What is an online fitness coach?
An online fitness coach is a professional that works with individuals or groups to help them exercise and enhance their physical fitness online. They may work one-on-one with clients or in teams, and they generally offer customized workout plans, nutritional advice, and encouragement.
Online fitness coaches use their knowledge of exercise to help people achieve short-term and long-term fitness goals, respectively. Not only do they advise on how to properly workout, but also emphasize the importance of having a healthy mindset towards dieting and physical activity.
Here are the 10 steps to becoming an online fitness coach!
Step # 01: Choose your specialty for online fitness coaching
When it comes to becoming an online fitness coach, it’s important to choose a specialty. So why is it important to choose a specialty as an online fitness coach? Well, the answer is simple. You want your online fitness coaching business to be known for something specific.
If you try and do everything, nothing will stand out and it’ll be harder for you to get customers. When choosing your specialty, ask yourself these questions:
- What’s most important to me?
- Is it helping others lose weight or gain muscle?
- Do I want my clients to focus on their nutrition or am I more interested in training?
- What are my skills and strengths?
- Do I have a lot of experience with weightlifting, Pilates, or yoga?
- Can I create routines and meal plans that are healthy and delicious?
- What do people need help with the most?
- Are there certain areas of fitness where clients need more guidance? For example, a lot of people are looking for help getting started on a workout routine or learning how to eat healthily.
Once you’ve answered these questions, it’ll be easier to choose a specialty and start marketing yourself as an online fitness coach or online personal trainer. Here are some examples of online fitness coaching specialties you can choose from:
Weight loss coach
This specialty is the most popular one in online fitness coaching. If you want to become an online weight loss coach, it’s best if you have personal experience with losing weight and keeping it off. Many people are looking for someone who can help them reach their goals while also understanding their struggles.
Muscle building coach
Some people want to lose weight, and others want to gain it. If you specialize in muscle building, then you’ll be able to help men and women who are looking for a more muscular physique. This specialty is especially popular with people who are new to working out or haven’t lifted weights before.
Running coach
Some trainers prefer to specialize in running, which is the most popular sport in America. There are many different types of running races you can help people train for including fun runs, charity events, and marathons. You can also work with individuals who just want to run more often or get faster at it!
Strength training coach
If you specialize in strength training, then you’ll be able to help people who want to get stronger and build more muscle. This specialty can include everything from bodyweight exercises like push-ups to heavy lifting with barbells.
Nutrition coach
A lot of people have a really hard time eating properly for their goals. If you become a nutrition coach then you can help clients with things like meal planning, calorie counting, portion control, and more!
Yoga coach
Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility, increase strength and get in touch with your body. As a yoga coach, you can help people learn how to do poses correctly, work on their breathing and maybe even teach them some meditation techniques.
Endurance coach
An endurance training coach helps clients to improve their stamina and speed. You can help people learn how to train for long distances like marathons or short bursts of power like sprinting 100 meters in less than 20 seconds!
Pilates coach
Pilates is another form of exercise that focuses on strengthening the core muscles. A Pilates coach can help people improve their posture, increase their flexibility, and maybe even lose weight.
As you can see there are many different types of online fitness coaches. But no matter which route you decide to go down, make sure that you’re knowledgeable in the field and passionate about helping others achieve their fitness goals.
Now on to the second step.
Step # 02: Gain the right qualifications for online training
To coach people online, you’ll need to get the right qualifications. This could mean earning a certification from an accredited organization or gaining experience through working as a personal trainer. Education is very important for online coaching especially when you are asking for high prices. The more knowledge you have, the better you can help your clients.
To become an online fitness coach, you don’t need a specific degree. However, depending on your specialty you will need to be qualified. Here are some programs that you could look into:
The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is a globally recognized authority in personal training. NASM offers premier educational programs and certifications in health, fitness, and sports performance.
If you are looking to become an online fitness coach, the NASM certification would be a great place to start. This program provides students with the education and skills needed to work with a wide range of populations, from beginner exercisers to professional athletes.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE):
The ACE certification is another popular choice for online fitness coaches. This program offers students the opportunity to become certified in personal training, group exercise instruction, and health coaching. The ACE program is supported by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
The ISSA offers three levels of certification, ranging from beginner to advanced. This program provides students with the knowledge and skills required for a successful career as an online fitness coach. You will learn how to build your own personal training business by mastering social media marketing techniques, developing effective client relationships, and designing successful fitness programs.
The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research
The Cooper Institute is known for its comprehensive certification program in personal training. This program offers a variety of certifications, including health coaching, group exercise instruction, and youth fitness.
National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)
The NCSF is a widely recognized organization that provides certification in personal training, group fitness instruction, and corrective exercise.
