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capriccio-con-espressione · 5 years ago

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N(oona) C(raving) T(endencies)

This is my 3k words of analysis of NCT members who I think are likely to have a noona kink based on the ask. Enjoy!

Disclaimer:

By this I am not saying that other members not mentioned here don't have any possibility to date an older female/enjoys referring to their dommes as noona, it's just like the tendency/preference isn't that clear or obvious in my opinion. Do not send in rude comments just because you disagree though I will appreciate some feedback.

Warning: Sub!Taeyong, Sub!Jungwoo, Sub!Mark, Sub!Xiaojun, Sub!Jaemin, Domme!Reader, Femdom, Noona kink, Degradation, Whipping, Spanking, Pegging, Public humiliation, Role-play, Oral sex, Sex toys, Dry humping, Dildo riding, Mentions of mental health issues/negative emotions

Taeyong

This boi is insufferably kinky and subby

In Baby Don't Like It he stated he likes it rough

In Whiplash he literally emphasized again how much of a painslut he is

And his ideal type is “Someone who can teach me, lead me, and make up for my flaws.”

To conclude this, Tyongie may be craving for a strong, mature female's guidance when he's lost and insecure, a noona domme who can heal all the anxiety, stress and inner guilt he's been through by her ruthless discipline, plus, the age hierarchy implied in the title will allow him to sink into his headspace even more.

He's such a sucker for this torment that, with one stern look from you, he will automatically strip naked and ready himself in the humiliating positions assigned by you before without any spoken command, and obediently waits for the first slap/whip while trembling in both anticipation and thrill

I can totally picture him begging his noona for more punishment, though already red, sore and sobbing

"...Ahhh noona I'm sorry... *sniffles* please punish me more for being a bad, ill-mannered boy...don't stop mmmff-"

However, that being said, if that noona domme is actually younger than him, he may be down for the added humiliation due to the role reversal

Imagine that younger domme dismissively orders him to call her "noona" in public, and commands him to use honorifics to speak to her, the exact type and wording that make him sound humbled…

He will be turned on by that while people around you shoot puzzled gazes toward you as they wonder why the hierarchy dynamics aren’t in the right place, making Taeyong feel embarrassed as well as aroused

By the way, some role-plays can be added to spice up your sex lives as well, e.g. CEO x employee, professor x student, guard x prisoner, to name a few, as long as you are in power and makes sure to beat the naughtiness and disobedience out of him

Though being intensely kinky during the session, aftercare for this precious boy has to be really fulfilling as well

So you have to be able to play an attentive caring role just like a noona (a little bit maternal figure as well, I have to admit)

Make sure the process is all intimate and brimming with praises, reassuring the broken figure that the "bad boy" is "forgiven" to thoroughly sew up his wounds

Bubble bath, scented candles with calming aroma, sensual massage with essential oils of his favorite scent and texture, or having some good quality snacks while cuddling, are all good options for aftercare because all of them can reinforce the idea that he’s “worthy” of anyone’s love and attention due to the physical contact and interactions allowed in them

So steamy and sensual that if done correctly, Taeyong may be in the mood for another round of vanilla sex to get an extra gratifying orgasm again

Jungwoo

A clingy little pup that will follow you around and will cutely pout when not given enough attention or skinship

Loves to be babied and taken care of, so he would love the accompany of a sweet caring noona to make him feel at ease (borderline mommy kink as well)

Remember that Valentine's Day Facetime vid where he just referred to the viewer insert as "noona"? That probably implied his preference for an older female figure

Will do anything to please you since he's very love-starved and doesn't want you to feel uncared for because he knows too well how much that sucks, he will shower you with the same amount of affection he expects from you as well

Anxious and always worries about if he's still "needed", so that's why he will opt for a perspicacious noona to counsel him for his delicate soul to rely on, and shower him with the adequate amount of love then pamper him

Melts at cute pet names such as pup, angel, prince, little fairy, snoopy or any endearing terms because they make intimacy upgrade to another level

May act a bit playful or even borderline bratty from time to time, mainly to spice things up and get some sexy punishment to release his excess nervousness

But hardcore stuff definitely isn't for him, since the soft boy can't tolerate much pain.

Light impact play on his erogenous zones is fine, but he enjoys the feelings of vulnerability and exposure more rather than the pain itself

The type to let out loud moans even when just getting his underwear peeled down because the instant when the air hits his flesh is a huge turn-on for him, so much to the extent he is yearning to beg you to fuck him just from getting naked

Very sensitive, literally gasps, squirms and grinds every time when you caress or slap his sweet zones and will beg you to stop though you know he's enjoying it too much

Will repeat your title like a mantra as if it's the only thing that can keep him sane

Be wailing like "Hnnngh noona pretty pleeaase stop spanking me ahhh noona no I'll be a good boy pleaseee it stings noona I'm sorryyy hahhh" but the way how his hips rock against your lap will betray his words, giving you more reason to torture him

Loves being pegged and used, or getting his all possible sensitive spots stimulated and stuffed at once because he just lusts after every inch of his body being thoroughly pleasured inside-out, and drown in the depths of overstimulation and hedonistic ecstasy to feel completely loved and secured

Edging is really suitable for this delicate boy because of the enhanced experience after prolonged denial, which makes the orgasm more earth-shattering than ever

Though he will be a teary puddle and begs you to end the ordeal, the uncertainty and feebleness associated with edging will turn his mind into a soaring frenzy state even more, enabling him to release all his pent-up frustrations and negativity while finally allowed to empty his balls

Likely to get emotional and will hold on to you very tight during post-climax aftercare due to the intense sensation that just washed through his mind and body, feeling extra fragile and really needs to be thoroughly cared for

Petting his head, kissing his tears away with "I love you"s constantly coming out of your lips is a must, as he drifts to sleep like a fallen angel nestled in his safe space, which is the warm spot between your chest and your arms

Mark

An easily flustered mess when it comes to straightforward proactive girls

Having left his family and devoted himself to the industry at such a tender age, he may want to be the more passive, dependent one in a relationship to make up for his lost adolescence

So he's probably looking for someone who he can rely on and takes the initiative in bed, while all he has to do is to close his eyes and enjoy himself

When he finds you, to whom he trusts enough to pour his doubts and perplexion about life, and is always guaranteed to receive some really thoughtful response, he sees you as someone very valuable.

But more than that, you are a woman who seems to have endless fuel of passion, the exact type with whom Mark can replenish his strength when he got engulfed by the abyss of stress

Also, you are notably witty with words that sometimes aids his lyric writing process, but that means he can never win against you in any friendly bickers as well, especially when you cite some of his lyrics to roast him that renders him speechless.

