I work as an Independent Trainer @ a gym… Any ideas on how to get more clients? Right now word of mouth is all I got.

Pat Rigsby

http://fitbusinessinsider.com/grow-your-fitness-business-2/
this is a good place to start

also check out Cris McCombs
http://www.kickbacklife.com/

Bedros Keuilian
http://ptpower.com/

these guys are all marketing experts and even if you just read their blogs you will learn a tremendous amount about how to survive financially in this industry.

Dan, I noticed that you have your degree in health and kinesiology. Have you ever thought about earning another certification. I know you meet the requisites to take the NSCA CSCS credential.

Surely, if you make yourself more marketable you would attract more clients.

I feel very strongly, that the more knowledge, skills and credentials one acquires the more marketable one becomes.

Hope this helps.

It would help if I knew your current situation. Do you work at a gym? Studio? With in home clients? Comment back on this and I’ll try to help. That information really tweaks the dynamic a little. No sense in spraying a shotgun at everyone and hoping, when you can actually get your potentials together in a group and point your shotgun at that.

Good. You’re diversifying your range.

If you want more clients at the gym: If you haven’t got business cards yet then make some. They don’t have to be fancy just good contact information. Every time you talk with a potential client (anyone who asks questions you can answer as a professional) make sure they receive one. Promote your profile here, I have numerous ones out there but this really is the most legit looking one, and you can really flesh it out. Hold pow-wows (with novice gym goers or just friends) at the gym you train at. When people see you training they pay attention to the exercises; when they see you teaching they start analyzing your knowledge as an expert. You have got to get publicity and that means getting your self out there in front of the masses. Local TV station are good places to make appearances (do a small segment on debunking fitness myths or something else entry level and cap it off with one advanced scientific principle: i.e. enhancing metabolism to enact athletic developement) and situate yourself as a local celebrity.

If you want more in home clients: Do demonstrations. Do them at crowded events near your training radius for maximum exposure. Again, don’t just show people things, teach them. Have pamphlets on hand that promote your services as an in home trainer and make certain you have developed a complete business model (don’t get caught unable to answer questions about your own business!)

I am never really short of clientele because of the exposure I create for myself but it takes some dedication at first to be recognized. Oh, and create a brand that is totally based on your style and never let anyone know you NEED clientele, just that your looking to expand your clientele. Fake it till you make it; if you appear to be a success then you must be… right? Give ’em quality and word of mouth will accumulate into testimonials for advertising.

Hi Dan,

Stephen had some excellent advice. Another thing to try is to have some shirts made that leave no doubt that you are a personal trainer. And wear those wherever you go. You’d be surprised how many people will ask you about it. You may be the first ‘live’ personal trainer they ever encountered. It can generate a conversation and – who knows? Just make sure you have a business card or brochure handy.

Best of luck.