10 Step Guide to Becoming a Successful Personal Trainer

Is personal training still a good career? How do you get started in the industry? What certifications are the best? All of that and much, much more in this 10 step guide to becoming a successful personal trainer….

First, you have to care about people, not money. If you care about people and you’re passionate about exercise, health, and nutrition, then personal training should be a great career fit for you.

However, it’s not rainbows and lollipops.

Most trainers barely eek out a living. If you already have a job, the best thing to do would be to volunteer to train a few friends at all times of the day (you’ll need to enjoy training someone at 6am and 7pm on the same day if you want to have a full time job in the industry). It’s not a 9-5 gig, but if you love it, you’ll live with that, right?

What about the economy? Will personal training remain a viable career in the new economy?

The good news is that fitness bootcamps have become more popular and that gives you the opportunity to help more people while making an equal or greater income than regular one on one training.

Other bright sides: Depending on where you live, there is likely to remain a desire for one-on-one training from upper income individuals. Obviously if you live in Hoboken, NJ, the demand will be greater than if you live in Detroit, MI.

My friend and successful personal trainer studio owner Alwyn Cosgrove says that both the low-priced big box gyms and the high-end private personal training studios are doing well right now, but the guys in the middle are not.

Corporate fitness programs also seem to be a positive opportunity going forward as companies work to decrease their health insurance costs (among the many benefits of having healthy, fit, employees).

But there’s also the reality of the the down side. I’m not optimistic the general US economy is going to get better anytime soon…nor the economy in Europe…although Canada and Australia should fare better and Asia probably holds the greatest opportunity. The South American market is maturing, but will be years before it is like that of Canada or Australia.

That said, marketing expert Dan Kennedy likes to say, “all weather is local“…meaning no matter what the average American unemployment rate, there is always going to be areas where there are a lot of people with above average incomes and interest in one-on-one personal training…I guess it all depends on where you live – or on your flexibility in traveling for this career.

And if you’re just getting started, your options are like most other industries…you will need to “apprentice” somewhere when you start out…and this could mean working in a private studio or a big box gym.

Like everything in life, your success depends on the connections you make. In order to make the right connections, you will need to invest in your education by traveling to seminars or in an internship. These types of investments are usually worth every penny and more.

While still in University (which cost a large fortune), I spent a smaller fortune traveling to strength training seminars. But again, it was worth every penny.

With that general advice out of the way, let’s get into…

The 10 Step Plan for Success in the Fitness Industry

Here’s what I would do if I had to do it all over again…

1) I would get a certification from ACE, ACSM, NSCA, NASM, Can-Fit Pro (if canadian), CPTN (if Canadian), ISSA, or CHEK.

2) I’d get insurance (you should be able to do this without a certification – but I’m not 100% sure).

3) I would start training everyone and anyone I could for free (friends, family, work mates)

If you take the 6am-7pm personal training test (mentioned above) and pass it with passion, then keep going. If not, admit the fitness industry is not for you, and just stay passionate about fitness as a hobby, and re-commit yourself to your current job or continue to look for something else on the side.

I’m one of those optimists who believe that we all should be able to find a vocation in life that we love and are passionate about.

Also, one exercise I suggest you do – even before you start all of this – is to ask yourself:

• “What is my purpose/higher calling here on earth?”
• “What did my higher power put me here on this earth to do?”
• “Who was I put here to serve?” (this helps you determine your “niche market”)
• “What skill/ability do I have that NO ONE else in the world can do better?”
• “What do I want my legacy to be?”

This will guide you through the rest of the steps…

4) As soon as possible, I’d start finding paying clients through referrals.

(NOTE: I’d be doing all of this as a “side gig” while sticking to real job. Yes, it’s going to cause burning the candle at both ends…but these transitions always do).

I’d also develop a business based around group training (semi-private groups or large bootcamps) as soon as possible.

5) I’d start connecting with all local experts/veterans of the fitness industry. Find a mentor. You might have to knock on 20 doors till you find the right person, but it will be worth it.

6) I’d start attending seminars as soon as possible. Be strategic about your attendance…make a list of questions to ask and people to meet and don’t leave until each objective is crossed off. The most successful trainers are often the ones who leave with the most resources. And never, ever stop learning. If you do, you’re done. You’ve lost your passion and it’s time for you to move on.

7) I’d continue to network, build relationships, help others, and grow “the pie bigger” rather than trying to increase only my slice of the pie. Help as many people as you can.

“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Zigler

Each day I’d spend time focusing on my gratitude for the opportunity to work my dream job (if the earlier line of questioning has determined this is it). I’d focus on being happy and ignoring the negativity that fills the world. I’d take the energy that other people spend on fighting the negativity and I’d direct it into even more passion towards helping others, learning more, and becoming better at what I do.