Yet somehow, he gets hooked to the feeling of being a powerless flustered bundle in front of you

Gradually it develops into dirty imagination of you manipulating him into a mindless mess

And you are exactly the burning blaze that will scorch his body with vehement desires, make him so depraved yet still internally demand more

Never did he realize that being obedient for a noona figure will feel this good until he met you, his ideal match

You will guide him how to touch himself properly like a big sis, then demonstrate it yourself followed by some edging, as he whimpers at the sense of loss every time his build-up is ruined, pleading you with those big puppy eyes

And when you get to peg him, he will love the feeling that he's completely owned by you, getting his ass spanked while fucked also serves as a good reminder of who he belongs to

Doesn't talk much during sex to indulge fully. Expect some incoherent moans and weak chants of your title from him instead

But the boy also knows how to reciprocate when he's ordered to. He knows how to work that rapper tongue too well even if his brain is not fully functioning

His tongue can do wonders to your folds and is guaranteed to perform great with your strap in his mouth, looking up at you with those pretty doe eyes all the time to see if you like how he's doing

Will probably require some time and space for himself to just chill and cool down during aftercare instead of being very clingy, all you need to do is to make sure he’s comfy, or place a glass of drink he likes beside him while he’s organizing his thoughts or doing anything that fits his mood.

No extra words or skinship is needed at this moment because based on your understanding and observations of him, he’ll be fully recharged when you decide he is most of the time

Xiaojun

A sensitive, sentimental bub that ponders a lot about lots of things

Passionate about music, and perhaps some classic literature or philosophy

So he may want his partner to share the same interests so he can love the way she wanna talk even more

Likely to crumble for a woman who’s sophisticated, cultured and speaks in a refined manner, and is often willing to discuss some profound matters with him, to the extent sometimes Xiaojun cannot keep up easily and may feel a bit flustered, but is secretly admiring her wits deep down while she’s patiently explaining some new art concepts or ideas to him

Hence, when he finds you, who is capable of playing that role and opening up new worlds to him, he is not only delighted but also excited and intrigued, anticipating every chance to talk to you more but when he finally seizes the opportunity, he will appear to smile shyly, avoiding your gaze all the time but whenever he slightly peeks at you, his eyes will be glittering with dreamy haze of enchantment

Because to him, knowledgeable women seem to have boundless potential that makes them distinctively mysterious as well as alluring, and he’s all about succumbing to that vast endearing wilderness, with you being the compass controlling his every move (lowkey sapiosexual I guess)

The fact that you are the embodiment of versatility, artistic grace, and mellow charisma, yet all cordial to him just like a jiě jie (noona in Mandarin) next door will flutter his heart as he falls for you even more

So once you finally end up in bed, he will be very enthralled and eager to please, and will literally subserviently worship every inch of your body as if you are a Goddess while complimenting you all the time

Yet not long after he will be amazed by another fact about you, that is, you are the definition of the saying “Sweet in the streets, freak in the sheets”

Xiaojun will soon find himself restrained while bent in compromising positions, with toys he never imagined a sweet person like you will ever own torturing his body and lust-crazed soul, as you whisper nasty degrading things to him, skewing and corrupting some classic literary works during the process, which makes him intoxicated in another sinfully imaginative aspect of your mind

Since he’s a sucker for anything about you, neglect play is a perfect way to torment him.

Chain him up and place a toy on him, which can be either a vibrator or a prostate massager, before leaving him untouched, and watch him writhe and moan helplessly in unsatisfied heat, with his distinctive brows furrowed, eyes glossy with plead and need, a beautiful image perfect to be ruined

Open to lots of kinks since you are able to make them gratifying and mind-blowing every time as he becomes closer to your ideal notion of subby boy toy with every progress

Will still remain a blushy mess when ordered to beg or admit something humiliating even after getting fucked multiple times, though he likes it so much

Something simple and lewd like “jiě jie please come in and fuck my slutty hole” “My pathetic dick only exists to be ravished by jiě jie” works well for him as he finally climaxes

This precious pretty boy is not all passive when receiving aftercare. Instead, he will sensually plant kisses all over your body while telling you how good you made him feel and how deeply he loves you

Melts and buries his face into the crook of your neck or sheets later on when you say the same back to him and praise him for taking you so well

Few moments of silent bliss will pass between you before you guide him back to reality again

Jaemin

Another little painslut that wishes to be tamed and roughed up

His tolerance of pain may not be as high as Taeyong, but he likes the humiliation as much as the older does

Being an idol is stressful and suppressing, so he desperately needs to find some release through some pleasurable pain for the endorphin rush

Preferably receiving it from a noona-like figure who definitely knows what she’s doing, and again the hierarchy from her title will enable him to feel floaty and more deserving of the punishment

He’s the type to be horny really often and does barely anything to hide it, qualifying him as a very communicative, responsive and expressive sub

So he acts up all flirty and bratty in front of females who he deems as potential targets, to evaluate who’s probably sadistic enough to cater to his needs judging from their reactions, and of course, your dismissive attitude and sharp chastisement on his behavior intrigue him

Then he will make a further approach to gain your attention, from unsolicited winks and aegyo to cheesy pick-up lines, even going as far as some skinship that you are smart enough to know how intentional it is, all screaming brat demeanor that gets you irritated and riled up

Once he finally successfully gets you to bare his bottom and bend him over your lap, he’s a mesmerized moaning mess while enjoying basking in your tauntingly degrading words, admitting he’s noona’s dimwitted slut even before you ask him that

But of course, a sound spanking is still not enough to quench his submissive needs, he will literally shamelessly beg for more

In a provocative way

He will blatantly seduce you, from inappropriately touching you to straight-up humping you until you lose it to punish him for being obnoxiously needy, tying him up and dishing out toys or other implements that can deliver even more intense pain

At first, he will feign reluctance by pouting or complaining how much it hurts even though it’s still far from what he is able to take, in order to infuriate you and provoke more out of what you can give him

Being insatiable as he is, after some pain inflicted on him, he will reveal his true masochistic self and directly asks you to punish him harder just like Taeyong will do, but Jaemin’s self-degradation will be much more hardcore and a bit creative

“Noona please do it harder! Ahh- I’ve been badder than that! Make your naughty indecent-minded whore cum just by paddling me because I’m that pathetic mmmff-”

When you are dicking him down, he will beg you to destroy his hole and be really graphic about it, making his intentions of wanting you to abuse him like a fucktoy utterly clear to drive you wilder, with that iconic blissful smile plastered on his pretty features

He will be obsessed with your powerful strength while ramming into him so much that he will masturbate by riding a dildo while moaning loud enough for you to take notice and break into the room

After you are pissed that he’s playing with himself without your permission, he will be all like “But I missed noona’s big mighty cock so much that I can’t wait hnnnghh noona please come punish my horny hole and make it so swollen and sore that it won’t whore up ever again pleeaaseeeee”

You will definitely be so sexually active and satisfied with him as your sub because of his neediness and salacious talk to ignite your dominant desires

