Fitwittering

Why should fitness equipment suppliers care about Twitter? Observations of a Twitter newbie.

Twitter is the fastest growing online networking tool and an internet phenomenon - it as grown tenfold in the last year in the UK. Source: http://is.gd/kcYI

There are already Twitter communities (predominantly US based) of fitness enthusiasts, semi professional athletes and professional sports personalities. See http://www.blogger.com/www.twittfitter.com as an example.

These communities swap training programmes, nutrition tips, diet ideas and performance updates. The vast majority of these communities regularly use fitness equipment. In addition, they are information hungry. Do you want to know what is being twittered about your company? Then go to http://search.twitter.com/ and put in your brand details. See below for Precor:

JPmicek: @GMicek36 LOL! I just tweet while I'm doing cardio on the Precor. No way I culd tweet during workout w only 30-45 seconds between sets :)
about 8 hours ago from Twittelator · Reply · View Tweet · Show ConversationHide Conversation

Tajah: 35min on precor: avg HR 154, cal burned 507.8, gluteal workout 2. Yay! It feels great now but I'm gonna hurt 2morrow!
about 8 hours ago from mobile web · Reply · View Tweet

Dallas_Listings: This Precor commercial treadmill were just inspected and serviced. There are 5 left to choose from. Features:... re: http://ff.im/1eVCT
about 9 hours ago from FriendFeed · Reply · View Tweet

PubKevin: Headed to the ymca gym on clement. To run or to precor?
about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry · Reply · View Tweet

16thstreetj: The whole staff just worked off the hamantaschen by carrying new Precor dumbbells into the fitness center. Insert dumbbell joke here _____
about 18 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet

FatBoyGetsSlim: @Smudged I used to love this one eliptical called the "AMT" (All Motion Trainer) made by PRECOR. We had one at uni. Shame it's about $8k!
1 day ago from web · Reply · View Tweet · Show ConversationHide Conversation

LakersDotCom: Andrew Bynum is on a stationary bike and the Precor machine: http://sn.im/cn99q
1 day ago from web · Reply · View Tweet

adventuregirl: Going to go put my fat *ss on the Precor then off to Ikea...
1 day ago from web · Reply · View Tweet

FullLife: @wendybattles Traveling - my plan? - have a fridge in the hotel -plan to fill it with fresh fruits and veggies + hit the Precor fitness room
1 day ago from web · Reply · View Tweet · Show ConversationHide Conversation

nimmons: Precor usa. Cardio theater. 956I.
2 days ago from twidroid · Reply · View Tweet

glasgowunisport: 2 demo Precor AMT machines are now gone. Tell us what you think though! sport@gla.ac.uk
2 days ago from Netvibes · Reply · View Tweet

reaqueen: Studying genesis. Good time this morning. Now at gym on precor.
2 days ago from twitterrific · Reply · View Tweet

amesburyma: For Sale: PRECOR 5.19 EFX Elliptical Cross-Trainer Elliptical Ellipse (Amesbury) $1250: Rated Recently .. http://bit.ly/18zwyd (expand)
3 days ago from twitterfeed · Reply · View Tweet

Nycromancer: youll be performing at Hell, so hit the precor to be in great shape when youre on stage on Wed.
3 days ago from txt · Reply · View Tweet

msurman: @dria I LOVE my Precor. I use it all the time. I find them way smoother and nicer than Life Fitness.
3 days ago from TwitterFox · Reply · View Tweet

Twitter was not designed to be a commercial business tool but it can be used to derive commercial benefit. The opportunity exists for fitness equipment companies to develop pull marketing from thousands of gym equipment users.

Users of Twitter are naturally sceptical about businesses using Twitter for commercial benefit so an entry must be well planned and well executed otherwise it could have quite the opposite effect. The biggest benefit of Twitter is knowledge sharing and suppliers have plenty of knowledge to share: how to use specific pieces of equipment, training techniques, nutrition etc is valuable and Twitter is the ideal platform to utilise this.

The utopia is for a fitness equipment manufacturer to build up a network of followers (both brand users and non brand users) through knowledge sharing. As the community grows and strengthens more gym/home gym choices will be made according to equipment or demand to install a particular line of equipment because of the support network that can be accessed via Twitter.