Whether you’re a fitness professional who has just started with a new client or have been training the same client for multiple years, providing top-notch service will always separate you apart from others. Impeccable service is not only crucial to obtaining new business but is the necessary foundation that every fitness professional needs to abide in retaining the clientele that you already have.
So, how do you separate yourself from the rest of a competitive field of fitness professionals? One word — integrity. There’s no faking integrity since your clients are intelligent enough to know if someone doesn’t genuinely care about their well-being or is even being dishonest with them. Integrity is what your client witnesses and feels emotional with you on a personal level. Besides tremendous service in the trainer/client session, you must go even further to truly produce excellent service. While integrity can’t always be taught, you need to care deeply about achieving your clients’ fitness goals. Therefore, you must always conduct your business with the highest esteem of integrity while staying true to your morals and values.
Below are some tips to keep your clients happy while they rave about your services to their friends and family – all done with integrity!
Follow-up – As an example, let’s say you and your client just had an awesome session together. Your client achieved great success in this routine that you had designed. You feel proud and your client was all smiles since you both know they are getting closer to his or her goals. While we are all busy, why not send a text or an email later in the day to this client reiterating how proud you are of their work in your session together? Additionally, add a positive affirmation that comes from the heart on how it’s only a matter of time till they reach their personal fitness goals. This act can only reestablish how much you truly care about them and want them to know you are thinking of them far after your session together.
Bring a gift – You and your client may be creating fitness goals weekly, monthly or even yearly to keep motivation and align with your clients needs. When your client reaches one of these milestones, why not celebrate this incredible achievement together? After all, this is a partnership and you both have succeeded in something momentous and joyous. Why not purchase a gift and surprise your client with this present in your session together? Remember to make this gift personal to your client and that it’s something tailored to them that they would truly enjoy. For instance, depending on the goal, this could be a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or even a book that you know they’ve wanted to read.
Send regular routines – Creating detailed routines for your clients to perform in between your sessions together is an incredibly thoughtful gesture and crucial for progression (especially if you are only training with them once weekly). These routines could be based upon strength training, stretching, or even a cardiovascular routine with the machine of their choice. Before designing these routines, definitely confirm that your client is comfortable with the form in performing these exercises in your absence. Furthermore, set up a schedule with your client on these homework routines as it pertains to your session(s) together weekly. Remember to check-in with them to support their motivation to keep up with their fitness goals.
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Shaun Zetlin
For over ten years, Shaun has successfully run his own personal training business in the New York City Metro area. Able to relate and adapt to each individual, Shaun prides himself on developing exercise plans and nutritional menus to foster every client's fitness needs. His clientele ranges from the athlete, and senior citizen, to bodybuilder, and dancer. Shaun's specialties include: strength training, power techniques, corrective injury training, and core stability training.
In addition to the highly regarded Master Trainer status, Shaun is a certified personal trainer of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). With NASM Shaun also holds specialized certifications in: Pre- and Post-Natal, Corrective Exercise Practices, Cardiovascular Weight Loss, Youth Training, Senior Citizen Training, Balance Training, Core Stabilization, and Self Myofascial Release (SMR). Additionally, Shaun is certified by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Sports Performance Nutrition Specialist, with training in the Female Athlete, Knee & Shoulder Rehabilitation, and Marathon Training. Shaun earned his Bachelors degree in English Literature and Writing from the University of Delaware.
Shaun's first full-length book, "Push-up Progression Workout for a Stronger Core" is currently available worldwide both in paperback and e-book formats. It was featured as one of three top books in 2013 for healthy living as selected by Dr. John Whyte of The Discovery Channel. His latest book, "Push-up Progression (2nd Edition)" has already achieved great success and notoriety in the world of fitness. It is currently featured in bookstores across the United States and United Kingdom in paperback and available wherever e-books are sold. Shaun has had a multitude of articles, program designs, and tips published within a variety of books, magazines, and on websites in the world of fitness and beyond including: Price World Publishing, Demos Medical Publishing, Livestrong, Rodale Books, OnFitness Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Brides Magazine, and GO: AirTran Magazine. Additionally, Fitness Professional Online recognizes Shaun as an "expert," answering questions for other fitness and health professionals.
Shaun also has media experience in both television and radio, ranging from fitness modeling, to hosting his own weekly radio fitness show.
Latest posts by Shaun Zetlin
- The Role of Exercise in Stress Management - May 9, 2017
- X-Push Up - December 27, 2016
- Fit Pros, How To Properly Progress Your Client’s Push-Up? - October 26, 2016
