The Rise of Online Training

These days, we manage to get more and more things done just by clicking a mouse or touching a screen. It’s all about getting the right information and, well, the Internet is packed with it. You can go through a cooking course, learn to use Photoshop, or learn how to install your new home alarm system, all online. The fact that certain personal services can be performed via the Internet has led to significant changes in many industries, specifically the relationship between service providers and clients.

A lot of fitness trainers think that it’s not the right way to provide personal training services, and that there are too many phony trainers out there who don’t know their job but have a cult of followers because they do know how to market themselves.

However, conducting a business online is a necessity today. Whether you like it or not, consumers ask for solutions for their problems online, because convenience is king. In fact, all those applications and online fitness programs are something that both parties can benefit from.

Online Personal Training – What is it?

The topic is not complex – online personal training is exactly what it sounds like. Personalised training programs are given to users to perform at their homes, hotel rooms, gyms and other locations, but without the supervision of a personal trainer. Personal attention is a major selling point of personal training, so this can be a deal breaker for some. However, depending on the client’s lifestyle, it can also be the deal clincher, both for client and trainer. In the words of Tina Reale, who herself runs an online personal training hub, "Since the sessions aren't done in-person, the client can choose the best time to complete the workouts.”

Rising Popularity

What if a businessman or a frequent traveler, who doesn’t have time to visit the (same) gym, wants to be your client? The online option can be extremely convenient both for the trainer and the trainee, if they choose to look at it like that. Instead of scheduling an hour of exercise a week in advance, a client can start performing the workouts when he or she has enough time. Whether a stay-at-home mom or a businessman who travels most of his time wants to stay fit, shouldn't your services be available to them?

Also, if someone is not that sociable and has an aversion to exercise at the local gym, then a private, personalised session is a perfect solution, and they should have this possibility available as well.

The market is flooded with different options as we speak – and the prices and services very greatly. In order to get a better feel of what the online fitness industry has to offer, you can take a look at this scale from TopTenReviews, comparing different online fitness programs.

Choosing a Personal Trainer

When it comes to choosing a trainer, online personal training takes the guesswork out of the equation. A great trainer can sometimes be recommended by a friend, or you might find reviews at a local gym. However, trainers who maintain an online business will for sure have their work reviewed online. Finding a personal trainer who’s got excellent client reviews gives people peace of mind before they pay for a fitness package.

Personal trainers who are great at what they do get a lot of attention. Clients can end up paying a lot less when compared to in-person training, because trainers get a flood of potential clients and that allows them to charge less. There is no need for them to be physically present, which reduces overheads.

Knowing Your Options

One final word of caution – whether you decide to move your business online, or if you remain firmly anchored in the offline world, you need still need to be on top of your game. The Internet offers billions of options, but people are still somewhat hesitant to trust it. For example, the debate about the safety of buying supplements online is still raging. Some people will in fact choose to trust you less if your banner ad interrupts their daily news browse.

With the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets, it's easy to conclude that the expansion and development of online personal training technologies and communities will continue to grow. On the other hand, the traditional, gym-based one-to-one sessions won’t be going anywhere either. At least not in the near future.

Have you moved some or all of your sessions online? How did it go? Let us know in the comments or by contacting us.