PT Business Roundtable

[Sun Tzu]

I just got a new job at a corporate gym..... I'm not(IMHO) on of those clueless PT.... altho I'm not some swole musclehead trainer but I know my shit and I know i need to learn more...... but the whole idea for this thread is to help myself and other trainers share and brainstorm ideas for sucess........

as i gathered so far... the biggest obstacle for being sucessful is getting as many people "in front of you as you can"...... thankfully i work in a gym where they make attempts to funnel as many people as they can in front of you and then it's on you to "sell yourself"(i hate that phrase but it is what it is)...... so how do you guys get people in front of you?????

one idea that i'm about to implement is a free bodyfat check...... they come in....check their bodyfat % and recieve some info about me, my card and maybe a free consult.........

 

[caligirl]

I found that giving anything away for free usually backfires, so I dont. BUT I did at one point send out a monthly email newsletter to exisiting clients who in turn would forward it on to friends, which resulted in referals.

 

[Sun Tzu]

why do you think it backfired?

 

[caligirl]

why do you think it backfired?

Sadly people do not place any value on anything free. Another thing, quality vs. quantity works too. Jack up your prices, but make sure you can back it up with good quality training.

Rather than offer a free bee, offer a "special". Like 3 sessions for $150 (or what ever you want). The sessions can be 30 minutes in length, followed by a cardio session they do on their own. But kick their ass in the session, make them work and sweat, they will come back for more. $150 is not alot of money to pay for a GOOD trainer and the illusion of 3 sessions will spark intrest, it works. You still get good pay and they get a good session.

 

[Sun Tzu]

unfortunitly i'm not an IC.... so the fees are not up to me...

any other ideas as to what actually works... i kinda don't want a thread full of "this doesn't work".... "that sucks"..... this job is hard enough without all the negativity......

 

[caligirl]

unfortunitly i'm not an IC.... so the fees are not up to me...

any other ideas as to what actually works... i kinda don't want a thread full of "this doesn't work".... "that sucks"..... this job is hard enough without all the negativity......

A thread full of negativity...? looks like I'm the only one who has stepped up to help you there buddy.... are you sure your not clueless???
You don't have to be an independant to offer a special. (oh, and I DID give you a really great suggestion that works). Try talking to your director and work out a fee or deal that bebefits you equally...... come on dude, they should be willing to help, they want to increase revenue themselves. I seriously doubt they would deny you the opportunity to make money for yourself and for them.
You could also teach a group class, if your not certified in group, then schedule a GROUP circuit training class. You use machines on the weightroom floor.... you can charge a pp rate of like $10 per class, that will help you gain clients as well... you get paid for the group class, and you get exposure. Come on man, get creative!!!!
The business is only as "hard" as you make it. I have been training people for over a decade and LOVE it. Obtaining clients is part of the job. I can go on and on with suggestions that work, but it sounds to me like you may be defeated already. good luck.

 

[bignate73]

i can understand where sun tzu is coming from. having trained corporate for a few years, your hands really are tied as to what you can do outside of the traditional session or the fitness assessment. group classes are generally out, unless its within the specified classes that the club subscribes to. seminars are another freebie that was tried and unless you are backing it up with a small package special like Caligirl said, the people walk out thinking you gave away all the trade secrets....because quite honestly thats what we do. we show up and throw up as much information hoping to "earn" their business. but the people that tend to go aren't shopping for a trainer they are scouring for "tips." they take the latest tips back to their traditional routine that they cut out of the magazine and they feel thats what they needed to "mix it up" and break through their plateau. sorry to sound so negative, but having worked in a corporate setting that used (free) fitness assessments to close on memberships, I began to realize that the majority of people wanted free and didn't see the value of training unless they had a pertinent goal.

Find people with solid goals. talk to athletes, women getting married, women who just had kids, police and firefighters, people who either need to be in shape or want to get in shape really badly. the average gymrat is happy to do the same routine, over and over, with no results...because "at least i'm doing something every day."

