So you’re starting your personal training business? Do you already have a few clients or are you setting out to conquer the market from scratch? In either case, check out our article, where we describe the steps needed to gather a satisfying number of your gym people.
We warn you! It won’t be easy! Your creativity and commitment will be required! But that’s what professional personal trainers are like, right? One thing is for sure – it will be worth it!
Key Takeaways
- To start your career as a personal trainer and gain clients, your creativity and commitment will be required.
- There are many ways to acquire customers using traditional methods, e.g. a free first meeting, a sample of your personal training services at community picnics, etc.
- There are also many ways to get personal training clients fast thanks to modern technology, including appropriate fitness SEO, Google Ads, fitness social media presence or an outstanding website.
- We cannot forget about personal training software with its many useful functions that will make your personal trainer image: professional, well organized and facilitating communication and cooperation.
How to Get Clients as a Personal Trainer
- Define Your Unique Value
- Build a Professional Website
- Leverage Social Media
- Offer Free Consultations or Free Trial Session
- Partner with Local Businesses
- Encourage Referrals
- Create Video Testimonials
- Run Targeted Ads
- Host Community Fitness Events
- Use Email Marketing
- Offer Group or Duo Training Discounts
- Utilize Local SEO
30+ Steps How to Get Personal Training Clients
Here are ten detailed steps for attracting new clients to your personal training services, with an emphasis on showcasing your unique value.
By following these steps and emphasizing your unique organizational and communication strengths, you’ll build a reputation as one of the professional, accessible, and effective personal trainers who make the process easy and engaging for clients.
Step 1. Define and Highlight Your Unique Value Proposition
- Identify what sets you apart, such as specialized training techniques, a focus on client accountability, or a knack for creating enjoyable yet challenging sessions.
- Highlight your certifications, relevant experience, and training philosophy.
- Include aspects that make clients’ lives easier: offer organized communication channels, various payment options, and a seamless experience with a personal training CRM (customer relationship management) system to schedule sessions, manage billing, and track progress.
Step 2. Create a Professional, User-Friendly Website
- Build a website that provides an overview of your services, credentials, testimonials, and an FAQ section.
- Make it easy to navigate with clear calls-to-action (e.g., “Book a Free Consultation” or “Sign Up for a Free Trial Session”).
- Include a blog where you share fitness tips and success stories, which can help with SEO and establish your expertise.
Step 3. Leverage Social Media for Credibility
- Use Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to showcase client transformations, success stories, workout tips, and day-in-the-life posts to humanize your brand.
- Engage with followers by replying to comments and hosting Q&A sessions, which can make you seem more approachable.
- Run targeted ads on these platforms to reach potential clients in your area, or consider using short, informative workout videos on TikTok to reach a younger audience.
- Read more about gym social media post ideas that can help you gain more personal training clients.
Step 4. Offer Free Initial Consultations
- A free consultation or discounted trial can help potential clients experience your training style without any commitment.
- During the session, listen carefully to their fitness goals and share your plan for helping them achieve success.
- Make sure they experience your style of personal training, excellent communication and organizational skills to build trust from the beginning.
Step 5. Build Relationships with Local Businesses and Health Professionals
- Partner with gyms but also with the health and fitness industry (physical therapy offices, nutritionists, wellness centers), other fitness professionals, and even local cafes that align with health-conscious lifestyles.
- Leave business cards, fliers, or even a small display with promotional materials at these locations to attract personal training clients. It’s one of the traditional marketing strategies but it still works!
- Offer to host joint events like wellness workshops or fitness seminars to increase exposure and credibility.
Step 6. Showcase Client Testimonials and Success Stories
- Ask satisfied clients for testimonials or permission to share their success stories, with or without photos.
- Post these testimonials on your website, social media, and even Google Business profile.
- Potential clients seeing that you’ve helped others reach their fitness goals can be highly motivating and build your credibility. Client referrals always work!
Step 7. Offer Flexible and Convenient Packages
- Provide a range of packages to suit different budgets, such as monthly memberships, per-session pricing, or bundled discounts for longer commitments.
- Emphasize flexible payment options (credit card, PayPal, and bank transfer) and the ease of automated payments through your specially designed CRM for gym business.
- Introduce packages for specific goals (e.g., “Weight Loss Program,” “Strength Training Plan”) to attract prospective clients with clear, targeted goals.
Step 8. Showcase Your Value as a Personal Trainer
- Certification & Experience: Make it clear on all marketing materials that you are certified and experienced. Share the value of your training with the prospective clients in understandable, benefit-focused language.
- Holistic Client Care: Position yourself as a coach who supports clients beyond workouts, offering advice on nutrition, recovery, and accountability.
