How to Get Online Personal Training Clients for Your Business

If you are a coach, you’ve most likely been in a situation where you wondered how to get online personal training clients. While this is a good sign that you are trying to grow your business, boosting your client base isn’t as simple as it may appear to be.

Attracting online personal training clients takes more than sending out emails or starting a social media page. It means earning their trust and captivating their interest.

As for converting existing clients into online clients, that should be approached differently. You need to show them how the process works and how they can enjoy the flexibility that comes with it.

Keep reading, as we’ll cover some tips and tricks to help you get online personal training clients. We’ll also answer some of the most asked questions about this topic.

Three Pillars for Building a Successful Online Fitness Business

Right off the bat, you will see that there are some standard key elements for building a business as a personal trainer. These elements lead to compelling offers that will attract new customers.

Marketing strategy

Marketing has everything to do with making prospective clients aware of what you are offering online. In the case of a remote personal training service, that means attracting, engaging, and building an online community. Answering the question of how to get clients as an online personal trainer starts with building brand awareness. 

Sales

Knowing that your brand exists is the first step. Next, you need to think of ways to tempt these people into becoming paying customers. What will it take to convince someone who is seeing your ads to take the next step and come for a session?

Service delivery

The third pillar is service delivery. How are you going to organize and conduct your remote training sessions? You need to create a pleasant and effective online experience. Having a plan in mind will help you stay on track and not waste your time on unnecessary things. 

Transitioning a Client Over to Online Training

Before you convert your training business to be entirely online, it is best to transition your existing clients. Just because you are thinking of switching to the online realm, it doesn’t mean they are considering the same. 

You can try by starting to offer hybrid training services. In a hybrid model, you offer a mix of in-person and online training sessions. Another option is creating a simple workout plan for one of your in-person clients, and they could try to follow it from the comfort of their home. Still, don’t get disappointed if some of your clients decide not to support your decision, after all, many people like coming to the gym for in-person training.

Nonetheless, for clients who decide to stay with you, check in on them by calling, texting, or emailing. Staying in contact creates a personal and accountable environment.

Establish Yourself as a Pro

When you offer a service, you essentially become the product, as your skills and expertise are at the core of the value your clients receive. So, you need to think with care about how you present yourself. That includes the way you dress, the way you move, and the way you talk about your services. When you work online, you should care about your online presence similarly. Your posts, messages, and voice must attract people.

Whether you are just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, keeping everything at a professional level is a must if you want to entice clients.

Similar to in-person personal training, getting a specialization is a smart choice. No one can be an expert in everything and each client is different. Continuing your education and specializing in a certain field will allow you to focus on a specific group of people. Additionally, it also helps you in your marketing efforts.

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Add Clear Calls to Action on Your Website or Landing Page

When we move on to the specifics of how to get clients for online personal training, a professional website should be at the center of your efforts.  

A business website is an important way of advertising your services and yourself as the instructor. Think about how you present yourself. Your website says much about you as a trainer so be sure you showcase your best side.

To convert visitors to clients, always use clear calls to action (or CTAs). These are buttons or links designed to direct website visitors to take specific actions, hence the name.

You can add CTAs, such as

• Download our app to book a session!
• Inquire about our training here!
• Sign up today!

Get Familiar with Your Market

Market research is an important step in familiarizing yourself with the audience that is most likely to become your future clients. The ultimate goal of market research is to find out what visitors want and need so you can further refine your offerings. 

Where can you gather the information?

Google Search

The first stop in the search for information for most people is Google. When you make a query through Google, you receive a list of related results. That is useful because it shows you the answers people get when they are looking for a solution.

In the context of personal training, it reveals what potential clients are seeking and what they actually find. By analyzing these search results, you can gain insights into people’s common questions and concerns about fitness, training programs, and personal training in general.

Answer the Public

Answer the Public is a digital marketing tool designed to help users understand what people are searching for online. You can enter a phrase or a keyword, and the tool will generate a list of related search terms. This will show you how people ask questions and what topics interest them.

Using this tool can help you see the specific questions people are asking about fitness routines, weight loss, or some types of workouts. The information you gather can help you create content, craft marketing strategies, and refine service offerings.

Forums/Facebook

Many people now use Facebook, forums, and hashtags to find information. You can use the same tools to find out what they are discussing and what their fitness needs are. By joining relevant forums or Facebook groups, you can see what are some of the commonly asked questions and challenges people face or monitor any upcoming fitness industry trends.

