When you're a personal trainer, you're not just building bodies. You're also busy building your business and more importantly, a list of leads.
As you grow your business, finding and recruiting a steady stream of clients is an essential step. Yet, it can be difficult to find ones that are ready and willing to dedicate the time and resources it takes to commit.
The good news is the business leads are out there -- you've just got to know where to look, and how to attract them.
Today, we're taking a look at 10 ways you can bring more clients to your personal training business. From online marketing tactics to in-person interactions, we're covering it all.
Ready to get started? Lace up your sneakers and let's jump in!
1. Become a Social Media Rockstar
In a recent survey about how technology affects the exercise industry, 75% of consumers said they hop onto social media to share their progress with friends and family.
In today's era of the Internet of Things, building this type of digital connection is key.
More and more, people are turning to their smart device to follow a workout, track their diet, and reach out to others to talk about their progress.
A Cowen and Company poll of U.S. adults found that users across all age groups spend an average of 42.1 minutes per day on Facebook.
In today's era of the Internet of Things, building this type of digital connection is key.
More and more, people are turning to their smart device to follow a workout, track their diet, and reach out to others to talk about their progress.
A Cowen and Company poll of U.S. adults found that users across all age groups spend an average of 42.1 minutes per day on Facebook.
A great place to start when you're looking for business leads is to optimize your social media accounts.
It's not enough to simply check in once or twice a month. Staying engaging, responding to comments, and sharing helpful tips is a great way to get people talking.
2. Take a Look around the Gym
Often, one of the best sources of business leads is right under your nose. The gym can be a great place to find future customers, as it's already full of people seeking an exercise regime.
To start, try taking in a group exercise class. If you prefer, you can even ask to speak to the group beforehand, to see if anyone would like any one-on-one assistance.
There might be people who've been seeking a more direct, personalized training routine but weren't sure where to go. Meeting them where they are is a great place to find and recruit them.
Either way, don't assume that people know what you do. Most people are too busy or occupied with their own challenges and thoughts.
To start, try taking in a group exercise class. If you prefer, you can even ask to speak to the group beforehand, to see if anyone would like any one-on-one assistance.
There might be people who've been seeking a more direct, personalized training routine but weren't sure where to go. Meeting them where they are is a great place to find and recruit them.
Either way, don't assume that people know what you do. Most people are too busy or occupied with their own challenges and thoughts.
3. Support Local Community Efforts
Even in the smallest community, it's not difficult to find some sort of outdoor event looking for sponsorship.
From 5K races to health expo shows, there are many ways to get your brand outside and get your voice heard within your hometown and beyond.
Sponsoring events such as these allows you to advertise your services to prospective business leads. It also enables you to connect with prospects and give them a firsthand look at some of the support they can expect to receive.
Try giving away a few free trial sessions or a personal consultation. If you're sponsoring a race, try handing out water afterward or offer to help runners stretch before they line up.
From 5K races to health expo shows, there are many ways to get your brand outside and get your voice heard within your hometown and beyond.
Sponsoring events such as these allows you to advertise your services to prospective business leads. It also enables you to connect with prospects and give them a firsthand look at some of the support they can expect to receive.
Try giving away a few free trial sessions or a personal consultation. If you're sponsoring a race, try handing out water afterward or offer to help runners stretch before they line up.
4. Publish Some Impressive Testimonials
Customers want personal trainers they can trust. They need someone who doesn't just claim to get results, but who can actually substantiate and back up those promises with real-life endorsements.
Even if you've just been at it for a little while, chances are you've got a success story in mind.
If so, ask that person or group of people if they'd be willing to share their story to help you grow your business. Getting those testimonials out there is key to reaching a wider audience.
Our own statistics from our Managed Website clients show that website that are published with success stories get more page views and lower bounce rates (people leaving the site early) than those that don't.
Check out the success stories page of our client, Tobias. Nothing says "I know what I'm doing" like a gallery of transformation pictures.
Even if you've just been at it for a little while, chances are you've got a success story in mind.
If so, ask that person or group of people if they'd be willing to share their story to help you grow your business. Getting those testimonials out there is key to reaching a wider audience.
Our own statistics from our Managed Website clients show that website that are published with success stories get more page views and lower bounce rates (people leaving the site early) than those that don't.
Check out the success stories page of our client, Tobias. Nothing says "I know what I'm doing" like a gallery of transformation pictures.
5. Establish Yourself as an Industry Expert
One reason health and fitness blogs are so popular? See #1.
