attracting higher $$$ clients

[John Prophet]

So I have been PTing in the local gym for about 20 months. We can determine our own rates. So I started off on the bottom end of the price range and now I need to bump things up some.

Basically I have been taking walk ins etc and inevitably they balk at actually having to pay for a trainer even though ive charged rock bottom up to this point, lol

So what are the methods for appealing to a higher priced clientel?

For all purposes, it can be looked upon as if I am starting from scratch since I dont have any "rich" clients to refer me to their buddies, lol.

I am looking at running some ads in the local newspaper as well as a popular local advertising paper. So how should I word the ads so as to appeal to people who can actually afford a trainer?

Just brainstorming, the sort of ideas that come to mind are along these lines:

"Doctors, lawyers, executives...you've built a succesful career, but what about your health. Invest in your future blah blah"

"Salesmen, executives, managers, dont let a flabby out of shape appearance undermine your career..do something about it!"

things along that line, lol. I am the first to admit im no marketing guru.


Any ideas or help here??

[deapee]

Good ideas, but remember when marketing, no matter what, always sell the benefits. Not the features...don't sell what is wrong...sell what you want to create.

Instead of "don't let a flabby out of shape..."

It should be something like "get that six pack you've always wanted..." or even simpler... "Want to look great naked..."

A bit cliche I know, but it's what works.

[John Prophet]

yeah, but how to focus it to clients with a little $$$ to spend.

EVERYbody wants a six pack etc and they come for a free assessment or to talk to u for 30 minutes of your time then they end up not being able to afford it.

[Poppa Pump]

I wouldn't say "doctors, lawyers, executives." I doubt they'd look at that and say "Wow! That's me! I need to call this guy!" Make an add that is appealing to everyone. Who cares if your client is a doctor? If they can shell out the cash that's all that matters.

[EMISGOD]

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity.

[EMISGOD]

Basically I have been taking walk ins etc and inevitably they balk at actually having to pay for a trainer even though ive charged rock bottom up to this point, lol

I think this point is an interesting one and for the pts out there checking on these Forums, you should realize that a lot of people are shopping for a personal trainer as they would a car. Take this article by way of example: http://www.mamashealth.com/exercise/pertrain.asp (pay particular attention to #5)

While I have no problem with consumer empowerment in general, there are a lot of articles of this nature and primarily targeted at females, who are probably generally going to make up the bulk of your clientele. I saw one article that gave specific questions to ask the pt, among them to name off which vitamins are fat-soluble. For those of you unable to answer this question without looking it up or for those who are thinking to yourselves what that has to do with training people, you may want to re-think what constitutes personal training...for the articles targeted at men, you get this ****: http://menshealth.genesant.com/www/xnt/mh/pages/Splash.aspx

Anyway, combating dissension is a huge part of your selling technique. Unless you're good (or well-known) enough to just get endless referrals, you will need to sell at some point. If someone asks you to run down your program and what you can do for them and at the end balks at signing up, what they are in effect saying is that they don't believe you. With newspaper and phonebook ads, you have to have an argument ready for this without even being there, which is a pretty difficult trick. Testimonials and before/after pics would possibly work in this context.

What you're asking of people is both their money and their trust, neither of which is easily parted with in today's economic climate. If you leave them any reason to doubt, they will. This includes undercharging and undervaluing your services. The question in their mind when they first see you is why should they believe you? If you can't convince them of your worth (expecting them to just take your word for it will fail), then you need to work on this first, most basic step before even worrying about anything else. Overcoming objections is something you will need to have well in hand until your business becomes established enough to become self-sustaining.

[rpatrick5]

I think it's going to take more than a newspaper add to attract high dollar clients.

I would start building a network. You're going to be better off building relationships than trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to marketing. Find people you can share clients with who won't directly take your business. Or stick to the lower end clientele and switch to semi-private and make the same per hour as training 'rich' clients. Or if you're lucky, charge rich rates and group train them.

[John Prophet]

I think it's going to take more than a newspaper add to attract high dollar clients.

I would start building a network. You're going to be better off building relationships than trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to marketing. Find people you can share clients with who won't directly take your business. Or stick to the lower end clientele and switch to semi-private and make the same per hour as training 'rich' clients. Or if you're lucky, charge rich rates and group train them.

reinventing the wheel? gee, I thought i was just asking for advice about a basic standard newspaper ad. I didnt know I was being revolutionary, lol


yes, of course I agree with all you have said, but thats all long or medium range stuff....I am looking for positive steps to take THIS WEEK.

Presently I dont HAVE any clients to share. I wasnt joking when I said I was basically restarting from scratch.

About a month ago, when my "low budget" clients had enough cancellations between them all to amount to an overall 50% cancellation rate that week, I decided I had had enough. So I informed them I myself would be taking the next week off. That pretty much cleaned the slate and I havent physically trained anyone in about 3 weeks.

So I am looking to restart and either sink or swim with this training thing. What I am not willing to do is train people for $20/session any longer. 20+ years of gym experience shouldnt come so cheaply.


So thats where I am right now. "Building a network" is nice and all but basically I need to jump start things and get at LEAST 1-2 steady clients, lol.

everyone keeps telling me how NOT to word an ad...no on has yet told me how TO word one.



there are no mentors, no structure, no friendly fellow trainers to look to for help. Its all me, lol

[EMISGOD]

So I am looking to restart and either sink or swim with this training thing. What I am not willing to do is train people for $20/session any longer. 20+ years of gym experience shouldnt come so cheaply.

Ok, fine. So if the question is why should they pick you, are you saying that 2 decades of you working out is what you're offering? Let me ask you another question. What does this mean, exactly? Does it translate into you being able to show them the exercises or does it mean more?


everyone keeps telling me how NOT to word an ad...no on has yet told me how TO word one.

All roads lead to Rome, man and everyone has to find their own style. Are you looking for someone to actually write the ad copy for you?


there are no mentors, no structure, no friendly fellow trainers to look to for help. Its all me, lol

There were none when I was doing it, either. So what? There are a lot of tools at your disposal in this Forum alone and everybody can put the wrench in front of you, but no one can make you pick it up and apply it to the bolt.

Before we get sidetracked, let's look at what's being discussed here so far.

*) Newspaper/phonebook ads are of dubious usefulness.
*) Overcoming objections is maybe the biggest part of the game for pts at the ground floor.
*) Answering the question of why should anyone hire you as well as what you're offering and other clients questions is necessary and may give you the direction you need.

As to the steps to take THIS WEEK, I have never seen an instant, overnight client base, unless you can pick up for another successful trainer while they are off on vacation or something...

Before you get pissed at all of this, particularly the questions, do realize that if you can't answer them here, you probably can't answer them to clients either and that is a deficiency you will need to correct if you wish to be successful, unless you are handed a contract to train people for schools or some company or something similar (unlikely without a cert)...my suggestion is basically to come up with a comprehensive game plan and then put it out there. This will take time, but clearly what you were doing before was not working so it may be worth a shot at least...