People are attracted to passionate people.

Remember the Crocodile Hunter (RIP). Crikey, he made people care about snakes and spiders. If he can do that, then you and I can make people care about feeling amazing and reaching their full potential through nutrition and exercise.

9) I’d follow passionate people in other industries through Facebook and Twitter. Follow Gary Vaynerchuck (read his book, “Crush It”), Carrie Wilkerson, and your favorite music stars and actors (positive people only). Watch how they interact with people and make their followers happy. Learn from them and do the same for the people who look up to you.

10) Believe in yourself. Whether it is losing fat or building the career of your dreams, everyone success story I’ve met KNEW that without a doubt they were going to be a success. They ALL believed in themselves. You must do that too.

So think back to when you were doing something that you KNEW was going to happen (could have been when you KNEW that you were going to get your spouse to marry you, or when you KNEW that your team was going to win your high school football championship or when you KNEW that you were going to ace that final exam)…that’s the feeling that you must have now.

You MUST have that feeling, you must have confidence, you must have passion, and you must have that helping mindset (others call it an “abundance mentality”). Those are the “gotta haves” that only you can build in yourself…the fitness info is easy to teach (it’s not rocket science)…the technical skills should never be an issue…its the “inner game” that is up to you.

That’s it. The 10 steps to becoming a successful personal trainer.

Your friend,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TTBootcamps Workouts

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7 Traits of Successful Bootcamp Owners

Disclaimer: I admit, I first wrote this article about the “7 traits of successful online business owners”…but these apply to bootcamp
owners as well.

I think you’ll agree…

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I’ve studied and interviewed a lot of experts over the last 12 years that I’ve been building my business and I’ve found 7 main reasons why other people are so successful:

1) They are confident

This is the underlying foundation of every success story…and on the other hand, a lack of confidence is a common factor in every
struggling biz owner that I meet. I know it’s harsh, but it’s true.

The most confident bootcamp owners who are out there talking up their camps to everyone are the ones with the most clients.

2) They have a driving desire to help others & create amazing content

Every top success story is a go-giver…they realize that to achieve their goals, they must help others succeed too…that’s why you see
the top bootcamp owners giving away such great information.

Plus, bootcamp owners who hold client appreciation functions and who get involved with local charities are the big success stories.

3) They never settle for the status quo.

No matter how big their bootcamps or current location, the top success stories are always looking ahead to the next project and
working to do even better. They are not complacent and realize that they might have to completely re-invent their business in order to grow to the next level.

4) They are lifelong students of self-improvement.

The top 5% of people I’ve ever met have always been the same folks who invest in every resource that is made available. They turn over every rock to find the information they need. That’s the mark of a lifelong student and ultimate success story.

5) They are positive people who attract other amazing people into their life

Successful people draw other successful people to them…this is the law of attraction that I believe in…and it goes back to being confident, being a go-giver, and never settling. Those are the types of people other successful people want to be around.

6) Successful people are entertaining.

They tell amazing stories and let you get to know them, even if it is just through emails and online video. So that’s why you need to
include your personal story in your bootcamp marketing (like my friend Leanne Ellington does).

7) They deliver amazing value to their clients.

Your clients want to be inspired, motivated, encouraged, and shown exactly what to do in order to reach their dreams. And that’s exactly what all top success stories do for their audience. They give, give, give, and it’s always amazing content delivering the highest value for their fans.

Listen, everyone wants to be told exactly what to do…we are all looking for the Blueprint to Success in life…and we want to be told by an expert who has complete confidence in what they are saying.

Doing that is the mark of a top success story…they spell out every action and don’t let any alternative ideas enter the reader’s mind.

So take a look at those 7 reasons why people are mega-success stories and identify where you are strong and where you need improvement.

All of these factors are under YOUR CONTROL to change.

To your success,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TT Bootcamp Workouts

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How to Get More Bootcamp Clients

Been getting a lot of emails from bootcamp trainers recently who are loving
the TT Bootcamps workouts but still want more clients to take their
bootcamps to the next level…

So I asked bootcamp marketing guru Chris McCombs for ideas, and here’s what
he gave me:

1) Talk to EVERYONE

Wherever you go in your local area, just start talking to people.

Don’t come across as salesy or pushy, but just start the conversation going
and SOMEHOW turn it around to your boot camps… like start telling a funny
story of something that happened at your boot camp last night… whatever it
is, just turn the conversation towards your boot camps, and it they’re
interested they’ll ask more it.

 

 

 

That’s easy and natural.

2) Set Up Simple Facebook Ads

Facebook ads are a GREAT way to get clients.. just make sure to target your
ads as deep as possible.

