Interview: Free Online Fitness Advice

ExerciseTV is a free video-on-demand service where Internet visitors can get free online fitness advice and stream workouts, both on a computer and on the free video-on-demand television service available in most areas across the United States.

Allison Wehrley, Exercise TV Marketing Manager

In this interview with Allison Wehrley, marketing manager for ExerciseTV, she describes more about the type of content people can expect from the website, and how ExerciseTV is using a number of social networks to offer Internet travelers even more fitness content.

LTK: Could you describe how ExerciseTV was started?

AW: In the words of ExerciseTV founder Jake Steinfeld, “Fitness was made for on demand, and on demand was made for fitness.” Jake saw the video-on-demand format and realized that working out anytime, at home AND for free was the key to getting people moving and successfully losing weight. After ExerciseTV launched as a free service on video-on-demand, we noticed a high consumer demand for more online videos - such as free streaming workouts (which we offer), the opportunity for users to own the content, and for users to have the flexibility to take those videos with them on their mobile device. We launched Electronic Sell Thru (EST), or downloadable workouts, to help meet this consumer demand as well as to give our audience an alternative to just DVDs. This new business has met with phenomenal success, as people are continuing to migrate to a digital-only world. We remain committed to providing flexibility and choice in how people decide to workout and stay in shape.

LTK: Could you provide a brief overview of ExerciseTV, and what people can expect to find on the website or from the content offered on television?

AW: ExerciseTV is like having your very own personal fitness coach right in your home, on your schedule. ExerciseTV provides viewers with unprecedented access to a team of fitness experts and personalities that will motivate, inspire and help anyone achieve the healthy lifestyle they’ve always wanted. ExerciseTV is a free video-on-demand (VOD) television service, available to digital cable subscribers in almost 35 million homes across the United States (and growing).

Online, ExerciseTV.tv offers:

• More than 100 free, full-length motivating, time efficient and top quality workouts to choose from, plus over 500 mini-workout videos and tips
• Custom tailored workout plans that users can choose from based on their weight loss goals or fitness personality
• A healthy lifestyle blog with articles, tips and videos provided by our trainers and lifestyle experts
• An active Community featuring fitness challenges, experts to answer health and workout questions, success stories, and a pool of trainers and message boards
• An online storefront where customers can own workouts and buy fitness/healthy living products

LTK: In March, ExerciseTV started a new community online. Could you describe the purpose of this new site, and the types of things that people can expect to find there?

AW: ExerciseTV’s online community is for our users to connect, share, learn and earn points toward fitness products, workouts and plans in our online store. We encourage people to support each other in their weight loss efforts, and want to reward them with products that keep their weight loss momentum rolling. Members of the ExerciseTV community have access to: fitness and nutrition experts, personal trainers, they can share success stories, download video-based and written workout plans, create and answer fun polls and get exclusive ExerciseTV workouts.

LTK: ExerciseTV sometimes makes use of YouTube to distribute some video content. Do you find that this has been an effective way to get the word out about ExerciseTV?

AW: We see YouTube as an audience that is both interested in working out to our videos, and fascinated with what goes on behind the scenes, trainer personalities and funny fitness videos. Users will find a variety of ExerciseTV videos on our channel, and we’ll continue to use this platform to break new formats and drive brand awareness for our top quality fitness workouts.

LTK: ExerciseTV is also now on Twitter and on Facebook. Have you found that you are receiving a lot of activity at these social networks, and that these other networks are attracting new customers to the main ExerciseTV website?

AW: We love Twitter and Facebook! Our Twitter following grows daily. Stay tuned for 12 second video workout tweets. We recently created a Facebook Fan application so we can highlight our new widgets and create a robust Facebook profile for ExerciseTV. Our users are fans of Facebook’s group application, because of its messaging capabilities. ExerciseTV Facebook groupies should watch for an upcoming shopping event where they can take advantage of discounts in the ExerciseTV store. Both Facebook and Twitter continue to help with expanding our online audience and increasing our video-on-demand viewership, while allowing people to connect with our content and brand across multiple platforms.

LTK: What advice do you have for people who want to use social networks in their efforts to become more fit or lose weight?

AW: Social networking is such a powerful tool for health and fitness because consumers can share, learn and connect instantly through messages, photos and video. Our advice to consumers: Choose one core community and really immerse yourself, but join other communities in various niches to get more weight loss advice, find members in your area, get training tips, ask questions, check out testimonials and take advantage of unique offerings in each community. This way you’ll learn, get support and hold yourself accountable.

LTK: Can people expect to find a lot of positive support and encouragement in such a community?

AW: There is SO much positive support in our community. Sharing before and after photos and weight loss stories can have a domino effect on community members. People that share their success become examples for others and feel empowered to continue living a healthy lifestyle, learn more about weight loss and share what they learn. This generates more success stories and more people who can support other peoples’ weight loss efforts. We’ve even featured some of our top success stories in commercial spots that have run on ExerciseTV on demand, E! and Style.

LTK: Do ExerciseTV trainers take part in community discussions?

AW: ExerciseTV trainers often blog about workouts, offer healthy living tips and connect with our Community. Many of our trainers are highly invested in the success of ExerciseTV viewers. For example, have a look at blog posts from our Make Me Over trainer, Steve Maresca.

LTK: What do you envision for the future of ExerciseTV? Are there more social network events planned, or are there additional social networks that ExerciseTV may consider using to spread the word?

AW: Our goal is to keep expanding the opportunities for viewers to get and stay healthy. We currently offer an unmatched array of the hottest and most talented personal trainers leading the best workouts and will continue to:

• Expand our offering of free full length workouts online
• Produce a variety of new workouts in every workout category
• Partner with other online communities so that we can provide our audience as many weight loss tools as possible.

As Allison Wehrley describes in this interview, not only are social networks a great place to market a business or product, but when it comes to specific hobbies or interests, such as finding free online fitness advice, social networks are invaluable. ExerciseTV is a prime example of how people can use social network communities to make a very positive impact on their own lives, and the lives of others.

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