When choosing one of these programs, it is important to do your research and find the certification that best suits your needs.
Step # 03: Define your ideal client for online personal training
One of the most important steps in becoming an online fitness coach is defining your ideal client. This means figuring out what type of person you want to work with and what their goals are. Once you know this, you can start creating programs and messaging that resonates with them.
This will also help you focus your efforts on the right people, and provide them with information that resonates with them. Some things you may want to consider when defining your ideal client include:
- What are their fitness goals?
- What type of person are they? (e.g. young, old, male, female, etc.)
- Where do they live?
- What’s their budget?
- What are their interests?
- What are their limitations?
Once you have a good idea of who your ideal client is, you can start tailoring your marketing and program creation to fit their needs.
Step # 04: Build out your programs and plans
Once you have decided on a niche, it is time to build out your programs and plans. There are many different ways you can do this, but here are some tips from our experience:
- Create a plan that’s easy for your clients to follow.
- Don’t try and be too fancy or technical with it, just keep things simple so they don’t get confused.
- Make sure you have a clear goal in mind when creating your plan so that it doesn’t get derailed by other priorities along the way. For example, if your client wants to lose weight then they may need some extra help with their nutrition as well as exercise programming.
- Make sure you have a good understanding of the different types of training styles and how they work together to get people into shape. For example, if someone wants to get stronger then heavy lifting will be more effective than lighter weightlifting programs such as bodyweight exercises or running sprints on a treadmill.
- Be sure to set realistic expectations for your clients. If they’re new to working out or haven’t been exercising regularly then don’t expect miracles overnight! Instead, focus on building up their strength over time so that when they do jump into an intense program, they’ll know how much effort goes into it without feeling overwhelmed by how much they need to do all at once.
- Make sure your client knows exactly what’s expected of them as well. This means providing a detailed description along with instructions so that there won’t be any confusion or misunderstanding during the process!
- Be sure to keep track of your client’s progress and update them regularly. This helps both you and the client stay on track, as well as provides motivation for your clients when they see how far they’ve come.
- Encourage your clients to take breaks when needed! Overtraining is a real thing, and can easily lead to injury if not properly managed. It’s important that you know what your clients are capable of doing before pushing them too hard.
- Provide motivation for yourself as well! Make sure that all the work being done is helping both parties involved, and don’t forget about rewarding yourself along the way – these steps can be difficult at times but it’s important to stay positive!
- Stay organized. This is especially important when it comes to tracking progress and managing payments.
- Use a variety of tools to help keep you on track. Programs like Skype or Zoom can be helpful for online meetings, while social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great for sharing inspiring content with your clients.
- Document everything! The more documentation there is about sessions, payments received from clients.
- Create an outline of what needs to be covered during each session as well as any questions you might have for your client before starting a new one.
Step # 05: Create a professional website
It is essential before starting your online fitness coaching career to create a professional website. But why is it important? Let’s dive in:
A website is a great way to show off your skills and experience as an online fitness coach. It can also help you attract new clients by providing them with all the necessary information about your services.
Additionally, a website gives you a place to showcase testimonials from previous clients which can be very helpful in winning over new ones. Finally, having a website allows you to connect with potential customers who might not otherwise have heard about your services through social media or word-of-mouth marketing.
A website is also important because it allows people to learn more about what makes you different from other online fitness coaches. It shows that you’re dedicated and passionate about helping others achieve their goals, and it gives them a place where they can find out more about what makes you unique.
Having an online presence means that people are more likely to contact you – whether through social media or direct messaging so having your website up will give them easy access if they want further information on how exactly to sign up with you!
Now all you have to do is choose the right website platform for your website. Here are some of the best website platforms you could use:
WordPress
WordPress is a popular website builder that is used by many online fitness coaches. It’s easy to use and has a wide variety of templates to choose from, making it the perfect platform for creating a professional website.
Wix
Wix is another popular website builder that is known for its user-friendly interface and a wide variety of templates. It’s a great platform for those who are not as familiar with coding or web design, making it perfect for beginners.
Squarespace
Squarespace is also a popular website builder that offers users a wide range of templates to choose from. It’s a great platform for those who want to create a website that is both professional and stylish.
Weebly
Weebly is another user-friendly website builder that is perfect for beginners. It offers users a wide range of templates to choose from, as well as easy-to-use drag and drop features.
Choose the one that best fits your needs. I am a big fan of WordPress so I would personally highly recommend it.
Step # 06: Developing a social presence
Now it is time to go out there and develop your online presence. It is 2022 and just about everything is becoming digital! So if you plan to start online fitness coaching, then you will have to start posting online. Yes, it sounds like a scary but it isn’t. Many personal trainers and fitness coaches went online and did this.
