Starting an online fitness training business is not as difficult as you might think. There are many ways to do this – you could start with a few clients, work on building your social media presence, or offer free sessions to build your portfolio. But before you can get started, there are some things you should know – like the tools you will need and what sort of certification is required for your state.
You Must Be a Certified Trainer
The very first thing you need to do is be sure you get certified as a personal trainer. You can all the time learn the ins and outs of starting an online coaching business once you start your career as a personal trainer, but it is much easier to start from scratch with at least some training under your belt! To become a personal trainer online, you will need to get certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), or one of the other leading fitness certifying organizations out there. This way, you’ll have more credibility and reach more clients.
You Need the Right Tools
To run a successful online coaching business, you need to have your tools on hand from day one. Here’s what you will need as an online personal trainer:
- Website with online scheduling system.
- A Facebook page for your business, and a few sort of social media campaign done to get you found.
- Email newsletter sign-up form, so you can keep people updated regularly and contact them on their e-mail.
- A way to accept online payments, such as PayPal or Stripe.
You Need To Understand The Market
One of the most helpful things you can do when starting an online training business is to understand your market. Understanding your market means understanding who will hire you, what they’re attempting to find in a coach, and what tools and services they need to succeed. This is great way to differentiate yourself because you can help your clients achieve their goals better than anyone else!
For example, if you’re training people with diabetes, you’ll need to understand how stress affects disease and how certain types of food cause spikes in blood sugar. You also want to be sure you can provide advice about exercise based on an individual’s health condition because someone with arthritis may not be capable to do some of the exercises recommended for people with diabetes.
You Can Be Successful If You Love What You Do
While there are thousands of online personal trainers out there vying for the attention of potential customers, do not be discouraged. As long as you enjoy what you do, it is all worth it in the end. Even if you’re successful, there will be slow days here and there where clients cancel appointments or ask for help. Don’t be preoccupied with what other people are doing – just focus on your work ethic and confidence!
You Have Unique Qualifications
It helps to remember that you have something nobody else has – YOU! You have a special experience that nobody else has, so do not compare yourself to any other online trainer out there. Your drawing clients in a friendly manner, approachable, and positive. Then take the time to listen to what they need from you because this is how you can offer something nobody else can – support tailor-made particularly to their needs.
Learn To Relationship With Your Clients
While it may look like you can reach a broad range of individuals by starting an online coaching business, your clients will only achieve success if they feel comfy contacting you and establishing a relationship. Don’t overreach and be obnoxious – instead, try to build solid relationships with your clients and prepare yourself for whatever they may need from you. You should even be creative in marketing your services on social media as this is probably the greatest ways for potential customers to find you! And remember – nobody has access to anyone else’s inbox except their own (and possibly their e-mail service provider). So don’t fret about other trainers stealing all of your hard work by contacting via e-mail.
Image source: Pixabay
The idea of owning your own fitness business may seem daunting, but you can do it! All it takes is the right type of training, an understanding of your target group, and most significantly, love for what you do. With these tips in mind, you will be ready to start your online training business in no time!