 

[Sun Tzu]

A thread full of negativity...? looks like I'm the only one who has stepped up to help you there buddy.... are you sure your not clueless???

far from clueless.... but this thread was STARTING to go into a direction i didn't want it to go into..... thank you for stepping up...

You don't have to be an independant to offer a special. (oh, and I DID give you a really great suggestion that works).

yes u did, thank you....

but it sounds to me like you may be defeated already.

far from it... trying to keep a discussion on ideas that work and other stuff that pertains to being in the fitness business... good suggestion....

 

[Sassy69]

Is it possible to identify a niche & work that as well - i.e. I work w/ lots of middle-aged moms, etc etc etc. Identify a common issue that when someone comes to the gym & they fit that niche, it becomes known that you are "the guy" for that?

My brother owns one of those 24 hr key access gyms in Minneapolis - its a franchise so he does have some brand recognition but its still a 3000 sq ft gym in a strip mall off the highway. He tends to target area chiropractors to angle in on the "rehab" thing and also because its a 24 hr access place, he talks to the local fire stations, hospitals, etc. - the people who work odd hours.

 

[Sun Tzu]

what about seminars at the gym?...... i had a few ideas for like 1/2 hours talks and demos on certain topic...........

and does anyone know a somewhat user-friendlt video editing software?

 

[Chris McCombs]

I just got a new job at a corporate gym..... I'm not(IMHO) on of those clueless PT.... altho I'm not some swole musclehead trainer but I know my shit and I know i need to learn more...... but the whole idea for this thread is to help myself and other trainers share and brainstorm ideas for sucess........

as i gathered so far... the biggest obstacle for being sucessful is getting as many people "in front of you as you can"...... thankfully i work in a gym where they make attempts to funnel as many people as they can in front of you and then it's on you to "sell yourself"(i hate that phrase but it is what it is)...... so how do you guys get people in front of you?????

one idea that i'm about to implement is a free bodyfat check...... they come in....check their bodyfat % and recieve some info about me, my card and maybe a free consult.........

I think both schools of thought are right when it comes to free/nothing free. Giving away free sessions works as does doing nothing for free. Which one is right for you?

When I started I talked to everyone I knew and everyone I didn't. Hell, my first few months I only had like 3 people so I took on around 20 people for free and just asked them if they could pay me by bringing in their friends. I train groups of 3-6 so training people for free was no prob.

Within three months so many people brought their friend in that 3 paying clients and 20 free clients turned into around 30 paying clients and maybe 3 free clients. If people couldn't bring me anyone after a month or so i'd drop em. I know a trainer who did this and got 32 paying clients in one month. Within 45 days of becoming a trainer he's making a six figure income.

Also, I found a lot of the wealthier people I took on just started paying for my services

The reason this works has a lot to it. Let's just say that the "Law a Reciprocity" is hardwired into our dna.

Now today, 4 years later I maintain 50-60 clients and charge more per person for my groups of 6 people than most trainers charge for one on one.

Help people, create a demand for yourself, train groups, put people on auto debit, study human behavior- you can't go wrong

Chris M
www.therichtrainer.com

 

[ponyfitness]

what about seminars at the gym?...... i had a few ideas for like 1/2 hours talks and demos on certain topic...........

and does anyone know a somewhat user-friendlt video editing software?

These are tricky. You usually have to charge money otherwise people will sign up and then not come (especially in a corporate gym). If you charge money you have to give it some value.

A couple of good ways to increase attendance: I do nutrition seminars and usually say food and drink provided - get a veggie tray and some bottled water (cheap). For some reason more people show up.

Also, in a corporate setting you often have to go to the people - you can do walk arounds and leave fit tips on people's desks with an offer for a free workout, etc. Any way to get more people in the door. Make sure you get to know all of the employees as the resident fitness expert and you will build clients soon enough. You can even offer workouts to the president, etc of the company - with some luck you can make yourself his personal trainer.