Coaching and Services•Growth Tactics•Online Coaching How to Become an Online Personal Trainer

Conor Hawkins

Did you know that the global online fitness market grew from $15.65 billion in 2022 to $21.82 billion in 2023? That’s a compound annual growth rate of 39.4%.

These stats indicate that more and more of your clients–existing and potential-are migrating to online platforms. And, when you think about it, it’s easy to see why. 

As a personal trainer, two of the best things you can provide to your clientele are engaging services and instant accessibility. The best way of doing this is to move more of your products and services to an online platform!  

Not sure what that entails? No problem! We’re here to assist you with this transition. And, the good news is, it’s easier than it sounds. Follow these seven steps to take your personal training business online.

How to Become an Online Personal Trainer

Step #1: Get certified as a personal trainer

If you aren’t already certified as a personal trainer, it’s the best place to start when partaking in this online journey.  

Here are three credible certification programs to kick-start your career: 

You can also discover more certifications with our Education Partner Program!

Experience and accreditation go a long way when it comes to earning the trust and respect of your clients. Being highly qualified also allows you to charge a fair price for your expert services.

📝 FREE RESOURCE: New Business Checklist for Personal Trainers

Step #2: Define the target market for your fitness business

Your goal is to reach niche markets and optimize your revenue potential. It’s crucial to clearly define the type of consumers you aim to attract to your online personal training business. 

By highlighting the unique needs, preferences, and aspirations of your target audience, you can differentiate yourself and stand out in the competitive landscape of online fitness coaching.  

This targeted approach allows you to tailor your services, content, and marketing strategies to resonate with your ideal clients, fostering stronger connections and long-term relationships. 

Ultimately, understanding and catering to your target market’s requirements will not only boost your visibility and credibility but also drive business growth and client satisfaction.

Check Out: How to Succeed as a Remote Personal Trainer

Step #3: Plan your products and services

The products or services you put out to the market will dictate if your business succeeds or not. So, be sure to tailor your offerings to your target audience while making them simple and easy to consume.

For example, if your target audience is people who are new to working out, they may be very interested in habit coaching. These people need guidance on developing sustainable habits for exercise, nutrition, sleep, and stress management. As a personal trainer, you can help them establish a solid foundation and gradually progress towards their health goals, outside of just the physical workouts.

Step #4: Outline your expenses and revenue

Advertisements, content creation software, and certifications are all costs you must account for. Acknowledging your revenue streams, such as brand deals and product purchases will allow you to make sure you are covering your fixed expenses. After that, set a price for your services, and always make sure your revenue is more than your expenses. 

Pricing your services can be tricky, and there is a bit of background work involved. But don’t stress, we’ve got you covered here too!

Check Out: The Ultimate Pricing Guide for Personal Trainers and Online Coaches

Step #5: Develop a digital marketing strategy and grow a following

You will need to develop a digital marketing strategy that primarily surrounds the 3 areas highlighted below. We’ve put together some resources that should help make things easier for you to get started!

Brand awareness

Community development and content creation

Sales

You must ask yourself, what type of content will I produce? Will it be personable, entertaining, or informational?

📝 FREE RESOURCE: The Social Media Cheat Sheet for Personal Trainers

How you present yourself across multiple online channels will enhance your potential for a successful online personal training business. Key performance indicators (KPIs) like follower counts, website subscriptions, email signups, and engagement insights are all things you should track.

Check Out: 7 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track as a Personal Trainer

Step #6: Create your website

Your website is the staple for your brand! It will be the hub for your audience to reach you and purchase your product or service.

You don’t need to be a web developer; you can use a web builder. There are lots of good options out there, such as Wix, WordPress or Squarespace.

Check Out: Best Fitness Website Builders: Tools to Launch Your Fitness Business Online

You can also link to your ABC Trainerize products and your Trainerize.me profile!

Step #7: Start training

You now have everything in place! It’s time to begin helping your clients with their fitness goals. This is where investing in the right software can really help you build positive client-trainer relationships and master client onboarding processes to keep you organized.

Take Your Personal Training Online with ABC Trainerize

Just as you’ll be there to help your clients reach their fitness goals, ABC Trainerize will be here to support your business goals.

Personal trainers who power their online coaching with ABC Trainerize can deliver a customized coaching experience for their clients – wherever, whenever, and however they train. 

Our platform also facilitates seamless communication, provides secure payment options, and offers your clients tools for progress tracking.

Over 400,000 fitness pros are using ABC Trainerize, join them by starting a free 30-day trial today!

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