Please help us with a decision.

[ybsmall]

We had run into the very same problem and started to float a test of micro suscriptions of services. Our company builds interfaces for many exceptionally large enterprise systems - those are somewhat stable because of the vast amount of capital infrastructure supporting them. On some of our smaller level projescts we have tested a program where we charge incremental prices for useful asp services. Hence, instead of providing free email as we had done with Lycos as a partner, we test charged a monthly fee ($.50 per month) for the service. Of course we lost some of our members, but the vast majority stayed and we split the income with our partners. The same held for other services and now we are in the process of changing over all affiliated sites in this particular network. This site network is partnered with CBS/Viacom television and while we are in re-construction of the system, plese fell free to explore www.wbzclicks.com for an example of where CBS/Viacom is headed (the apartment is where we will be billing for asp services). We also include, as others have proposed above, revenue splits for on-site sales and click-trhu traffic generation - mostly as secondary and tertiary revenue sources. I am a new, but big fan of this site and I offer any developmental or other help my company or myself can provide.

 

[NJstacked]

George,

I would wear a T-shirt and Sweathshirt......

NJstacked

 

[NJstacked]

George....Seriously contact and Investment Bank..have them do a private placement....Raise Capital....and start charging for Elite....Alos, with the capital start buying other competitive sites....and take their members....this is how it is done....

 

[liftsiron]

Create yet another board, where users must pay to fill out a personal profile and personal history i.e. previous training experience, medical history, etc. Then create a personal training and nutrition program for that person. They could purchase one or the other or buy a package deal. As supplements are highly reccomended in any nutrition program you would generate more business for your line. Also this would be a good group of people to enter an elitefitness personal improvement contest. They would get automatically entered with purchase of the program. This would work, similiar ideas have worked for other companies. Best of luck to elitefitness.

 

[guards]

I like the book idea......I'm sure that with all the wealth of knowledge, everybody would contribute!!!!!


Elite fitness the novel?? Elite fitness the steroid handbook????

Elite fitness the training book???


How about holding a gear friendly bodybuilding comp???

Just some ideas

 

[toga22]

George--

First of all you have created a great site here, full of valuable information in a setting in which people are able to gain commoradity among fellow athletes and motivation for their workouts. Thank You.

From what I understand of your post, you are looking to make Elite Fitness self-supporting; you want to make enough money off of this site alone to cover the cost incurred by it.

I will give you the ideas that I have bouncing around my head at the moment.

1. Run a survey of all of the members. Include it in your weekly newletter. I would bet the response would be about 80%. This survey would not be looking for demographic information, but for where the members interest lie. Are they interested in information pertaining to Anabolics/Supplements, training, diet, general fitness.

If the results of your survey shows that most of the members have an interest in diet, for example, you could create a pay-per-view board. This board would be open to all members of elite fitness, and be on a one time one view basis. Through this site you could create daily menus based on the type of diet the member in question is currently on. You could give them, a one time 10 week diet plan. This information could be sent out via e-mail.

2. The cookbook is a great idea, for myself I am always looking for different low carb recipes. (Eating tuna gets old!!)

3. I also love Hanabolic Lector's idea of " George Spellwin Fitness Education Center— offering books, seminars, personal trainer certifications…etc. Establish your own Elite Fitness Certification, in the vein of ACE & NFPT. "
I have been an aerobic instuctor for about 8 years, and the certifications that my employer makes me possess is incredible For example, "Reebok Step aerobic instruction, Reebok Double Step aerobic instruction certification, Nike aerobics certification, and the list goes on, most are simply fitness shoe companies or fitness equipment companies certifications. All I usually get from the "150-300 dollar course", is a little plastic card and a 10% discount on their merchandise. And these certifications must be renewed yearly.

There are a lot of great ideas included on your post, hopefully you will be able to find the perfect solution to your problem.

Best of luck to you--

-toga

 

[68GT350]

I think there should be a whole online store for all your steroid needs. There should be syringes, needles, vials, and other items useful for users of steroids that Mass Quantities shouldn't deal with all stamped with the Elite Fitness logo. Don't be afraid to use the Elite Fitness logo to make money.