So if you serve 7 different cites, create a separate targeted ad for each
one and the put the name of the city in each ad… and target your
demographics as deep as possible as well…

If your biggest audience is 25- 45 single females, then that’s who you
should target in your ads.

Again, simple and natural.

************
Thanks Chris.

If you want more step-by-step systems for getting more bootcamp clients or
even personal training clients, so that you can have more money and freedom
in your life…

…then you need Chris’ coaching. It’s the most in-depth internet marketing
program available anywhere on the planet for fitness trainers who want to
get more clients.

Click here for Coaching from Chris

“With Chris’ help, for my main keyword term I come up SEVEN TIMES on the
first page of Google. This ALONE tripled the number of clients I have. You
make marketing my personal training business on the internet EASY. Thanks
Chris, for everything!”
Luke Wold

Don’t make business hard for yourself.

Get professional help and get more clients so that you can help more people
and have less frustration in your life.

The key to success is good coaching from a mentor,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Creator, TT Bootcamps

PS – Chris can’t coach everyone…

…and he’s only taking a few new clients this week and then that’s it, no
more coaching spaces for a long time.

So get started getting more clients with his help here:

Click here for Coaching from Chris

It’s worth every penny to get awesome new clients and bootcampers. Let him
take care of your marketing so you can do the training.

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Fitness Marketing : Marketing Your Fitness Bootcamps With Facebook!

Twitter this. Facebook that. It seems like everyone is talking about Facebook and Twitter these days. The problem is that you have Facebook and Twitter accounts and only seem to waste time talking to old high school friends. So are these “social media” sites useless or are they really a good way to build your fitness business?

The good news is that Facebook and Twitter are proven ways to build fitness bootcamps, market your gym, and even sell more fitness ebooks and DVD’s. My research has shown that Twitter is better for selling e-books while Facebook is better for getting clients to bootcamps, gyms, and personal training. So let’s look at Facebook first.

The most popular way to use Facebook is to set up a personal profile and become friends with everyone you’ve ever known. But when using Facebook for professional reasons, you need to be picky about who you friend.

Focus on building a network of quality Facebook friends, as this can be even more powerful than building an email list, because with Facebook, you can learn much more demographic information about your friends (birthdays, age, interests, etc.).

The real power of Facebook is found in what is called, “the news feed”. Every activity and action you take inside of Facebook is relayed to everyone in your network (i.e. your friends) and this can spread virally.

The best way to use the power of the news feed is to share video and photos of your bootcamps and personal training facility. This will alert all of your Facebook friends, and if one of them watches your video, it will alert all of their friends that they are watching your video. That’s how your video can spread between networks and will attract high quality connections back to you.

You can also get high quality friends by creating a Facebook group. For example, if you live in Fargo, North Dakota, you might start a Fargo Fitness group, and invite everyone in Fargo who lists “fitness” as one of their interests to join. This is a great way to build quality friends and you can then have a conversation about fitness with those people, and eventually turn them to the topic of your training.

Each day you should add up to 20 new friends, focusing on high quality friends. You could even outsource the “friending” of people to an assistant. For everyone that signs up for your group, your assistant could go through their friend list and “add/friend” everyone from their list.

However, always focus on building relationships first, and don’t be too heavy-handed with your marketing or always asking people to buy or signup for training or bootcamps. Instead, just be friends and become a trusted expert in the area of fitness to your Facebook network. Once folks trust you, they will be happy and eager to pay for your services.

Finally, you can also use Facebook is to start a Fan Page. This might sound silly, but if you run a bootcamp in Fargo with 60 members who also use Facebook, then you should start a Fan Page devoted to your bootcamp and invite all of your members to join. This way, you can communicate directly to those fans without having to go through email (and therefore you don’t have to worry about pesky spam filters).

Plus, building a Fan Page will get indexed by Google, and folks searching for “Fargo Bootcamp” on Google will have a good chance of coming across your Facebook Fan Page. Just remember to put your keywords in the title of your Facebook Fan Page. Building a Fan Page is one of the fastest ways to get business boosting results with Facebook.

Even though that sounds like a lot of work, you only need to spend 10 minutes a day on Facebook. Log in, post a link, update your status, add a video, and tell your friends to check it out. That’s it. Soon you’ll have a full bootcamp and you’ll be making big bucks working just a few hours per day and having fun with fitness bootcamp workouts.

Discover “Done-For-You” Bootcamp workouts to help you make six figures running fitness workouts at:

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health and Oxygen magazines and will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment.

Discover more money making bootcamp secrets at boot camp fitness workout marketing secrets to help you make more money teaching fitness while working less than ever before.

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