As online trainers, we always want to do our best to help our clients succeed. We are in this business to make money, but also to help people reach their goals. There are many different types of clients we might come across as online coaches, which keep us on our toes and find up searching for new methods of motivating and holding our clients accountable. As an online coach, keeping clients motivated is one of the most difficult aspects of our job. Frequently, this is because we are not seeing our clients face to face on a regular basis, as we are with in-person training. When I first began online coaching, this was one of the most difficult parts to get used to. However, I found that helping clients set realistic and attainable goals was one of the best ways to keep them motivated.

3 Types of Online Clients You Might Come Across

1. Those who want too much progress too soon.
2. Clients who think it’s going to take an eternity and starvation to lose one pound.
3. Those who don’t even want to set goals because they don’t want to be disappointed.

When approaching each of these types of clients, you might need to use different motivational tactics and approach each with a different language. Some might need tough love, and some might need a softer nurturing motivational support. Some might just need assistance in setting realistic and attainable goals for them. It’s your job to read your clients and choose the best approach for each specific client.

3 Ways To Ensure You Are Setting Realistic Attainable Goals For Your Clients

1. Determine the Type of Client

Determine the type of client you are dealing with after your initial assessment and discussion with the client. For example, identify how motivated they are, where their mindset is. Also, you might want to ask how many days per week they are going to commit to exercise, and how motivated they are to change their eating habits etc. Once you have determined the type of client you are dealing with, you will be able to understand how large to make the clients goals.

For example, if you have clients that don’t believe in themselves or don’t think they will be successful because they have tried everything else in the book and failed, you might want to set one large long-term goals and then many short-term goals. This will keep clients motivated and show them they can be successful.

2. Go Off of Past Success and Current Fitness Level

I personally wouldn’t set a goal of doing 10 pull-ups for a client that has never lifted weights before, well not initially. If you have a client who is already motivated and is already in pretty good shape, but just wants help to push themselves harder in the gym and maybe drop the last 10 pounds; I would set some pretty big (but attainable) long-term goals and then some other pretty big short-term goals.

For example, a long-term goal might be the ability to do 10 pull-ups (if they are only able to do 2 or 3 currently). Also, a few short-term goals might be to squat their body weight, make it to 5 pull-ups, drop 2 inches off of their midsection, and hit their macros for 5 days in a row etc. Use performance, body, and nutrition goals in order to keep the client motivated in all aspects of their training.

3. Determine the Level of Client’s Independence

What I mean by this is how willing the client is to work on their own initiative. How much motivating and checking in with the client is it going to take? This will determine how fast they will be able to make it to their goals. However, this doesn’t mean they will be like this forever. Your job is to get them motivated and excited about their workouts and their progress. However, if motivation is lacking initially it might take a lot more pushing them to their first short-term goals.

With this type of clients, set goals that are very simple. As a result, once they reach those goals, they will feel good about themselves and keep pushing forward! An example of a simple goal I give a client is to drink 2 liters of water per day and workout just twice per week for 30 minutes each, for two weeks straight. Once they hit that goal, they feel great. Then we add new goals such as eating every 3-4 hours and increasing their workouts to 3 per week. We might also add performance goals such as hold a plank for 30 seconds with good form or complete 5 full push-ups off of their toes. Remember, goals are different for each client.

I hope this helps you set some realistic attainable goals for your online coaching clients.

Successful clients = more business and more business = more money! Let’s keep motivating and changing clients’ lives!