3 Ways Personal Trainers can Use Technology to Enhance their Services

As we become a more technology-driven society with near-constant access to the Internet, it’s no surprise that Personal Trainers are turning to technology to help reach out to and motivate their clients.

Your smartphone can be a powerful business tool to help you reach your clients and build relationships with them, as well as encourage them to stay motivated and keep their fitness and nutrition on track.

1. Calendar. If you’re not already using your smartphone’s calendars to schedule your sessions, you should be! Your phone is always with you and it can be a lot quicker than getting out a diary, opening to the right day and writing in the time. Plus, there won’t be any messy scribbles left when an appointment changes and you’ll come across as much more professional and efficient.

You can use your calendar for a lot more than booking sessions. Set reminders to send follow up emails or texts to clients, as well as putting in the dates of things that are important to your clients. For example, they may be working towards a big triathlon. You client will be very impressed if you know when it is and start tailoring the programs to it. You could also send them a good luck message on the day of the competition. This sort of personalised communication shows that you really care about your client’s goals and are willing to give them individual attention.

2. Fitness Inspiration. There are a number of free apps that allow Personal Trainers to create inspiring little pictures, words or combinations of both. Instaquote allows you to to create customised text captions with great backgrounds and is useful for sending inspirational quotes, recipes, workout suggestions and other fitness tips. Over is another good one that utilises photos and allows you to brand’ them. You can add your name or company name like a watermark, so you’ll be providing health and fitness tips while promoting yourself and increasing brand awareness.

Or, if you prefer to keep it simple, just snap pictures with your camera phone and send it to clients in a message. For example, if your clients are often asking what your favorite protein powder or health bar is, snap a picture of what you have at home and then send it to them. Next time they walk into a health food store, they have the visual reminder on hand instead of just a name that is easily forgotten.

3. Before and After Shots. Some clients love to see the physical results of their training, and before and after shots can tell a lot more about progress than waist measurements and looking in the mirror everyday. The app Pic Stitch allows you to combine multiple photos so clients can really see their progress in weight loss and/or muscle gain. Many clients find this motivativating, however, pick your clients wisely as you don’t want to encourage any negative body images.

Can Personal Trainers Use Technology Too Much?

While more personalised interaction with clients is great, you do need to keep it professional and limited to a point. Having constant back and forth’s with clients can really eat into your day, and if they’re not fitness or health related then they’re usually not relevant to your client’s goals. Set the tone and boundaries early on, and remember to have phone-free times so you don’t feel like you’re on call 24/7.

• Bio

AIF

The Australian Institute of Fitness

The Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) is the largest and longest established fitness training organisation in Australia, with dynamic training methods and expert course coaches nationwide - spanning fitness, massage and nutrition. The AIF qualifies more fitness professionals than any other provider in Australia, as well as offering a broad range of continuing education courses (CEC), upskilling resources and partnership programs for existing industry.