Fitness training is a journey for you and your clients. You can start that journey off right by offering an initial consultation. A fitness training consultation comes before the workout program begins and can increase your bookings!
This article gives you expert tips to land clients from a fitness training consultation.
What is a fitness training consultation?
Many trainers offer an initial consultation or session 0 before their first appointment with a client. This is a chance to get to know your clients and their goals.
At the end of the consultation, you’ll understand your client’s expectations, and clients will have a clear picture of how you do business.
It takes a lot of courage to start a fitness journey. A fitness training consultation lets your clients know if they’re making the right choice. You want them to be able to trust you, so they’ll keep coming back. You’ll get more clients and make more money as a trainer.
You can do the consultation as a separate appointment or schedule 20 minutes or so before the first appointment. It may be better to separate them so you and your client have time to prep before the program begins.
Tips for a Successful Fitness Training Consultation
Fitness consultations can be a bit tricky. There’s so much to learn about your client in such a short time. But if you’re a brand new trainer, don’t stress! You’ll get the hang of fitness training consultations as your client list grows and you get more experience.
The most important thing is to walk into the consultation with a plan. It takes off the pressure and maximizes your time with the client.
Here are five tips for nailing your fitness consultation.
#1 Ask the right questions
During the fitness training consultation, you must gather enough information from your client to plan a routine. You need to learn about their health and fitness history and goals. For example, are they coming back after a long break, or is this their first time training? Are they looking to get in shape for a special event or just want to improve their overall health?
You should ask a mix of open and closed-ended questions. Here are some key questions to ask during the consultation:
- What motivated you to hire a trainer?
- Have you ever had a personal trainer? If yes, how was that experience? Why are you looking for a new one?
- How often do you work out? How much time do you have to work out?
- What workouts/exercises do you enjoy? Which ones do you hate?
- What’s your ultimate goal for these sessions?
- When do you want to achieve this goal? Do they have a timeline?
Remember, it’s okay to follow up. You and your client are on a journey together. Don’t be afraid to ask questions after the consultation, especially if it will help them succeed.
#2 Location! Location! Location!
Clients are often afraid to book a new trainer because they don’t know what to expect. You can relieve their anxiety about the program by holding a fitness training consultation where you host workout sessions. This way, clients can get comfortable in the gym and familiarize themselves with the equipment.
Let them walk you through their space if it’s an online fitness session. You can make recommendations to improve the room for a workout and adjust your routine to fit their space. This is also a great time to test your audio and video. Nothing is more frustrating than missing an appointment due to a technical problem.
#3 Have your forms ready
The fitness training consultation will be a conversation for the most part. But you may want your client to fill out a form or two with essential questions, like medical history or allergy info. Allergy information is important if you include nutrition recommendations as part of your program.
Typically, trainers have clients fill out a physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR Q). A PAR Q screens your clients for pre-existing health conditions in the heart, joints, etc.
And don’t forget to provide liability and payment agreement forms if they agree to continue with your program. Before the consultation, you can add an intake form to your PocketSuite booking site.
#4 Do a Physical Demonstration
It’s just a consultation, but you might have to get a bit physical. This is a good time to get a feel for your client’s range of motion, like performing an overhead squat assessment.
You can find out if they struggle with physical impairments, shoulder pain, etc. And you may have to recommend them to a chiropractor or physical therapist before they can start your program.
#5 Close The Sale
Now comes the fun part: landing your new client! Take everything you learned and hit them with a personalized pitch that they can’t refuse!
Remember to be honest about how your program will help them. Your client may have an unrealistic goal for their starting point or medical condition. It may be a tough conversation, but it’s better than filling them with false hope. Instead, suggest SMART goals that you can work towards together. And show them how you’ll keep track of their progress.
Keep the notes from your consultation organized and review them regularly. They’ll help you manage your clients as your sessions continue.
One Last Tip
Fitness training consultations can start your trainer-client relationship off with a bang. You learn more about your clients and their goals in the initial consultation. More importantly, you build trust with your clients. After a successful consultation, you may have a client for life.
PocketSuite can help you manage those relationships. From bookings to payments to contracts, we have all the tools you need to run your business and communicate with your clients!
