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A question for personal trainers

Juliaann108 Posts: 5 Joined: 2002/11/05	2007/07/18, 11:37 AM Hi there. I've been with FT off and on for several years, and after several years of second-guessing, I?ve finally decided to get certified. I?ve narrowed it down to ISSA or ACE (and welcome any comments about that), but my main question is, are there any of you out there with a successful training business who struggled at the beginning with the marketing/promotion side of things? I?m going to have to overcome my fear of self-promotion if I?m going to get anywhere. Any advice? Thanks for reading
foneguy32 Posts: 3 Joined: 2007/07/17	2007/07/18, 11:44 AM just imput my data and got my work out schedule for the week. not sure how much weight to reps i am suppose to use. any help
foneguy32 Posts: 3 Joined: 2007/07/17	2007/07/18, 11:53 AM just imput my data and got my work out schedule for the week. not sure how much weight to reps i am suppose to use. any help
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2007/07/19, 09:10 AM decided to get certified. Good for you! That is a great step! I?ve narrowed it down to ISSA or ACE (and welcome any comments about that), Eiother one is a great Organization! but my main question is, are there any of you out there with a successful training business who struggled at the beginning with the marketing/promotion side of things? Marketing and promotion are the most expensive part of the business - are you planning to start your own business right off the bat or start in a commercial gym? I think it is a good idea to work at a gym for a while to get an idea of how not to do things and how people ineteract with trainers, etc. The next thing you need to do is look up Thomas Plummer's book " Making Money in the Fitness Business ; If I knew the business was this hard, I'd have gotten a real job!" It is an excellent read and explains what brings people in and what keeps people with your facility. Another excellent resource is Guerilla Marketing : http://www.gmarketing.com/ It will help you come up with creative marketing ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg. I?m going to have to overcome my fear of self-promotion if I?m going to get anywhere. Any advice? always be positive - always smile and always try to solve people's problems - because that is what good business is about - people have a specific problem and you offer the solution - when they are happy they come back! Good luck! -------------- Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Thomas Carlyle
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2007/07/19, 12:03 PM Asimmer has hit all points right on the head. Easiest way to think about your success is to just remember that your clients are your business cards... -------------- Michael Humble, even in Victory.
Mel4Short Posts: 59 Joined: 2007/06/29	2007/07/19, 12:30 PM Rev has a good point. Through the years, I have watched many business owners lose site of that fact and start looking at the clients as dollar signs. Clients feel that attitude and those dollar signs will start dropping. Your clients are your business card...nothing better than referral from a client!!
Juliaann108 Posts: 5 Joined: 2002/11/05	2007/07/19, 02:15 PM Thanks everyone. I appreciate your advice. asimmer, as impatient as I am I will likely start in a club to gain experience and then (hopefully) launch my own business. Which means ACE, probably, as it seems to be the most widely accepted at local gyms (Ballys, Lifetime, etc.) Although someone mentioned ACSM PT cert. to me yesterday so now I have to go back and reconsider (sigh). Anyway, I've already written down the books you recommended - between that and studying for certification I've got my work cut out for me.