Step 9. Prove How You Make It Easy For Your Clients
Organization and Client Convenience: Highlight that you use:
- a personal trainer management software for scheduling, which makes sessions and communication organized and convenient,
- a gym payment systems, for easy and quick billing.
This can save clients time and reduce the hassle of managing details.
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Step 10. Utilize Email Marketing to Stay Connected and Educate
- Build an email list by offering a free downloadable guide, such as “10 Tips to Kickstart Your Fitness Journey.”
- Send a regular fitness newsletter with tips, client success stories, and limited-time offers to keep potential clients engaged.
- Include automated follow-up sequences after someone signs up for a trial session or consultation to keep them in your sales pipeline.
Step 11. Run Local and Google Ads Targeted at Your Area
- Google Ads can help you rank for searches like “personal trainer near me”, putting you in front of people actively searching for your services.
- Use geo-targeting features to keep your ads relevant to people in your area.
- Experiment with messaging that emphasizes your unique offerings, such as flexible payment options, personalized programs, or the use of a gym CRM system for convenience.
Step 12. Offer Group Classes or Online Programs
- Consider offering group classes, either in person or online, to lower the entry barrier for new clients.
- Host group challenges, like a “30-Day Fitness Kickstart,” to create a sense of community and motivate people to commit to working with you long-term.
- This also serves as an affordable way for potential personal training clients to experience your style before signing up for sessions.
Step 13. Use Content Marketing to Showcase Expertise
- Share helpful gym content through blogs (read more about fitness blogs), videos, and social media posts. Topics could include “5 Tips for Effective Weight Loss” or “How to Start Strength Training Safely.”
- Position yourself as an expert who genuinely wants to help people on their fitness journey.
- High-quality content can also help with gym SEO, making it easier for people to find you when searching for personal trainers in your area.
Step 14. Offer Referral Incentives for Existing Clients
- Encourage existing clients to refer friends and family by offering discounts, free sessions, or other perks for each successful referral.
- People are more likely to trust recommendations from friends, and your clients can act as brand ambassadors to expand your network.
- Make it easy for clients to share a referral code or sign-up link with their contacts, using a gym management software.
Step 15. Attend and Host Local Community Events
- Participate in local health fairs, sports competitions, or wellness events where you can demonstrate your expertise and meet potential clients.
- Consider hosting a free or low-cost “Bootcamp in the Park” or a “Fitness Challenge” event to create buzz and connect with people who are interested in fitness.
- Bring business cards, sign-up sheets for free consultations, and samples of your training programs to these events.
Step 16. Host Free Educational Workshops or Webinars
- Offer free workshops or webinars on topics like “Nutrition for Fat Loss,” “Building Muscle Safely,” or “How to Set Realistic Fitness Goals.”
- These events showcase your expertise and provide value to potential clients without any commitment, building trust and interest in your services.
- Encourage attendees to sign up for a consultation or trial at the end of the workshop.
Step 17. Engage with Online Fitness Communities
- Join fitness-related groups on social media, such as Facebook Groups, Reddit fitness communities, or forums where people ask questions and share fitness goals.
- Actively participate by answering questions, offering advice, and sharing helpful content (without directly selling).
- Over time, your helpfulness can lead to direct inquiries and referrals from people who trust your knowledge and want to become your new clients.
Step 18. Collaborate with Influencers
- Partner with local fitness influencers or micro-influencers in the fitness or wellness space who align with your brand.
- Offer them free sessions or a short program in exchange for sharing their experience with their audience.
- Influencers don’t need huge followings to be effective; sometimes, local influencers with a highly engaged audience can be more valuable for attracting clients in your area.
Step 19. Develop a Corporate Wellness Program
- Many companies offer wellness benefits for employees, and you could partner with businesses to provide training programs, either on-site or in an online training business.
- Develop a corporate package where employees can receive group or individual training at a discounted rate.
- Reach out to local businesses or corporations as your target audience, particularly those with health-focused initiatives, to offer your services as part of their employee wellness programs.
Step 20. Offer Monthly Challenges to Your Audience
- Host regular fitness challenges (like a “30-Day Squat Challenge” or “Plank Challenge”) that are free to join but require an email signup (to build your newsletter client base).
- Create a sense of community by encouraging participants to share progress on social media, tagging you and using a branded hashtag.
- At the end of the challenge, offer participants a discount on your services or a special group package.
Step 21. Use Retargeting Ads to Capture Interested Visitors
- Run retargeting ads on platforms like Facebook or Google for people who have visited your website but haven’t signed up.
- These ads gently remind visitors of your services, offering incentives such as a free consultation, a trial session, or discounts.
- Retargeting is particularly effective because it reinforces interest among people who are already considering personal training.
