Personal Trainer Marketing Accountability Log

[TXJ]

I am starting this thread mainly to hold myself accountable, but if anybody would like to join you are MORE than welcome to!

I have been a personal trainer for 6 years now, and working in gyms for longer than that on every side. I worked the front desk, sold memberships, sold training then eventually started training. I went completely independent with my training in April and I feel like I am getting a little too comfortable with my current client base and want to focus on new business. My goal is to log what I have done each day to generate new business.

I would also love suggestions as to what you guys are doing for marketing outside of the gym.

[TXJ]

Day 1 9/5/16

Posted 3 Craigslist Ads- for those of you not using this resource, you are seriously missing out. You get a lot of responses that are just wasting your time but there are clients to be had off of Craigslist. Last month I added $2k to my monthly earnings off Craigslist alone.

Posted in 5 ******** buy/sell/trade groups- I am not getting a great return off of ******** recently, but I feel it is important for building a local presence. Another thing I do, it is a bit snaky, but when somebody responds to one of the hundreds of MLM supplement postings I make sure to send them a private message with information about why they are better off going with a professional exercise and nutrition program rather than invest in a "miracle supplement". I acquired 2 clients last month from this method.

Follow-up Texts/Calls/Emails- constantly responding to anyone trying to reach out to me or even if they like a post on ********. I try to keep response times as low as possible and convert that interest into a scheduled consult ASAP.

[TXJ]

Day 2 9/6/16

I was pretty busy training today, but I was able to get a bit done as far as prospecting goes:

Posted 2 videos of my sessions to my ******** page. I haven't seen much of a monetary return from this but it definitely generates some interest and builds value for my services.

Put out about 100 business cards at local businesses and did some hand shaking. I get burnt out doing this pretty fast but I push to at least go until I set 2 appointments. I accomplished that.

Anybody else following? Any suggestions for some outside of the box prospecting methods? I try not to do free sessions if I can avoid it I am working hard to find quality, qualified leads.

[UTSoccerbro]

Hey man.

In on this.

I scheduled an event for next weekend at a local health fair in the town I work in, all the public sector employees will be showing up so I'll be pushing small group training and one on one sessions with them.

I set out a bunch of lead boxes around town offering a free training assessment and week long guest pass at the gym I work at.

Craigslist seems like a good bet. I'll hit that up.

[TXJ]

Day 3 9/7/16

Posted 3 Craigslist Ads

Updated some pictures on my website

Day 4 9/8/16

Posted 2 videos of clients training, this generates a lot of interest for me.

Made follow up, calls, texts, emails to past clients.

Messaged a bunch of new connections on LinkedIn to schedule some sessions.

[TXJ]

Hey man.

In on this.

I scheduled an event for next weekend at a local health fair in the town I work in, all the public sector employees will be showing up so I'll be pushing small group training and one on one sessions with them.

I set out a bunch of lead boxes around town offering a free training assessment and week long guest pass at the gym I work at.

Craigslist seems like a good bet. I'll hit that up.

There you go, a lot of people write Craigslist off but there are quality clients using it. You do have to weed through a lot of unqualified leads though. Once you learn to qualify well you can usually avoid giving a free session to an unqualified client.

As to your local health fair, another idea I have had a decent amount of success with is finding out when there is a 5k race and contacting the person organizing it to offer to run a stretching seminar before the race. I have gotten quite a few quality clients doing this and all we do is some simple static stretches, a couple dynamic warmups, and I make sure to have a couple of foam rollers on hand as well. This is a great way to get in front of people and also demonstrate your value by showing them some stretches and warmups they haven't seen before.

[quinnhoeppner]

There you go, a lot of people write Craigslist off but there are quality clients using it. You do have to weed through a lot of unqualified leads though. Once you learn to qualify well you can usually avoid giving a free session to an unqualified client.

As to your local health fair, another idea I have had a decent amount of success with is finding out when there is a 5k race and contacting the person organizing it to offer to run a stretching seminar before the race. I have gotten quite a few quality clients doing this and all we do is some simple static stretches, a couple dynamic warmups, and I make sure to have a couple of foam rollers on hand as well. This is a great way to get in front of people and also demonstrate your value by showing them some stretches and warmups they haven't seen before.

what kind of description or wording do you guys use on your craigslist ads? I havent had any luck with craigslist so far but I do live in a smaller town

[getbigordie18]

I am starting this thread mainly to hold myself accountable, but if anybody would like to join you are MORE than welcome to!

I have been a personal trainer for 6 years now, and working in gyms for longer than that on every side. I worked the front desk, sold memberships, sold training then eventually started training. I went completely independent with my training in April and I feel like I am getting a little too comfortable with my current client base and want to focus on new business. My goal is to log what I have done each day to generate new business.

I would also love suggestions as to what you guys are doing for marketing outside of the gym.