Even though he enjoys getting fucked all over to earn some revival to his work-drained soul, and appears to recover really quickly after orgasms, even capable of engaging in some playful conversations with you, it’s still likely for him to feel hollow and internally worn out due to the drastic neurochemical change but he won’t make it obvious

So you will need to be really observant and keep reassuring him for his well-being because all the excessive stress he’s been struggling through that makes him this submissive is stemmed from his desperate needs for praise and recognition

That’s also one of the reasons why I think he will be into a noona domme because approval from superiors is relatively more rewarding

But with proper aftercare, he’ll stay hooked to you and continue to pleasure both himself and you with matching kinky desires

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supersagehabesha · 4 years ago

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sarissophori · 4 years ago

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Forebode, Chapter 1

UCS Wayfarer, registration 0732-419-058B

Crew: 15

Homeport: Sorenson Orbital Shipyards, Nova Astria, Reyal system

Destination: Uncharted system XH-31590M

Mission: To locate UCS Wanderer and crew, classified missing;

To rescue, if any, survivors from Wanderer;

To resume, if able, Wanderer’s assignment of surveying moon XH-Ld for possible habitation.

Manifest: Hindel, Captain Laura B.

Ellson, Ensign Brian A.

Tajmaran, Ensign Ashok K.

Komev, Ensign Nanya H.

Walsh, Dr. Kane S.

Talgold, Dr. Elliot T.

Hornens, Chief James G.

Mason, Chief Ben R.

Ausmith, Lieutenant Jim A.

Han, Dr. Henry F.

Varrez, Dr. Anna I.

Barrens, Sgt. Frederick R.

Farzen, Pvt. Jon D.

Davis, Pvt. Calvin S.

Duvin, Pvt. Amal L.

The interior of the Wayfarer was empty and still, the corridors dark, lit only by reserve power. The dull drone of the engines, the ship’s loudest noise, hummed through her three main decks, with no one to listen. For six standard months this was how she traveled, ghosting her way from her home system out to the unknown for the purpose of making it known, boosted by her main drives to a fraction of the speed of light. The onboard computer monitored, along with everything else, the closing lightyears and astronomical units towards the ship’s ultimate destination: a distant system once beyond the reach of humanity’s interstellar grasp, and far, far beyond the homeworld where that reach started near three centuries before.

Now entering the boundaries of this alien system, the computer decelerated the main drive to impulse power, and warmed the primary generators; harsh florescent lighting kicked on, and it began waking the crew under its care.

Its lonely sojourn and last-minute tasks completed, it now awaited the command to return automated control of the ship to manual, reverting to standby once more, until the long journey back home.

Inside the Wayfarer’s stasis chamber, fifteen cryo-pods began the process of slowly revitalizing their occupants, gently rising them from frozen sleep to the eve of consciousness. The lids hissed and opened, taking the crew from dark pleasant numbness to a stark, florescent reality.

Stiffly, one by one, they sat up, rubbing their cold dry skin and stretching in the artificial gravity. The crew’s assigned search and rescue (SAR) contingent, sergeant Barrens and privates Farzen, Davis and Duvin, were first on their feet.

“We’re warming up before we hit the showers” Barrens said, rolling his shoulders. “Come on, forty reps each, get to it.”

“And lose first dibs on water, sir?” Davis said.

“I guess so” Barrens said. “A small price to pay for keeping your mind and body sharp floating in the middle of nowhere. Don’t make me go to fifty.”

With that Barrens dropped and started his push-ups, his men following.

Next out was Captain Hindel of civilian rank, who wasn’t quite as enthused with exercising first thing after cryo-sleep. Stifling her yawns, she went from pod to pod, checking on her crew and helping them amble out onto the deck: engineers Hornens and Mason, and shuttle pilot Ausmith, veteran ship-hoppers with years spent beyond the core systems, always used to doing more with less; doctors Walsh and Talgold, on their first deep space assignment; ensigns Ellson, Tajmaran and Komev, fresh from the academy and also on their first assignment; civilian science officer Han with a twenty-year background in xeno-biology; and geological specialist Varrez, who had never left Nova Astria before; a fresh crew under a first-time captain hoping to make a good impression for Sorenson.

They all showered, dressed, ate and manned their stations, be it the hangar bay, engineering, or the bridge. Captain Hindel was already at work, giving the computer the codes necessary for manual control, restoring initiative to all primary consoles and terminals. Successful readouts showed green across her display, and the soft hum of electricity filled the bridge.

The doors behind her opened and her flight officers walked in, each assuming their post under the gaze of her captain’s chair.

“Morning ma’am” they said.

“Ensigns” Hindel said. “Enjoy your first cryo-sleeps?”

“Ugh, if you can call it sleep” Komev said, sitting down at navigation. “More like passing out inside a freezer. Christ, they’re cold.”

“You get used to it” Hindel said.

“If you say so, captain” Ellson said, joining Tajmaran at the helm.

“At least none of you got nauseous” Hindel said. “That’s very common with first timers.”

“I wanted to” Komev said. “I still want to.”

“You can, just not on your console, please.”

Komev swished a quick salute. “Aye-aye, ma’am.”

“Good” Hindel said. “Has manual been fully restored to helm?”

“Yes ma’am” Ellson said, testing his controls for responsiveness. “Helm’s green.”

“Scanners showing green as well” Tajmaran said.

“Navigation?”

“Navigation’s green” Komev said.

“Secondaries?”

“Checking with Engineering” Tajmaran said. “Engines on medium burn, fifty percent impulse. Reactors within normal parameters; coolant systems functioning properly.”

“Any signals from the Wanderer?”

“No ma’am” Komev said. “No beacons, no distress calls, not even broadband transmissions. Just space and static.”

“Keep trying” Hindel said, even though she, and they, knew how remote the chances were of picking up anything. The last transmission from the Wanderer was nearly two standard years ago, before she was declared missing; a check-in from their captain letting home base know they had reached the system safely. That in mind, Hindel sent out her own check-in back to control at Nova Astria, getting a funny, foreboding feeling as she did.

The Wayfarer sailed on into system XH-31590M, the twin suns Xandra and Halbert shining faintly off starboard side, bathing radiance on the twelve planets and dozens of moons in orbit; mostly small, rocky worlds bare to radiation, unfit for colonies. More promising was the system’s four gas giants and their impressive array of planet-sized moons, some measuring twenty thousand kilometers in circumference, with atmospheres.

Gliding past the outermost three, after one-hundred and twenty standard hours, the Wayfarer came into visual range of the innermost and largest of the giants, XH-Lambda, a rusty orange twinkle on the forward windows, three point twenty-five AUs from their current position; Xandra and Halbert were now the brightest stars in their relative space.

“Try again” Hindel said.

For the hundredth time Komev sifted through all available channels for any kind of transmission indicating the Wanderer was still broadcasting, repetition somewhat dulling her resolve, but always ready to catch the faintest ping on her headset. After a few minutes, she shook her head.

