Like most of us working in the Fitness industry, the local coffee shop sometimes doubles as an office between clients.

This morning I'm in the Costa near my house in Wilmslow. Its nice and quiet, they have a bit of Bob Dylan on in the Background and the coffees in Costa are huge……. perfect for getting some productive work done…….

…..but then…. I noticed it….

…..The “community notice board”

You get these in most of the big chain coffee shops, makes them feel like they are giving back to the community I s'pose.

Usually they are designed for mother and toddler groups, community stuff and people trying to flog their old sofa….

This one however has been taken over mainly by business cards.

Most of them from Personal Trainers or dog walking businesses. Most of them blending in to each other and looking pretty boring.

Actually one stood out which was for post natal exercise.

Do you have business cards for your PT business? If so why?

What do you do when someone gives you a business card?

You do one of 3 things if you are most people.

You chuck it, stick it in your wallet with the rest of them or you file it away. Right?

Even if you go to one of these networking meeting and hand out your cards, the other businesses only want your contact details so they can sneakily add you to their email list (naughty, naughty) and try and sell to you.

There's no value in a business card. Building a successful training business is all about giving value first, Getting people on your email list, using your website to do this, but giving before you ask.

Check out Gary Vanyerchuck's Jab Jab Jab Right Hook on Amazon. Gary is the king of social media.

Check him out on twitter as well.

Liam “jab jab” Thompson
Internet Fitpro
The Personal Trainer Website and Online Marketing Guys