Additionally, participating in these discussions can help you build credibility, connect with potential clients, and position yourself as an expert in the field. 

Grow Your Online Audience

Now that you’ve learned a thing or two about your ideal client base, it’s time to interact with them. Engaging your audience through social media platforms is much simpler nowadays. Consider leveraging some of the most popular platforms available.

When it comes to acquiring new clients, marketing is the most important step, so if you need further help, take a look at our personal trainer marketing guide.

Facebook

Facebook continues to be the most popular social media platform. Every month, around three billion people use Facebook to socialize and find information.

This platform is invaluable for engaging with an online audience. You can get the help of family members and friends to like and share your posts and reach more potential clients.

Instagram

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Instagram is another very popular platform that allows you to spread more creative content. With its primary focus on pictures, you can easily share transformational photos of your clients or demonstrate proper workout form using a short video format. 

Instagram has a range of features that help you create content that catches the eye of your potential clients while also engaging with them through the comment section and direct messages. 

YouTube

So many trainers choose YouTube to grow their online audience and with a good reason. This social media platform allows you to share both short and long-format videos where you can explain a bit about nutrition, show a quick workout, or answer some fitness-related questions. 

And while some people may not be interested in your particular training program, they still may find some of your videos helpful and later on change their mind.

Website

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We already mentioned the importance of a professional website for establishing yourself as a reputable personal trainer. And as for growing your online audience, potential clients can browse your website and discover the online training plan that suits them. Make sure you provide all the information regarding your certifications and services so they can choose the one they need. 

Blog articles

If you already have a website, adding a blog section to it can help you grow your clientele further. You can use the blog posts to provide important and interesting information about your online coaching. Besides this, include trending topics and things related to fitness and mental and physical wellness. Later on, when someone makes a search related to such a topic, they will find your blog. 

Pay to Play (Paid Ads)

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Lastly, one of the best ways to establish your online presence and attract some clients is to place paid ads on platforms like Google and social media channels. The “pay to play” marketing option refers to an entire digital infrastructure. It requires specific targeting, a good technical basis, and an efficient sales process.

Your ads need to compete with those of everyone else, advertising essentially the same services. Think of it as a roadside billboard among hundreds of others.

At any rate, this form of advertising is costly, but it also generates excellent returns. It’s most effective when you know your target audience well.

Consider the Local Market

Working online means you can reach a worldwide audience if you want to. However, there is another target audience that you should not overlook. This refers to potential clients in your area, and you already have some rapport with them.

While it is true that offering your services remotely means you can access a more extensive audience, keep in mind that you are competing with large companies that have huge marketing budgets. They are often in a much better position to catch the attention of a desired client.

Hence, instead of focusing only on your online presence and advertising, try looking for clients in your area as well. With easier access to your local community, gathering people for online training may be much simpler than you may think. This strategy makes you a bigger fish in a smaller pond, making it more likely people will choose your services.

Share Customer Reviews

Ask your customers to write reviews for your in-person and online personal training business. It is free and will create peer trust among your clients and prospective customers. You can publish those reviews as user-generated content (UGC) on all your digital platforms.

These customer reviews add value to your services and content and showcase your skills as a trainer. Prospective clients who read these reviews are more inclined to contact you about your sessions. 

Write Great Content

This article mentioned writing a blog already, but here are some extra tips. You can upkeep your blog in conjunction with your website. Written content has so much more power to convert potential clients into loyal customers, so we are once again putting emphasis on this.

When you choose topics and write articles, always think of prospective clients. Follow a strict format for all your blogs, such as outlined below:

• Write an informative headline in bold. The title should engage and be relevant to your personal trainer business.
• Use subheadings.
• Use an emotional story in the main body of the blog post. People are always attracted to the stories of other people.
• Include an offer. This offer should focus on the benefits of the services you offer. Of course, it should also relate to the topics you are discussing in your post. You can make the offer stand out by using bullet points.
• End with a clear call to action. Ask them to leave a comment, click a link, or do something else.

Get in Touch with Other Fitness Professionals

Don’t limit your contacts to customers only. Get in touch with other trainers and professionals in the field as well. That will help to stay up–to–date with what is new and popular in the fitness industry.

If you are new in the field, it is even more important to work on your network. Others can help you get settled in the business and learn the necessary tricks. Another benefit is that you might be able to collaborate with them and organize bigger events and workshops. 