“Nothing, ma’am.”

“Are you scanning for short-range comms as well?”

A slight pause, then “With respect ma’am, those aren’t strong enough to make it out this far— assuming its originating from the planet.”

“Even so” Hindel said. “Now that XH-L is in visual, I’d like you to start. Your point is noted, but we can’t assume their position until we have confirmation. I want confirmation.”

“Aye Captain.”

Hindel turned to the helm. “Anything on scans?”

“Just dust and radiation feedback” Tajmaran said. “A few metallic signatures too, but none matching the Wanderer; most likely asteroids.”

“There’s a debris cloud point seven-five AUs off portside” Ellson said. “But that puts it too far out from the Wanderer’s course to be her. Scans show the composition doesn’t match anyway.”

“I still want a report sent to my quarters before rotation’s end” Hindel said.

“Will do, ma’am.”

Hindel sat back in her chair, elbows on armrests, and stared off past the forward windows to the twinkling gas giant growing before them with every hour, touching the dark corners of the bridge with a soft orange. Her training always insisted on proactivity and improvisation to help achieve a mission, especially in uncharted space, but what more could be done? Sitting in a chair, listening for a noise, looking for a signature, repeating to nauseum; it gnawed at her instinct to do more, especially after so long with nothing to show for it.

Yet she admitted to herself, quietly, that her expectations really weren’t too different than her officers at this point. She knew they weren’t going to find anyone out here in the literal middle of nowhere, not after all this time. This was a glorified salvage mission, absolutely. Still, she felt the need as captain to put on a brave face, insist on finding survivors, and keep her crew focused. Besides, if they were ever lost, she’d sure like to know that any ship sent to look for them didn’t simply write off hope at the start. Anyone lost out here deserved that much.

After one hundred and sixty-eight standard hours since waking, the mass of XH-Lambda filled the forward windows of the Wayfarer’s bridge, making them polarize for compensation. Bands of red and dusty brown swirled and mixed like estuaries, blending into thunderheads flickered by pinpricks of static lightning, or swelling into deep crimson spots fed by their own tidal rotations. Ellson and Tajmaran took their readings and uploaded them to the ship’s computer.

The Wayfarer tilted slightly starboard and nosed down, shifting their view of XH-Lambda and making a play of the shadows. As they entered its outer orbit, they came within visual of a moon glowing in the distance, an unassuming speck in the void. This speck, XH-Ld, was the Wanderer’s destination, and likely location.

“Scans, people” Hindel said. “Give me some good news today.”

Static crackled in her headset as Komev tried again to hone in on a manmade signal, beacon or communication on any frequency…finding none. Tajmaran analyzed sensor pings around the moon’s orbit for artificial traces, including wisps of ionized radiation, also coming up empty.

“Sorry captain, the usual story.”

“Well that just leaves the moon itself then, doesn’t it?” Hindel said. “Ellson, take us within low orbit over XH-Ld, holding at three hundred kilometers.”

“Setting course” Ellson said, tapping in the coordinates. “ETA in four hours.”

Hindel nodded and stood up from her chair.

“Ellson, you have the bridge. I’ll be in my quarters if anyone needs me.”

The captain isolated herself in the ‘study’ of her bedroom, taking the time to send off her first report since entering the XH system:

<Log 1

Hindel, Laura A. manual report

Mission time: 4,488.23.00 hours

System scanned for all comms; negative finds, no responses. Within short range

broadcast of XH-L and moon. Area around moon scanned; no results. Will attempt

again once in low orbit. Search team on standby. Secondary mission parameters

still assumed. >

“Computer, sinfonia number two, the romantic.”

Classically-styled music played from her desk, filling the room with its waltzing melody and sending her worlds away from the tedium of the bridge, back to the green, rolling fields of Coasta Paradizia on Mars where she grew up. She closed her eyes and saw the sun again, and wind-swept plains with deep canals emptying into the wetlands of Mare Cydonia. The summer cloud fronts over the Arabia Gulf made for particularly beautiful sunsets, and she saw them again, here at her desk, at least for a while.

#story #sci fi #science fiction #horror #sarissophori

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articlewritingbd · 4 years ago

Text

A Step-by-Step Guide For Writing a Compelling Article Introduction

Wouldn't it be great if each and every single individual that clicked one of your posts review it from beginning to end, incapable of drawing their eyes away from the display?

I think we both recognize the solution to that concern.

To attain this goal, however, you should understand the art of article writing exciting intros.

Wait for a second; you're thinking and writing introductions? Isn't that sort of a small detail of a 2,000-word article?

Your article introduction is not tiny information.

The introduction to your article is typically the distinction between interesting readers and having a bounce price high enough to make a click-baiter cringe.

Consider it. You'll shed them if you don't grab your visitors right away.

You experienced all that work of content writing an excellent article, right? You worked hard at it. You spent a great deal of time on it. You did a heap of research.

If your introduction draws, your initiatives will certainly be all for nothing.

You shed prior to you even began!

If you intend to compose great content, improve the success of your advertising campaigns, and boost the loyalty of your followers, you need to master writing intros.

Allow me to show you exactly how.

1. Master the opening line

To have a solid introduction, you require to open with a strong initial sentence.

The millisecond your visitor strikes the web page, they have a very high possibility of leaving the page.

Data claims so.

The initial sentence has one single objective: to entice the reader to read the following sentence. In doing so, it sets the tone for the remainder of the article, hooking the viewers in, one action at once.

If you fall short at this, your readers won't scroll.

This is a histogram revealing how far people scroll via Slate article pages. Each bar represents the share of individuals that quit scrolling at a specific place in the article. (An article is assumed to be around 2000 pixels long; if the top of your internet browser home window gets to the 2000-pixel mark, you're counted as scrolling 100% with the article. The X-axis most likely to 120% since on many pages, there's normally things listed below the 2000-pixel mark, like the remarks area.)

This graph consists of people that spent any time involved with the page whatsoever (users that "jumped" from the page right away after touchdown on it are not stood for.) The graph reveals that many Slate visitors do not scroll in any way. That's the spike at the 0% mark, standing for regarding 5% of readers. Most site visitors scroll concerning midway via a regular Slate tale. The spike near completion is an abnormality brought on by pages, including photos as well as video clips - on those web pages; individuals scroll with the entire page.

As well as if they don't scroll, they won't engage.

Take a look at this article by Dilbert author Scott Adams to see just how the initial sentence is done.

He composes this:

I went from being a negative writer to a good writer after taking a one-day training course in "service writing."

That's a fantastic opening line.

Why? Because it makes me would like to know more!

- How did he come to be an excellent writer?

- What did he discover?

- Could I take advantage of it too?

Adams accomplished. He attracted us in by making us ask questions.

The remaining 980 words of your article will be a complete waste if you do not understand just how to craft an intriguing initial sentence.

