Becoming an online personal trainer takes more than being a great fitness coach. To be a personal trainer online, you must also be knowledgeable in technology and have excellent people skills.
As the world increasingly relies on the internet, services like online personal training are in high demand. In 2019 alone, the online fitness market’s global value was more than $6 billion, and forecasters expect it to reach $59 billion in 2027.
There’s no better time to start an online personal trainer career. In this article, we’ll help you with how to become an online personal trainer and provide some valuable tips along the way.
Step 1: Figure out your strengths and decide on a niche
The first and most important thing you need to figure out is your strengths. A great online personal trainer requires a unique blend of skills and talents.
You must be knowledgeable in fitness and understand how the human body works. More importantly, you must have excellent people skills.
Ask yourself, what are your strengths? Are you good at helping people stay motivated? Do you have a deep understanding of human anatomy? Taking the time to look inwards also allows you to find areas of improvement. Once you know your strengths, finding a niche will be easier.
Do you want to focus on helping people lose weight? Or do you want to help people gain muscle?
You can choose many different niches, so make sure you pick one you’re passionate about. Some popular fitness niches you can consider include:
- Yoga
- Weight loss
- Body conditioning
- Strength and performance.
- Health improvement (wellness or physique)
For example, you may want to focus on helping busy mothers get back in shape after pregnancy. You might also want to focus on helping people with chronic pain conditions. There are endless possibilities for niches when it comes to online personal training.
Creating a customer avatar allows you to understand the needs of your target market better.
Step 2: Define your customer avatar
After you’ve decided on your niche, it’s time to start thinking about your customer avatar. A customer avatar is a detailed description of your target customer. It includes age, gender, interests, occupation, income, and pain points.
Creating a customer avatar allows you to understand the needs of your target market better. It also enables you to create targeted content and marketing campaigns.
Suppose you want to focus on helping busy mothers get back in shape. In that case, your customer avatar might look something like this:
Name: Sarah
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Interests: Yoga, running, healthy eating
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom
Income: $50,000 per year
Pain points: Lack of time, feels like she can’t get in shape.
Once you’ve defined your customer avatar, you can start thinking about how to reach them. This step is often an important but overlooked part of becoming a successful business owner. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your customers will find you.
You need to be proactive and put in the work to reach them. Creating a customer avatar is the first step in this process.
Step 3: Create an online fitness template
Now that you’ve picked your niche and defined your customer avatar, it’s time to start thinking about your online fitness business. The first thing you need to do is create a template for your business. This will be the foundation upon which you build your online presence.
Your template should include everything from your branding to your website design. It should also have a plan for your marketing and sales strategies. Creating a template will help you stay organized and focused as you build your business. It will also make it easier to scale your business in the future. A complete plan should include the following:
- Brand identity: Your logo, color scheme, and tagline
- Website: The design, layout, and content
- Marketing strategy: How you plan to reach your target market
- Sales strategy: How you plan to sell your services
- Pricing strategy: How you plan to price your services
- Business model: How you plan to make money
Becoming an online personal trainer means you’re starting a business. Like all businesses, your fitness business needs a foundation. This is what your template will provide.
Step 4: Figure out your product offering
The next step is to determine the specifics of your products or services. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s essential to consider what you can offer that is unique and valuable to your target market.
For example, if you want to focus on helping busy mothers get back in shape, you might offer a package that includes customized workout and nutrition plans. You should also decide what kind of content you will offer. Will it be a stream-on-demand service, or will you provide weekly video content?
The options are endless, but the key is offering something your target market wants and is willing to pay for. Take some time to brainstorm different product and service offerings. Then, narrow down your options to the ones you think will be most successful.
Step 5: Get certified
This will help you build credibility with your clients and give them the peace of mind that you know what you’re doing. There are many fitness certification programs to choose from.
You must select an accredited and respected program in the fitness industry. Since you’ve already figured out your niche at this point, it should be relatively easy to find a certification program that caters to your needs.
Some even take this to the next level by dedicating time and resources to becoming registered nutritional specialists. Having an additional qualification will help you stand out from the competition.
It might also be wise to consider getting a personal trainer insurance policy. This will protect you and your business should an accident or injury occur within your premises.
Investing in your education and insurance is essential in becoming an online personal trainer. It will help you build credibility and give your clients peace of mind.
You can always start small and invest in additional equipment as your business grows.
Step 6: Secure the right equipment
Once you have your business template and product offerings figured out, it’s time to start thinking about the practicalities of becoming an online personal trainer. The first thing you need to do is make sure you have the right equipment.
An online personal trainer career usually needs three types of equipment:
- A computer with high-speed internet: This will be your virtual office. You will need to invest in a reliable computer for video processing and high-speed internet to work with clients online without lag time.
- Quality camera and lighting: Since you’re working online, you’ll need to invest in a quality camera and lighting setup. This will ensure that your clients can see and hear you clearly during sessions.
- Fitness equipment: You’ll need some basic equipment during sessions. This could be a set of dumbbells, a yoga mat, or a TRX system. The equipment you need to invest in will depend on the workouts you’ll be doing with clients.
You don’t need to break the bank on equipment, but it is vital to get quality items that will last. You can always start small and invest in additional equipment as your business grows. What’s important is that you have everything you need to get started.
Step 7: Build your website
The next step in becoming an online personal trainer is to build your website. It will be your virtual storefront, so making a good impression is essential.
Your website should be professionally designed and easy to navigate. It’s wise to work with a web designer who specializes in creating websites for fitness businesses.
Your website should include the following:
- A clear and concise message: It should be easy for visitors to understand what you do, how you can help them, and how you stand out from the competition.
- A strong call to action: Your website should have an attention-grabbing call to action. This could be a button that says “Book a Session” or “Get Started.” The goal is to get visitors to take action and become clients.
- Your contact information: Your website should have your contact information prominently displayed. This could be your email address, phone number, or form.
- Your pricing: Your website should have your pricing displayed prominently. This will help visitors understand what they’ll be paying for your services.
Your website is an integral part of your online personal trainer business. Making a good impression and giving visitors the necessary information to take action is essential. Otherwise, they may not purchase your services or go to a competitor instead.
Step 8: Decide how much you will charge
Once you set up your website, it’s time to consider how much you will charge for your services. This can be a difficult decision, but it’s essential to consider your unique value proposition when setting your prices.
For example, if you have a lot of experience or specialize in specific training, you can charge more than someone just starting out. You can also charge more for unique services like one-on-one coaching or customized programs.
It’s also important to consider the average prices in your area. You don’t want to charge too much and price yourself out of the market, but you shouldn’t charge too little and leave money on the table.
You should also consider how you’re going to charge for your services. Will you charge by the session, by the month, or by the program? Each option has pros and cons, so it’s essential to consider what will work best for you and your clients.
Once you’ve decided on your prices, include them on your website. This will help visitors understand what they’ll be paying for your services.
Start your online personal training business right
Starting a personal training business online is not complicated. You must have the proper equipment, create a quality website, and decide on pricing.
However, you must commit time and effort to plan and promote your business. By taking the necessary steps, you can start your online personal training business and begin helping people reach their fitness goals.
Protect your business with API Fitness’s top-rated insurance coverage endorsed by some of the best trainers and leaders in the industry at an affordable price. Visit our website to learn more about our insurance coverage, or contact us about how to get started.