Lastly, if you have a specialization in a certain field, trainers from your network may even refer some clients to you. And in case you have clients that will benefit much more from a different type of exercise than the one you offer, give them contact numbers of your personal trainer friends.

How to Get Online Personal Training Clients – Putting It All Together

Being a successful coach requires far more than just getting the necessary certifications. We understand that the question of how to get more online personal training clients or any at all is a constant concern for many trainers. However, handling it properly requires a comprehensive approach based on extensive market research.

From establishing a robust online presence with a professional website to utilizing market research tools like Google Search and Answer the Public, each step plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining clients. Leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram and investing in targeted paid advertising can further amplify your reach and visibility.

Some other key points you shouldn’t overlook include:

• Present yourself as a professional
• Publish a website with inviting CTAs
• Get to know your target audience
• Do not ignore the local community
• Ask for customer reviews
• Publish attractive content that leads prospective clients to your business
• Create a network with other online personal trainers

And, with all of these points in mind, creating and executing a marketing strategy with the aim of attracting new clients should be much easier to navigate.  

If you enjoyed reading this article and want to learn even more about online personal training, you should read these as well:

• How to be an online personal trainer and be good at it
• How Much Should I Charge for Online Personal Training? 
• Grow Your Personal Training Business With Trafft

FAQs About Getting Online Personal Training Clients

1. How can I find new clients for my online personal training business?

Your online personal training business can grow in a number of ways, including through social media marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization, and online platform advertising.

Also, you can reach out to potential customers by making personal contacts or by providing free samples of your services. You can increase your clientele by networking with other fitness experts and participating in online fitness communities.

2. What marketing strategies are effective for attracting new clients to my online personal training program?

Effective ways to market your online personal training program include building an email list to send targeted promotions and updates, creating useful content for your website or social media channels, using paid advertising to target your ideal client, and optimizing your website for search engines.

3. How can I differentiate my online personal training services from others in the market?

By concentrating on a particular area, creating distinctive training programs, offering outstanding client service, exhibiting your knowledge and credentials, and developing a strong personal brand, you may set apart your online personal training services.

Developing a strong online presence and positioning yourself as an expert in your subject will further distinguish your services from those of your competitors.

4. What is the best way to price my online personal training services?

The easiest method to establish the price of your online personal training services is to do market research. Find out what other trainers in your specialized field are charging. Take into account your level of expertise and credentials, and figure out the value you offer to your clients.

Also, you may set multiple pricing tiers based on the caliber of service you offer or package services for savings.

5. What tools or technology should I use to provide online personal training services?

You can offer online personal training services using a variety of technology, including video conferencing platforms, fitness monitoring software, and communication tools. It’s crucial to pick the ones that are simple to use for both you and your customers and that have all the capabilities required to give a high-quality training experience.

6. How can I retain clients who have signed up for my online personal training program?

Outstanding customer service, individualized training plans and assistance, frequent check-ins, and progress reports, incorporating client feedback into your training programs, and developing a strong client-trainer relationship are all ways to keep clients. Incentives, awards, and loyalty programs can all be used to entice customers to keep doing business with you.

7. What are some common mistakes to avoid when attracting online personal training clients?

When attempting to attract clients for online personal training, it’s important to avoid making the following common mistakes: failing to target a particular niche, not providing a unique value proposition, overcharging or undercharging for services, not developing a strong online presence, not establishing a referral system, and failing to build trust and credibility with potential clients.

8. How can I leverage social media to increase my online personal training client base?

If you want to use social media to grow your online personal training client base, you should concentrate on developing a strong personal brand, producing worthwhile content, using social media advertising to target potential clients, interacting with your followers, working with other fitness professionals, and showcasing client testimonials and success stories.

9. What kind of support should I offer to clients who are working with me through an online personal training program?

Throughout an online personal training program, you should provide clients with extensive assistance, including individualized training plans, frequent check-ins, progress tracking, nutritional advice, and educational materials.

It’s critical to be reachable and to offer timely feedback to keep clients engaged and moving toward their fitness objectives.

10. How can I measure the success of my online personal training program and make necessary improvements?

Monitoring client retention rates, client progress, feedback and testimonial analysis, website and social media analytics, client surveys, and focus groups are all ways to gauge the success of your online personal training program.

Based on this information, you can determine where your training programs, pricing, or marketing strategies need to be adjusted in order to better serve your customers.