5 Proven Strategies to Get More Personal Training Clients
As a personal trainer, your primary goal is not just to provide workouts, but to build a thriving personal training business that brings in clients regularly, helps people achieve their goals, and rewards you with long-term success. If you’re committed to your career and want to turn it into a lifelong business, there’s more to it than just being good at what you do—it’s about understanding how to attract, retain, and satisfy your clients while also running a successful operation. Building a personal training business isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely achievable when you know what to focus on. And at AB Fitness, we have a strategy that takes the pressure off marketing, allowing you to focus entirely on training clients and doing what you love.
There are a lot of factors that contribute to growing a successful personal training business, from attracting clients to providing exceptional service and staying competitive in a crowded industry. One of the first hurdles for any personal trainer, especially those just starting out, is client acquisition. How do you get people to trust you with their health and fitness goals? After all, personal training is a competitive field. Thousands of trainers are offering their services, but the best ones know that it’s about more than just getting clients—it’s about getting the right clients who will stay with you for the long term. The real key to growing your personal training business is consistency and client retention. Once you’ve built a solid foundation and developed strong relationships, the process becomes much easier. But how do you reach that point in the first place? How do you start attracting and retaining clients so that your business doesn’t just survive, but thrives?
Let’s start with the basics. The process of getting more clients involves understanding what works in client marketing, where you need to position yourself in the fitness industry, and how you’re going to stand out from the crowd. A lot of personal trainers think that the path to success is all about the quality of their workouts. While providing great training is essential to your success, it’s only part of the equation. Marketing, client relationship building, and creating value are just as important as the training itself. Without these strategies, it’s going to be a lot harder to grow your client base in a sustainable way.
The reality is that personal training is a lot more than teaching someone how to do a squat or how to use a dumbbell. It’s about understanding your clients’ goals, motivations, and challenges, and then providing a pathway to help them succeed. But as we all know, it’s also about understanding how to sell your services effectively and market yourself in a way that attracts potential clients. Getting clients for your personal training business is a continual process—it requires consistent outreach and engagement. And even more importantly, the strategies you use to attract new clients need to be sustainable to ensure that your business thrives in the long term. It’s about creating lasting relationships that don’t just stop when the client achieves their initial goal. In fact, client retention is where many trainers fall short. In the fitness industry, clients tend to cycle in and out—sometimes they’re motivated and show up for a while, but then they drop off. As a personal trainer, you need to create an environment that makes clients feel comfortable, supported, and motivated to stay for the long term.
This is where AB Fitness steps in to make things easier for you. At AB Fitness, we take the pressure off you when it comes to finding new clients. We handle the marketing, the client outreach, and the advertising, so you can focus on what you’re best at—training. Our shared-client model ensures that you have a steady stream of clients without the added stress of constantly looking for new business. This means you can grow your personal training career faster, with less effort spent on sales and more time spent on delivering great service. But this isn’t all—at AB Fitness, we don’t just want you to be a trainer; we want you to grow with us. We offer a 12-week onboarding curriculum designed to quickly download years of knowledge and industry experience so that you can be successful from the start. As a trainer at AB Fitness, you’re not just working for yourself; you’re part of a larger team that supports each other’s success. This team-driven approach is one of the reasons our trainers are so successful—they don’t have to go it alone. Whether you’re working at our East Meadow, Massapequa, or Oyster Bay locations, you’ll be part of an environment that encourages collaboration, education, and career advancement.
1. Build a Strong Personal Brand
Building a strong personal brand is key to attracting clients who resonate with your training style, personality, and expertise. Your personal brand is how clients perceive you, and it’s what differentiates you from other trainers. It’s not just about having a fancy website or flashy social media profiles—your personal brand is about showcasing your authenticity and expertise, and delivering it consistently.
How to Build Your Personal Brand:
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Define your niche: Specializing in a particular area of fitness like strength training, weight loss, or sports performance will help you stand out from the crowd and attract clients who are looking for those services.
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Showcase your expertise: Use your social media accounts, blog posts, and videos to share workout tips, client success stories, and fitness advice. This positions you as an expert and builds trust with potential clients.
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Engage with your audience: Building a personal brand is not just about posting content; it’s about interacting with your audience. Respond to questions, engage with comments, and make your followers feel like they are part of your fitness community.
At AB Fitness, we help our trainers grow their personal brand by providing the tools and resources needed to showcase their expertise while we handle the marketing and client acquisition.
