What is the best way to market an at-home personal training business?
I’m not sure about the best way, I’m still working on that one myself. The cheapest by far is ….
Business cards, business cards, business cards….
and more business cards!
Take a day or two out of your schedule and make up a really great, snazzy, cool, informative, simple business card (front and back). Pay attention to the details and have your picture and slogan on there at a minimum.
Utilize your social network connections. Give your friends some business cards to hand out. You’ll be surprised how many they actually DO give out! Always have some with you and hand them out on the sly. Friendly stranger first, then salesman on the “down low.” People don’t want to be solicited, so include your website or blog site on the card and say something like
“Hi, my name is Leah, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation about protein. I’m a personal trainer, and I keep a blog about fitness and nutrition. (hand over your card and show the person the web address). Check it out if you have time. I really think you’ll find some useful information. (usually this is where people say they appreciate it, and that’s your opportunity to ask…) What was your name again? *smile*… Joe.. (say your name again) Joe.. I’m Leah. (handshake is acceptable here, then say) Have a great day, Joe!” or something like that.
For some reason, people usually like to hear you say their names… correctly. *you can imagine how Marlan can be so simple, but so complicated. It’s not a common name. I’ve been called so many different names I’m used to having to say my name three times before people understand.* If someone has a complicated name like Shan-tre-vesteon or something, nailing it the first time will definitely score you some cool points!
It’s all bout how you get your name out there. You can sell yourself without asking if someone needs a personal trainer or saying “my rate is…”
Look into affiliate programs with your certifying organization, register with them, and let that be a selling point. ACE has an AARP affiliate program. AARP is the largest special interest group in the United States. Ever wonder who is responsible for deciding the outcomes in elections?…
Be sure to market your certifications. Believe it or not, your certifying organization MATTERS. Being able to put the ACE logo on my card has been a major selling point.
ALSO! If you know a doctor or someone in the medical community who has his/her own practice, talk with that person and ask if you can put some business cards in the office. Strike up an agreement that you’ll refer your clients to the office when they need a doctor. Ask if they would consider referring some of their patients to you if the patients ask them about fitness or exercise.
Hope that helps. =)
AAARG…lol I just typed a response to this but it deleted it, so here goes again.
You need to make it knows that you are training and elevate yourself as a professional in the industry. You can do this by marketing on TV, Radio, Website, Newsletters, Fitness Column in the News Paper, Articles for Fitness publications, develop a mailing list to market to, and most of all tell everybody you meet about your business…be shameless it doesn’t work any other way.
Make the following two books your best friend:
http://www.amazon.com/Developing-Successful-Sport-Marketing-Plans/dp/188…
http://www.amazon.com/Business-Fitness-Understanding-Financial-Owning/dp…
Anything by Thomas Plummer is going to set you ahead of the curve.
Look up these two guys on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=268340663184739&set=a.102330979785709.5258.100000264235706&type=1&theater#!/FitnessMarketing
http://www.facebook.com/bigchrismccombs?sk=app_190322544333196#!/bigchrismccombs?sk=wall
These two guys give enough free marketing stuff away to set you up for starters then look more into what they have to offer, but check out the free stuff first. It is top notch marketing advise.
Once you check all that out you should be looking for a bigger space to train your clients in lol.
Here is part of my earlier post lol, it was sent to my email but not posted…don’t know why
“The same way you would market anything else..TV, Radio, Paper Ads, Electronic. Develop a website, make yourself a professional in your field by doing a column for the paper, start collecting names for a mailing list, start a newsletter, start a blog, and most of all get out and make it known that you are training. Don’t assume that the people that you are around regularly just know you are training, tell them about it. Spread the word, Spread the word, Spread the word.
When Alwn Cosgrove, founder and owner, of Results Fitness was asked “what would you have done differently starting with what you know now?”, he replied “spend more on marketing”. Its not enough to have flyers and business cards, you need a plan with deadlines to meet.”
I think that if you’re trying to focus on In-Home Personal Training than you should first determine who your clients are going to be. Think about your market, do some research and then target them specifically at the places where they congregate, whether in real life or online. For example, are they stay at home moms? Assuming you’ve already created your promotional material, target online mommy groups local to your area, put up flyers at day-care centers or children’s clothing boutiques. Perhaps you can partner up with health food stores etc. When you have a limited budget of both time and energy, you need to be more specialized with your marketing. Good Luck!
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