What do you bring to to the table that other trainers don’t? What makes you unique?
Sorry if this is harsh - your written communication is terrible. I understand this is a forum post, and doesn’t require that things be perfect. However, good communication skills (both written and verbal) are important when marketing yourself and what you have to offer. In my opinion, poor communication can show a lack of attention to detail, laziness, or ambivalence to the receiver’s understanding. This would be a red flag for me if I am looking for trainer. I’m not suggesting your grammar needs perfection, but following basics is important (like using a space after a period and using complete sentences for example). I put more effort into texting my 13 year what she would like for dinner than you put into asking how to build a business to forum that caters to your target market.
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Training/Coaching doesn’t have to be unique or some new novelty. A good coach knows how to train the body to generate specific results. He also has the ability to communicate with clients so he can truly figure out their goals and needs. Once the goals are identified, a plan is created. A good coach has the ability to present the plan in a manner that can be understood by the client. Once the program has begun, a good coach has the ability to identify weaknesses and make changes as necessary. You should be able to make adjustments on the fly. If you have a killer back workout planned and your client shows up in a wrist brace and says they can’t grip anything, what will you do? You only have a few minutes to decide and modify the day’s program.
The best coaches deliver the correct information at the right time and in the best manner. Don’t fall into the trap of being that coach that confuses people and forces them to conform to your program.
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[quote=“akash_bagle, post:20, topic:227305”]
what can I do to get more clients?make them pay for me,and make sure that they don’t switch to someone else.[/quote]
Delivering significant, visible results will solve all of these. If someone hires you and, eight weeks later, other people in the gym can see that they look better - visible weight loss, leaner, more muscular - that’s some of the best advertising.
So, being awesome at your job and knowing your shit is first and foremost. Being in good shape yourself is another “easy” way to at least get the attention of potential clients and draw interest. It’s kind of human nature for the average person in the gym to see a trainer who’s in good shape and think, “That guy knows what works, so of course he can help me.”
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A few characters are starting to annoy me at work.
2 combinations in particular…
The ‘fat dad coach’ who brings his equally fat daughter along to the gym and has her doing calf raises all fucking day.
Then you have the ‘fluffy daughter’ who’s bringing mum along and having her do smith machine hamstring kickbacks, after being on Instagram all day watching Jemima Tightbuttocks do the same exercise.
do you think issa degree program is a good idea ? has anyone delt with them ?
I went through their general trainer certification years ago and did the youth fitness specialization. I also started/didn’t finish their performance nutrition and martial arts conditioning courses. They’re solid, been around for years, and are associated with
But I’ve been out of the loop for years and didn’t know they actually have a degree program. Taking a quick look, it seems like a basic Associate’s Degree in Exercise Science, so, “technically” probably similar to what you’d find at a local community college (I’m guessing. I didn’t finish community college either). But having the ISSA label on it “should”, I’d expect, be looked on pretty well if you’re looking specifically to do training.
If your longer-term goal was to get more into medical or research stuff, I don’t know what kind of weight it would have (no pun intended) compared to a degree from a more traditional school.
I’ve been in the gym a long time so decided to get some formal qualifications, should have done it sooner, but anyway. I’m just begginning the transition from my full time job into the fitness industry.
I’ve always had negative experiences in the past with ‘gym instructors’ and trainers in the gym. They had always seemed to not know very much. Possibly why I steered clear of formally studying.
So when I did study, it made me look at the industry closer and someone used the analogy “personal trainers are just like hairdressers”. That made me understand my previous experiences with trainers better.
For the most part people will see a PT not to add 100lbs to their bench press or sprint 100m in 10sec. They go to a PT to feel better about themselves, like what people go to a hairdresser for.
Is this the realization any of you have had when making adjustments to your approach when dealing with clients?
P.s - Does anyone else get the shits when enhanced social media ‘fitness’ gurus are giving out terrible advice. And maybe some mental strategies to not get mad about these clowns?
I’ve been working as a trainer since '14 and I’ve only worked with 2 clients who were interested in being able to left heavier. The majority of those you meet and work with are interested in a certain look or addressing a certain body part. You’ll also come across those who were told by their doctors or physical therapists to get a trainer.
I don’t agree with the “hairdresser” statement. Lots of people get trainers to ensure they won’t hurt themselves, to keep them committed, to develop a program which is more effective than what they’re currently doing, or to change things up and learn a new skill or exercise.
As far as the fitness gurus online, either educate your clients enough to have them be able to call bullshit on what they see online, or completely ignore them altogether.