[njmuscle66]

First off I think you might have contributed to your cancellation rate by offering rock bottom prices. If someone misses a session, well 20 bucks won't hit them so hard. 65-70 they might think twice. As I said in the other thread I would strongly think twice before EVER discounted my services just to get people. What if you land alot of people at that 20 session. DO you think you can increase them to what you should actually earn. NOPE. SO you are busy training people at a discounted rate and don't have the time for new clients.

I gave you a couple resources in the past.

Ryan Lee and Phil Kaplan are two are the marketing gurus in this business. Check out their websites, subscribe to their newsletters.

As to your present situation. I would strongly encourage you to reach out to your local chamber of commerce of other business group and offer to speak at one of their upcoming meetings. However the presentation should not revolve around I am a personal trainer and these are my services. But rather a general topic such as Exercise your way to Stress Reduction or some general topic. good luck

[John Prophet]

First off I think you might have contributed to your cancellation rate by offering rock bottom prices. If someone misses a session, well 20 bucks won't hit them so hard. 65-70 they might think twice. As I said in the other thread I would strongly think twice before EVER discounted my services just to get people. What if you land alot of people at that 20 session. DO you think you can increase them to what you should actually earn. NOPE. SO you are busy training people at a discounted rate and don't have the time for new clients.

I gave you a couple resources in the past.

Ryan Lee and Phil Kaplan are two are the marketing gurus in this business. Check out their websites, subscribe to their newsletters.

As to your present situation. I would strongly encourage you to reach out to your local chamber of commerce of other business group and offer to speak at one of their upcoming meetings. However the presentation should not revolve around I am a personal trainer and these are my services. But rather a general topic such as Exercise your way to Stress Reduction or some general topic. good luck


yeah, obviously I realize there is no future in training people for rock bottom prices....ESPECIALLY with no firm cancellation policy.

$50/session is the highest I have heard of charged locally. AFAIK only 1-2 guy charges that. The rest in my gym charge around $20.

another local gym charges $35...ths split is $21 for trainer, $14 to the gym.


I KNOW its hard for people to fathom....but $35/session is more than most people in this area are going to pay. U cant understand unless u have lived in a low cost of living/low wage area. My apt is $325/mo for 2 bedroom...not $975 like in some areas.

for fun and kicks, we also have either THE or close to the top unemployment rate in the country (thanks NAFTA)

to even mention $65-75/session is just unreasonable for this area. Like I said, I had to hear people squawk about $20.

So afaic, $50 is about as high as its going to go unless one really gets in with the rich crowd somehow, lol.

I would be fairly satisfied making about $35/session right now and then bumping that up when I do get my certification.



Chamber of Commerce Meeting. Ok, ive never been to one...am I wrong in thinking its a bench of old guys sitting around puffing cigars? lol

[njmuscle66]

yeah, obviously I realize there is no future in training people for rock bottom prices....ESPECIALLY with no firm cancellation policy.

$50/session is the highest I have heard of charged locally. AFAIK only 1-2 guy charges that. The rest in my gym charge around $20.

another local gym charges $35...ths split is $21 for trainer, $14 to the gym.


I KNOW its hard for people to fathom....but $35/session is more than most people in this area are going to pay. U cant understand unless u have lived in a low cost of living/low wage area. My apt is $325/mo for 2 bedroom...not $975 like in some areas.

for fun and kicks, we also have either THE or close to the top unemployment rate in the country (thanks NAFTA)

to even mention $65-75/session is just unreasonable for this area. Like I said, I had to hear people squawk about $20.

So afaic, $50 is about as high as its going to go unless one really gets in with the rich crowd somehow, lol.

I would be fairly satisfied making about $35/session right now and then bumping that up when I do get my certification.



Chamber of Commerce Meeting. Ok, ive never been to one...am I wrong in thinking its a bench of old guys sitting around puffing cigars? lol


Yes you would be wrong :) and it would allow you an opportunity to meet others and possibly getting into bartering for services that you might need. Ie: a graphic company doing ads for you in return for training.

Just curious where you are located

[njmuscle66]

I know every market is different but I was talking to a trainer the other day about maybe putting together a studio with him. We got to talking about pricing services and he was like I don't even put on my sneakers for less than $60 per hour. I just found it a funny statement

[John Prophet]

I know every market is different but I was talking to a trainer the other day about maybe putting together a studio with him. We got to talking about pricing services and he was like I don't even put on my sneakers for less than $60 per hour. I just found it a funny statement

more power to him....but where does he live?

in some areas he wouldnt put his sneakers on much at all.

[John Prophet]

lol....so much for not putting all my laundry out in the street, lol. (I pmed u for a reason)

Millionaires row is a very small area...maybe 20 households? but, yes, there are some other concentrated areas that would be good to target for a mailing

[njmuscle66]

lol....so much for not putting all my laundry out in the street, lol. (I pmed u for a reason)

Millionaires row is a very small area...maybe 20 households? but, yes, there are some other concentrated areas that would be good to target for a mailing

my bad I deleted it

[furious420]

As the owner of a PT studio in a small town, I can tell you that the most difficult thing in the world is to raise your prices after initially lowballing your clients.

We charge $60 per hour and $35 per half hour (which are by far our most popular option) But unless you are in particularily affluent market (NYC or LA), the idea is to train more people together at a lower overall price.

For example, if you train a group of 4 low paying clients at $20 per hour, you still make far more in that hour than 1 person at $60. From experience, I can tell you group training cuts down on cancellation rates and locks people in to a schedule.

Offer your clients a free session for recruiting a friend to train with them. Word of mouth will naturally cultivate these type of sessions and you will suddenly find an abundance of clients who will spend money on training and even nutrition products.

[John Prophet]

As the owner of a PT studio in a small town, I can tell you that the most difficult thing in the world is to raise your prices after initially lowballing your clients.

We charge $60 per hour and $35 per half hour (which are by far our most popular option) But unless you are in particularily affluent market (NYC or LA), the idea is to train more people together at a lower overall price.

For example, if you train a group of 4 low paying clients at $20 per hour, you still make far more in that hour than 1 person at $60. From experience, I can tell you group training cuts down on cancellation rates and locks people in to a schedule.

Offer your clients a free session for recruiting a friend to train with them. Word of mouth will naturally cultivate these type of sessions and you will suddenly find an abundance of clients who will spend money on training and even nutrition products.


yeah, the word of mouth thing. Im not sure whats up with that...evidently since I am sort of the reserved type, I seem to attract people who dont know how to talk to other people. Like I have had clients for months who were happy with the service I provided, yet I have had ZERO word of mouth referrels. Mostly I get the "none of my friends want to lift weights" deal.

Ive offered free sessions etc etc. Have told em "you bring me a few clients and your training will almost be free" etc. to no avail.
Not going to lie, if I had known it would be this much of an uphill battle I might have never bothered, lol

[Mr. Aries]

you meet them outside of the gym, and bring them in...