Save your writing introduction suggestions in one place across all the paper applications you make use of.

With a couple of easy methods, the good news is for you, writing an incredible initial sentence can be rather simple.

The very first point to bear in mind is that you want to maintain the first sentence brief. This makes it very easy for the visitor to digest the first littles details and stops them from wearying swiftly.

But there is even more to it than that.

It would be best if you made certain that the very first sentence orders the visitor's attention as well as holds it for the remainder of the article.

Below are a number of reliable techniques that produce incredibly compelling, very first lines.

Ask the reader an inquiry.

This is a simple method to get the viewers' focus and get them engaged without a great deal of effort.

For instance, if you are writing an article on stopping your job as well as starting your own business, you could open with the inquiry: "Did you recognize that practically 70% of Americans report being proactively disengaged from their jobs?"

Why does this work?

It concerns the brain's "limbic incentive system."

When this system is triggered, dopamine is released. And also, dopamine gives us a sense of benefit and pleasure.

When we are fascinated by an inquiry, i.e., experience a sense of curiosity, the limbic benefit system brightens. Which's why we intend to keep reading - it's rewarding to please curiosity.

Writer Olga Khazan asks an inquiry that's on everybody's mind, causing the visitor to be instantaneously interested.

We desire to recognize the response to that inquiry, so we maintain reading.

That's why a question is an excellent opening line. You can also make use of the inquiry as to the article title.

Inform a story

The mind likewise illuminates when it comes across a tale.

According to the theory of neural coupling, particular portions of the brain are triggered when a reader believes regarding the very same psychological as well as exercise that a character in a tale is doing.

James Clear normally begins his blog posts with a story, typically a true tale.

The story makes his viewers curious about the article and keeps them reading to the actual end.

Make use of a surprising quote.

An additional excellent method to begin your article is to make use of an attention-grabbing quote.

Allow's say you are writing an article on world traveling. A fantastic method to present the article would undoubtedly be with the quote from Helen Keller:

" Life is a daring experience, or absolutely nothing at all."

Tell the viewers to visualize

Stimulating the imagination is a quick way to attract the visitor right into the experience of the article.

Notification just how this article from Wired For Story begins:

The viewers attempt to comply with the essential by visualizing. This initiative urges the visitor to review further, attracting them into the article.

Writers for The Atlantic are skills at their craft. This writer does the very same thing - asking the visitor to think of it.

Share a fascinating reality.

When the Internet is so rife with crappy details and deceitful "masters," individuals are hesitant in a day and age. They have every factor to be.

Opening your article with a pertinent truth or fact is a wonderful method to develop depend on as well as authority from the first sentence and also let viewers understand you've done your research.

1. Have something one-of-a-kind to state

Okay, so you've crafted an excellent, very first sentence, as well, as you have your reader's interest.

Currently what?

Now, you need to hold that interest by having something unusual and fascinating to claim.

Very few individuals take time and energy regularly to generate new, thought-provoking content. You'll set on your own apart from the herd in a huge method if you do.

Neglect re-purposing of old articles or rewriting things from various other individuals' internet sites. You have to state something they've never listened to prior to if you want to have the visitor's regard and interest.

Unfortunately, a great deal of right stuff you read today has actually been spewed 28 times previously.

Let's imagine you run a traveling blog. Based on my suggestions, you write a number of 3,000-word comprehensive "How-To Guides."

Whenever a reader opens your guide on funding their first-round the globe trip, they'll expect to read all concerning airline company benefits programs, frugality, and bank card points.

Which information is terrific, yet it is likewise really common.

A better intro would certainly be something like this:

Exactly how would you such as to save up enough money in the following 6 months to spend every one of 2017 taking a trip the globe?

That would certainly be pretty epic?

Well, this is entirely feasible, and in today's article, I am most likely to show you just how you can do this.

It's not by avoiding your morning cappuccino or investing hundreds of dollars with your credit score cards on a few hundred miles, either.

I will show you how you can develop a life of flexibility and freedom by leveraging the abilities you already have, tactically picking your locations, and using an unfamiliar tax obligation secret that will conserve you countless dollars!

Sound good? Allow's reach it.

It's tough to be different. I recognize that.

In some cases, to create distinct stuff, we merely have to function harder, assume much longer, and research study greater than our competitors.

Right here are some means you can develop that unique voice in your article introduction:

- Share an individual tale or fact. You're the only you there is. You can share a tale or experience no person else can. One means to tell such a tale is to compose, "If you recognize me ...".

- Get your feelings in it. People have a psychological reaction to feelings. Individuals often tend to respond when we communicate our feelings in our writing. Emotion is additionally a one-of-a-kind as well as an individual thing. How do you connect this in an intro? Easy: "Want to know how I really feel about it? I feel ...".

- Share your objectives or vision. If you have a directing goal or vision permanently, you can communicate this in your intro. "That's one of the factors I composed this article. My goal in life is to ...".

- Make a guarantee. A guarantee is an eye-catching and individual point. Provide your viewers with a contract, and also, it will protect their loyalty and also their interest. "I assure you that I'll do my dead-level ideal to ...".

Distinct isn't easy. It's worth it.

2. Keep it easy.

We live in a globe where most individuals have a focus span of just a few seconds.

Apparently, our focus period is obtaining much shorter!

After a few secs, we get tired and also go on to the following glossy object.

Make sure your existing points as just as possible if you desire your viewers to make time in their days to read what you have to claim.

Longer posts, obviously, deserve longer intros. However, it's important to respect individuals' time and attention. You can not transform what is (people's attention deficit disorder) by writing a lengthy introduction based on what needs to be (longer interest spans).

Stay clear of babbling regarding how terrific your information is, and also share it currently!

3. Talk directly to the viewers.

Whenever you are writing academic products for other individuals, you wish to utilize the words "you" as much (and also as normally) as feasible.

In this article, I've made use of some variation of words you more than 100 times. Why? Because I'm speaking to you! I want you to know this info. I desire you to benefit from it.

By highlighting the word "you" in your article, you show the reader you are straight resolving them and also their situation and not just writing a generic article to the general people.

Yet there's another side to this. I must describe myself as well. My objective is to convey an individual feel to this article. It's me chatting with you? So it's just natural that I would refer to myself as well.

4. Describe what the article is about.

The factor of an intro is exactly that: to introduce the material that will exist in an article.

I can not tell you the variety of times online posts left me also puzzled me after reviewing a few of their paragraphs.

I could not inform whether the writers were educating me on how to run effective Facebook advertisements or telling me an unusual tale concerning their childhood.

Take a few sentences, and plainly explain what the article is most likely to cover without handing out also much information.

This will build suspense around the subject issue while still allowing your target market to understand what they might be in for.

A terrific example of this originates from the Buffer blog. Notification of how the intro positions an inquiry and also after that suggests responding to that concern.

Your curiosity stays high, but the intro sets the phase.