If you already have a certification try to work on your social media and its possible to coach people online with technology these days. Unless you are not technologically savvy.

[TXJ]

If you already have a certification try to work on your social media and its possible to coach people online with technology these days. Unless you are not technologically savvy.

I have multiple certifications, if you read my post I have been doing this for quite a while now just recently went completely independent in April. I use social media pretty successfully now but I can definitely make it work for me more efficiently.

My end goal is to open my own facility, so I haven't been putting as much focus on online training although I have done it with some success in the past. I am more so focusing on building my brand locally and generating as many quality leads as I can. I charge a monthly rate and want to get to the point where I am pulling $10k a month from my face to face training so that I can afford to open my facility, I am a little over halfway there.

How is your training business currently structured? Percentage of clients face to face versus online?

[TXJ]

what kind of description or wording do you guys use on your craigslist ads? I havent had any luck with craigslist so far but I do live in a smaller town

Title: "Introductory Personal Training Workout and Consultation"

Post Content:

"Free personal training workout and consultation. (first time clients only)

Please call or email for more information.

www.MYWEBSITE.com

National Academy Of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer

National Academy Of Sports Medicine Fitness Nutrition Specialist

Certified Physical Preparation Specialist

American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certified

American Heart Association Automated External Defibrillator Certified"

I also put a few pictures, one of my logo, one of me at a powerlifting competition (use professional photos not mirror selfies), and a couple of the facility I train out of.

With Craigslist it truly is a numbers game, I try to post at least 3 ads per day...so for over 20 ads posted a week I may schedule 1 or 2 sessions. I have been consistently converting these sessions set to clients though, I have a process to weed out the unqualified clients though.

[UTSoccerbro]

As to your local health fair, another idea I have had a decent amount of success with is finding out when there is a 5k race and contacting the person organizing it to offer to run a stretching seminar before the race. I have gotten quite a few quality clients doing this and all we do is some simple static stretches, a couple dynamic warmups, and I make sure to have a couple of foam rollers on hand as well. This is a great way to get in front of people and also demonstrate your value by showing them some stretches and warmups they haven't seen before.

Good look. I'll do that.

[TXJ]

Day 5 9/9:

Posted 2 ******** Videos-decent response

Posted 3 Craigslist Ads-this has been slow recently. I am going to take some new pictures this weekend to freshen these up. I am flooding Craigslist consistently so I may be getting skimmed over if they see the same pictures and titles/content.

Blasted LinkedIn- set 3 sessions from blasting a message offering a free session. I am new to LinkedIn but I feel like once I get things rolling it could be a great resource.

As always...follow up calls/emails/texts.

[UTSoccerbro]

I hit up yelp today and messaged all the disgruntled people from other gyms who left bad reviews in my area. About 50 leads, got 5 responses, set three appointments. I'll take it.

[TXJ]

Great idea! I will do that today.

[jwarrenfit]

one thing i did when i first went on my own was corner my neighborhood. I lived in a large wealthy residential area and had 4 page brochures made and flagged houses and cars, had a weekly free bootcamp on saturdays at the park, and would take place in all the community events. For example there was a chili cookoff and me and my fiancee brought some grass-fed bison chili and talked to everyone about nutrition... Got alot of clients from there and now that i am much further away with my own facility i still have 3 long term clients that make the 40 minute commute. A large apartment community could be used the same way too. I offered discounts for residents

[Camms1234]

I have multiple certifications, if you read my post I have been doing this for quite a while now just recently went completely independent in April. I use social media pretty successfully now but I can definitely make it work for me more efficiently.

My end goal is to open my own facility, so I haven't been putting as much focus on online training although I have done it with some success in the past. I am more so focusing on building my brand locally and generating as many quality leads as I can. I charge a monthly rate and want to get to the point where I am pulling $10k a month from my face to face training so that I can afford to open my facility, I am a little over halfway there.

How is your training business currently structured? Percentage of clients face to face versus online?

Great thread! What sort of monthly fee are you charging your clients? And how many sessions do they get a week or month for that?

[TXJ]

Great thread! What sort of monthly fee are you charging your clients? And how many sessions do they get a week or month for that?

Between $350 and $1000 per month depending on session duration, frequency, and whether it is one on one or semi-private.

Averaging about $35 for 30 minute sessions and $55 for 60 minute sessions.

[TXJ]

Day 6 9/10/16:

Posted 2 ******** posts, one article and one video.-decent response

Posted 3 Craigslist Ads-no response yet

Replied to LinkedIn messages- a lot of snaky MLM people on LinkedIn the deeper I get into it.

As always follow up emails, phone calls, texts.

Going to see if I can get Yelp figured out here in the next couple of hours.

[UTSoccerbro]

Started delving into linkedin, but due to a relocation my previous network of people, while huge, is useless, so Im building from scratch.

Looking into sorting out a couple corporate contracts here in the upcoming week.

