How to Build a Successful Personal Training Business

A Personal Training Business Guest Post by Sam Bakhtiar

One of my long time coaching clients Sam Bakhtiar makes about 1.8 Million in a year in his very successful personal training business. Sam put together a list for you of some of the things that have made him so successful…

And here’s Sam’s biggest tips to how he got to almost 2 million a year in his fitness training business…

1. EFT, EFT, EFT, EFT. OK let me spell it out… electronic funds transfer. Lot’s of trainers KNOW they should do this but VERY FEW do…You must absolutely build your EFT base so that you have some peace of mind and build a successful personal training business. It feels good to know that you only have to sell a client once. Gone are the days that every month you have to resell the client over and over again… It’s brutal. I used to have NIGHTMARES about approaching clients to re-up. Nowadays I know that if for some reason (like November last year when the economy everywhere suddenly stopped) if I don’t have any new sign ups then I still have plenty of money coming in. Big companies like 24 Hour Fitness and L.A. Fitness build their empires based on this. Why not model success?

2. Here’s another super simple one that most trainer COMPLETELY drop the ball on. Ask your existing clients for referrals and reward them when they do. Give your clients incentives to refer you their family and friends. What’s a client is worth to you? $1500, $3000? Then do something generous for the person that referred you. I offer my clients a month of free personal training for bringing their friends and family. It’s a total win/win. So many trainers overlook this easy and simple way to get clients. Look, if you have crappy service and you don’t take care of your clients obviously this is not for you. But if you have excellent service and you are dedicated to your clients then why wouldn’t they refer you their family and friends? Each and everyone of your clients have a sphere of influence and a network of friends and family. It is your DUTY to systematically remind them and incentivize them for referring to your personal training business.

I also give my clients gift cards for two to a local restaurants or to the movies. You will be amazed on how something as little as that can get them to refer you more and more clients. Best of all it is the cheapest way that I know to get a new client. Remember your house list (list of people that you have at one time or another done business with) is the most responsive list around, so use it. I ask for referrals in my autoresponders (I use Icontact), in my post cards(I use sendoutcards), in my gym via posted signs and in person every chance I get.

3. Stop being cheap and invest in your business by hiring a coach. Look here, I don’t get paid a shiny red cent for referring people to anyone but I will tell you this. I was the most successful trainer in the area before I decided to hire coaches and mentors to help me build a successful personal training business. Why did I hire business coaches when I was already successful? It’s the same reason that you workout 3-6 days a week even though you are already in shape. As far as I am concerned you are either getting better or worse. There is NO SUCH THING as staying the same.

I think it’s funny how the most successful trainer in the area was also the first trainer in the area to ask for help. Coincidence I DON’T THINK SO. A few years ago I was making a very good living working 14 hours a day. Today with the help of my mentors (both Bedros Keuilian and Chris McCombs) and self education I make twice that while working 2-3 hours a day.

I STRONGLY suggest you check out Chris’s coaching program here

4. You have to have a high-converting, highly optimized website. It should contain all of the following…

* Should be optimized for the words personal trainer, personal training, bootcamp, Boot Camps, weight loss, fitness trainer, fitness training AND any word that pertains to your business for the city or cities that you want to draw clients from.

* Should have a killer copy. If writing is not one of your strong points then I suggest hiring a professional copy writer.

* The best system to follow for a copy is PROBLEM, AGITATION, SOLUTION, and SOCIAL PROOF.

* Social proof, Social proof, Social proof. need I say more. The more testimonials you have the better. Can’t have too many testimonials.(I especially love video testimonials)

* Risk Reversal. You have to assure them that you stand behind your work and they have nothing to lose by trying it. You can use 100% money back guarantee or some version of that. I know a friend of mine offers get in shape or we will train you for free until you do. His boot camp is BOOMING.

* Generate leads by offering them something of value (report, audio program, etc…) in exchange for their email information.

* Make sure all the leads go systematically to an autoresponder. This way they you following up with them consistently without lifting a finger.

BTW, I learned the internet marketing stuff from the Market Annihilator program. And since I didn’t want to build a site myself ( which I don’t
suggest you do either) I hired it out to these guys at Fitness Website Formula.

I hope this helps you build a successful fitness training business and you have the kind of success I’ve enjoyed in this industry – Sam Bakhtiar