Target Tracker Pro (TTP) is the technological brainchild of Darren Tyrie and Kevin Richards. TTP is a white label session and food tracking application for your group training and boot camp clients, coupled with an online management software application to easily manage your sessions and clients.
Target Tracker Pro are offering a free 30 day trial and then £34.95/month so I thought I'd play around with the full version for 30 days to see how I'd get on, whether it's worth the money and how much it can really help with a group training/bootcamp business. Here's what I found.
Features of Target Tracker pro
Essentially, Target Tracker Pro is designed to enhance the group training and/or boot camp training experience for your clients. You simply fill in your details on your online dashboard, your clients download an app, create their own profile and they can then book in and cancel session as they please. Your clients also have the ability to add their targets, measurements and food, which is interpreted within a great looking graph.
Target Tracker Pro - Weaknesses
Rarely is a product or service perfect. Rather than sweep it under a rug because I like these guys, which could rub you, the reader, the wrong way once you discover it for yourselves, I'm going to include it right up front and be a complete ass about everything.
The first thing I noticed when signing up to the Target Tracker Pro free trial was that there are a few minor glitches that could have otherwise made the sign up process seamless and easy. As a marketer for personal trainers, I know how some of us aren't..., shall we say, "tech savvy".
For instance, if you don't get your details right or miss a box in the profile creation page, you're starting the sign up all over again. A little bit annoying but with a little patience it's worth it.
Once you have set up your profile there are no prompts as to where you go next or how to set up clients. There is actually a solution to this problem though; instead of getting all excited, like I did, and trying to get it up and running ASAP, make sure to read the intro emails. The first one is their Aweber auto responder that will ask for your permission to send you emails. Once confirmed you'll receive a second email with full instructions. Darren and Kevin could have directed the user to these instructions on a web page after profile sign up to make it easier. In the meantime, make sure you click on this link in the confirmation email.
The first thing I noticed when signing up to the Target Tracker Pro free trial was that there are a few minor glitches that could have otherwise made the sign up process seamless and easy. As a marketer for personal trainers, I know how some of us aren't..., shall we say, "tech savvy".
For instance, if you don't get your details right or miss a box in the profile creation page, you're starting the sign up all over again. A little bit annoying but with a little patience it's worth it.
Once you have set up your profile there are no prompts as to where you go next or how to set up clients. There is actually a solution to this problem though; instead of getting all excited, like I did, and trying to get it up and running ASAP, make sure to read the intro emails. The first one is their Aweber auto responder that will ask for your permission to send you emails. Once confirmed you'll receive a second email with full instructions. Darren and Kevin could have directed the user to these instructions on a web page after profile sign up to make it easier. In the meantime, make sure you click on this link in the confirmation email.
Once you've found the link to your dashboard there's not a lot you can do. Again, this is another human error because the welcome instructions are in the welcome email that I didn't know was there. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of your welcome email to find out what to do next. This could be made much easier by being prompted to set up a new client from the dashboard.
There is no option to sync your existing calendar. Two things would really make this app stand above the rest. Either the ability to sync your existing calendar to the app so you can add or remove sessions on the go and without having to log in to a computer. Or have a separate app for the trainer that has the option to send messages and organise clients on the go. I've done my stint in public gyms and I know it's not always possible to get access to a computer so this feature would be super handy.
Like I said, I'm going to be a complete ass about this. It's a shame the app itself can't be completely white label. Your clients will have to download the Target Tracker app and once logged in they would see your branding. Unfortunately, due to Apple and Android limitations I already know this isn't possible.
Last but not least and the only thing I can find a nuisance within the app is that your clients have to take a picture of their food if they want to log it in the system. I understand a picture is great proof of what they're eating but the only clients that would use this feature are the ones that want you to know they're doing well and wouldn't cheat in first place. An optional photo feature would be nice.
Last but not least and the only thing I can find a nuisance within the app is that your clients have to take a picture of their food if they want to log it in the system. I understand a picture is great proof of what they're eating but the only clients that would use this feature are the ones that want you to know they're doing well and wouldn't cheat in first place. An optional photo feature would be nice.
Target Tracker Pro - Strengths
These guys have got it right. Target Tracker Pro just works. Once you are set up properly and all of your usual boot camp or group training sessions are placed in the calendar using the easy event set up feature, you're pretty much rollin'.
The ability to limit the number of places within each event is an obvious feature but without it there would be chaos. Target Tracker Pro has gone one step farther though. When your client does book in for them self (and a friend if they want to) they also have the option to share this event on Facebook. This is brilliant because people love to brag about participating in fitness events. The app also let's your clients know when you add new events which is another great feature.
Here are a few screen shots so you can see what it will look like to your clients.
The ability to limit the number of places within each event is an obvious feature but without it there would be chaos. Target Tracker Pro has gone one step farther though. When your client does book in for them self (and a friend if they want to) they also have the option to share this event on Facebook. This is brilliant because people love to brag about participating in fitness events. The app also let's your clients know when you add new events which is another great feature.
Here are a few screen shots so you can see what it will look like to your clients.
So, now that you've set your calendar up, your clients have downloaded the app, they're booking in for sessions and sharing doing your Facebook marketing for you, you can now start tracking the progress of your clients from your dashboard.
Your clients can add their own specific targets and current measurements to their profile, which then automatically synchronises with your online dashboard. From the dashboard you can easily view all of your clients, their current stats and targets. Pretty cool, right? It gets better.
You can also track their bookings and keep an eye on their food diary to see what they're eating and when. You also have the option to send messages directly to your clients' app. Check out the pics. Hopefully Darren and Kevin will add a messages section to make correspondence between clients and PT easier.
All in all, the Target Tracker Pro app features are awesome. It puts a lot of the work on to the client and I can genuinely see this saving personal trainers a lot of time.
Who's Target Tracker Pro For?
I'd say the Target Tracker Pro app is ideal for the personal trainer whose main focus is group training or boot camp. If managing groups of people as opposed to individuals is your main area of business then TTP could really help. Personal trainers who also have a high volume of group training sessions could also benefit as I know first hand that managing clients and putting great sessions together can be tricky when you don't know how many are turning up.
There is certainly no one-size-fits-all application that's going to suit all group trainers and boot camp trainers and although the Target Tracker Pro team definitely haven't focused their marketing efforts on a specific niche of trainer, they've provided a free 30 day trial so you can make your own mind up.
There is certainly no one-size-fits-all application that's going to suit all group trainers and boot camp trainers and although the Target Tracker Pro team definitely haven't focused their marketing efforts on a specific niche of trainer, they've provided a free 30 day trial so you can make your own mind up.
The Verdict
I would use Target Tracker Pro. If this app were around when my main focus was on personal training as opposed to web design and marketing, it would have made my life a whole lot easier. For such a young project the app is rich in useful features and aside from the set up drama, has very few flaws.
At £34.95/month, with no long term tie-ins and the 30 day free trial it's be silly not to give it a go and see if it fits your business.
Anyways, here is a link to their group training management app website.
At £34.95/month, with no long term tie-ins and the 30 day free trial it's be silly not to give it a go and see if it fits your business.
Anyways, here is a link to their group training management app website.