5. Explain the relevance of the article.

It's currently time to clarify why people should care when you've clarified what the article is.

Every person on the net approaches every new item of info with a simple inquiry: "What's in it for me?".

If you desire to create introductions that hook the viewers and aid your web content go viral, you need to master the art of describing what the reader stands to gain from the info you are sharing - the advantages.

How will it profit your visitors' lives? How will it resolve the trouble they are encountering? Just how will it treat a discomfort they are feeling?

You'll maintain your readers glued to your article till the last word if you understand how to quickly and efficiently answer these concerns.

Verdict.

A couple of things can make or damage your article as quickly as an introduction.

Suppose you can grasp the art of an initial couple of paragraphs. In that case, you'll have the ability to enhance reader involvement, improve sales, and also gain a track record as an incredible writer.

It's not an easy ability to master, yet like many Internet marketing points, it's relatively simple.

#article #article writing #content writing #content #content marketing #web content #web 2.0 #guest post

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diegrootkrokodil · 7 years ago

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The Russell Report - UR Gifts Storm - 27th at GP Birmingham

Although it has been a bit late coming, I have finally got around to writing a report from my Top 32 12-3 finish at GP Birmingham earlier this year. I had started out 8-1 and managed to run moderately well Day 2 to cash my first event and make a good start to the Pro season for 2017/8.

Background

Prior to the event I had managed to roundly 2-3 two MTGO Competitive leagues and go 3-1 at a friendly mid-week paper event down at Dark Sphere in London. Although my results were far from stellar, I more or less understood why I was losing games and was making steady progress to knowing how the deck is supposed to play. My closest corollary thus far in Modern is UG Infect.

Infect requires you to be able to do two things; the first is a tight balance of composed and patient play, amassing a critical number of cards and forcing through the win over a long and drawn out game. The other is having a good read for the situation and knowing when to go “all in” on a turn and be stone dead if they have the right card, with the prize usually being winning the game on the spot. Storm more or less plays the same way, with the debate on playing a turn 2 cost reducer usually being matchup dependent and/or how critical the Baral/ Electromancer is to your ability to win.

Why Storm?

Having established that I wasn’t doing very well in my initial testing, you might very well be wondering what ponderous set of decisions led me to registering what most people consider to be a challenging deck to play at a GP. Well, let me reveal a little secret to you about Storm in Modern: it isn’t that hard to play.

While I don’t put it into the category of Titanshift or EldraziTron which both genuinely have very few meaningful decisions and whilst the Storm deck has a lot of sequencing optimisations to consider, it really only requires you to be able to do basic maths and and count to something like 20. Or at least, I think that is true for the in game decisions, which are typically only truly interesting with the second Gifts pile you make. The “hard” decisions I believe are mostly made in sideboarding and mulliganing, where experience in the matchups comes to play an extremely important part of the decision making process. Many decks while sideboarding are not necessarily boarding into hate for your opponents sideboard cards. You are also typically not pivoting in a totally different way or even removing what might appear to be your slam dunk namesake card, something that is quite unintuitive to some players.

Storm is fundamentally good for the following reasons:

1. It has a reliable Turn 3 goldfish kill. Speed and consistency are everything in Modern, the format where dying on T4 is usually guaranteed.

2. It can kill on Turn 2 with the perfect hand using grapeshot and pseudo kill on Turn 2 /3 with goblins a greater percentage of the time. Even the bad matchups can sometimes be won, meaning that you’re never truly cold when you sit down to play.

3. The deck is very redundant with 8 cost reducers, 12 rituals and 8 cantrips. Most hands with a Bear, Cantrip and some Rituals are a keep.

4. Two colours and many basics means you take minimal damage from lands/ the coloured requirements are quite good. This allows us to sometimes play Blood Moon and register 3 basic islands in our deck.

5. Most decks don’t have good graveyard hate game 1, meaning that they have very few axis to interact with you on.

6. The opponent tilt value from playing storm.

The Event

Started 2-0 with byes, a critical aspect to success at Grand Prix.

R3 Titanshift 2-1

R4 Elves 2-0

R5 Eldrazi Tron 1-2

R6 GB Tron 2-1

R7 GW Company 2-1

R8 4C Shadow 2-1

R9 Jeskai Control 2-0

R10 Bant Eldrazi 0-2

R11 Eldrazi Tron 2-1

R12 Abzan Coco 1-2

R13 Abzan Midrange

R14 Eldrazi Tron 2-0

R15 Burn 2-0

My List

Maindeck

4 Baral, Chief of Compliance 4 Desperate Ritual 1 Empty the Warrens 3 Misty Rainforest 4 Gifts Ungiven 4 Goblin Electromancer 3 Grapeshot 3 Island 4 Manamorphose 1 Mountain 2 Past in Flames 4 Pyretic Ritual 4 Remand 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Serum Visions 4 Sleight of Hand 4 Spirebluff Canal 3 Steam Vents

Sideboard

1 Negate 2 Dismember 2 Dispel 1 Echoing Truth 2 Empty the Warrens 3 Lightning Bolt 2 Pieces of the Puzzle 2 Shattering Spree

There are a few rules in Modern and one of the main ones is that you have to be as proactive as possible. The inherent variance of the format mostly comes in your match-ups which means that you often have lost the round when you sit down to play. A good example of this is Titanshift against most fair green midrange decks. As the fair deck you are something like sub 20% to curve out and kill them fast enough before the inevitable Primeval Titan or Scapeshift kills you all whilst you are busy durdling about.

Storm bucks this trend and has the ability to more or less win against anyone given that you have the speed and resiliency necessary to beat even your tough matchups. Landing a turn 2 Baral or Goblin Electromancer puts them to the test immediately and usually means they have to respect the possibility of dying the next turn.

My Sideboarding Guide

Storm is the kind of deck where sideboarding is very important to get right, as you aren’t bringing in your generic haymakers and the rest of the maindeck is a finely tuned engine meaning you can’t start cannibalising all the parts whilst still expecting it to function.

Without further ado:

Grind through their heavy removal and kill with Goblins matchups (Abzan, Jund, Grixis Death’s Shadow etc.)

The philosophy here is to transition to a more value orientated deck that is probably not going to go off early and instead try to slog through their removal. You can pivot your win condition from Grapeshot to Empty the Warrens and make their spot removal suffer as you offer them a paucity of good targets. Lightning Bolt and Fatal Push don’t line up very well to lots of Goblins and you can usually hold onto the mana bear until such time where it is actually useful in play. Do not run them out into certain death for no value, you must be a patient Peter.

Pieces is great against graveyard hate and lets you dig for the right pieces whilst also filling up the yard for future Past in Flames. Empty is the backup win condition and is generally quite hard to beat for these sort of spot removal heavy creature decks. I personally like Dismember against the Angler/ Tasigur/ Goyf decks as a way to stop you randomly dying to creature beats. I might cut these on the play in favour of leaving in a few Remands, especially against the Delve threats or sweepers.