[John Prophet]

you meet them outside of the gym, and bring them in...

thats like saying "buy low, sell high". But the devil is in the details.

If I were a strong "meeter and greeter" then Id already have plenty of clients (and a wife, lol)

[EMISGOD]

you meet them outside of the gym, and bring them in...

Dammit, JC. You know this only works if you're in shape...or if you have a really snazzy yellow shirt.

[rpatrick5]

I think $20/session is too low. You're definitely undervaluing your services.

It's a weird paradox but when I gave diets for free I would spend so much time on them and make each person happy, but they would never follow it.

When I finally said @*#$ it and charged a high rate I had people follow it. When they are paying they will follow it because they value it more

Here's an idea to attract some wealthier clientele for cheap.

Golf attracts some of the richest players. (Assuming you have some links in your area) Create a 1-2 page flyer with pictures that show simple exercises or drills golfers can use to improve their game--little posture improvements that may help with swing mechanics and thus, longer drives. I wouldn't talk about posture stuff to them, but just the end result: bigger drives, less back/shoulder pain, something. See if your local clubs will post the flyers around their course. It wouldn't cost them anything to post and it would be something of value to their clients. The only thing you could ask for in return is the opportunity to put your contact information in the footer of the paper or something. You could even use pictures of you demonstrating the exercises so people can even identify you.

I would also look into the book Guerrilla Marketing, it has some great ideas to market for cheap.

[Al Shades]

Where do you live dude.
Your best bet may be to move.

[John Prophet]

Where do you live dude.
Your best bet may be to move.

yeah...probably so. or, I might consider living here but training in the next town over which is 5x as big. about an hr drive.

definitely have to get my cert and polish up my act a little b4 going that route

[Mr. Aries]

I think $20/session is too low. You're definitely undervaluing your services.

It's a weird paradox but when I gave diets for free I would spend so much time on them and make each person happy, but they would never follow it.

When I finally said @*#$ it and charged a high rate I had people follow it. When they are paying they will follow it because they value it more

Here's an idea to attract some wealthier clientele for cheap.

Golf attracts some of the richest players. (Assuming you have some links in your area) Create a 1-2 page flyer with pictures that show simple exercises or drills golfers can use to improve their game--little posture improvements that may help with swing mechanics and thus, longer drives. I wouldn't talk about posture stuff to them, but just the end result: bigger drives, less back/shoulder pain, something. See if your local clubs will post the flyers around their course. It wouldn't cost them anything to post and it would be something of value to their clients. The only thing you could ask for in return is the opportunity to put your contact information in the footer of the paper or something. You could even use pictures of you demonstrating the exercises so people can even identify you.

I would also look into the book Guerrilla Marketing, it has some great ideas to market for cheap.



20 bucks a session? damn... babysitters get paid more to deal with less!

[John Prophet]

20 bucks a session? damn... babysitters get paid more to deal with less!

yep...and at $20/session it generally does amount to babysitting


btw, I am going to use that line to meet price objections, lol "u got kids...how much do you pay for a babysitter?"


how much is a decent 2br apt in fort worth going for?

[NDame616]

Find five overweight women at your gym.
Offer to train them for free for a month.
Take before and after pix.
If you're any good, they're gonna drop over 10 lbs and look much, much better.
Use their pictures/testamonials in all of your advertising.
Those 5 women should directly get you thousands of dollars in business

[neverTOOOOObig]

Just to give you something to think about...I asked the other day what were the rates at my gym just out of curiosity...50 per hr and the trainer starts at getting only 19 of it, goes up based on more credentials, etc. Just giving you a persepective, and this is in a chicago suburb

[John Prophet]

Find five overweight women at your gym.
Offer to train them for free for a month.
Take before and after pix.
If you're any good, they're gonna drop over 10 lbs and look much, much better.
Use their pictures/testamonials in all of your advertising.
Those 5 women should directly get you thousands of dollars in business

true. if u make 1 huge assumption....that they will eat what u tell them to eat.

[NDame616]

true. if u make 1 huge assumption....that they will eat what u tell them to eat.

Makwe them keep a food journal. Have them sign a contract outlining your out of gym expectations of them. If they fail them, they are fired.

Most will jump at the chance of getting a "personal trainer for free" that they will do everything they can to meet those expectations.

[Andalite]

Makwe them keep a food journal. Have them sign a contract outlining your out of gym expectations of them. If they fail them, they are fired.

Most will jump at the chance of getting a "personal trainer for free" that they will do everything they can to meet those expectations.

not a bad plan. actually, JP, id go with this one. the best way to persuade people to join you (in this case) is to present strong strong evidence. so 5 women who are fat transformed into 5 gorgeous beauties in 60 days (perhaps 30 is too less) will attract more customers. make sure you get all the legal work done correctly, though...im a b-law student so trust me: if you don't cover your ass properly, someone will find a way to screw you over no matter how nice you were to them (meaning one of these very same women could sue you for something which you may have overlooked).

my best friend's dad is into real estate, etc....i could ask for prices of 1BHK in dallas/fortworth. would you like me to? where do you want to be placed (roughly)?

[EMISGOD]

Makwe them keep a food journal. Have them sign a contract outlining your out of gym expectations of them. If they fail them, they are fired.

I had both of those for everyone. Everyone got to keep a food journal for 2 weeks before they ever touched a weight. I would usually review it with them at the end of a week. If they weren't serious enough to do that, the training stopped there.


Most will jump at the chance of getting a "personal trainer for free" that they will do everything they can to meet those expectations.

I disagree. As numerous people have pointed out, if it's not accorded in their minds with a high value, they will think nothing of blowing it off. He couldn't keep people coming at $20 because $20 meant nothing to them. Zero is obviously going to mean much less than $20...

There is a huge psychology at play that many trainers fundamentally do not understand. These people are, by and large, used to being losers and failures, at least in their own minds. They are people who are accustomed to settling, for living with "good enough". You can't move forward until you understand the underlying mentality, which is that these people do not want you to throw them a rope or a buoy (the free training). They want you to drain the ocean, pick them up and physically carry them to land.


not a bad plan. actually, JP, id go with this one. the best way to persuade people to join you (in this case) is to present strong strong evidence. so 5 women who are fat transformed into 5 gorgeous beauties in 60 days (perhaps 30 is too less) will attract more customers. make sure you get all the legal work done correctly, though...im a b-law student so trust me: if you don't cover your ass properly, someone will find a way to screw you over no matter how nice you were to them (meaning one of these very same women could sue you for something which you may have overlooked).

This idea is a mess, potentially. You can't take 5 pigs and magically transform them into 5 hot rods. Them losing weight will not affect their ugliness, if that's where you're going with this. If you're trying to simulate the existing fat burner ads, do what they do, find 5 hot chicks, take their pictures for the after shots first and then get them nice and bloated for the before shots or sub in their photo-shopped heads onto different bodies. Buy some identical swimsuits in model and beachball size and take the pics.

