Brother thinking of becoming a personal trainer

[Allthebees]

He's thinking he'll do boot camps and training in small groups of friends at the park or in houses (rather than in a gym or studio).

He's also considering targeting specific groups - ie 60+ or for specialist events such as Tough Mudder.

There are a lot if personal trainers round here already but my brother has been somewhat drifting for a while now and this is the first thing he's seemed interested in or committed too for years so I'd like to help him maintain enthusiasm and go for it.

Does anyone have any advice or tips on what he might be able to do to differentiate himself? What makes a great trainer? What do you wish there was more of in terms of exercise options near you?

Thanks!

A friend did this and has made a good living for 10 years now. Good idea targeting specific groups. Can you help him prepare leaflets - different ones for over 60s, Tough Mudders, marathon training, teenage groups etc.

I think flexibility is an important quality in a great trainer - be prepared to listen to what your client group want and tailor the training to them, rather than just to assume that one size will fit all. It also helps if you can make your clients feel really good about themselves - good that they have started training, good that they are still there after a few weeks, good that they are achieving their targets, or at least good that they are working towards them.

But advertising, over and over again, is the key. He needs to get his notices up on local notice boards, have a load of leaflets in his car, and get his name known generally.

My friend began as his partner was pregnant and started a postnatal yummy mummy class in his local village hall. It was really helpful in getting him known in the local community, as plenty of new faces appeared during the year.

Great, thank you! I will gladly help with some of the marketing aspects and we've got a printer in the family so that will be good.

I think the yummy mummy market is a good one but he's worried that him being a bloke will put the women off.

I really hope this gives him the boost he needs. He's such a lovely bloke but has not ever really applied himself to anything except socialising and he's not using his potential so I think this could be good for him. Fingers crossed anyway!

I presume he is going to get all the correct qualifications.....it's really expensive to get all the modules to be a qualified pt....not just a case of deciding you want to do it and going ahead.

I qualified years ago as a fitness instructor and an aerobics instructor and was still nowhere near what I needed to get if I wanted to be a pt.

The fitness industry is hard, not really the right place for a "drifter" as he will need to be focused and consistant.

Well that's why I want to help him generate a clear idea of what he can do with it as hopefully with a good goal in mind he'll commit to the training.

He's trained as a ski instructor so has some of the basic skills.

This is the first thing for ages that hasn't been a Get Rich Quick idea. I think a new girlfriend and the prospect of turning 30 soon is encouraging him along too.

He's got the cash to do the training.