5 min
A huge part of being a successful personal trainer is being able to increase client motivation. As you can already imagine, motivation is crucial for your clients to shake off inactivity, change their habits, and keep training with you.
But have you ever had trouble finding the inspiration to motivate your clients? We’ve collected some of the best ways to help you increase client motivation.
Tips to Increase Client Motivation
Here’s a list of 7 fitness motivation tips you can use right away.
1. Boost Client Motivation via Social Media
First, and arguably one of the most important ways of motivating clients, is through social media. Studies from the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School for Communication confirm that social media plays a significant role in client motivation. As a professional, you are probably already present on social media platforms – so use that to its full potential!
How do personal trainers motivate their clients using social media? From sharing motivational messages, creating online support groups to encouraging clients to post their fitness accomplishments – your opportunities are endless. Because your clients already spend a lot of time on social media, this is the most time-efficient and direct way to increase client motivation.
Related: Quick Facebook Marketing Tips for Personal Trainers
2. Motivate with Fitness Challenges
Another important way of encouraging clients to reach their goals is by creating fitness challenges . Why is this a good way for personal trainers to motivate their clients? Well, first of all, the addition of a competitive factor can make any workout fun! Second, it creates a structure for your clients to follow.
By dividing goals into small, achievable challenges, reaching a specific target won’t be hard for your clients. The instant gratification from completing a small task has a trickle-down effect by making your clients confident and happy to fulfill their larger fitness goals.
Related: How Gym Challenges Boost Member Retention
3. Use Personal Training Apps
Apps for personal trainers are simple, powerful, and effective solutions to improve client motivation. **T****echnology makes everyday tasks easier** and is crucial for personal trainers motivating clients.
An app allows you to stay on top of your clients’ needs and track their progress. Through your app’s features, you can directly communicate with your client and inspire them to achieve their fitness goals!
4. Be Positive and Patient
Another way of keeping clients motivated is by being positive. When communicating with your clients, always keep a positive attitude and a positive way of communicating. Simply having a smile on your face while talking with your clients is also a nice way to boost their self-esteem. Compliment them on the little things to keep their drive alive – it’s a fool-proof personal trainer motivation technique!
When it comes to how do personal trainers motivate their clients, maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on the progress your clients have made instead of the hurdle that still lies ahead is imperative. Make them believe in themselves – it’s cheesy, but it’s true!
5. Set Attainable Goals
Help your clients by setting realistic and attainable goals. Otherwise, they’ll soon lose their motivation. Before climbing a mountain, you first have to climb a hill. Helping your clients to formulate their goals is the first step to success.
Make sure their goals are realistic, attainable, and set deadlines for them to achieve said goals. Talk to them about their intentions for getting healthy or in shape, and turn their intentions into measurable milestones. Keep measuring their progress, and make sure to show it to them as often as possible, to remind them their efforts are paying off.
Personal trainers motivating clients is a two-way process and you have to meet your clients in the middle to consolidate your goals for them, with their goals for themselves.
Related Content: The Ideal Personal Trainer Intake Process
6. Set Fitness Rewards
Fitness rewards are like small presents that you can give to your clients after having reached a certain goal. Everyone likes to receive presents, right? This can be as small as a free smoothie, a small badge, or it could even be a free massage (if your club offers those kinds of services).
If your clients reach a milestone within a set deadline, give them a fitness reward. At the same time, don’t forget to reward clients that don’t reach their goals but not for a lack of trying. It can be just as frustrating to put in a lot of effort and miss the mark by an inch!
7. Offer Something New
Lastly, you should always switch up your offering. One of the reasons people are unmotivated to go to the gym is because it can be… well, boring. It isn’t what personal trainers want to hear with motivating clients but it’s the reality.
Most people aren’t in as good a shape as you, and going to the gym can be a challenge in and of itself. And, once they’re there, they may not feel the same urge you do to work out. The last thing you want is for your clients to feel bored. If you notice boredom creeping in, try mixing up their fitness routine.
If a client has been doing one-on-one training, organize some small group training or try pairing up clients and help them find a sport-soulmate who can motivate each other. Variety is one of the best antidotes for exercise boredom.
Key Takeaways
All the tips for how to motivate your personal training clients we’ve discussed above include being mindful of their goals, anticipate challenges, reward them, and maintain positive communication throughout the process.
These are cornerstones of success for any good personal trainer. Introducing these ideas to your training programs (if you haven’t already!) will make it easier to keep your clients motivated throughout their health journey.
**M****otivation is something your clients have to build** up every time and every day they go to the gym. Some days they will succeed – and some days, they may not. There will always be ups and downs, and you might feel like for each step forward you take with them, you also take two steps back when they fall off the wagon.
But lucky for them, you’ll always be at their side, helping them overcome their challenges and celebrating each success. All things said, it’s a pretty awesome job, isn’t it?