If you want to show realistic improvement in 2 months, it will work better (without regard to how well it will sell). In this case, the OP could also use himself for a transformative pic...

The contract to get the pics is one thing, but if they don't complete the 2 months or drop out after a month and a half or start fudging the food journals, then what? Ideally, they would train for 2 months, then sign on for the year, maybe sign them up for a year (get the money up front) and give them 1 month a quarter of it for free...

This whole idea strikes me as somewhat unworkable for smaller towns...

[John Prophet]

my best friend's dad is into real estate, etc....i could ask for prices of 1BHK in dallas/fortworth. would you like me to? where do you want to be placed (roughly)?

oh, I wasnt thinking of moving way down there, lol. I was just trying to put the $20/session up here into perpective.

if an apt down there is $650/month and up here its $325, then the $20 up here is really the same as $40 down there.

[John Prophet]

there is definitely a psychology that is in play that is hard for me to work with. I approach my own life trying my best to think for my self etc...so I assume others want to do the same. BUT THEY DONT!!!

At least in this town afaics, people want to be told what to do every step of the way. They dont WANT to think for themselves or be self sufficient at all. This is why the sort of domineering, manipulative, "control freak" trainer mentality is one model that does work in this area. But thats not my natural style at all because it makes me feel like I am using people and treating them like children.

But they just will NOT think for themselves at all and that includes having any positive feelings that change is possible etc. Like I had one guy who already lost 20lbs and he was asking when he was going to see results....??? wtf???

Thats why I think I need to actually start caring LESS about each individual client, lol. I definitely need to go way more "drill sargeant" on them. The whole "Ill treat you like an rational adult" thing isnt working.

[nickmanzoni]

IF you have been training for 20 years, and charging so little. You know what the problem is by now. If you don't, change careers.
Couple things:
people have a stigma on cheap.
If they say no to your price per session, they see NO value in what you're offering (you aren't worth 20 dollars an hour)
You need to be articulate when talking to your clients during the interview, the session, and the closing. If you studder, or your conversations don't flow;there's another problem.
I've been training 3 years, and I charge $100 for a single session, with a rate drop with a higher amount. My closing ratio is phenominal. I'm thinking of teaching a class.

[Omnis Potens]

Find five overweight women at your gym.
Offer to train them for free for a month.
Take before and after pix.
If you're any good, they're gonna drop over 10 lbs and look much, much better.
Use their pictures/testamonials in all of your advertising.
Those 5 women should directly get you thousands of dollars in business

i'm doing something similar with close friends

[NDame616]

Yes, people do see the value.

But if you approach the women as trying to help them out, you usually get $75 an hour for private sessions (BS but whatever...) they will see value in it.

However...$20 bucks? That's insane. I get my haircut for more than that!

And who cares if you've been doing it for 20 years. If you've been doing it for 20 years, you'd have hundreds of testamonials, pictures, etc of clients of how amazed they were at how awesome you are. Judging by this...you don't.

Are you using your 20 years of experience to see how awful weight loss training 20 years ago was?

More importantly....are you a good trainer?

You don't need five women to do my plan, you need one...or two (hell, train them both at the same time!) In a gym setting, no matter if it's in Boston, LA or the middle of nowhere, IA....it's a small community. Everyone in the gym talks. I work at a pretty large gym in a moderately large city in MA. However, all the people in the "morning crowd" or the "noontimers" or the "afterwork hours" or the "weekend warriors"....know each other. If you're good, they will talk about you. If you're bad.....they will talk about you.

[NDame616]

Also....

You need to see why you aren't getting clients. If you're at a gym, you have hundreds of people at your disposal.

Is no one coming up to you? If so, your marketing sucks. Read a book on marketing.
Are people coming up to you, but no one is buying? If so, you're selling sucks. Read a book on selling.
Are peopl buying, but not resigning? Not getting results? If so, your training sucks...learn more about training.

At my gym there are very wealthy people there...but none of them are my clients. I train, mainly, housewives/women who are looking to lose some weight. Granted, my clients aren't bwlow the poverty line or anything, but only one of my clients is very, very rich.

Target your marketing at middle aged women. Most executives/people in power don't like someone else telling them what to do (men especially...)

Would you rather market for rich people and maybe get one....or market towards middle aged women and get 5?

[John Prophet]

20 years?? Ive been training mySELF since I was 15, lol (on and off of course)

Ive been doing PT for 20 MONTHS.


Basically, no one comes up to me in the gym. There are other established trainers there who's names get mentioned first..nevermind that the owners daughter is the night manager there and she and her husband r both trainers.

I dont advertise in the gym except for one very small flyer that sits on a counter with 50 other flyers, biz cards etc etc. If my name gets mentioned its in passing and basically there is no way for walk-ins to put a face with that name unless I happen to be standing right there that very moment.

I used to regularly put multiple flyers up in the gym and it just wasnt worth the hassle. Id always see people reading them and people would comment that they like the flyer...but I dont think anyone really inquired to/about me due to the flyers. One day I had went up to 2 girls and gave them my biz card and the spiel etc...offered them a free first week. Then I come in and see one of them training with another trainer. I got pissed and took my flyers down and took my biz cards off the desk and threw them away and told the owner they did me as much good in the trash as they did on the counter. The whole rejection rate thing of approaching random people in the gym was not remotely worth it to me.

There are no official gym pics of the trainers on the wall. no uniform or even t-shirt. The owner prints our names in her newspaper ads sometimes but as far as that goes thats just a name. If no one knows my face goes with that name, then it does me no good.

As far as me getting clients from WITHIN the gym....I dont even see it happening at this point and I dont see me bothering to try anymore. Thats why I am asking about advertising

So basically, no one there really knows Im a trainer unless they happen to see me training someone. Thats why I made a thread asking about doing your own workouts in the same gym u PT in. If all people see is mostly me lifting weights myself, then they dont even realize that I am a trainer. My own personal workout face and persona is way more of a focused game face...I am POSITIVE it would intimidate most prospective clients.

Thats sort of where it stands right now. I had like 5 clients about a month ago. One week I had a 50% cancellation rate and I got so pissed that I took the mext week off myself to re-evaluate the situation, and I pretty much lost all of my clients right there, which was fine with me.

So as it stands I have 0 clients and I work a 40hr job so I am hardly in the gym unless im training myself.

The road forward is very hard to see at this point.

take it for what its worth, but in this particular gym situation, my name will never be pushed forward when walk-ins ask about trainers. I accepted that a logn time ago.

Right now, my only strategy is to work extremely hard on my own conditioning etc so that my body is my calling card. That and work on my cert. Both of those things take time.

