But while maintaining existing relationships is one element of a successful personal training business, it’s equally important to get new business through the door and grow your enterprise. Your personal training career can be a highly rewarding one, but you mustn’t let your business’s development become stagnant. Here are a few simple tips on how to grow your personal training business and attract new clients:

Have a clear website

Having an easy-to-navigate website is essential for personal training businesses. Make sure your site is clear and details all your services, price packages and contact information. Include images (before and after shots, for example) where possible, and testimonials from current and previous clients. Clearly display your brand logo to make it memorable, as well as any industry affiliations to reinforce trust in your offering.

Gather testimonials

Testimonials are a great way of attracting new clients, as it shows potential sign-ups what your services can do for them. For personal trainers who are just starting out, think about offering free sessions to people you know and asking them to write a balanced testimonial to get you going.

Create a word-of-mouth and ‘recommend a friend’ campaign

For almost every business, word-of-mouth continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing a brand’s reputation – and this is also the case for personal trainers. Give incentives to your clients to spread the word about your business to their friends, and then reward them when they refer new clients. This reward can be anything from a voucher for a meal/pamper treatment to a free training session, gym membership or some fitness gear.

Add the personal touch

The most important aspect of a personal training business is the customer base, so building a positive relationship with your clients should be your number one priority. Ensuring they receive good value for their invested time and money will mean they remain loyal, as they would be unlikely to find such high levels of customer service elsewhere. Always personalize training plans and make sure you catch up with them if you’ve not had a session with them recently.

Ask your gym for referrals

You may already contract with one of the large gym networks, but if you work freelance, consider asking independent gyms/health clubs/studio if they would consider referring leads to you. Always offer a complimentary fitness consultation, and be sure to follow up contact by showing them the benefits of using your service.

Use social media

Leverage the power of social media to both build a credible and trustworthy reputation and maximize your reach. It is not enough just to set up an account – you need to remain active; participate in online discussions, write engaging and helpful training tips and retweet mentions and recommendations from existing clients.