Definition of Terms

• Marketing strategy answers product and customer related concerns, but in a way that guides the company into directing resources towards creating an advantage and increase sales. Marketing strategies are usually long-term (as opposed to tactics) and are aimed at building brand awareness.
• It has five basic components: Market selection (target audience), Product planning (including what the product is, its features, and the packaging), Pricing, Place (or channel) and Promotion.

• Promotion includes what channels are used to communicate and what is said on each channel (as they may be different). It also includes any customer service or support. Specifically, it answers the following questions: What message does the brand use to share its purpose, product benefits, and competitive advantage? Is it sold directly, or through others indirectly? How are potential consumers informed about the product, convinced it will be useful, or persuaded to buy it? What role does branding play? How can the consumer get help if needed?
• Promotional channels may include the following: Advertising, Public relations (PR), Personal selling, Sales promotion, Direct marketing, Digital marketing, and Guerrilla Marketing.

Market Selection/Target Audience:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE): Fitness professionals and health enthusiasts
• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA): Fitness professionals

Product (ISSA):

• Certification courses with the following features: online access, continuous support (including over the phone, a business guide, a free website, and more educational courses after you graduate), materials that are up-to-date, a relaxed schedule (up to 8 months to do when most students finish in less than 3 weeks), a certificate from a credible and respected institution, and an untimed, open-book online exam.
• ISSA offers certification in personal training, a range of specializations, and also a range of bundles that offer discounts for combining certifications.