[AverageJoe_WPB]

If you're an excellent trainer and you can effectively build value in what you're selling, you can charge anything you want. Never low ball, you're only devaluing yourself and what you have to offer. BUILD VALUE. After you build value with the prospective client for at least and hour, they should be dying to train with you. That is when you show them your prices that are on a piece of paper done on a computer in a professional manner. Never communicate the prices verbally. When you communicate prices verbally, people believe it is open for negotiation. Slide the sheet of paper over the desk and don't say a word. Keep your mouth shut and remember that the first person that talks loses. Even if you have to stay quiet for 5 minutes, let them speak first. If they tell you they can't afford the hourly rate, then suggest to train them 1 or 2 days / week instead of 3 or 4 days/ week. Or have them go with the 1/2 hour session. NEVER DROP YOUR HOURLY RATE. You'll soon figure out that if they'll pay 50/hr, they'll pay 60/hr, and if they'll pay 60/hr, they'll pay 70/hr. I charge 90-100/hr depending on the # of sessions and get it all day long. The bottom line here is be confident, build value, and realize that if they want you, they WILL pay. If they really don't want to train with you, then they won't pay. And if all they do is sit there and complain about the price then you have not done your job building value in yourself and your training abilities. I don't care what area your in or where you live, these people have money and will pay if they BELIEVE in you.

[John Prophet]

If you're an excellent trainer and you can effectively build value in what you're selling, you can charge anything you want. Never low ball, you're only devaluing yourself and what you have to offer. BUILD VALUE. After you build value with the prospective client for at least and hour, they should be dying to train with you. That is when you show them your prices that are on a piece of paper done on a computer in a professional manner. Never communicate the prices verbally. When you communicate prices verbally, people believe it is open for negotiation. Slide the sheet of paper over the desk and don't say a word. Keep your mouth shut and remember that the first person that talks loses. Even if you have to stay quiet for 5 minutes, let them speak first. If they tell you they can't afford the hourly rate, then suggest to train them 1 or 2 days / week instead of 3 or 4 days/ week. Or have them go with the 1/2 hour session. NEVER DROP YOUR HOURLY RATE. You'll soon figure out that if they'll pay 50/hr, they'll pay 60/hr, and if they'll pay 60/hr, they'll pay 70/hr. I charge 90-100/hr depending on the # of sessions and get it all day long. The bottom line here is be confident, build value, and realize that if they want you, they WILL pay. If they really don't want to train with you, then they won't pay. And if all they do is sit there and complain about the price then you have not done your job building value in yourself and your training abilities. I don't care what area your in or where you live, these people have money and will pay if they BELIEVE in you.


good solid advice. thanks

one key that I am missing right now is the cert. Just that in itself builds value since only 1 other trainer in the gym is certed AFAIK.

I c u were in a show in NC...you used to live up here? Im right across the border in Va

[partsRheavy]

yeah...probably so. or, I might consider living here but training in the next town over which is 5x as big. about an hr drive.

definitely have to get my cert and polish up my act a little b4 going that route

1. Get that certification

2. Prepare some flyers and brochures. Also, make a bunch of business cards. Make them tasteful but also emphasize that you can travel locally and meet clients on their terms. Mention something like "individualized fitness plans" and maybe make the inititial consultation (where you and the client meet and design the plan according to their age & fitness level) free. Note your years of experience on the card and also mention that training is fun!

3. Re-align your prices to properly support your costs including getting the cert., current food/rent costs, insurance (you should carry a policy in case a client gets hurt), travel to the adjoining city in a _modest_ vehicle, and other costs. $40/h is common in my area, which is a moderate-high cost area in the Southeast. (The Southeast is cheaper than the coasts). I don't know what your costs are, but $40-45 might be a good rate...possibly with a $5 "travel fee" for in-home training. It's acceptable and understandable nowadays to add a modest fee for your travel expenses. A friend of mind who fixes heating/AC systems is now either grouping service calls or only traveling for $100 jobs or better. Clients that just need a $50 yearly inspection/cleaning are scheduled in conjunction with other nearby service calls.

4. Do you have a small car of some sort? If not...then trade-in your larger vehicle for a few-years-old small car of some sort that still looks nice like an '05 Kia or an '03 Honda. Don't buy a brand-new car - you'll see why below. The idea here is to save on gas even with a bit more driving. Then....

5. Get that lil' car wrapped! Yes....advertising all over that thing! Pics of clients who have done really well if they give permission....otherwise do a really nice logo, splashy vibrant colors that suggest movement...and....your phone number...along with something like "will travel." It's a small car...but you are showing that you're willing to travel to their gym or home to train 'em. This is a luxury for which you can charge extra like a $5-10 "service fee." A wrapped car is a good marketing idea in an urban area because it's an attention-getter. It shows that you wanna do business...rather than drive some fancy luxury vehicle. Do you have a bike and rack? If so, put'em on the back of the vehicle and unload the bike/go riding wherever the nearest rails-to-trails or bike path is locating. Fitness-oriented people tend to be in these areas.

6. During the hot summer days coming up, drive the vehicle to the larger city. Go to the neighborhood where the little shops and art galleries and restaurants are at - e.g. where the more educated/moneyed crowd hangs out. Wear a nice outfit that shows your physique - not a beater but a nice (sorta tight) T or something. Just walk around and maybe tack a few business cards up in places that have bulletin boards. Do this a few times...meet people and chat even if it's about non-training subjects like buying some small item in an art gallery for a gift or whatever.

7. Do a few talks at the Chambers of Commerce in the region. As another poster mentioned, keep the topic general - but have business cards and flyers available at the talk.

8. If you still haven't picked up clients, try running 1/8-page or 1/4-page ads in the alternative weekly paper in the larger city. Just about every larger town has one of these - with entertainment listings, restaurant listings etc. etc.

OK...those are some "crazy" all-out marketing ideas for getting clients in that bigger city! They're just my ideas based on what I've seen with other businesses like computer service or new restaurants or dog walking etc.

I'm certainly no trainer, so that part is your area of expertise!

[John Prophet]

1. Get that certification

2. Prepare some flyers and brochures. Also, make a bunch of business cards. Make them tasteful but also emphasize that you can travel locally and meet clients on their terms. Mention something like "individualized fitness plans" and maybe make the inititial consultation (where you and the client meet and design the plan according to their age & fitness level) free. Note your years of experience on the card and also mention that training is fun!

3. Re-align your prices to properly support your costs including getting the cert., current food/rent costs, insurance (you should carry a policy in case a client gets hurt), travel to the adjoining city in a _modest_ vehicle, and other costs. $40/h is common in my area, which is a moderate-high cost area in the Southeast. (The Southeast is cheaper than the coasts). I don't know what your costs are, but $40-45 might be a good rate...possibly with a $5 "travel fee" for in-home training.

4. Do you have a small car of some sort? If not...then trade-in your larger vehicle for a few-years-old small car of some sort that still looks nice like an '05 Kia or an '03 Honda. Don't buy a brand-new car - you'll see why below. The idea here is to save on gas even with a bit more driving. Then....

