80% of personal trainers don't make it past 24 months after training and certification. That's a startling statistic, considering setting up a personal training business is easy and a passion for most.
However, the difference between success and failure has much to do with your marketing strategies. The better you market your personal trainer services, the more probable you will attract and retain paying clients.
In this article, we share 14 of the best personal training promotion ideas. Read on!
1. Social Media Challenges
Fitness challenges are an excellent way to engage your social media audience and promote your personal training services. Here's how you can structure content around them on Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitter (now X):
- Fitness challenges: Develop a series of fitness challenges like the "30-Day Plank Challenge" or the "A-Z Workout Challenge". Each day, participants complete a task that progressively builds in intensity, which they can share on social media using a specific hashtag.
- User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage your followers to post their workout results, healthy meals, or fitness tips under your challenge hashtag. This provides social proof of your effective training methods and keeps the content fresh and engaging. You can repost this content to further acknowledge and motivate your clients.
- Interactive content: Use polls, quizzes, and reaction posts to make your challenges more interactive. For example, ask your followers to vote on the next challenge or share their input on exercise preferences. This will also give you valuable insights into clients' preferences.
2. Referral Program
Referral programs are a cost-effective way to attract new clients and enhance customer loyalty. For effective promotion, you want to reward both the referrer and the referee.
So, determine the type of rewards that will motivate your clients, such as discounts on future personal training sessions, free training gear, or even sessions with a nutrition coach. Then, ensure the system is easy to understand, access, and complete.
So, determine the type of rewards that will motivate your clients, such as discounts on future personal training sessions, free training gear, or even sessions with a nutrition coach. Then, ensure the system is easy to understand, access, and complete.
3. Free First Session
One of the best personal training marketing ideas you can use is offering a first free session or consultation. It lets potential personal training clients experience your approach and see the real value of personalized sessions without any upfront cost. It is one way to build trust and rapport in the health and fitness industry.
4. Seasonal Discounts
You can offer seasonal discounts during peak times, such as the New Year or early summer, when potential clients are most likely to set fitness goals.
In addition, if you offer group training sessions, offer discounts per client to boost visibility and sign-ups. Group training is already affordable for most, so a discount will quickly spread the word, and you will get to train more people at once - it's a win-win situation.
You can utilize social media platforms and email marketing campaigns to spread the word about seasonal promotions.
5. Loyalty Program
Personal trainer marketing should focus on spreading the word about your affordable services. So, besides discounts, referral programs, and free sessions, you can also consider a loyalty program.
Here are a few ideas to consider for your personal training business marketing strategies:
Here are a few ideas to consider for your personal training business marketing strategies:
- Tiered membership levels: Offer different membership levels with increasing benefits as clients commit to longer terms or more frequent sessions.
- Customized training goals: Use loyalty points as a motivational tool by allowing clients to redeem points for special training goals or milestones. This could include exclusive one-on-one sessions, unique workout plans, or health and wellness assessments.
- Gamification techniques: Integrate gamification into your loyalty program by setting up fitness challenges or milestones that clients can achieve to earn points. For example, completing a set number of workouts or achieving personal bests in different exercises could earn points that lead to rewards.
- Seasonal or anniversary rewards: Recognize the length of a client's membership or seasonal milestones with special rewards or acknowledgments. A good idea would be a free month of training on the anniversary of their joining.
6. Corporate Wellness Programs
Do you want to expand your training services to the corporate sector? If so, use corporate wellness programs to promote your business. These programs improve employee health, reduce healthcare costs, and boost productivity.
You can offer tailored fitness sessions, wellness seminars, and health assessments. For example, creating a "Fitness Fridays" program where you lead group workouts can be a great start. Partner with HR to integrate these programs into the company culture and track progress through regular feedback and assessments.
7. Online Training Packages
You can also start online personal training, which allows you to offer customized fitness solutions tailored to individual client needs from anywhere.
You can create tiered packages to cater to different needs and budgets. For example, offer basic access to workout videos or premium plans with personalized coaching. Also, highlight clear outcomes, such as weight loss or muscle gain, to attract more clients.
Integrate features like progress tracking with online personal trainer software, nutritional advice, and regular check-ins to ensure clients achieve their goals.