Step 22. Provide Valuable Resources on Your Website
- Offer downloadable resources like “Beginner’s Guide to Weight Loss,” “Sample Meal Plan,” or “Top 5 Exercises for Core Strength” in exchange for an email signup.
- These resources provide value upfront and build trust, plus you can use the email list for future marketing.
- When people download your resources, follow up with an automated sequence that introduces your services.
Step 23. Send Out Personalized Birthday or Milestone Offers
- Use your fitness CRM software to send personalized messages on clients’ birthdays or after specific milestones (like a one-year anniversary of training with you).
- Offer a free session, discount, or special program as a gift, encouraging clients to renew their commitment or refer friends.
- Personalized messages like these make clients feel valued and appreciated.
Step 24. Create a Video Series Showcasing Your Training Style and Expertise
- Develop a short video series featuring exercises, fitness tips, or mock training sessions that introduce potential clients to your approach.
- Post the videos on social media, your website, and YouTube to increase visibility.
Personal Trainer Services Promotional Video Example
- Video content helps potential clients get comfortable with your style and see the quality of training they can expect.
Step 25. Offer "Bring a Friend" Sessions or Discounted Duo Training
- Encourage current clients to invite a friend to a training session or host duo training at a discounted rate.
- This offers a more affordable option for those who may hesitate about becoming new clients because of individual session costs, while letting them experience the benefits firsthand.
- It also allows friends to keep each other accountable, which can lead to longer-term commitments.
Step 26. Implement a Loyalty Program
- Reward loyal clients with discounts, free sessions, or perks for consistent training or referrals.
- Consider a point system where clients earn points for each session attended or for milestones reached, redeemable for discounts or rewards.
- Loyalty programs increase client retention and encourage referrals, as clients know they’re rewarded for their commitment.
- Read more about gym referral program ideas.
Step 27. Use Local SEO to Target Clients in Your Area
- Optimize your Google My Business profile by including key information like location, services, and positive client reviews.
- Use local SEO keywords on your website, such as “personal trainer in [City]” or “personal trainer near me.”
- This helps your business rank higher in local search results, increasing visibility for people searching in your area.
Step 28. Host Charity Workouts
- Organize charity boot camps or community fitness events to attract new clients and give back to the community.
- Events like “Workout for a Cause” create positive publicity and let participants experience your training style in a supportive setting.
- Offer attendees a discounted package or free consultation for attending to convert them into clients.
Step 29. Focus on Your Niche or Specialized Training
- If you specialize in training certain groups, such as athletes, seniors, or postpartum mothers, highlight this niche in your marketing materials.
- Create specialized programs that address the specific needs of this group, positioning yourself as an expert in that area.
- People are more likely to seek out trainers who can offer specialized guidance relevant to their unique needs.
Step 30. Use Video Testimonials
- Ask clients if they’d be willing to share short video testimonials about their experience working with you.
- Video testimonials add authenticity, as potential clients can hear the excitement and satisfaction directly from others who’ve had success with you.
- Share these testimonials on your website, social media, and YouTube to increase credibility. Let it be a permanent part of your marketing strategies.
Step 31. Build an App for Enhanced Accountability
- Buy or develop a custom branded fitness app where clients can log workouts, track goals, and communicate with you easily.
- Set up automated text or app reminders to keep clients accountable between sessions, making your services feel more hands-on and supportive.
- Have your logo and your personal brand’s colors of the app to make the clients see you constantly and be familiar with the brand.
- A tech-forward approach not only simplifies the process for clients but also helps you stay top-of-mind.
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FAQ
Personal trainers can quickly gain clients by leveraging a mix of strategic marketing and relationship-building. Here are example areas to work on:
- Social Media Presence
- Referrals and Word of Mouth
- Partner with Local Gyms/Studios
- Networking
- Special Promotions
- Online Reviews and Testimonials
- Community Engagement
To get your first personal trainer clients, start by offering free or discounted trial sessions to showcase your skills and build trust. Use social media to highlight your expertise and fitness journey. Network with friends, family, and gym members, letting them know you’re available for training. Partner with local gyms or studios to access potential clients. Engage with the community by hosting free workshops or fitness events.
To get PT leads, leverage social media to share engaging fitness content and success stories. Build a professional website with client testimonials and easy contact options to gain more clients. Use paid advertising on platforms like Facebook or Google to target local audiences. Network at fitness events and partner with local businesses for cross-promotions. Offer free resources, like eBooks or webinars, to collect contact information. Optimize your online presence with SEO so potential clients can find you easily.
A beginner personal trainer should aim to start with 5-10 clients to build experience and establish a manageable workload. This range allows them to focus on delivering quality training while learning to manage scheduling, client needs, and administrative tasks. As their skills and efficiency grow, they can gradually take on more clients to increase their income and experience.