5. Get that lil' car wrapped! Yes....advertising all over that thing! Pics of clients who have done really well if they give permission....otherwise do a really nice logo, splashy vibrant colors that suggest movement...and....your phone number...along with something like "will travel." It's a small car...but you are showing that you're willing to travel to their gym or home to train 'em. This is a luxury for which you can charge extra like a $5-10 "service fee." A wrapped car is a good marketing idea in an urban area because it's an attention-getter. It shows that you wanna do business...rather than drive some fancy luxury vehicle. Do you have a bike and rack? If so, put'em on the back of the vehicle and unload the bike/go riding wherever the nearest rails-to-trails or bike path is locating. Fitness-oriented people tend to be in these areas.

6. During the hot summer days coming up, drive the vehicle to the larger city. Go to the neighborhood where the little shops and art galleries and restaurants are at - e.g. where the more educated/moneyed crowd hangs out. Wear a nice outfit that shows your physique - not a beater but a nice (sorta tight) T or something. Just walk around and maybe tack a few business cards up in places that have bulletin boards. Do this a few times...meet people and chat even if it's about non-training subjects like buying some small item in an art gallery for a gift or whatever.

7. Do a few talks at the Chambers of Commerce in the region. As another poster mentioned, keep the topic general - but have business cards and flyers available at the talk.

8. If you still haven't picked up clients, try running 1/8-page or 1/4-page ads in the alternative weekly paper in the larger city. Just about every larger town has one of these - with entertainment listings, restaurant listings etc. etc.


OK...those are some "crazy" all-out marketing ideas for getting clients in that bigger city! Just my ideas based on what I've seen with other businesses like computer service or new restaurants or dog walking etc. - I'm certainly no trainer! LOL

did I mention shoe string budget?? lol

I jumped in sort of over my head when I first started and I was only doing a few small part time jobs on the side while I was trying to get my training biz going. I expected it to take off WAY more than it did. Long story short, I got way behind on bills and had to get a "straight job" on 1st shift.

So now I am fighting an extremely uphill battle

This is one reason I definitely have to charge more...because I only have time for at MOST about 3 clients per night after work and that in itself would be incredibly hard.


my car?...beater 92' Tercel, chipped paint, lol. No one would ever think "success" or "dude has soemthing going for himself" when they see me in my car. But there is simply no budget to do anything about it at the moment. ironically, when I had the 5-6 clients at $20/hr I was getting plenty of spare cash on hand. sort of a catch 22....because if its known that u train so and so for $20, u cant charge more to someone else. your fee gets known etc

I have a lot against me right now. In my favor I have great hair, lol

[nickmanzoni]

Here is the problem:

Them: "What kind of cert do you have"?
You: "I don't have one".

Them: *walks away*

[John Prophet]

Here is the problem:

Them: "What kind of cert do you have"?
You: "I don't have one".

Them: *walks away*

actually...havent been asked once that I can remember

If I were asked I might say "Im certified by 25 years of experience"

[TPower81]

It sounds like you need more charisma, character, and outgoing personality. You're not popular at the gym because you're quiet, reserved, and possibly low esteem in your own PT abilities. To me, PT is selling yourself as much as you're selling your services.

I don't have one of the greatest bods out there, and there is always room for improvement but I have met people all the time that ask me about my training methods, what I eat, how often I lift, etc. I especially get a lot of comments from people who knew me before, 40 lbs heavier. If I were a PT these are all leads to clients, and all I'm doing is presenting myself well and being open about working out. It all starts though with building your network of friends, contacts, business professionals, etc. The best way to do this other than expanding your personal friend base is to do something free.

I'm not talking about giving out free training sessions. I'm talking about giving back to the community. This creates a altruistic view of yourself and also gets your face and name out into the community. For instance, offer seminars to businesses in the area about diet, health, things you can do at work to help burn calories and reduce fatigue, anything! Offer these sessions to businesses in your area as a lunch n learn to the employees. You come in, give a presentation in front of 30 employees. They are there because its free. At the end you can open it up to questions. People most likely will come up, ask a few questions and bam you have generated leads. Have business cards that show you're a PT in the area and let them contact you if they are interested. Pick businesses where the employees will be making enough money to be able to pay for you.

The idea is you're out in the community, trying to make a difference in people's health. Other ideas, write articles for local publications on fitness related topics. These will get published if written well enough, and your name gets put in front of many readers. Join a non-profit and help organize an event in the community. You'll gain more contacts. Start an after school club for overweight kids which teaches basic nutrition and keeps kids active with games and sports.

You need certification. Get it. Some people won't care, others will. People like me look at trainers and say, yeah I want to look like him, teach me, show me, lets do it. If the trainer doesn't have anything up front to show me, I'm out. There is no reason to train with them if they don't live what they preach, and especially if they haven't put in the time to get certified. Think about it, you're in the service industry, you get payed for what you know. If you don't have anything that gives piece of mind to a person that you know as much as you say you know, then there is no trust there. Why would you go to a lawyer for their services if they don't have a law degree and specialize in your area of concern? Why go to a broker and give them your money to invest if they don't even have a series 6 license?

Demand more money, because you're the best, and you've got testimonials, certifications and a killer body to prove it.

Know your clients, and potential clients. Not everyone responds to drill seargent mentality. Most women respond to a relational approach. Some people might want to know more about how the body metabolizes different foods, and burns calories differently. Others just might want to know what to eat. Some want general training, others specific. Some will need extra motivation, and extra time, while others will just do what you tell them and rock. To be successful in keeping your clients, you have to know them and that will help you help them achieve their goals.

If you can get 1 client at 60/hr its the same as three clients at 20/hr. The extra 2 hours you can work on building your client base. Its like people have said, so many clients at 20/hr is eventually going to kill you in the end. Not enough time to make any money, and get new clients.

Since you have 0 clients right now, you might think about getting a second job to help pay bills while you develop a better client base and get certified. Better to do it now then try and fit it in later...

Just some ideas from a non-trainer. :) good luck.

[bpb77]

Another thing you have to consider is a lot of people in your area might not have disposal income for personal training. With gas nearing $4 a gallon most people are cutting back on services they don?t need. No matter how many certs or years of training you have, people are cutting back on things.

[partsRheavy]

The Tercel is a lot better on gas than most cars. My idea was tailored more toward someone who is driving a larger vehicle now and considering a trade-in for a smaller one. Doesn't look like it would work in your case.

However...what about doing word-of-mouth and in-person type things? Do you own a bicycle? Or, you could get a used bike for a couple hundred bucks maybe. If you do, perhaps do some riding around town and on bike paths or trails around the bigger city - and carry business cards with you. Just the visibility of being seen riding the bicycle during the $4 gas era that we're in tends to make people think about exercise.

Some things like biz cards can be done at pretty low cost. I actually wouldn't recommend splashy, expensive advertising until you already have a good client base.

One way to advertise totally free is on craigslist....if you're offering a service tailored to a specific geographic area, which you are. I've sold several "yard sale" type items this way without the expense or hassle of going to the flea market or having a yard sale. I took pictures of the things I was selling, which helped two old wooden chairs, some old billiard balls, and an electric fan find new homes.

