If you love fitness, coaching others, and have the heart of a teacher, personal training can be a
fantastic side job opportunity. Trainers can start with $25/session and more once you’ve
gained experience and a good reputation. I’ve personally known independent trainers who
have the ability to charge $50 – $75 per session. They specialized in corporate clients,
high status clients, home training, or had a unique program (other than in a gym) they’ve
developed over the years no one else teaches.
Keep in mind this industry is highly competitive and tough to find those willing to pay.
Persistent marketing and networking will be crucial in the beginning until referrals and word of
mouth takes momentum. I’ve personally been involved with fitness for over 25 years and
have done a share of personal training myself, privately and as part of a health club staff.
What I’ve learned it’s key to:
1) absolutely know what you’re doing and can prove you can get the client results
2)
don’t do what every other trainer is doing. Develop a unique training style that
differentiates you from the herd
3) specialize – don’t try to be a trainer to
everyone
4) be genuine
5) be able to motivate others in your own style. Don’t
necessarily have to be a ra-ra type!
6) don’t be a pushy salesman. People can sniff
desperation.
You can work with individuals and can provide group sessions to help save clients money (this is
a good selling point to those on the fence about paying for personal training). Specialize in
outdoor training, boot camps, mixture of outdoor and health club settings. Specialize in
training seniors, kids, extremely obese, pregnancies, diabetics, executives, sport specific
training…think up your own specialty!
Great ways to market yourself -
Get yourself or your info in front of people often without being spammy so when a person does
decide they want to talk to a trainer, your name and face will come to mind. Offering some
simple free services or basic advice consistently over time without attempts to “sell”
people can build your network tremendously. Develop an image of professionalism and someone to
trust when it comes to their personal fitness. Here’s some basic ideas to get
started:
1) Website – having a website will be your biggest marketing tool. Nothing fancy and
expensive, something to post as your professional “resume” offering tips and
articles on various fitness topics to help anyone out whether they become a client or not.
Websites are key to help build trust and familiarity in you.
2) If working at a health club – ask if you can post a weekly tip with your picture and bio
near the door or check-in desk. Have a monthly fitness newsletter written by you for members to
grab.
3) Provide free blood pressure and body fat readings without trying to sell them sessions (unless
they bring it up!).
3) Mix up the weight equipment with outdoor activities. This provides great variety and others
will crave that variety when other trainers are sticking with the usual, unimaginative, boring
indoor routines.
4) See if you can offer to be a fitness expert at your local paper, providing weekly articles
offering advice to their readers.
As a part time money maker, personal training can be perfect to meet any schedule. You’ll
definitely will need to get certified to provide credibility, here’s a few associations
below with good reputations:
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
National Strength and Conditioning Assoc (NSCA)
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
Other sites:
Fitness Think Tank forum
Fitness.com Fitness Forum
