There’s no denying that fitness can be a fulfilling career choice. There are very few things more satisfying than helping people reach their physical goals, after all. However, if you’re looking to earn yourself a living in this industry, you’ll need to pair your passion with a bit of know-how. While you’ll undoubtedly learn many things on your road to becoming a successful instructor, it never hurts to arm yourself with a little helpful information beforehand. With that said, we’ve compiled a few smart tips that will allow you to achieve your fitness instructor goals.
Get yourself certified
While you don’t necessarily need medical science or sports medicine degrees to practice the trade, you can’t be a fitness instructor without being trained and certified. It’s as important as sports and fitness insurance. It is for this reason that you must invest in your education first. In this highly competitive industry, you’ll need all the help you can get to reel in clients. And the money you spend now to become a qualified professional will pay dividends later on in helping you get more clients. But be sure that you choose a program that is backed by the fitness community and is accredited, or you’ll end up wasting your time and money.
Don’t quit your day job yet
It’s likely that you won’t be making a lot yet if you’ve just started as a personal trainer. As such, it makes sense not to quit your day job just yet. After all, you’ll need a steady cash flow to sustain your career until you begin earning real money from fitness. This approach might mean that you’ll have to make do with a busier schedule. However, doing so will give you more financial wiggle room to move.
Choose the suitable pricing model
If you aren’t planning on working as a trainer for commercial gyms, you’ll need to set the pricing structure for your services. First, consider your education and experience in the field, then do your homework on the rates in your surrounding area. Next, spend some time scouring the World Wide Web for fitness-related websites to check how much they charge customers. Once you know how much you should price your services, consider whether you should charge per hour, session, or subscription. However, don’t be afraid to volunteer for free, be it in your local community center or a high school. It will help you market yourself much easier than you otherwise would have.
Promote yourself
Marketing is a critical aspect of any business endeavor, and this includes being a fitness instructor. But, when all’s said and done, the knowledge and certification you’ve acquired won’t make a difference if people don’t know you exist. From improving your online visibility through digital platforms like social media to building relationships with your clients beyond training programs, promoting yourself is essential to success.
Succeeding in the fitness industry takes time and effort. Much like the act itself, you won’t see results overnight. The key is to never give up. It might take a while before you reach your objectives, but with patience and perseverance, there’s no doubt that you will.