Digital cameras are cheap enough now that the one-time cost is well-worth it for doing stuff like before/after pictures with clients.



did I mention shoe string budget?? lol

I jumped in sort of over my head when I first started and I was only doing a few small part time jobs on the side while I was trying to get my training biz going. I expected it to take off WAY more than it did. Long story short, I got way behind on bills and had to get a "straight job" on 1st shift.

So now I am fighting an extremely uphill battle

This is one reason I definitely have to charge more...because I only have time for at MOST about 3 clients per night after work and that in itself would be incredibly hard.


my car?...beater 92' Tercel, chipped paint, lol. No one would ever think "success" or "dude has soemthing going for himself" when they see me in my car. But there is simply no budget to do anything about it at the moment. ironically, when I had the 5-6 clients at $20/hr I was getting plenty of spare cash on hand. sort of a catch 22....because if its known that u train so and so for $20, u cant charge more to someone else. your fee gets known etc

I have a lot against me right now. In my favor I have great hair, lol

[EMISGOD]

Here is the problem:

Them: "What kind of cert do you have"?
You: "I don't have one".

Them: *walks away*

Certs matter more for gyms at the moment than they do for clients. The majority of the time this is brought up in a trainer-client meeting is by the trainer and 99% of the people you're training won't know WTF it means or what the difference is anyway. If they DO know, then they probably don't need you in the first place...

[EMISGOD]

20 years?? Ive been training mySELF since I was 15, lol (on and off of course)

You keep saying this...I do hope you realize, at some point, that it is utterly meaningless in the context of you personal training other people...unless you also LOOK like you have been training for 2 decades...


Right now, my only strategy is to work extremely hard on my own conditioning etc so that my body is my calling card. That and work on my cert. Both of those things take time.

I think what you should do is build a (preferably well-thought out) plan and a timeline and then proceed according to it.

[njmuscle66]

actually...havent been asked once that I can remember

If I were asked I might say "Im certified by 25 years of experience"

I agree most people dont care where you got your cert................as long as you have one. Just like most people don't care where a lawyer went to law school, just that he is admitted to the bar. I am surprised a club will let you train without it. Do you carry liability insurance? You might be leaving yourself exposed to litigation if someone was to get injured while training with you.

[nickmanzoni]

Hey guys. Letting you all know, they are posting ALOT of videos on the net on the IMPORTANCE of a cert. Though our industry is not regulated, people ARE questioning you. I get asked quite often what my certs are. That is, AFTER they are impressed. It goes "wow, that was an awesome workout! Where are you certfied from"?

[John Prophet]

Hey guys. Letting you all know, they are posting ALOT of videos on the net on the IMPORTANCE of a cert. Though our industry is not regulated, people ARE questioning you. I get asked quite often what my certs are. That is, AFTER they are impressed. It goes "wow, that was an awesome workout! Where are you certfied from"?

that would imply to me that you have a more informed gym or area. Thats definitely NOT my situation, lol. My gym owner doesnt require her trainers to have certs. Of approx 6-8 trainers, afaik only one has a cert (ISSA). It works well for him obviously as he tends to market to people from outside the gym and he is the only one making a decent rate of approx $50/session...which as I have stated, for this locale is pretty good IMO.

The other main gym in town may tend to have a slightly more savvy crowd. They do require trainers to have certs, which I think is good. Problem being they have a fixed rate of $35/session with the trainer keeping $21 of that.

I worked for a computer store for a while and I was A+ certified...which is probably about the equivilant of an NSCA-CPT. I was there for 1 year and I remember ONE customer asking if the store's techs were certified.

Think "redneck" locality.



again, im ALL FOR certs. Id strongly prefer to have at least two:

1) NSCA-CPT since I already have the study materials.

2) Some cert that would allow me to say "I am a certified nutritionist". Even if we all know that such a cert in itself doesnt guarantee any great knowledge or skill, its the kind of thing that an average client would be very impressed by.

[EMISGOD]

I agree most people dont care where you got your cert................as long as you have one. Just like most people don't care where a lawyer went to law school, just that he is admitted to the bar. I am surprised a club will let you train without it. Do you carry liability insurance? You might be leaving yourself exposed to litigation if someone was to get injured while training with you.

Private gyms may or may not care. Chain gyms and parks departments require certs. (I know the latter part from having been asked if I wanted to be a trainer for every one of the last 5 gyms I've been at)


Hey guys. Letting you all know, they are posting ALOT of videos on the net on the IMPORTANCE of a cert. Though our industry is not regulated, people ARE questioning you. I get asked quite often what my certs are. That is, AFTER they are impressed. It goes "wow, that was an awesome workout! Where are you certfied from"?

Who is "they"?

Do any of the people asking you this understand the differences between the certs?

Unrelated, why are you red?


2) Some cert that would allow me to say "I am a certified nutritionist". Even if we all know that such a cert in itself doesnt guarantee any great knowledge or skill, its the kind of thing that an average client would be very impressed by.

If you really want it, just make this yourself in a word processing program, unless you're prepared to spend years to get it...

[instantmassege]

Yes, people do see the value.

But if you approach the women as trying to help them out, you usually get $75 an hour for private sessions (BS but whatever...) they will see value in it.

However...$20 bucks? That's insane. I get my haircut for more than that!

And who cares if you've been doing it for 20 years. If you've been doing it for 20 years, you'd have hundreds of testamonials, pictures, etc of clients of how amazed they were at how awesome you are. Judging by this...you don't.

Are you using your 20 years of experience to see how awful weight loss training 20 years ago was?

More importantly....are you a good trainer?

You don't need five women to do my plan, you need one...or two (hell, train them both at the same time!) In a gym setting, no matter if it's in Boston, LA or the middle of nowhere, IA....it's a small community. Everyone in the gym talks. I work at a pretty large gym in a moderately large city in MA. However, all the people in the "morning crowd" or the "noontimers" or the "afterwork hours" or the "weekend warriors"....know each other. If you're good, they will talk about you. If you're bad.....they will talk about you.


I am trying to get in to PT, what gym do you work for and what certs do they require? Thanks.

[nickmanzoni]

http://www.amazon.com/Dump-Your-Trainer-Marc-Paulsen/dp/0615181082/ref=ed_oe_p
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/food_coach&id=6129780
http://marylandpersonaltrainer.com/wordpress/ask-the-trainer/video-what-to-look-for-in-a-personal-trainer

[nickmanzoni]

[QUOTE=EMISGOD;172056911]

Unrelated, why are you red?
QUOTE]


I remarked how doing squats on a bosu ball helped my mass gains and overall strength, and got negged. I don't care if I'm red or not. This is the internet, where anyone with an opinion can post whatever they feel they want to.

[furious420]

good solid advice. thanks

one key that I am missing right now is the cert. Just that in itself builds value since only 1 other trainer in the gym is certed AFAIK.

I c u were in a show in NC...you used to live up here? Im right across the border in Va

While I agree you should be certified, this has little meaning to the average client. While I know nothing of your training, but your former clients are your best advertisement.

