Networking is a valuable tool in any business, such as tech, salesforce, education, and especially so in personal training. Merriam-Webster defines networking as “the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.” Networking provides growth and communication much like a type of advertising minus the fuss and cost. And you control how it’s done.
Why is networking important?
“Fundamentally, networking is about trust. We can either earn it or borrow it, but we can rarely buy it,” said Junior L. Nyemb, marketer and brand architect. “Networking is a great way to earn trust, which usually takes time and requires some level of extended human interaction. And without the luxury of time, networking can also accelerate the process by helping us borrow the trust someone already earned with a person or a group of people.”
Apply that to our personal training fitness world and you’ll have one quad and hamstring up on the competition. Along with trust, networking helps nurture growth, build clientele, and provide support for you as a trainer.
How do you do it?
1. Stay Informed
Stay informed on current trends by talking with other personal trainers, gymrats, and group exercise instructors. This builds a support system and creates relationships with people who have similar interests…basically a love for fitness. They might have read the recent exercise fad or may have tried a new type of exercise class. Simple communication provides information.
2. Build Your Client Base
Some trainers may have full schedules, personality conflicts or other reasons for referring clients to other trainers. By staying connected to trainers, you might add clients.
Exercise instructors may have students wanting one-on-one attention. If an instructor has a connection to you, you might be the one he or she refers.
3. Attend Community Events
Attend health and fitness expos, conventions and exercise events in your community. You will likely learn something, meet new people, and start a network connection.
Consider setting up a booth at an expo to promote your training business. Keep business cards on hand. Make your booth stand out with music, videos, healthy snacks and a banner.
4. Follow exercise enthusiasts on social media.
You’ll keep up on the fitness biz, refresh your own knowledge and see what works in the industry. Create your own social media accounts and grow your followers through posts. Give a shout-out to others to build rapport.
As personal trainers, most of us love to talk about exercise and staying fit. We thrive on it and get motivated with the simple mention of words like squats, lunges, powerlifting, Tabata and interval training. Use the lingo and the leverage to network your personal training business. By sharing your passion, it will be obvious you love what you do.
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Kim Becknell Williams is a freelance writer with more than ten years of personal training experience. Certified through NFPT, she is a Functional Training Specialist and holds a Master Trainer level certificate for resistance, endurance and sports nutrition. Kim has written two books including Gym Etiquette 101. She enjoys writing a variety of lifestyle articles and fitness blogs.