2. Use Social Media and Online Marketing
Social media is one of the most powerful tools to market your services as a personal trainer. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube allow you to connect with potential clients, share your knowledge, and promote your services.
How to Leverage Social Media for Client Acquisition:
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Post educational content: Share valuable fitness tips, client success stories, and behind-the-scenes footage to give followers insight into your training style.
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Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and messages promptly to build relationships with potential clients.
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Invest in paid advertising: Social media ads allow you to reach a targeted audience in your area, increasing the likelihood of attracting new clients.
At AB Fitness, we handle marketing and advertising, allowing you to focus on training clients. We have a system in place to get you more clients without the need for extensive digital marketing efforts on your part.
3. Offer Free Workshops and Classes
Hosting free workshops or fitness classes is a great way to attract new clients while showcasing your expertise. These events allow people to experience your style of training without any commitment, and they provide you with the opportunity to interact with potential clients in a low-pressure environment.
How to Make the Most of Workshops and Classes:
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Choose a relevant topic: Tailor your free event to the interests of your target audience. If you specialize in postnatal fitness, for example, offer a workshop on fitness for new moms.
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Provide real value: Ensure that your workshops offer genuine value—clients should leave with practical knowledge or a taste of the experience you provide.
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Follow up: After the workshop, follow up with attendees and offer them a discount on personal training sessions to convert them into paying clients.
At AB Fitness, we encourage our trainers to host events and workshops, and we help promote these activities to drive attendance and interest. Our shared-client model means that you can focus on training while we handle marketing.
4. Build Client Relationships for Long-Term Retention
It’s not enough to just get new clients—you need to retain them for the long term. Building lasting relationships with clients is one of the most effective ways to ensure they stay with you. The key to long-term success is consistently providing value, building trust, and helping clients achieve their goals.
How to Build Long-Term Client Relationships:
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Check in regularly: Don’t just see clients during training sessions—check in with them regularly, ask about their progress, and offer encouragement.
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Celebrate milestones: Whether it’s hitting a weight loss goal or increasing strength, acknowledging progress helps clients feel motivated and appreciated.
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Offer additional services: Consider offering things like nutrition advice or recovery techniques to enhance their training experience.
At AB Fitness, we focus on client retention by providing a supportive environment and shared resources. Our team approach ensures that clients feel consistently supported and motivated to continue training.
5. Foster a Community Atmosphere
People love to be part of a community. One of the best ways to build a loyal client base is to create a supportive, positive community where clients feel like they belong. When clients feel like they’re part of something bigger than just their individual fitness journey, they are more likely to stay and become advocates for your business.
How to Build a Fitness Community:
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Encourage social interactions: Promote events where clients can meet and connect with others, whether it’s a fitness challenge or a post-workout hangout.
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Celebrate client achievements: Whether it’s a fitness milestone or personal accomplishment, acknowledging your clients’ progress in front of the community encourages motivation and fosters a sense of belonging.
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Provide a positive atmosphere: Make your training environment one where clients feel encouraged, supported, and safe.
At AB Fitness, we create a community-driven environment that fosters motivation, support, and client success. Our shared-client system ensures that clients get the support they need, and our team of trainers works together to build a positive environment.
Why Join AB Fitness?
If you’re looking to build a successful personal training business without the stress of marketing, client acquisition, or sales, AB Fitness is the place for you. At AB Fitness, we take care of the business side of things, so you can focus on delivering the best training and building lasting client relationships.
Here’s why AB Fitness is the ideal place for personal trainers:
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No sales hustle: We provide you with clients, and you focus on providing the best training experience possible.
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Shared clients: Trainers work together, supporting one another and growing their client base through our shared-client model.
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Community-driven approach: At AB Fitness, we believe in creating a supportive, positive environment where clients and trainers thrive.
Apply Now to Join the AB Fitness Team!
If you’re ready to stop hustling for clients and start focusing on delivering great training, AB Fitness is the perfect place for you. Apply now to join our team of dedicated trainers and start making a real impact in the lives of clients.
Click here to apply at AB Fitness
Contact Us Today for More Information
For more information about career opportunities at AB Fitness, call us at 516-303-9157 or visit our career page.
Our Locations:
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AB Fitness East Meadow: 514a East Meadow Ave, East Meadow, NY 11554
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AB Fitness Massapequa: 4150c Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY 11758
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AB Fitness Oyster Bay: 5 Shore Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771