In my case, I brought functional/circuit training to primarily weightloss seeking clients who were used to the bodybuilding/2-3 min between sets mentality. Keeping in mind that perception is a key marketing tool, your goal should be to recruit 2-3 key clients and achieve stellar results.

I urge you to take a hard look at your own training before putting yourself out there because clients do talk-- whether you are good or bad. Some hints for success include adopting more full body movements (squat to press, lunge to curl), higher rep ranges and lower rest periods. Keep them sweating and out of breath and you will build your selling point.

[kserajuddin]

I had both of those for everyone. Everyone got to keep a food journal for 2 weeks before they ever touched a weight. I would usually review it with them at the end of a week. If they weren't serious enough to do that, the training stopped there.



I disagree. As numerous people have pointed out, if it's not accorded in their minds with a high value, they will think nothing of blowing it off. He couldn't keep people coming at $20 because $20 meant nothing to them. Zero is obviously going to mean much less than $20...

There is a huge psychology at play that many trainers fundamentally do not understand. These people are, by and large, used to being losers and failures, at least in their own minds. They are people who are accustomed to settling, for living with "good enough". You can't move forward until you understand the underlying mentality, which is that these people do not want you to throw them a rope or a buoy (the free training). They want you to drain the ocean, pick them up and physically carry them to land.



This idea is a mess, potentially. You can't take 5 pigs and magically transform them into 5 hot rods. Them losing weight will not affect their ugliness, if that's where you're going with this. If you're trying to simulate the existing fat burner ads, do what they do, find 5 hot chicks, take their pictures for the after shots first and then get them nice and bloated for the before shots or sub in their photo-shopped heads onto different bodies. Buy some identical swimsuits in model and beachball size and take the pics.

If you want to show realistic improvement in 2 months, it will work better (without regard to how well it will sell). In this case, the OP could also use himself for a transformative pic...

The contract to get the pics is one thing, but if they don't complete the 2 months or drop out after a month and a half or start fudging the food journals, then what? Ideally, they would train for 2 months, then sign on for the year, maybe sign them up for a year (get the money up front) and give them 1 month a quarter of it for free...

This whole idea strikes me as somewhat unworkable for smaller towns...

This all sounds good -

[kserajuddin]

btw your logic is entirely flawed -

You want higher $$$$ clients? Simple, give more value - put more out -

A cert would help - everyone's right, noone asks you for it - do it for yourself - demonstrate some basic seriousness about the profession -

If you don't care about this job and aren't serious, why should anyone else -

This profession is survival of the fittest -

[EMISGOD]

This profession is survival of the fittest -

I designed an entire ad campaign kinda around this idea once...then wound up not needing it...I should see if I still have it...hmmmm.

[Al Shades]

Find five overweight women at your gym.
Offer to train them for free for a month.
Take before and after pix.
If you're any good, they're gonna drop over 10 lbs and look much, much better.
Use their pictures/testamonials in all of your advertising.
Those 5 women should directly get you thousands of dollars in business

This is a great idea that many PT's have used as a launching board for referals, but you have to be sure to find the right people.

If you find 5 lazy slackers, you are going to be taking on a huge workload with zero payoff.

Actively seek out motivated individuals. Even better, seek out people who are already in good shape and offer to work with them. Your name will automatically become associated with their success, and this will attract lots of interest.

Also, seek out people who are going talk about you - a lot. Make friends with the front desk stuff, maybe offer them some deep discounts on training packages, and you will be guaranteed a steady stream of leads for as long as you are there.

A trainer's job is not to motivate anyone - that's malarkey. I should not have to convince someone why being fit is a goal worth having.

A trainer's job is to provide someone who has the motivation with the tools and advice necessary to reach their goals. Essentially, you should be passing on to them all the information that you wish you had when you were first starting out.

If you have to motivate your clients all the time, it is a sure sign that you are carrying a bunch of "dead weight" and you are probably more of a babysitter than a trainer.

[John Prophet]

Make friends with the front desk stuff,
u mean staff?

unfortunately I am screwed as far as that goes, lol. Its family owned and the night manager is the owners daughter and she and her husband are both trainers. Nothing will ever come to me via the front desk..rather it gets funneled away quickly. (understandable...blood is thicker than water)

Basically anything I do in the gym is 100% on my own. No allies...Ive learned some hard lessons in this gym. Trying to learn as much as I can and get to a level where I can move on

[Al Shades]

There are no official gym pics of the trainers on the wall. no uniform or even t-shirt. The owner prints our names in her newspaper ads sometimes but as far as that goes thats just a name. If no one knows my face goes with that name, then it does me no good.

As far as me getting clients from WITHIN the gym....I dont even see it happening at this point and I dont see me bothering to try anymore. Thats why I am asking about advertising

So basically, no one there really knows Im a trainer unless they happen to see me training someone. Thats why I made a thread asking about doing your own workouts in the same gym u PT in. If all people see is mostly me lifting weights myself, then they dont even realize that I am a trainer. My own personal workout face and persona is way more of a focused game face...I am POSITIVE it would intimidate most prospective clients.

Get some shirts made with "Personal Trainer" or "Training Staff" printed on the back and start wearing them around the gym constantly.

You need to do this as soon as possible.

I also workout at my gym, have been there for years, and most of the veteran members recognize me. But not everyone realizes that I'm a trainer. That's why I'm going to be getting my workout clothing embroidered with our Training logo's.

If you go to a store that makes team uniforms, they will easily make you tank tops to wear with whatever logo you want. That's essential, dude. I would even get a custom name tag. And if your picture isn't up yet, take one and put it up somewhere. That gives you an immediate advantage over the other trainers there.

[Al Shades]

In my case, I brought functional/circuit training to primarily weightloss seeking clients who were used to the bodybuilding/2-3 min between sets mentality.

Say what? Bodybuilders don't take 2-3 min between sets. Bodybuilders do dropsets, supersets, agonist/antagonist complexes, and 2/1's.

Housewives and people who don't know what they're doing take 2-3 mins between sets.


Some hints for success include adopting more full body movements (squat to press, lunge to curl), higher rep ranges and lower rest periods. Keep them sweating and out of breath and you will build your selling point.

Are we talking about what brings results here or what makes you appeal to new clients? Because the two are not the same. All of those "functional" movements don't do anything for hypertrophy. In other words, you WILL look the same after 2 months of doing that crap. There is a reason why Ronnie Coleman doesn't train that way. If you can get a housewife to train like Ronnie Coleman, that's how you will get results. The trainers who use these techniques don't use their "results" as their main selling point...they go by their personality and the entertainment aspect of the workouts (people find it more entertaining to F around on a bosu ball than to do squats).

[SHOWTIME]

Say what? Bodybuilders don't take 2-3 min between sets. Bodybuilders do dropsets, supersets, agonist/antagonist complexes, and 2/1's.

Housewives and people who don't know what they're doing take 2-3 mins between sets.
.

WTF are you talking about?

[Al Shades]

WTF are you talking about?

I'm disagreeing with what he wrote.