Customers are hopping online to discuss their health journey, where they have instant access to expert advice from around the world.
To find more business leads, make sure your voice is included in the virtual conversation. Seek out opportunities to act as a guest writer for websites, blogs, articles, and other digital content.
When your profile and byline is attached to a well-written, informative post, you'll help establish yourself as a credible resource. You'll also set the stage for more online engagement, which can be used to build up your online presence.
Customers are hopping online to discuss their health journey, where they have instant access to expert advice from around the world.
To find more business leads, make sure your voice is included in the virtual conversation. Seek out opportunities to act as a guest writer for websites, blogs, articles, and other digital content.
When your profile and byline is attached to a well-written, informative post, you'll help establish yourself as a credible resource. You'll also set the stage for more online engagement, which can be used to build up your online presence.
6. Utilize the Power of Email Marketing
E-mail has been proven to be 40 times more effective at helping businesses acquire new customers than either Facebook or Twitter.
That said, if you don't already have an e-mail marketing plan in place for both your current and future customers, now's the time to create one.
By staying in their inbox, you'll stay in their minds. Try an email marketing software that lets you add personalization, so you can tailor each message according to the client (or prospect's) specific needs.
That said, if you don't already have an e-mail marketing plan in place for both your current and future customers, now's the time to create one.
By staying in their inbox, you'll stay in their minds. Try an email marketing software that lets you add personalization, so you can tailor each message according to the client (or prospect's) specific needs.
7. Incentivise Referrals
Research reveals that 93% of customers are influenced by word-of-mouth referrals, and more than half make a purchase based on recommendations.
It can be helpful to provide existing clients with an incentive that ups the ante and encourages social sharing.
For instance, try offering a free session or two for both the existing client and his or her friend. Doing so allows the prospect to try the experience out, and rewards your current customer for brand loyalty.
It can be helpful to provide existing clients with an incentive that ups the ante and encourages social sharing.
For instance, try offering a free session or two for both the existing client and his or her friend. Doing so allows the prospect to try the experience out, and rewards your current customer for brand loyalty.
8. Make Yourself More Valuable (and Marketable)
One way to attract new business leads is to immerse yourself in your industry and seek out new certifications that can help you learn your craft.
Some of the top, most recognized personal training certification programs include the American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Seeking certification from academic and professional institutions such as these can boost your validity. It also ensures potential clients that you're dedicated to and invested in your field.
Some of the top, most recognized personal training certification programs include the American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Seeking certification from academic and professional institutions such as these can boost your validity. It also ensures potential clients that you're dedicated to and invested in your field.
9. Create Packages that Retain and Recruit
To gain business leads while still catering to your existing client base, try creating some exciting package deals.
This means you might need to scrap the Bronze, Silver and Gold idea and swap it up for something more goal orientated like Muscle & Size, Fat Loss for Women and Fit For life.
If you're trying to name your services, check out this case study on naming your personal trainer packages. Then, if you have a website, how and where you list your prices will also make a difference.
This means you might need to scrap the Bronze, Silver and Gold idea and swap it up for something more goal orientated like Muscle & Size, Fat Loss for Women and Fit For life.
If you're trying to name your services, check out this case study on naming your personal trainer packages. Then, if you have a website, how and where you list your prices will also make a difference.
10. Optimize Your Online Content
Want your website to show up on Google when people search for services like the ones you offer? If so, you'll need to practice Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
In short, SEO is the process of strategically designing your online content, such as your web pages, to create a superior user experience.
When done successfully, sites like Google will rank your content well, and push it up higher in user search results.
Everything, from how you lay out your images to what keywords you use in your articles, contributes to your SEO ranking, so practice and research are key!
In short, SEO is the process of strategically designing your online content, such as your web pages, to create a superior user experience.
When done successfully, sites like Google will rank your content well, and push it up higher in user search results.
Everything, from how you lay out your images to what keywords you use in your articles, contributes to your SEO ranking, so practice and research are key!
Work it Out: Grow Your Business Leads Today
If you're a personal trainer looking to build your client base and retain your existing customers, we'd love to help.
We'll help you build your personal trainer website, but we won't stop there.
We'll also make sure your online presence is optimized for success. This puts you on the fast track to better exposure, higher quality leads, and more efficient communication.
Feel free to comment below or contact us today and let's connect!
We'll help you build your personal trainer website, but we won't stop there.
We'll also make sure your online presence is optimized for success. This puts you on the fast track to better exposure, higher quality leads, and more efficient communication.
Feel free to comment below or contact us today and let's connect!
