Today, we’re joined again by Alex Cartmill to talk about how to dig into creating a brand-new online training business.
When you’re getting your start as an online trainer, it can be tough to know where to begin. If you’ve decided that working with clients online is a good fit for you, we’ve got you covered.
To launch your online training business, work through each of the following steps:
1. Decide who you help
When creating a brand-new online training business, deciding who you want to work with can be tough. If you’re a brand-new trainer who hasn’t worked with many clients (or has yet to work with a single client), you don’t need to necessarily get super specific on a demographic you can help—as long as you’re able to get super specific about the problem that you solve. If your solution can work for a 30-year-old woman just as much as it can work for a 55-year-old man, you may be able to cast a wide net as far as your target demographic.
If you’re not a brand-new trainer and you’ve worked with clients in the past, you should be able to figure out the target demographic that makes the most sense for you. There’s no need to overcomplicate things (for example, having an extremely narrow age range will hurt your business more than it will help), but using situational, cultural, or other demographics to decide on your target market can help you begin to develop content that appeals to potential clients.
2. Decide what problem you solve
Think back to your past clients (or if you’re brand new, imagine your ideal client): What was their point A, and how did you take them to point B? What made you passionate about helping them achieve their results? Use this information to help dig into the problem that you can help your potential clients solve.
You don’t just write fitness or nutrition programs: You solve problems for people who need your help. Don’t just talk about getting them their dream body—talk about the specific problem that you solve and how it will change their lives.
Do you want to help your target market grow their confidence so they feel comfortable in the dating world? Increase their energy so they don’t pass out the moment their kids go to sleep? Help them fit in their workouts on a busy corporate schedule?
Go deep and dig into exactly what your personal training target market needs. All of your decisions moving forward will be rooted in who you’re helping—and how their lives are going to change when they choose you as their trainer.
3. Decide what your end goal looks like (and figure out why it matters to you)
It’s important to decide what you want for your business. Do you want to be a fully online trainer, or would you rather go hybrid (or in-person)? Do you want to quit your full-time job?
A quantifiable goal is important as well. Decide what dollar amount per month will help you move toward your goals, and figure out how many clients you’ll need to get there.
Think about your motives as well—personal training isn’t a path to quick money. If you only want the lifestyle you see on fitness Instagram accounts, you’ll struggle when you hit challenges building your businesses. If you’re passionate about what you do and the people you want to help, you’ll be more likely to stay strong in the face of the inevitable challenges you hit along the way.
You should be building a business that you enjoy participating in. Don’t create a system that requires you to be fake or white-knuckle your way through the day-to-day ups and downs of working with clients.
To sum it up:
- Decide who you want to help.
- Decide what you offer to solve the problem they’re facing.
- Decide on your end goal.
- Get to work. 🙂
Ready to get started building your business online?
Take the PTDC’s FREE mini-course that shows you how to offer support, assess clients, and sell your services. Register here.