Personal trainers work with clients who need instruction and coaching in the areas of exercise physiology, injury prevention, recovery and rehabilitation; fitness assessment, nutrition supplement, exercise programming, sports conditioning, flexibility techniques and more.
Other than training with different workout methods and exercises, a personal trainer has a detailed approach towards his/her clients, for example he/she would look at current programs to search for ways to change or tweak workouts to make them more efficient and effective. Furthermore, a personal trainer would examine and alter your goals to push you a little harder towards achieving realistic goals. It’s the personal trainer who will keep you motivated in every step and keep following up with your fitness schedule.
Understanding the Difference Between a Gym Instructor and a Personal Trainer
A Personal Trainer is more advanced than a Gym Instructor; however, those who become gym instructors are more than likely to become personal trainers in future. Here are some of the aspects to understand the difference between a personal trainer and a gym instructor:
A gym instructor offers assistance to all members, for example, by teaching new members how to use gym equipment correctly and safely.
Gym instructors have to ensure that members are using the correct techniques when performing any exercises.
Gym instructors have to make sure that the correct techniques are used, to avoid injuries, so it is vital to have a fitness professional available to help gym members get the best results from their workouts.
A personal trainer has a more personal approach, and this is often on a one-to-one basis.
Personal trainer’s primary focus is to help their clients reach their health, fitness and weight loss goals.
Personal trainer schedules a consultation to discuss goals, existing levels of fitness and/or any injuries that will help in building a personalised exercise programme, as well as advising on nutrition.
Knowing What it Takes to Run a Personal Training Business
Being a Personal Trainer or Being an Entrepreneur
Good personal trainers are passionate about fitness who are happy to help and teach others about a fit lifestyle. They are eager to learn the latest information about exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyles, along with being patient, empathetic, and caring. As a trainer their job is to motivate clients, improve their techniques and keep their client’s exercises fun and effective. Such kind of personal trainers don;t usually try to sell but believe in sincerity and earning by helping others.
On the other hand, successful entrepreneurs have the ability to envision beyond the service of training and deal with the process of building and running a business. To own a personal training business, one will need strong management, administrative and marketing skills or need to recognize what they don’t have and then cultivate those skills or be willing to hire people who can provide those skills.
Deciding what suits you the best according to personal abilities and career goals, is the way to go.
Understand Your Clients
Every client will have different goals and needs, as a personal trainer you just have to let them tell you and then acknowledge every piece of information your client provides. Or ask the clients to fill a detailed form so that you can gather information about their health, medical status, lifestyle, expectations etc. This can help prepare a realistic program for each client so that you can be specific about how you will work with them. Being understanding and considerate; and having the desire to help people will benefit in the process of personal training.
Certification and Education for Personal Training
Depending on the type of training you intend to provide, you need to be certified in order to start training clients. Being certified gives your clients confidence in your services and shows them that you have the knowledge that you need in order to get results. Also, you also need to make sure you have the right safety certifications. Trainers can get certifications from organizations that specifically certify personal trainers, such as the American Fitness Professionals Association (AFPA).AFPA not only offers Personal Trainer Certifications, but also many specialty certification programs in nutrition, fitness, yoga and Pilates. Furthermore, you should be CPR certified through the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.
Areas of Specialization for Personal Training
The idea of focusing on a specific niche may seem like you’re narrowing down your options. But if you’re able to do the specialization effectively, you will eliminate most of your competition and earn more clients.
The reason business owners are afraid to do this is because they believe they will have to exclude customers and nobody wants to turn away business!
But if you’re able to focus on one type of clientbase, it makes you more preferable to the people who fit the type of clients you’re targeting. For example, if a prospective client knows that you are the expert in marathon training, they’re more likely to choose you over someone who is more generalized.
Here are some examples of specialization:
- Senior Citizens
- Weight Loss
- Young Athletes
- Bodybuilders
- Physically Impaired
- Women Trainers
- Prenatal and Postnatal Client
When targeting an area of specialization, you must have the skill and knowledge in proper program design, implementation and limitations; and be able to offer services and expertise that other trainers cannot. Specializing will also encourage you to focus your efforts on keeping up to date on any developments in the field of health, wellness and exercise programs for the benefit of your clients.
Self Marketing
Marketing to let people know about your services will help you gain clients and trying out different marketing strategies will show comparative results which can help you improve better.
Free Mini Workout Sessions
Inviting people for free workout sessions will allow them to understand your training methods and to know you personally during the sessions. This can give them a better picture about your services which can in turn help in gaining clients.
Identify What Makes You Better Than Other Personal Trainers
Identifying and showing how people can benefit from your services better can be a good marketing strategy which can showcase why they can prefer you over other trainers. Make sure to mention these benefits in your marketing campaigns on social media, pamphlets, messages, emails etc. Presenting your strengths, instead of showcasing your competitors weaknesses can create the right impact on the targeted audience.
Use Realistic Testimonials Whenever Appropriate
Showing obvious fake testimonials may leave a bad impression, make sure to present real and genuine reviews from your clients so that others can easily believe them to enroll with your services.
Don’t Forget to Add Your Personal Details and Contact Details
Every marketing campaign should have your personal details such as name, contact details, email id etc. so that people can easily reach you for any enquiries. This can also maximize your reach to people specially over social media.
Personal Training Business Material and Planning
Oftentimes, prospective clients will see your business materials before you meet them in person. This material may be in the form of a brochure, social media page, ad, or business card. If your business materials do not instigate a prospective client to contact you or respond to an ad, then the material needs to be changed or altered as it isn’t effective.
Business Cards
Keep it simple, don’t confuse your clients with fancy abbreviations, your full name, contact details and your specialization is all that is needed on a business card.Tell them exactly who you are, a Personal Fitness Trainer; Strength & Conditioning Specialist; Nutrition & Wellness Consultant; Children’s Fitness Specialist and so on.
Brochures & Marketing Pieces
Lengthy and wordy brochures will not be read, people don’t have the time or interest in reading such ads. Some of the simple yet important aspects you can cover in these brochures are:
- Short information about yourself.
- A brief description of the services you offer.
- A clarification of your location.
- How to reach you.
- What sort of consultation, if any, do you offer?
You can look for a graphic designer who can design these marketing pieces well for you instead of doing it yourself. Getting a professional to help can yield better results.
Telephone Availability
Be available for new client inquiries and if possible, try to have a separate line for your business calls. Remember, if someone is looking for your service and you do not respond quickly, they may find it elsewhere.
Scheduling and Cancellation Policy
Following a fitness schedule is extremely important in reaching the desired goals. Hence it is important to get your clients committed to a consistent schedule, both for the benefit of their progress and to help make your training week more efficient.
Determine a cancellation policy and stick to it, for example, a few trainers adhere to a policy that states that if a client cancels within 24 hours of a scheduled appointment they will be charged a partial amount of a training session fee. Illness and family emergencies must be taken into consideration and you can alter your policies thoughtfully. Make sure your clients read and sign a form that tells you they understand and agree to this policy.
Conclusion
Having a professional approach, with a zeal to help people are traits of a good personal trainer which can result in a successful personal training business. Well-known personal trainers like Prashant Sawant, Satyajit Chaurasia, Kalyani Kapadia, Urmi Kothari etc. are extremely inspirational people who have made a mark in the fitness industry. The personal training business can have sufficient monetary benefits, but there’s undoubtedly a lot of competition too. It’s not just about your knowledge of fitness; it’s about learning the business acumen of personal training so that your knowledge and passion for fitness can be beneficial.
