8 Personal Trainer Marketing Ideas: An Essential Checklist

The Covid pandemic was both a curse and a boon for personal trainers. While it meant in-person training sessions were curtailed, it also made people sit up and start to pay attention to their health. As a result, online training sessions bloomed. 

While the worst of the global pandemic is hopefully behind us, personal trainers have had to rethink their marketing strategies to cater to changes in fitness trends. Here’s a checklist with 15 personal trainer marketing ideas to help you set the right pace.

The Essential Personal Trainer Marketing Checklist

The personal trainer industry in the US currently has around 839,058 people working in the industry, and has seen a growth of around 4.1% in the last four years. If you want to make your mark in such a competitive industry, you need a marketing strategy that sets you apart from the herd. 

1. Know Your Target Audience

Before you start working on marketing ideas as a personal trainer, it’s a good idea to know who your target audience is. Ask yourself these questions. 

• What age group are you targeting? 
• Where do they live? 
• What is their current fitness level? 
• What type of lifestyle do they lead? 
• What are their professions?

The answers to these questions will allow you to build your ideal buyer persona, and to base your marketing strategy around this data.

2. Create a Professional Website

While you may run one-on-one sessions out of your clients’ homes or your neighborhood gym, you need to have a strong online presence for people to find you. After all, the average American spends close to 7 hours a day online. 

Sure, social media pages are a great way to build your online presence, but a professional website is a must-have for every personal trainer.

Your personal trainer website should be a one-stop shop for everything your clients need, including all the information about the courses you offer, your credentials (how much experience you have, your certifications, etc.), maybe even an online store that sells supplements and dietary aids that you recommend. 

Your website also ought to drive your business, allowing your client to pay for their subscriptions, book sessions and more, all from the convenience of their mobile devices.

3. Learn How to Market Content

Building an online presence that gets noticed is all about consistently generating content, and marketing it the right way. Here are some aspects of content marketing you should be aware of while marketing your personal training business.

• Base your content marketing on buyer personas. 
• Choose content formats that you want to focus on. This could include blogs, videos, podcasts and more. 
• Create a content calendar, and stick to it. 
• Remember, content built using SEO principles is easier to find online. 
• Learn how to extend reach using social media platforms, email marketing, partnerships, guest posting and more. 
• Always keep an eye on current content marketing trends, and adapt your strategy accordingly.

4. Leverage the reach of Social Media

Another essential personal trainer marketing idea is to leverage the reach of social media platforms. The effectiveness of each platform can vary depending on your target audience and marketing strategy, but here are some of the top social media channels commonly used for personal trainer marketing:

Instagram

Instagram is one of the most popular platforms for personal trainers due to its visual nature. You can share workout videos, before-and-after photos, fitness tips, and engage with your audience through stories and live streams. Utilizing relevant hashtags can help you reach a wider audience.

Facebook

Facebook is a versatile platform that allows you to create a business page, share fitness-related content, post updates about your services, and run targeted ads to reach potential clients in your local area.

YouTube

YouTube is great for sharing in-depth workout tutorials, nutrition tips, and educational content. Video content can help showcase your expertise and build a loyal subscriber base.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is valuable for personal trainers targeting a corporate or professional clientele. You can share content related to workplace wellness, fitness in the business world, and connect with potential clients in your network.

Twitter

Twitter can be used to share quick fitness tips, motivational quotes, and engage with your audience through short, informative tweets. It's also a good platform for networking with others in the fitness industry.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a visual platform where you can create boards related to fitness, nutrition, and healthy living. It's a good place to share workout plans, healthy recipes, and lifestyle inspiration.

TikTok 

TikTok has gained popularity for fitness-related content, with short and engaging videos. You can create quick workouts, fitness challenges, or share motivational clips to reach a younger audience.

Snapchat 

Snapchat can be used for sharing real-time workout sessions, behind-the-scenes content, and interacting with a younger demographic.

Reddit

Engaging in fitness-related subreddits can help you connect with people seeking fitness advice. Just be sure to follow community guidelines and avoid spammy self-promotion.

WhatsApp/Telegram

These messaging apps can be used to communicate directly with clients, share workout plans, and provide personalized support.

Email Marketing 

While not a traditional social media platform, email marketing is an effective way to stay in touch with current clients and nurture potential leads. You can send out newsletters, workout tips, and special offers.

Remember that consistency is key across all social media channels. Create high-quality, informative, and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Additionally, make use of analytics and insights provided by each platform to track your progress and adjust your strategy accordingly.

5. Leverage Social Proof

98% of all customers at least occasionally read online reviews, while 77% of them read online reviews before almost every purchase. With numbers that impressive, it is a great idea to include social proof in your personal trainer marketing ideas checklist. 

Reach out to your existing customers, and use their testimonials in a format that is easy to consume on your website and on social media.

6. Freebies Always Work

Nothing attracts people to a business like freebies, and this holds true for the fitness industry as well. 

If you’re wondering what freebies you could offer here are some suggestions. 

• Offer a free one-on-one session, or even a free group session at your local community center. This could even be a free trial period, such as 3 sessions in a week. 

• Offer a free consultation that includes things like a BMR calculator or a meal planner.

7. Build a Community around your brand

One of the most effective ways to market yourself as a personal trainer is to build a community around your brand. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

Online Workshops and Challenges

Hosting online workshops or fitness challenges can encourage participation and interaction among your clients and potential clients. These events can create a sense of belonging within your community.

Private Facebook Groups

Create a private Facebook group exclusively for your clients. In this space, they can share their fitness journeys, ask questions, and provide support to one another. This sense of community fosters loyalty.

Regular Email Newsletters 

Keep your clients informed and engaged through newsletters. Share updates, fitness advice, and success stories, and encourage them to share their achievements.

Collaborate and Partner

Partner with local businesses like healthy eateries or sports stores for exclusive discounts. Collaborative efforts not only benefit your clients but also expand your network.

In-Person Events

Organize occasional in-person events like group workouts, fitness seminars, or charity runs to strengthen the bonds within your community.

Personal Engagement

Interact with your clients personally through comments, messages, or emails. Show genuine interest in their progress and well-being.

By building a supportive and active community, you can effectively market your services through word-of-mouth referrals, increased client retention, and a positive reputation, ultimately leading to business growth.

8. Get Your Business Listed

If you want to be easy to find as a personal trainer, getting your business listed by directories such as Angie’s List and IDEA is essential. 

In addition, it is great practice to also use Google My Business, so that you can take full advantage of your Google Business Profile. 

Set Up Your Personal Trainer Website With CoachGenius Today

We at CoachGenius understand that as a physical trainer, building a business website might not be your forte. Which is why we’ve made it easy for fitness professionals like yourself to launch your own personal trainer websites. 

• Our website builder has customizable templates, designed specifically to suit personal trainers and fitness businesses. 
• Our CMS makes it easy to manage and market your content.
• Our Calendy integration makes it easy for your customers to book sessions and manage their schedules.
• Our payment gateway allows you to accept payments from your customers using PayPal, credit cards, debit cards and more. 
• Design custom workout plans based on the body mass index of your clients, using our BMI calculator. 
• Make custom diet charts for your clients, and watch what they eat using our Meal prep planner, calorie intake calculator and macronutrient planner.

To learn more about how CoachGenius’ website builder and intuitive tools for solo entrepreneurs like yourself can help you take your personal trainer business to the next level, sign up for our free trial today.