Why you should build on an online presence
Now it is time to go out there and develop your online presence. It is 2022 and just about everything is becoming digital! So if you plan to start online fitness coaching, then you will have to start posting online. Yes, it sounds like a scary but it isn’t. Many personal trainers and fitness coaches went online and did this.
The most popular social media platforms in 2022
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Pinterest are some of the most popular social media platforms for online fitness coaches or online personal trainers.
With over one billion active users, Facebook is ideal for sharing content with your audience as well as interacting with them in a way that’s more personal than other platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn.
With Instagram, you can share photos of workouts, inspirational quotes, and healthy recipes.
And finally, with TikTok, you can make your educational or motivational videos in a very short or smart way.
So how do I get started?
The first thing you need to do is set up a business page on one of these platforms. They are very easy to make and after that, all you have to do is start posting. Simple as that!
Step # 07: Create a marketing strategy
Now that you have your page set up, it’s time to create a marketing strategy. Figure out who your target audience is and what type of content they would be interested in. Once you know that, start creating posts that are relevant to them.
Try to think about how you will be able to connect with potential clients online. There are different ways you can market your business. You can use SEO, social media, blogging, Youtube, and much more. Try asking yourself the following questions:
- Who is your target audience?
- Where do they hang out online?
- What type of content are they interested in?
- What value can you bring to them?
Once you have answered these questions then begin creating content.
Step # 08: Set up your online payment methods
The next step is to set up your payment methods. The best way of doing this is by using the best online payment methods and processors available.
Paypal
Paypal is a very popular payment method and it’s easy to use. It allows you to receive payments from all over the world without having to worry about currency conversion rates.
Stripe
Stripe is another popular payment method that allows you to accept payments from all over the world. It’s also very easy to use and you can get started in minutes.
Mollie Pay
Mollie Pay is a Dutch payment processor that allows you to accept payments from all over Europe. They have a very user-friendly interface and you can get started in minutes.
Authorize.net
Authorize.net is a payment gateway that allows you to accept payments from all over the world. It’s also very secure and easy to use.
Square
Square is a popular payment processor that allows you to accept payments from all over the world. It’s also very easy to use and you can get started in minutes.
Ayden
Ayden is a payment processor that allows you to accept payments from all over Europe. They have a very user-friendly interface and you can get started in minutes.
I am personally a huge fan of Stripe! In my eyes best online payment platform there is.
Step #9: How much should you charge?
Once you have set up your payment methods it’s time to decide how much money you want to make from this new venture. Do some research and see what other fitness coaches are charging their clients in order to get an idea of the market rate.
Remember that you are providing a valuable service and your clients will be happy to pay what you’re asking for, as long as the quality of your program is good.
Step #10: Provide excellent customer service
As soon as you start getting clients, provide them with the best customer service possible. Try to help and make a difference in their life by providing them with your knowledge and experience.
List of ways to provide excellent customer service as an online fitness coach?
Remember that it’s not all about the money, it’s also about making a difference in someone else’s life.
Additional steps
Although I have mentioned 10 of the most important steps on how to become an online fitness coach, I have still included 5 additional or extra steps you can take that can also help you.
Additional step 1: Keep learning and growing
The online fitness industry is always changing so it’s important to keep learning and growing. Read books, attend seminars, watch webinars, and listen to podcasts in order to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. As a fitness professional or online coach, this will help you provide your clients with the best possible service.
Additional step 2: Celebrate your successes!
Running an online fitness business is tough. That is why it is very important that when you achieve a goal, celebrate it! This is an indication that you are doing something right and should continue down that path. As a fitness coach, you will have many successes, so make sure to celebrate them all!
Additional step 3: Keep a positive attitude
This is probably one of the most important steps. As a fitness professional or online coach, your clients will be looking up to you for guidance and support. If you’re not in a good mood, it will show in your coaching sessions.
Additional step four: Set boundaries
One of the most important things you need to do as an online fitness coach is set boundaries. This means that you need to be very clear with your clients about what services you offer and what you don’t offer. It also includes setting a time limit on coaching sessions.
Additional step five: Get organized
The final additional step is to get organized. This includes having a system for tracking client progress, creating workout programs, and setting up appointments. As an online fitness coach, being organized is key to your success!
Conclusion
If you want to become an online fitness coach, follow these ten steps and start building your business as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait for anything, you can start now.
Don’t try to do everything at once, take one step at a time, and eventually, you will have your own successful fitness business. And if you need any help with setting up your website or creating a fitness program, I am here to help.
Feel free to contact me and my team. Let’s work!
Thank you so much!
