Personal Trainer almost broke

**hawkster07** · 01-25-2010 09:27 PM

My name is Matt and I've been a personal trainer for 9 years all of which I've been struggling to get clients but even more so with the economy. I've go two websites, post on craigslist,and just bought a pay per click ad on facebook. I can't imagine doing anything else but everything I've done has not worked out to be enough to keep my job since my rent has gone up. I'm really hoping someone can give me advice for something that works since I can't rely on getting lucky anymore. Thank you.

**Flea** · 01-25-2010 10:13 PM

I would consider creating a facebook group, have friends, current and past clients join the group and help get the word out that way. Perhaps give current clients incentive to invite potential new clients. Give them a free session for every new client they refer. Sometimes a little goes a long way in the service industry.

**rgvtutor** · 01-25-2010 10:29 PM

Do you own a gym? Where do the pt sessions take place?

**hawkster07** · 01-25-2010 11:02 PM

I pay rent for the gym that I train them at.

**Couponfield** · 02-01-2010 09:43 PM

You can post a coupon for your services at couponfield.com. Like Craigslist, it's truly free, and it's geared towards small independent businesses and service providers such as yourself. At the very least, it will provide a free backlink to your site, which can only help. No technical or artistic skills are required; you'd be done in less than 5 minutes.

**onetruth7797** · 02-02-2010 10:03 AM

hey, pm me i can help you.

**SteveG** · 02-02-2010 02:01 PM

It is a shame but a sad truth is that very few personnal trainers can make a living at it. I think the answer is to keep the rates up higher but reduce the amount of time you actually have to spend with a client making the service more affordable. This would free you up for more clients. Most personnal trainers I know attempt to charge a fee that can pay them and pay the gym but is not practical for very many clients on a long term basis. Possibly a once or twice a month consultation with a review of tecniques and things laike that might help build up a larger client base. If a client felt that for two weeks he would get intensive training and then after that just help to maintain his regime he may stick around longer. Steve

**SteveG** · 02-02-2010 02:20 PM

Actually I have an example that might fit this case. I was running a cunsulting company for trucking businesses. My primary job was to help control the level of maintenance and control the costs. A full time expert in this field would have cost them a minimum of $65,000 a year even though they didn't need someone full time. I based my rate on $65.00 per hour and would usually spend about 4 hours per week per account. This made them happy and worked well for me also. Steve

**Encrypted** · 02-02-2010 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by SteveG

It is a shame but a sad truth is that very few personnal trainers can make a living at it. I think the answer is to keep the rates up higher but reduce the amount of time you actually have to spend with a client making the service more affordable. This would free you up for more clients. Most personnal trainers I know attempt to charge a fee that can pay them and pay the gym but is not practical for very many clients on a long term basis. Possibly a once or twice a month consultation with a review of tecniques and things laike that might help build up a larger client base. If a client felt that for two weeks he would get intensive training and then after that just help to maintain his regime he may stick around longer. Steve

Sure that might work for some people, but other people need someone there to push them. For example, besides for running, I can't stay in a weight room for more than 45minutes before I say fk it. When I have someone there pushing me, (like when I had a trainer for when I was playing in a high level hockey league) I had much much much better results than when I was just working out by myself. I used to hate looking like a wimp when I was around other people.. so I would "show off", in a sense, to show them how hard I could push myself. Just going through the exercises isn't going to do anything if you don't have the drive to push yourself past your comfort zone.

**timesheets** · 02-03-2010 05:51 PM

Don't just be your average trainer. Write some articles and get them posted at various sites on the internet. Show your clients that you know your stuff. There are still people looking for trainers even in a bad economy but since the competition is so tight, people are at liberty to be choosy. Make yourself stand out. I have a friend that is a personal trainer in San Francisco who is still doing great business. He has written articles, gotten interviewed with local papers, and managed to secure some high profile clients in Los Angeles. All of this makes him a sought after trainer.

Good luck!

Peggy
Timesheets.com

**McManigal** · 02-06-2010 09:40 PM

Have you made a Google local listing yet? Search Google for "Personal Trainer (Your City)" and you will see a map with listings. These listings are free! I can help you create one and get listed on the first page so you can get a lot of people searching for you in Google. Even if you don't get it done professionally to list on the first page, you should at least be able to get on the second page and it doesn't even require a website.

Contact me from my site in my sig.

**inthemiddle** · 02-08-2010 12:09 AM

firstly where are you located? it could be simply demographics is the problem.

**w3bmaster** · 02-14-2010 05:29 PM

Try to make SEO to your website .. to drive targeted traffic ...

**Jason Ast** · 02-15-2010 02:12 PM

Lots of great ideas above!

Differentiation-separate yourself from other trainers

Marketing efforts- article writing

Referrals-your current clients must love you...give them incentive to refer more people like them

SEO-Work on your website, create Google Local Business link (map)

I would like to ask one question though; Why are people not signing contracts with you? Have you taken the time to ask them? What are their hangups about signing with you?

Without these answers, it's difficult to address the problem.

One more suggestion; Is there any way you can work more with groups? Maybe charge less and gain more per hour of instruction = less of your time, higher profit/hour.

Good luck, keep us informed!

**Pinnacle27** · 02-15-2010 03:14 PM

Hello Hawkster07,

My name is Brandon. I'm out of Edmond, Oklahoma and run a web-based financial fitness company. I can tell you that I've been a physical fitness enthusiast since I was in high school about 10 years ago. To be frank, there are some fundamental things working against you regardless of what decision you make as an entrepreneur. Beyond the fact that people's purchasing power is eroding like sand, most people do not think of health as a priority because they spend most of their lives trying to earn a living to pay the bills. Granted, they could take the time, but how much harder would they have to work at their jobs to be able to afford the service you provide? What activity or necessity would they be giving up in order to take the time to use your services? In my opinion, there is no greater necessity than what you offer to individuals. You can only discount or lower your rates so much before your incentive to be in business (beyond your personal passion) evaporates, though. Discounting and coupons are great, but don't ever bankrupt yourself by lowering your rates (or discounting) below a suitable profit margin. If your services have value, then you sell at what is equal to the value. Even if you take the time and the means to educate your prospects, they still need to have the will power and commitment to improve their health. That does not take money, it takes values. Meanwhile, one of the reasons you became an entrepreneur--I'm assuming--is to build your own personal wealth. I will fix the economy. That is the point of my own company. But I think it may behoove you to pursue markets where people are already passionate about fitness, like the expos. The ideas in this thread about facebook and/or putting groups together (such as on meetup.com) are great ways to immerse yourself in the markets that are actually looking for what you do. There are some people who make their health a priority regardless of the economy's condition. You are right to assert that luck is not good enough. With your background, you have all of the tools you need to communicate effectively and with dignity to people. Approach doctors' offices who teach their patients the value of wellness instead of healthcare and offer your services as a complement to what the doctors provide. You are a wellness professional. You have unprecedented value.

As far as solving your obvious short-term cash flow need, you can eliminate your susceptibility to recessions by investing any extra money you have into the wellness industry. Invest in the companies that you see at the expos. Invest in the clinics and doctors who complement your approach to wellness. Nutritionists and dieticians can be your top allies, as well. I can teach you all you need to know about creating multiple streams of income for your business so that you entire livelihood is not contingent on your getting a client.

You'll be alright.

Brandon Turner
Author, I Will Fix the Economy: A Blueprint for Private Citizens