Ive been a successful PT for almost 15yrs. LOTS of good things said in this thread, some not so good.
Your physique is your initial marketing tool. Wear something thats show it.
You must have charisma, and a passion for fitness, and be a people person.
This is initially sales, if you dont like sales its not for you. You close well,
find out someones reason for being in the gym and exploit how you can help. Tell them how you will transform their body by doing diet and resistance training to gain muscle/lose fat (explain to the girls how this is escentially TONING) -and how both raise your BMR and are the best thing for weight lose. Cardio is a less important but necessary factor. Tell them how much and how often, and let them do it after sessions.
What earned you your good physique? Basic weight training! It has built the best bodies in the world for 75yrs! Do that! All the dumbass new-fangled PT balls and bands and balance crap is for the trainer who has no real experience. Tell you clients how what you do is better! Get your required cert (ACE/NASM...) and go back to what you have learned in your years in the gym! Tell them with weight training you can get the best and QUICKEST possible results, and its true! Tell them you can do it in 2-3mo, while all the other sissy trainers will take 1-2yrs having people stand on 1 leg and curl a 5lb dumbell while they chat about the weather. Explain why you are better!
Do their diet, regardless of what all the for-crap certs tell you about 'refer to a liscenced dietician'. Be in full charge of their results! I know the liability issue...screw that.
Pay should be 55-65% of the $60-70hr you charge, selling monthly packages. Give a free session to as many members (especially new ones) as you can. Dont give more, you dont want to lose the value of your professional time.
Youre ability to provide results (and the clients economic situation) will determine how well you continue to keep clients.
Almost everyone will step up to the plate and perform! Bullcrap abut people wanting someone to talk to ... yes you can be a mentor/phycholist also, but train them hard after a short initial break in peroid. 97% will step up to the challenge!
Have a nice business card. Maybe a pic showing your physique on it.
You should at least occassionally do your own training where you work. Show yourself in action! Thats and the changes you make in your clients bodies will build your reputation and respect in the gym.
Stay at a big chain gym before you go independent. Either way, you will need 6-12mo to build a book of clients...so you will need some backup cash to help with bills.
Its about making money. But its good to have a passion for changing lives. That bring kharma...good things will come back to you, if you have kindness and care for others as a priority.
You may not get wealthy, but you can be comfortable. But its the best job in the world IMO, for a guy like me who loves fitness and non-competitive bodybuilding. Im grateful to have this career, Id do it free if I wont the Lottery. But Id own the damn gym too lol!
Im probably missing alot, but for now, hope some of that helps.
.gif "IP Gear")
Good luck brother. I hope you become one of the good ones.