Cutting gifts might not seem very intuitive but as many decks board into Leyline of the Void, Rest in Peace or Surgical Extraction you are usually incentivised to reduce your vulnerability to those cards. The third Grapeshot is less essential given the newly diversified threat base and Remand isn’t very good at stopping the cards we really care about in these matchups (it also sucks against Inquisition or Thoughtseize).

- + 2 Pieces of the Puzzle

- +2 Empty the Warrens

- +2 Dismember

- - 4 Remand

- - 1 Grapeshot

- - 1 Gifts Ungiven

Kill them as fast as possible matchups (Burn, Tron, Affinty, Titanshift, Elves, Ad Nauseum, and Infect etc.)

Other combo decks frequently feature Artifacts that we care about. Even Titanshift will usually board into a mix of Relic of Progenitus, Grafdigger’s Cage or Chalice of the Void. We are really looking to go as fast as possible and try to race them, which usually means not playing around things too much apart from stuff we cannot beat or want to try and head off. Most of these decks also don’t have a plethora of removal for our bears, which means that we can often keep hands with only one and even board down to 6 in favour of more meaningful interaction such as Shattering Spree or Echoing Truth. The plan is to be prepared for their interaction and also prepared to beat them on a slightly different axis. Having access to lightning bolts against decks like Infect, Elves and Affinity allows us to win on the draw and slow down their fastest possible starts. Often T3 with no interaction on the draw against Affinity spells doom. Burn is sometimes called an unwinnable matchup, which is usually true in the face of an Eidolon game 1, but is quite beatable in post board games. Lean on your bolts and be careful using them. That Goblin Guide might kill us in the long run, but if you can’t take an Eidolon off the table then it’s game over my friend.

- + 2 Shattering Spree

- + 3 Lightning Bolts

- +1 Echoing Truth

- - 2 Electromancer

- -1 Empty the Warrens

- - 2 Remand

- -1 Gifts Ungiven

Patience and knowledge of the stack matchups (UW, UWR Control etc.)

The name of the game here is once again becoming patient Peter and forcing them to interact on one of their main choke points, which is usually either mana or cards. What this means practically is waiting, playing out land and then finally going over the top of their counter magic using our Remands (which are great on our own spells) and making use of Past in Flames / Gifts to grind them out of cards over the course of a longer game. Spell Queller can be a pain, so be careful not to walk into that one. I typically find this matchup to be favourable if you don’t run Gifts or another crucial spell into counter magic for no gain.

N.B. This is not an exact guide but more following general themes. Please do not bring in Shattering Spree against Elves or Lightning Bolt against Titanshift.

A quick matchup rundown of the Top 10 decks on MTG Goldfish:

Storm: It’s the mirror. Don’t mess up.

Affinity: Great for you on the play, still probably favoured on the draw.

Jeskai Tempo: Moderately favoured.

Eldrazi Tron: Draw dependent for them, probably a slight dog if they draw averagely.

Titanshift: The unlosable matchup.

GDS: Not good. Can storm them out if they go low enough. The critical mix of disruption, stubborn denial and removal makes this tough.

Tron: Moderately favoured.

Eldrazi and Taxes: The bears can help overcome Thalia, otherwise a moderate dog.

Burn: You’re going to die. Can maybe win if they don’t land Eidolon T2.

CoCo Decks: Favoured. They can’t usually interact with the combo Game 1 and Game 2 they are relying on a small list of cards to interact meaningfully (Eidolon of Rhetoric, for which we have Dismember/ Echoing Truth and precious little else).

A few more closing points regarding UR Gifts Storm:

1. Try to play around graveyard hate by boarding into Pieces and away from Gifts/ PiF.

2. Try not to expose yourself to Surgical Extraction if possible, this should be done by not putting your Grapeshots in the graveyard unless absolutely necessary. Try to draw them naturally if you suspect a Surgical. You can set up Gifts piles with cantrips and more Gifts to do this.

3. The magic number for mana left over after a Gifts is 3. With 3 red mana they are dead and it doesn’t matter which two cards they put into your hand from the classic “ PiF, Desperate, Pyretic, Manamorphose” pile. You will always have enough to cast PiF and keep going off.

4. Early Goblins can often do the trick, you need the stomach to go in hard on what can appear to be quite risky. Know when it is a good idea and when they are likely to just have a Ratchet Bomb to make your day go south quickly

5. Shattering Spree is very good against Chalice. The copies can go through the trigger and blow up multiple annoying artifacts.

6. Remanding your own Grapeshots is an easy way to generate more Storm without using the graveyard.

7. Don’t forget your loots from Baral when countering spells. This is also a good reason to hold excess lands.

8. The god hand is a Turn 2 kill. “Land, land, Baral, Desperate, Desperate, Manamorphose, Gifts” can often turn into a win if you draw a second ritual off a manamorphose or a cantrip you find along the way.

That’s all for now but I’ll be playing Storm in Madrid on one of the Mana Gaming Teams we send there for the team event. I’ve also been attempting to grind out a few wins with the deck in recent PPTQs to no notable success as yet.

Until next time:

Tom

#magic the gathering #storm #modern #gpbirmingham #ur gifts #baral #MtG

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gabriellakirtonblog · 5 years ago

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How to Sell Personal Training in Five Steps

It’s 10:02 a.m.

You wave goodbye to your previous client and take a long, slow breath, nervous for your next meeting.

With a brief stop at the office for some fresh client-intake forms, you put on your happy face. Chest up, big smile. You greet the potential client with a strong handshake. The sales meeting has begun.

After the small talk, almost every personal training sales meeting starts with a variation on one of these questions:

· “How much does it cost?”

· “How often do I need to see you?”

· “What do I need to do to lose X pounds?”

· “I just want a program to do on my own. Can you do that?”

Don’t answer any of them. Not yet. You’ll only lower your chance of making the sale, or hinder your ability to sell a bigger package than the client thinks she wants.

Instead, follow this five-step system for selling your personal training services:

Step 1: “What do you want to achieve?”

Step 2: Sell results, not packages

Step 3: Address objections

Step 4: Get the buy-in

Step 5: Get creative if necessary

READ ALSO: An Insider’s Guide to Mastering the Initial Consultation

Selling personal training step 1: “What do you want to achieve?”

Taking early control of the conversation is key. The simplest way to do that is to ask questions, starting with this one: “What do you want to achieve?”

Listen carefully to the answer, and take notes. (You brought a notepad and pen, right?) Active note-taking is important to make the client feel you care.

When the client stops talking, wait in silence for a count of two. You may feel more confused than Han Solo when he learned Leia is Luke Skywalker’s sister. But hold those thoughts. Chances are, she’ll start talking again, perhaps divulging a deeper purpose. Awkward pauses have an uncanny way of opening people up.

