When you decided you wanted to become a fitness pro, you received all types of advice from a wide range of people. Some of the advice is likely good, and some of it should be avoided at all costs.
Here are some things that some new fitness pros do wrong (and what you can do to avoid it):
1. They make it all about them. Every picture, story, comparison and instagram photo is about them.
Solution: As a trainer/coach, always focus on your clients. Make your clients the stars. Make the Facebook posts about their success. Share their successes on Instagram (with permission of course). The photos on your blog should all be about the people you serve. It’s not a shrine to your last bikini contest, or your trip to the beach with a perma-lat spread.
2. New fitness pros often focus on their perceived competition, rather than adding value to their services.
Solution: Add value. Period. When you focus on your competition, you give them your energy, and you are not focusing on solutions for your business and creative ways to add value to your client’s experience with your services. Always ask yourself, “How can I improve my client’s experience and the value of my services?”
3. New fitness pros often think too small.
Solution: Think big. Do great things. “Nobody is holding you back except you!” We may tell our clients these types of things, but ironically, when it comes to the business aspect of fitness, many trainers hold themselves back from the success they say they want. Move quickly and do great things. Think outside the box. Blow up the box. There is no box.
4. New fitness pros have been known to wear the wrong clothing during training/coaching sessions.
Solution: Be more conservative and gain respect. This is not the 80s or 90s. There is no need for a precision cut tank top that let’s us see things we shouldn’t. Even compression shirts should have enough sleeve length so that you don’t look like you’re trying too hard. Know the difference between fit and foolish, as well as attractive and sleazy. Always error on the side of being more conservative in your attire. Earn the respect you need to grow your business.
5. New fitness pros often don’t create a good niche.
Solution: Enter a niche or create your own and be the very best in the world.
Personal training is not a niche. Personal training for women over 40 is a niche.
Martial arts is not a niche. Kenpo karate for adults is a niche. Nutrition coaching is not a niche. Nutrition coaching for women 30 – 50 is a niche. When you have an idea, niche is down again. General idea – Fitness, niche it down – fitness for women, niche it down a gain – fitness for pre- and post-natal women. Get it?
6. New fitness pros are often unaware of the endless career and business opportunities that exist.
Solution: Understand all of your incredible opportunities. The great thing about becoming a fitness pro is that you have endless career and business opportunities. Some primary careers include: Working with clients at a gym, health club, fitness center, spa or resort. You can train and coach your clients indoors or outside. You can also operate your own facility. You can train and coach clients one-on-one in their home, your home, or your office. Many experts with this credential train in groups to help more people and earn more money per hour. In addition, you can seek out alternative (and frequently very lucrative career opportunities) as a blogger, writer, podcast host, author, online content provider, online video host or publisher of digital education products. You can also offer your services online to individuals, small groups or large groups. You can use fun online communication/collaboration platforms such Skype, Google Hangout or iChat for your training/coaching services. You can become an expert for authority websites such as WebMD, eHow and Livestrong. You can become a frequent expert guest on podcasts, radio shows, TV talk shows, news programs or in industry publications. The list of opportunities is truly endless. Nothing is hold you back. So, go make a difference today!
7. New fitness pros think it can be difficult to get clients.
Solution: Use all available resource. This is actually much easier than you may be thinking right now. Here are some examples: Facebook is an excellent resource. An account is free and building a fan page takes less than 5 minutes. You can advertising to very specific groups of people who want and need your services. Of course, you can also use Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and your other favorite social media platforms. It’s 100% FREE. Create and post a press release about your business launch. It’s simple and free to syndicate your press releases across the web. Creating a blog for your business is very fast and essential free. We have resources for your online marketing needs here. You can make training/coaching videos and post them to Youtube. When you offer this valuable free help, people get to know you and learn to like you. In return, they want to know more and they are directed back to your Facebook fan page or blog for details. Of course, you can post your videos to all video sites for an even great reach. Adding your business to Yelp is also a great idea. It gets ranked high on Google which makes your job even easier. Make sure you also add your business profile to Google Local. That’s another free and easy way to get clients. As for off-line client-getting strategies, you can do any of the following: attend local charity events, speak at community events, do a lunch-and-learn at a local business, volunteer for a local charity, distribute door hangers, post flyers, add a graphic/banner to your car, and the list goes on and on. Once you get started, you’ll see how easy it is to do. Now that you know what you need to do, you just need to implement and the clients will come in on a regular basis. To help you get started FAST and 100% ON TRACK, sign up for the JSE Inner Circle Coaching Program. NOW 100% FREE.
Thanks for reading.
I’m always here to help you.
Dr. NESTA
CEO and Found of NESTA