8. Collaborations With Local Influencers
Collaborate with well-known fitness personalities in your community and ensure they embody the spirit and enthusiasm of your brand.
You can start hosting joint fitness challenges, where their dynamic presence sparks broader community involvement and enhances your studio's profile.
You can start hosting joint fitness challenges, where their dynamic presence sparks broader community involvement and enhances your studio's profile.
9. Fitness Workshops
Fitness workshops help you stay updated with the latest exercise science and methodologies, enhance your teaching skills, and deepen your knowledge of specific fitness areas.
Attending or hosting them can expand your service offerings, attracting a broader client base looking for specialized training needs.
These workshops also connect you with other fitness professionals to open doors to new collaborations and learning opportunities from personal training industry peers.
Attending or hosting them can expand your service offerings, attracting a broader client base looking for specialized training needs.
These workshops also connect you with other fitness professionals to open doors to new collaborations and learning opportunities from personal training industry peers.
10. Client Success Stories
Client stories showcase the real-world results of your training programs that can significantly enhance your credibility. When prospective clients see authentic stories and testimonials detailing the achievements and transformations of others, it builds trust and can motivate them to start their fitness journeys with you.
Sharing client stories also helps you celebrate their milestones, which adds an engaging, motivational element to your marketing efforts.
11. Fitness Challenges With Prizes
Fitness challenges with prizes can be a great way to engage clients and foster a sense of community. For example, you might start a 30-day plank challenge where participants gradually increase their daily plank duration.
Another idea is a step challenge, where clients track their daily steps using a fitness tracker, competing to see who can accumulate the most steps in a month.
Then, offer a prize, such as a free personal training session, fitness tracker, or even a nutrition plan for the winner to boost participation and enthusiasm.
Another idea is a step challenge, where clients track their daily steps using a fitness tracker, competing to see who can accumulate the most steps in a month.
Then, offer a prize, such as a free personal training session, fitness tracker, or even a nutrition plan for the winner to boost participation and enthusiasm.
12. Community Events
Another way to promote your personal training services is to participate in community events. This way, you can increase your visibility and contribute to the health and well-being of your local area.
Some ways to do this include joining seminars and workshops, volunteering at health fairs or charity events, and advocating for public health policies.
When you’re at the forefront of matters related to your area's health or fitness industry, you stand to attract and retain more personal training clients.
Some ways to do this include joining seminars and workshops, volunteering at health fairs or charity events, and advocating for public health policies.
When you’re at the forefront of matters related to your area's health or fitness industry, you stand to attract and retain more personal training clients.
13. Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing campaigns are a surefire way to build better client relationships. It’s more affordable than other advertising options and allows you to reach many potential clients at once.
You can provide valuable content, bust common fitness myths, and address client objections, all while building your brand. Sharing success stories and offering exclusive discounts can also boost engagement.
Email marketing offers a high ROI, making it an essential tool for growing and promoting your personal training business.
You can provide valuable content, bust common fitness myths, and address client objections, all while building your brand. Sharing success stories and offering exclusive discounts can also boost engagement.
Email marketing offers a high ROI, making it an essential tool for growing and promoting your personal training business.
14. Cross-Promotions With Other Businesses
You can increase your exposure and attract new clients by collaborating with complementary businesses like sports apparel stores, health food markets, physical therapists, or wellness centers.
For example, you could offer special discounts to each other's customers, host joint events or workshops, and feature each other on social media.
To start, identify businesses that align with your values, reach out with a clear proposal, and create joint promotions or community events that benefit both parties.
For example, you could offer special discounts to each other's customers, host joint events or workshops, and feature each other on social media.
To start, identify businesses that align with your values, reach out with a clear proposal, and create joint promotions or community events that benefit both parties.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve started your practice already, you need a solid personal training marketing plan to attract and retain clients.
So, start with the personal training promotion ideas we shared above - they’re perfect for both new and experienced personal trainers. From using social media and email to collaborating with complementary businesses, you can stay in the 20% of trainers that make it after two years.
So, start with the personal training promotion ideas we shared above - they’re perfect for both new and experienced personal trainers. From using social media and email to collaborating with complementary businesses, you can stay in the 20% of trainers that make it after two years.