If she stays silent, ask her reasons for coming to you.

Pay special attention to emotional reasons, which may help fuel motivation during training. Never forget that emotion drives action.

Keep prodding until you understand what the client wants to achieve, and why. To make sure you heard right, paraphrase back to the client what she just told you. This assures the client that you’re paying attention, and trying to understand what she wants. Sometimes all I’d do during the first meeting with a client was ask questions and then paraphrase the answers.

Other questions to ask before moving on:

1. Have you been a member of a gym before?

2. Have you had a trainer before?

3. Why did you quit (or not achieve success) previously?

4. Any injuries that keep you from reaching your goals?

5. What are your expectations of me?

Selling personal training step 2: Sell results, not packages

Once you know what the client wants, you can sketch out a training plan. It doesn’t need to be perfect; you can fine-tune it later. The point is to write it down on paper so the client can see you already have an idea how to help her get the results she wants.

Some clients will want more detail than others. Let the client lead. If she asks about soreness, you can briefly explain how delayed onset muscle soreness works. If she wants to know more about your programming methods, share a few of your guiding principles. Stop when it’s clear she’s losing interest, and move on. Nobody wants a monologuing trainer.

Besides, your goal here isn’t to expand her knowledge of exercise science. It’s to give her an idea of what it will be like to train with you. If she can already see herself in the gym, the next few steps will be much easier.

Selling personal training step 3: Address objections

Objections are opportunities to close. You want objections. If you miss an objection or fail to adequately address it, you’ll lose the sale.

So be proactive. Say something like, “What do you think about the plan?” The client may say “great” or “good,” or raise an objection, or ask a question. It’s okay to answer questions about the program or clarify anything that’s unclear.

If the client says “good,” ask if she foresees any obstacles to training. Make sure you deal with all objections before asking for the sale. A sales meeting is a series of buy-ins and closing doors. Don’t leave any doors open.

Money is the biggest objection. But you’re not ready to talk price yet. If the client asks what you charge, say that you offer a few packages but aren’t sure yet which is best. Share your price sheet with the client and say, “Once we figure out what you need, we can land on the best package.” She’ll feel more at ease, and you’ll have more time to gather the information you need to offer the best solution.

Don’t bring up price before you’re ready. The cheapest trainer in the world is too expensive if the client isn’t yet sold on your value.

As the client begins to picture working with you, she may start selling herself on the idea, figuring out solutions to her own objections. At this point, your job is simple: Shut up. Let her talk through it.

Some objections you might hear when selling personal training:

· “No time”

· “I have to think about it”

· “Too expensive”

· “I have to ask my spouse/partner”

· “I’ve had a bad experience with another trainer”

For a solution to each objection, click here and go to category two: On Marketing, Getting, and Keeping Clients.

Selling personal training step 4: Get the buy-in

Before you talk price, book the person into your schedule. If you get clients to commit to times and dates first, they’ll be less likely to balk at the sale. In The Art of Choosing, Sheena Iyengar calls this the foot-in-the-door technique. Convince somebody to commit to a smaller decision, and the person is more likely to agree to whatever you propose next—which in this case is the money.

Remember that sales sheet you handed the client? It should have three options: a cheap option, a middle option, and a pricy option with all the bells and whistles. This is pricing theory 101. If you want to sell folks on your middle option, they’re more likely to choose it if it’s sandwiched by the other two.

See for yourself.

Compare this price sheet:

1. 3 sessions – $300

2. 20 sessions and 2 assessments – $1,800

3. 50 sessions, 3 assessments, a grocery store tour, and 5 massages with the therapist down the street – $4,800

To this one:

1. 3 sessions – $300

2. 20 sessions and 2 assessments – $1,800

Without that third package as a reference point, $1,800 seems like a lot of money, right? But with that option, the middle price seems a lot more reasonable, and most people will now choose it. Plus, believe it or not, some people just want the most expensive thing. And for those customers, you have a high-cost option, just in case.

Of those three options, highlight two—your first and second choices. Always present one as better, but say there’s a second option available. This takes it from a yes-or-no decision to an A-or-B decision.

So you might say something like this:

“Well, Sally, based on what we’ve talked about, I think the best way to achieve your goals is to see me three times a week and work out twice a week on your own, with my guidance.

“The most cost-effective option is the 50-pack of sessions. That’s about four months of training, more than enough time to get measurable results.

“If that’s too big a commitment right now, we also offer a 20-session package. Please also remember that if something comes up and you have to back out, the sessions are fully refundable, no questions asked.”

Offering a guarantee helps reassure the client that you’re a straight shooter, and not like others she’s heard about, or perhaps even dealt with. (Unfortunately, too many people have been ripped off by the many bad actors in and around the fitness industry.)

READ ALSO: Your Personal Trainer Marketing Sucks, and It’s Killing Your Business

Selling personal training step 5: Get creative if necessary

Your client has agreed to your plan and been impressed by your value. Good work! All that’s left now is to fill out the paperwork, ask for a credit card, and take payment. It should be that simple.

Unless it’s not.

Sometimes, no matter how well you’ve sold your value, the client just can’t afford to train with you as often as your plan requires. If that happens, it’s time to get creative.

I had one client, Vlad, who was recovering from rotator cuff surgery and didn’t have much money. Having done physical therapy, he wanted an exercise routine he could do three times a week with a focus on strengthening his shoulder and improving functional strength. He couldn’t afford to train with me that often, but he still wanted a program that changed frequently enough to keep him interested.

We agreed to meet once a week for seven weeks. Vlad’s form was already pretty good, and I was confident that, if I demonstrated new moves, he could emulate them the following week. He also knew that he could contact me with any questions.

I devised a workout plan for him that included seven categories:

1. Pull

2. Push

3. Mid-back/shoulder stability

4. Core stability/anti-rotation

5. Core rotation/flexion

6. Legs (hip dominant)

7. Legs (quad dominant)

8. Arms

I included four or five exercises in each group and instructed Vlad to choose one or two from each category per workout. Our in-person sessions focused on making Vlad comfortable with the exercises and teaching him how to know when to increase the weight.

By the time we were done, Vlad had a large assortment of workouts to choose from. The exercises were specific to his needs, and he knew how to progress. He reached his goals while staying within his budget.

He later referred his wife and daughter to me, and they ended up buying more than 100 sessions altogether.

The biggest mistake trainers make: prejudging clients

Always present the best option for the client’s goals, regardless of appearance, age, or anything you may think you know about the person.

I’ve trained high school students three times a week because they begged their parents after speaking with me.

I’ve sheepishly presented an older client with the cheapest option, only to later discover the client was well off. By then, I’d already set a precedent of training once every two weeks, and switching to multiple weekly sessions was impossible after that.

You are the product. Believe in your value and learn to communicate it to a client. Selling personal training is about confidence. Never miss an opportunity again.