Online training is a great way to expand your fitness business while reaching a broader clientele who may not otherwise train with you in person. Building out proper systems and procedures is the key to growing a successful training business online. A crucial component within these systems is a high-touch point experience so clients feel connected with you on a more personal level.
It’s easy to feel frazzled and overwhelmed when building your online client roster. These four tips will help make the most of your time by giving your clients the right attention so they are raving fans for years to come.
#1: Price accordingly
One of the biggest mistakes trainers make when bringing their business online is underpricing their services. It’s easy to get wrapped up in pricing wars, but when you have to take on a larger number of clients to make it worthwhile, your clients get the short end of the stick.
Think about the experience you want your online clients to have. How will you create this for them? How much time will it take for you to create this? Your knowledge as an expert is valuable and the time and attention you give your online clients is reflective of this.
Create a pricing model to highlight your expertise, plus the time and attention you plan to give your clients. It’s better to have a handful of clients at a higher rate than dozens of low-priced clients who get little attention or feel the residual burnout from an overworked trainer.
#2: Get to know clients beyond their goals
Clients come to you with specific goals, whether it’s to improve performance, lose weight, or overcome health issues. However, learning about their lives gives you a glimpse into what motivates them.
A big reason people fall off track and disappear online is they feel alone and lose motivation. By understanding the big picture, including details about their family, profession, medical history, travel plans, and lifestyle, you are better equipped to find their motivational drivers to keep them going even when life gets busy.
When you create client intake forms, include questions to ask about their personal life. Offer a 20- or 30-minute consultation as part of your coaching package to get better acquainted with each client, and also build rapport so they feel comfortable sharing with you. Trust-building is a huge factor when it comes to online client success.
#3: Create resources and guides
As you work with in-person clients, take note of common questions, information you share, and resources you use. Create eBooks, cheat sheets, checklists, and training templates to streamline your onboarding process.
The better educated your clients are in the beginning, the more confidence they will have with their program. A standard eBook guide should cover what they can expect working with you, how their program will run, and what your expectations are as a coach.
Provide nutrition resources, exercise tutorial videos, and other information that will reduce the amount of questions you get while making your clients feel cared for. Keep a running catalog of frequently asked questions on hand so you can quickly send answers to clients when questions arise.
It’s also helpful to send a video answer to more in-depth questions, rather than trying to explain in a detailed email. Creating short videos on your phone will not only save you time, but also gives the personal touch that is often missing with distance coaching.
#4: Improve accountability
Trainers typically have weekly or monthly check-ins with their online clients, but a lot can happen on the days you don’t hear from them. Clients may fall off track, feel alone, or afraid to bother you outside of the regular schedule. Developing a system for clients to ask questions, send photos, and share small wins throughout the week is a great way to maintain accountability and improves customer retention. Creating simple check-in guidelines like a number scale rating of their week is a great way to stay in touch without either party feeling overwhelmed.
Rather than handing out your phone number, set up a messaging app specifically for your clients so you know the messages coming through that app are specific to your business. During the onboarding process, invite them to the app and set-up guidelines in your eBook so they know exactly when they can contact you and with what information. This also gives you a chance to create more touch points and develop a stronger relationship with clients you don’t see in person.
Building an online personal training business can be a great asset to your in-person coaching or a good transition into a fully digital career. By creating a high-touch experience, you will not only improve your coaching quality, but also help with client retention while decreasing your workload.
Setting-up a successful online training business model doesn’t have to be complicated. By creating tools and resources, plus additional ways to hold clients accountable, you pack in a ton of value into your programs that will help them reach their transformation faster.
