Looking for More Personal Training Clients? 5 Easy and Effective Ways to Boost your Business

It's been a game-changing year for the fitness industry. During the long months of quarantine and its associate restrictions, demand for personal training services soared—virtual training services that is.

Industry analysts Allied Market Research predict boom times ahead for the sector, with annual growth of around 33 percent propelling total value to just over US$59 billion by 2027.

The workout world is highly competitive, and if you're not standing out, you're losing out—on clients.

If you've got room in your schedule to take on more business, it's time to get proactive. Which Doctor helps thousands of practitioners reach out to new audiences (learning a few lessons along the way!) and we're sharing some tips on how to give your business a boost—whether you're a seasoned fitness veteran or a newcomer.

1. Connect with a community

Okay, so we're biased, but we think the Which Doctor community is pretty special. On our platform, like-minded practitioners connect and come together to share ideas and experiences, learn about the latest trends in wellness, and engage with new clients. 

The virtual space can get crowded and overwhelming. Joining a fitness family is a great way to navigate those waters and get immediate access to people who are already interested in your services, and looking for new paths to wellness.

Coming together doesn't just give you a support network full of trainers who've been there and done that, it also gives you insight into what works and what doesn't. 

Sure, the fitness industry evolves like any other, but you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Use your network to see what works and what doesn't. If you've been training for a while, you might find yourself in a rut—a community can inspire you, give you new direction, or fresh ideas!

2. Build your brand (and outsource when necessary)

Taking tips from other trainers doesn't mean copying their approach or replicating their routines

With so many ways to workout, and so many options online, you need to carve out your own niche. What makes your business unique is you. So lean into that. Show your personality. Live your brand and be authentically yourself. 

You're in a people-focused business and what attracts and keeps clients isn't their newly-discovered six-pack (although that helps!), it's how you make them feel and the rapport you build.

Dig deep to outline your core brand. You might start by brainstorming the following questions:

• What do you offer that no other trainer does?
• How would your clients describe your approach?
• What three words best describe your current brand/business?
• Can you think of three more words?

Once you've come up with a strategy that clearly defines your identity, apply it consistently across your online presence. Everything you put out there, from a four word tweet to your virtual profile, is a reflection of your brand.

With all that introspection, you may need to outsource some admin. That's okay! Knowing your priority items and not stretching yourself too thin is important. Too many small business owners try to take on everything at once and that's a good recipe for burn-out down the line.

At Which Doctor we take care of the back-end functions like booking and billing—putting everything together in one place, customized to you and easy to use. So you're free to put your energy into refining your services and growing your client list.

3. Leverage Any and All Content Opportunities

If your web presence amounts to a few words and contact info, you're missing out on precious marketing real estate.

When it comes to the web, it's always good to cast a wide net (pun intended). Jump on any content opportunities—at Which Doctor, for example, we like to highlight the work of our practitioners in feature articles and/or profiles. 

There are plenty of ways for our community to get involved in content, whether that's our blog or our social media—getting them in front of our audience and shared around our platforms.

This is invaluable free marketing and it's priceless in terms of upping your exposure. Remember your brand-building efforts? Getting involved in producing useful content adds legitimacy to your brand. People are much more likely to book a session with the trainer who's seen as a voice of authority in their field.

4. Don't be Afraid to Push for Referrals

We're not all born salespeople, but it's important to sharpen those skills if you want to maximize your reach.

Word of mouth is the magic ingredient to your growth—happy clients are your secret weapon, whether they give you a review, post a comment on your platforms, or just mention your services to their family and friends.

If you've a good relationship with your clients, they'll be happy to help so don't be afraid to ask if they know anyone who could use some help getting fit. Perhaps they've got a colleague who's recuperating after injury or illness. Maybe they know a family member who is struggling to achieve those sick gains. 

Be natural in how you approach the referral conversation and consider sweetening the deal with a discount, gift voucher, or something different like a group session or a specific class. Don't hesitate to follow-up either—everyone gets a little side-tracked sometimes and lack of response doesn't always mean they're not interested.

Don't just focus on your existing clients either. Fellow businesses in the health and wellness sector can also provide a new flow of customers. It comes back to that idea of joining a community—find other operators whose services align with yours and develop a mutual strategy for reciprocal referrals. 

For instance, you could work with a naturopath for clients who need help overcoming a health issue. There are so many ways to wellness, and they're all interconnected, making your fellow practitioners an invaluable referral resource.

5. Stay Ahead of the Curve

If you're going to establish yourself as a trusted, professional, proactive personal trainer you need to keep up with the health and wellness landscape. 

Things change quickly and staying up to date on the latest research, current trends and market mood shows clients that you're focused and dedicated. 

Not only will this relevant knowledge give you more credibility and authority, it'll also serve as a reminder to develop your skill-set and offerings so they don't grow stale.

Keep your finger on the pulse, and clients will notice. 

Helping Practitioners Reach their Potential

A business can’t be static. Personal trainers need to stay nimble if they want to keep offering value. If you're great at keeping your clients fit, but not so great at ensuring your business stays in shape, we can help.

Joining our Which Doctor family of over 7,000 practitioners gives you instant access to support, a community, and more visibility in the marketplace. 

Get in touch today to find out how our team can help you drive your business and develop a following. If you're already a practitioner and interested in being part of our content, drop me an email – catherine 'at' whichdoctor.com

Catherine Morris

Writer

Catherine Morris is an award-winning journalist with a bad case of wanderlust and a passion for all things health and wellness. Originally from Northern Ireland, she worked as a news and feature writer for media outlets in the UK, South Africa, France and the Caribbean before settling in Canada. Catherine now lives in Alberta with her husband and rescue mutt and spends her time happily exploring the great outdoors with both.