Your 6-point checklist to help you choose the right online personal trainer for you.
Did you know that you can find many ‘online personal training courses’ online for less than €100,
.. complete one within 6 weeks and then put the letters ‘PT’ at the end of your name on social media and start training clients…
.. even if you’ve never stepped foot inside a gym and done a bit of training yourself?
It can be likened to becoming a qualified driving instructor without having ever driven a car before and then teaching people how to drive.
Doesn't inspire much confidence, does it?
I tell you that to tell you this:
ANYONE can become a personal trainer ..
.. and even after qualifying, not have a clue what to do because many of the ‘educational’ courses out there provide very little practical education, and are more concerned about making money than they are about empowering and educating the next generation of personal trainers.
Unfortunately, due to its low barrier for entry, the industry is full of personal trainers who are uneducated, unskilled, and under-experienced.
I was one of them when I first started out, and over the past 5 years, had to educate and empower myself.
The purpose of this blog post is to help you choose the right online personal trainer for you; one who will provide you with the service, skill sets, and results you seek.
Without further ado, here are 6 things to look out for when shopping for an online personal trainer:
1 - Seek social proof
When researching a potential online personal trainer, look through all of their social media accounts to get an idea as to the type of results they produce; progress photos, video testimonials, etc.
Also check their reviews on Google, Facebook, or their website. If all looks good, they just might be the right fit. But before you decide……
2 - Ensure a personalised service
Many online personal trainers use copy and paste templates that they give to each client,..
.. with little, if any, personalisation done to them.
While such templates can be helpful guides, if they aren’t personalised, then you’re not signing up for actual personal training. So how do you find out if you will get a general template or a personalised programme?
Simply reach out and ask the PT you’re researching.
Ask them how their nutrition and training is structured, and if you get access to them for support and programme adjustments if down the line you need to make some.
3 - Seek a specialist rather than a generalist
If a personal trainer claims to specialise in helping men build muscle, women lose fat, kettlebell training, body weight training, boxercise, strength and conditioning, and so on,
.. then he/she isn’t a specialist, but rather, a jack of all trades.
Think about it.
If you have a bad hip, you’re not going to go to a general practitioner to have it fixed. Rather, you’re going to go to a hip specialist. While a GP might be able to give you general advice, because she is not a specialist, she won't be able to provide you with exactly what you want. A hip specialist will.
If you’re a busy mam who wants to lose weight, then seek a trainer who MERELY works with busy mams who want to lose weight.
If the main problem you want to overcome is emotional eating, then seek a trainer who MERELY works with people who want to overcome the same problem.
If you want to learn how to use kettlebells, then seek a trainer who MERELY specialises in kettlebell training.
You get my drift…
4 - Experience and education
Don’t be afraid to ask the online personal trainers you research how long they have been working as a personal trainer, and what qualifications they have. If they have little to no experience, or if they aren’t qualified under a reputable body, then this could be a red flag. However, a lack of experience or a qualification under a mediocre body doesn't mean the trainer is no good. Just be cautious.
5 - Understand their style of coaching
The client-coach relationship is very important. If you hire a personal trainer that is very strict when what you need is compassion, understanding, and encouragement, or if you hire a personal trainer who gives too much leeway when what you need is a strict and accountable approach, then it’s less likely to work in your favor.
So before you hire an online personal trainer, try to get an understanding of his/her personality and coaching style. How can you do this? Look at and study their social media posts. That will give you an idea. Also, schedule a call with them. That will give you a better idea. If you know anyone who works with or worked with them in the past, reach out to them to enquire about their own experience.
6 - Compatability
Does the personal trainer you're researching have a schedule that suits your own? For example, if the trainer does live online training sessions, but only has availability in the evening times when what suits your own schedule is morning times, it might not work.
Or if the personal trainer doesn't do any live training sessions at all, but pre-recorded ones instead, this might not suit you if you need a more hands-on approach.
While there are many things to look out for when looking to choose an online personal trainer, hopefully, these 6 tips help guide you in the right direction.
If you happen to be a busy mother who not only wants to lose weight but also improve your mind, mood, and relationship with food, then what I offer just might suit. Click here to see if it does.
All the best,
Coach Alan
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