There are more fitness professionals, gyms, fitness centers and exercise options for consumers than ever before. There are more posts, tweets, and pins on social media and less time spent viewing them than ever before. Essentially, you will pay more money for fewer looks on your print persuasion or on your radio or television ads than ever before.

It means that you will have to be more effective with each piece you prepare. Whether you’re talking about a low budget and grassroots campaign or regularly placing ads and direct mail, you want to make sure you’re getting a response. Here is a list of tips to help.

1. Your ad is targeted to a customer and their situation specifically. Gone are the days when you can offer a special discount on a service or product with no compelling reason to buy it.

2. There is a call to action. Examples include: call now, click here now and visit us today before it’s too late. Your client needs to know exactly what you want them to do next. Tell them.

3. There is urgency. Offer valid until midnight on Friday. The shortage can be part of the urgency by including a limited number of openings. Act now: three left.

4. Provide reciprocity. Pick up your free gift today. The first fifty attendees receive a free t-shirt. Click here to get your free report now.

5. Headlines that draw attention and attract the customer. You have about two seconds while a customer decides whether or not to open your email or continue reading the fine print on your flyer. It had better be good as it competes with a full inbox, the kids, a dog, dinner and yoga.

6. Clarity beats intelligence. Your reading level must be between 5th and 8th grade. It should be absolutely clear what the offer is describing and why your reader should care or continue to pay attention. The reader is thinking I’m busy, why should I bother?

7. Eye Flow is effortless. In ads or graphics where there is nowhere to look, the reader gets tired and frustrated or bored. Make sure your eye landing spot is planned and what you want. Ideally, it’s positioned such that the call-to-action button is where they land. It helps if it’s a different color.

8. Include photos. However, make sure your images are relevant. If you show a picture of an attractive slim redhead 22 years old, yes, that can attract most eyes. If your target market is 60 years old and gray-haired, you’ll have lost it before you launch.

9. Talk like they talk. If a customer asks for nutrition advice, by all means advertise with those words. Usually though they talk about fat, weight loss, thunder thighs, or belly fat. If you want them to listen to you, speak their language.

10. Try it. Even if you have checked all of these components, you can still go wrong. The above list is science. Bringing them together in a way that works is an art. So create two ads, or two newsletters, and test one element. When you decide which one has the most response, take it and use it or take another test, changing another unique item.

If you do this, chances are most fitness companies won’t, unless they’ve hired someone to come in and check with them, you’ll set yourself apart. Naturally, you will attract a better quality customer.