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Cashing a “paycheck” moment as a trainer: I have a gal who has been working with me for a couple of months, she is heavier and really puts in a lot of effort, she has trusted the process and is getting stronger while averaging about 1-1.5lbs of loss a week (this is not my doing, this is her effort and willingness to work hard with the movements I have given her) she has recently joined a “support group” on social media to help get an overweight friend of hers to start working out and making healthier decisions (it is one of those ItWorks! things.) She came in the other day and was kind of feeling me out about my thoughts on wraps, cleanse drinks, etc. from these companies, I was trying to be diplomatic and she up and states, “They’re bullshit aren’t they? You can’t actually lose 7-10lbs of “real” weight in 3 days, right?” I agreed with her and we talked about it, but I guess the “paycheck” moment for me was her realizing that her steady progress and her feeling better (1 year post back surgery she is squatting and deadlifting without pain, which were her goals) take time and commitment and she is echoing this into the support group she has joined and not allowing bullshit to permeate other people’s moldable outlooks on fitness and what really works.
#ProudTrainerMoment
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Note that this is coming from a guy who went from interning at Mike Boyle’s gym six days a week to coaching pro athletes, Victoria’s Secret runway models, Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, and major Hollywood celebs in under 7 years.
I also wandered onto this video the other day. Basically a step-by-step guide on how to start drawing attention to your business. Absolutely 100% applicable to trainers and coaches.
Fun Fact/shameless excuse to name drop: I first heard of Gary Vaynerchuk when I grabbed coffee with John Romaniello years ago, after Roman suggested I pick up Vaynerchuk’s book Crush It. (Gary V was Roman’s client at the time).
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Could’ve sworn I replied to this a while ago, but…
Not too much, really. For sure there are some clients who just want to go through the motions of a “workout” while kvetching, in which case a “smile and nod” approach is the best I can usually muster. I don’t have the energy or ability to play psychotherapist, so I don’t try.
But the biggest adjustment I think most trainers need to make is realizing that the majority of people don’t care about squatting 405 or building better upper pecs. They want to move better on the tennis court, fit into a bathing suit, or “just lose a little weight”. Which comes back to remembering that you can’t train clients like mini-versions of yourself.
Yes and no. It’s definitely frustrating to see ignorant “professionals” give the business a bad name, but trying to tackle them head-on isn’t a winnable situation. Unless you want to do a “callout” video and hope it goes viral, which is a whole other can of worms. Best you can do is to focus on putting out good info while remembering that dumbed down misinformation will appeal to the kinds of people who fall for it and not everyone can be saved.
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I’m a huge Ben Bruno fan. Love his take on single leg work. I use a lot of it for the classes I teach so thanks for that Ben!
His 100 rep trap bar workout is fantastic as well
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I was actually just scrolling through his Twitter feed because he’s a funny motherfucker. But, yeah, his training stuff is super-underappreciated. His split stance RDL was a game-changer for me.
Anybody having an influx of work with the New Year? The resolutioner crowd is usually a pretty reliable boost whether you’re gym staff or independent. Only trick is keeping them after February 1st.
I’ve gave up most PT clients. I keep one or two purely through loyalty and because I enjoy their company.
Focusing mostly on taking classes nowadays. I find it more fun, challenging and I love the banter I get going with the customers.
Going off on a tangent here btw…
I feel that too many folk are getting qualified and heading straight into personal training. If I was to give any helpful advice I would suggest that they get a gig as a gym instructor and take shit loads of classes. It will do wonders for your skill set and ability to think off the cuff.
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Not sure I follow. “Classes” as in continuing education stuff, learning new methods and info? Or like group classes training a bunch of people at one time?
Classes as in group fitness. I love the buzz you get after taking one. They’ve also done wonders for expanding my repertoire.
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As trainers, do you feel you lose business to individuals holding Exercise Physiology degrees or other higher-level certifications.
For example - and this might not apply outside of Australia - one can be considered a “qualified” personal trainer with a Cert III in fitness (1 year course, minimum age is 15), but most PTs hold a Cert IV. Some go on to earn and hold Cert Vs and call themselves ‘master trainers’ (is that even a real thing?), and some others go to university for a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology. Regardless, I rarely see any difference in the clientele base, except for the fact that certain trainers at my gym have different specialties.
I have a degree in Exercise Science. I’m a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). I used to be a Certified Personal Trainer through the NSCA as well (I just didn’t want to pay the $50 to recertify since it’s lower than the CSCS).
I got a job at the YMCA as a personal trainer and they forced me to take THEIR personal training course. It was a joke. Everyone passed because they made it so easy. They put my credentials with my name but they ignored the fact that I was light years ahead of their crap certification. I even pointed out mistakes on their exam.
It seems like it doesn’t matter what your credentials are to most folks around here as long as you’re “Certified”. The average gym person won’t know the difference. The certs like mine are mostly useful in specialized fields. For example, you have to have your CSCS is you want to do strength and conditioning at the college level. Unfortunately they want you to have college experience too. And since no one hires entry level people you have to volunteer.
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