Slim Fast: Best Practice building a community
The Slim Fast site is an excellent example of building a community on the Internet.Slim Fast is the brand name for products to aid people in reducing weight. Being overweight and all, I've tried and tested their products in order to loose some weight.
Although no diet product can, in my opinion, stand the test with the surge of roaring calories through your body, these products are quite delicious. In the time I dieted, their products really helped to keep me going.
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If you're interested, I've lost about 20 kilograms in the last 3 years, now coming close to the 100 kg I have not weighed since 14 years (and still going strong)! Most of the weight loss I don't attribute to these diet products, but to a sensible lifestyle. But their diet products helped me through some dreaded platforms.
Being Internet savvy, I also became a member at the Slim Fast club. And I must say, they truly understand what it takes to build a community, all of which they can continually feed (nudge-nudge, wink-wink, know what I mean?) their product advertising.
Just how did they do that?
Becoming a member of the Slim Fast club brought me distinct benefits that made me want to stay a member (in order of perceived usefulness):
- Keep track of your weight loss, with charts
- The Buddy Program (link up with others to exchange motivation while you're dieting)
- A diet, days and meals, catered to my individual situation (weight, gender, and weight loss goal)
- Personal Food and Exercise journals to keep track of my progress
- Promotions & coupon offers
- Weekly Newsletter Tools for Healthy Living
I did't really need the following stuff, but you might:
- Personalized Fitness Program
- Ask the Dietitian if you have nutrition questions
- Live Chat Sessions
They took the information I have given them as Slim Fast club member, and used it to give me valuable information and content in return. Furthermore, in helping to associate me with other people with a weight loss goal (the Buddy program, remember?), they have risen the price of not being a member significantly. In doing so, they retain me as a club member...
and ultimately, a customer.
