products are superior to anything else that is on the market.
Start building a your business by becoming a Prograde Distributor today. Join the Prograde family now and take advantage of their supplement line and systems. Click here to get started.
*For federal and state tax purposes, a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is required for appointment to Distributor.
Revealed! - Part 2
James Cipriani
Cutting Edge Personal Training