An entire line of merchandise would be great. Designs by members would be a great way to get us all involved. Also, how bout some TTokkyo, Organon, etc. brand clothing with the Elite logo too!

 

[liftsiron]

Here's another idea have an elite fitness get together with semminars and perhaps a personel trainer certification program. Maybe in conjunction with a bodybuilding, fit and figure contest. You could have various fees charged for each activity, make it an entire weekend. You have the talent to draw from. I would suggest a site other than New York City because of the cost of lodging etc. Make this a semi-annual event, you could sell tickets in advance from this site, with the understanding thst the event must pay for itself, otherwise the event will be cancelled and ticket holders will be refunded. This would work.

 

[40butpumpin]

I think there is A LOT of room in the supplement business for a kick-ass Elite Fitness line of supplements (much more comprehensive and sophisticated than you have now). I would make them top-of-the-line, however, like on par with Twinlab or Solgar but focusing on bodybuilders and the serious/professional athelete. You could have combinations that are good for things such as cholesterol control, lowering/controlling BP, eliminating or avoiding excess water, anti-oxidents and detox, anti-catabolics, liver protection, pro-sexual supp's, etc. I wouldn't mess around though, do it right and establish yourself as the best in the business spareing no expense on quality of ingredients and get the right stuff (combinations) together, you could really have something. Then, merchandise, like clothing would basically sell itself. I've thought for a long time that if you invested more into supplements, you could have a real gold-mine. You could even have members of the board vote for what they'd like to see in the products. Hell, we bro's on the board should know better than anyone what should be in those products. Good luck with it George. I've actually done quite a bit of research in some of these areas, please let me know if I could be of assisstance in any way.

 

[njmuscle]

I'd concentrate on expanding revenue a lot further before looking into any sort of equity offering - there's no appetite on the Street for dot-coms right now.

I'd suggest your best bet is to further expand the web site - you already have a huge on-line community to draw from, so offer more for sale that they want/need. A few ideas:

* Take the ideas that are on this thread for books, but make them on-line books, either by download or by password-accessed web pages.

* An on-line magazine by subscription only - offer a few articles free and the rest by subscription. This is the model that Salon (just about the last of the web-only magazines that's survived) has gone with, and it seems to be working well for them.

* Expand your own brand of supplements further, and offer a limited number of products (quality-vetted by you) from other companies (avoid the R&D expense where you can - no need to reinvent the wheel on some things like anti-oxidants.)

* Along the same lines - limited advertising from reputable firms (pre-vetted by you.) Might be eaier to concentrate more along the non-supplement side (e.g. training clothes, dress clothes, etc.) to avoid the "we give the 'seal of approval' to whoever can pay for ads" syndrome that always seems to come with this sort of program (I'm not gonna name names here.)

* Offer reviews of mainstream BB/powerlifting books, videos, etc, with a click-through to Amazon to buy (and generate commisisons for Elite) if they carry it. Everyone does this.

Beyond the web, if you have the capital, have you considered opening a gym in NYC? (It's my understanding you're based in Manhattan?) Besides being a base for Elite-sponsored seminars, training, etc., it could be a money-maker in its own right - although there's a damn NYSC every 50 feet, there's a real shortage of hard-core gyms. Position it for maximum subway convenience and offer a good locker room to get the before work/lunch/after work trainers, and you could have a winner.

Also, besides traditiional personal training, you could offer a "consultancy" of sorts - from reading Elite, I see a lot of people who want more info on training, etc. to meet various goals, including going into competition. But if you go to a NYSC-style health club, or even a hard-core gym at odd hours, who do you talk to if you don't want to hire a trainer but just want one-on-one help with questions like contest prep, etc? Personally, I have no interest in hiring a trainer, but would hire a "consultant" occasionally. This could be a big winner, especially since those outside the NY area could combine it with a weekend in NY. You can strike a deal with a hotel or two to offer decent rates, perhaps even get a few airfare deals going with the smaller lines (JetBlue, perhaps?)