[TXJ]

Started delving into linkedin, but due to a relocation my previous network of people, while huge, is useless, so Im building from scratch.

Looking into sorting out a couple corporate contracts here in the upcoming week.

Are you training out of a big box gym? Also where are you located in Texas?

[quinnhoeppner]

Started delving into linkedin, but due to a relocation my previous network of people, while huge, is useless, so Im building from scratch.

Looking into sorting out a couple corporate contracts here in the upcoming week.

I have never understood linkedin how do you take advantage of this? What kind of people do you pursue to connect with?

[TXJ]

Day 7 9/11/16:

Posted 3 Craigslist ads

Posted 2 ******** Videos

Day 8 9/12/16:

Posted 3 Craigslist Ads

Posted 2 ******** Videos/Articles

Follow up emails, calls, texts

LinkedIn Messages

[Swimstud180]

I hit up yelp today and messaged all the disgruntled people from other gyms who left bad reviews in my area. About 50 leads, got 5 responses, set three appointments. I'll take it.

I did this and got an email saying to stop sending commercial messages with a private account. Can businesses do it?

[TXJ]

Day 9 9/13/16

Posted 2 ******** Videos

Follow up emails, texts, calls

Outside Prospecting- put out business cards and shook hands

[ShreddedBrahhh]

TXJ when you said you had made $2k plus from craiglist ads is that just by coverting free pt sessions into clients ?

You also mentioned you had been focusing on online coaching previously, what was the main methods of gaining clients for the online side of it ?

I just joined Linkedin How are you using it to benefit you ? can you give me a quick run down of how your using it TJX ?

[TXJ]

TXJ when you said you had made $2k plus from craiglist ads is that just by coverting free pt sessions into clients ?

You also mentioned you had been focusing on online coaching previously, what was the main methods of gaining clients for the online side of it ?

I just joined Linkedin How are you using it to benefit you ? can you give me a quick run down of how your using it TJX ?

When I said I got 2k off of Craigslist that was from converting free sessions into clients paying a monthly rate (my rates start at $350 per month which would be two times a week for thirty minutes)

When I was doing the online coaching I relied heavily on ******** buy, sell, trade groups and would offer a one on one coaching transformation package, which would include workouts for the week, nutrition plan, and either one session if they were local or a phone call check-in.

I am still learning to use LinkedIn but I approach it similar to ********. I am building a network, and it is also easier to qualify clients. I can target Lawyers specifically in my area or Executives...you get the idea. I post articles on my page, as well as training videos (I upload to my Youtube rather than directly to LinkedIn). At the end of the day I am using LinkedIn to blast messages and get new sets of eyes in front of whatever offer I am currently running.

[TXJ]

Day 10 9/14/16

Posted 3 Craigslist Ads

Posted 2 ******** Ads in some buy,sell, trade pages. Some of these pages have limits on how much you can post so be careful, I am banned from a couple of high traffic pages that would at least get a comp session in front of me once a week. Some of these pages also allow you to pay to post more frequently, I do this on as many groups with 5,000+ members in my location I can. I spend maybe $40/month on this.

Follow up, emails, texts, calls.

Does anybody have any other questions? Or input as to some things I could be doing that you don't see logged.

[ShreddedBrahhh]

Thanks for the info TJX

I'm going to do some research on LinkedIn and ******** buy/sell groups ect .

One thing I'm looking into at the moment to expand my buisness venture is getting in contact with other professional and some how passing each other buisness (not sure how yet ) but the idea is there .

I know a lot of the fitness marketing requires contacts wether it's getting clients or attaining useful info to boost your buisness.

What type of gym are you looking to open and what's your ideal client ect tell me abit more about that.

I'm looking to open my own facility in about 3-6month.
It will be a one to one PT gym where I will have maybe a select amount of private memberships such as 100members in total and I will also have other PTs at the gym paying me rent . Is this similar to your plan ?

Also what is your take on boot camps and semi private training ? I feel it's harder to attract those type of clients compared to one to one sessions

[TXJ]

That is similar to what I plan to do, I currently am paying rent to train out of someone else's gym already so I would like to be the one collecting rent not paying it in the end.

As far as an ideal client, I just ask for consistency. If they are canceling sessions frequently I will not offer to keep training them once their term is up. Unless of course they are in a weird time slot that is unpopular.

As far as bootcamps and semi-private training, I am no good at bootcamps. I have tried in the past, but semi-private training is great if you have a group that understands each others goals. I usually bridge one on one training sessions into semi-private by getting them to invite a friend, it makes it more social for them and they have a good time and I am making more money. I have about 50% of my time booked with 2-4 clients at a time whereas the rest is 1-1.

[TXJ]

Day 11 9/15/16:

Lots of outside marketing, putting cards out, shaking hands. Got a new client to sign up on the spot.

Posted 2 Craigslist Ads

Posted 2 ******** Videos