Client Retention: Building a Strong Rapport

It is very easy to get focused on new clients and the future of your training business. However, sometimes you can forget to take care of your current client base. This is unfortunate, as retaining a current client base is much easier and cheaper than having to build a completely new one from scratch. With this in mind, here are some tips for keeping your training clients for the long-haul.

Develop Trust: In order to build a strong rapport with your clients, you must develop trust. Constantly talk with your clients about their goals and explain how you are going to help them reach those goals. Have confidence that your service can provide value and deliver results, but also be real with them and honest about their expectations.

Invest in Your Clients: Remember that you are providing a personal service. A client is far more than a dollar sign or another hour on the clock. They have entrusted you to help them along their fitness journey, and they deserve your best. Follow up on a consistent basis. Call them, text them, send them hand-written letters — just show your clients that you care.

Keep Them Guessing: One of the main reasons someone hires a personal trainer is because they are bored with their same-old fitness routine. Never become complacent with your client’s training program. Always strive to create excitement and diversity with your workouts.

Seek Feedback: Client fitness assessments are extremely important in measuring your client’s progress, as well as your success as their trainer. After an assessment carve out plenty of time to talk about your client’s goals, the steps you want to take moving forward with their training and address any of their thoughts.

If you make your clients feel important and ultimately deliver results, they will want to spread the word about your services to everyone they meet. Take care of them and they will take care of you by bringing in referrals.

Brittany Horton is the personal training manager at The Club Fitness Centers. For more information email brittany@theclubms.com.