Are online trainers traitors? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Christina]

Do you guys think that personal trainers who market online programs to the general population are putting fellow trainers out of business? I was just looking at a newly launched website by a personal training marketing guru and I found myself getting irritated. The program takes the user through a warm up, allows them to choose exercises, music, etc.

Do you think these types of trainers are traitors? As technology advances do you think the need for personal trainers will diminish? Just curious how others view this.

Christina

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Not at all.

There are people who will take to "On Line" training and there are people who need someone there in person barking at them rep by rep.

Now, that being said, I don't feel betrayed as much as I feel ENVY as to "Why Didn't I Think of That?" and I fully admit I'm a tad jealous.

I mean take Joey Atlas, his new book is out today. And I bought it, but I bet you dollars to donuts that there is nothing in his book that I already don't know and couldn't have written myself. (No offense to Joey, he seems like a great knowledgable guy) But he's got a Masters in Exercise Science, has trained about a million clients, and was one of the front runners on the Personal training INternet Marketing wave when it first started.

But at this point there are so many Fitness E-books out there by legitimate and not so legitimate trainers I just throw my hands in the air and say "Whatever". I mean truthfully if we did a study, printed out all the ebooks from so Called "Experts" in the fitness field, how many of them would actually have "new" "groundbreaking" material? I'm guessing fewer than 10%. So until I've uncovered something that is truly groundbreak that I think the general population can benefit from, I will avoid recycling old ideas and methods via an ebook.

Okay, I'm off my little soap box.

Dave

[Christina]

Yeah, you're right, Dave. But for some reason I get really annoyed by some of this stuff. Especially when these fellow trainers give the impression that people no longer need a trainer. How can that be good for the industry as a whole?

[megfit]

Hi Christina,

I actually think the online training idea is a great one! Although I still have my 'coaching gym' on my megfit site, I'm not taking new clients, but the few I still have really like the concept. Granted, it's combined with a lot of life coaching, too, though. Plus, they are all in different areas of the country. In fact, ONE of those clients, her husband is also using a trainer online!

I seriously doubt that anyone who would otherwise call you would consider an online training program, though. AND, I think it could increase the number of people who might at least try it to see if they like exercising, first, which could then lead them to move to the next step, which might be to find a local trainer to get more specific.

I see two scenarios for people who would consider an online trainer:
1 - They travel a lot and can't set any routine schedule at a consistent location,
2 - They wouldn't ever hire someone to work with them live, to begin with (maybe too self-conscious, but comfortable with the online concept).

As an example of #2, a colleague and I have been discussing the online concept and he decided to try it with a couple of his clients. He said they LOVED it!

The clients I have are at no risk of injury, because most were already fit before I started working with them, and one is GRADUALLY progressing her activity level. However, this definitely is an issue that any trainer would need to be concerned with in taking clients they have never worked with/evaluated, first. So, this guy may not even be around long if he hasn't set up safety protections for his clients (and himself). And, we all know that quick promises for an 'online' solution are just gimmicks that will eventually die off.

For you, I could see you adding this as a service to your current clients for when they leave town. Then the lost income would be minimalized!

But, I'm wondering what was it about the site that bothered you? There must have been something else there?

Margie

[Christina]

Hi Margie!

You are 100% right. And I do offer what I call "independent training" for my clients. But it's stuff like Ryan Lee's new site that gets me fired up. Here are some comments taken from this site:

"Many personal trainers make exercise and weight loss more complicated than it has to be."

"After all, spending just one session with even an average personal trainer will set you back anywhere from $80 to $120. And that’s just for one session. And Ryan is the most expensive fitness coach in the world (he charges $1,000.00 per session)"

How can these types of comments be good for the industry? Why would he "slam" personal trainers when we're the ones putting cash in his pocket? I'm confused.

I think there is nothing wrong with online training but there's no need to put down other trainers, especially when you have deep pockets and the ability to reach the masses. I don't know... it just seems kind of unethical to me.

Christina

[megfit]

Ah. Yes.

Unfortunately, this is what will sell his services, though. I do agree it's questionable ethics.

And, see; he's been effective with his selling tactics even among professionals!

But here's the thing; those who do not agree with his ethics and values will look elsewhere.

Will it impact training as a whole, what he's doing? Probably not. If he can deliver, great, but not all styles work for everyone, so some will drop out and look for what fits better for them.

Margie

[standAPART]

I am really glad I stand apart. :mrgreen:

[kaiserS]

Ah. Yes.

Unfortunately, this is what will sell his services, though. I do agree it's questionable ethics.

And, see; he's been effective with his selling tactics even among professionals!

But here's the thing; those who do not agree with his ethics and values will look elsewhere.

Will it impact training as a whole, what he's doing? Probably not. If he can deliver, great, but not all styles work for everyone, so some will drop out and look for what fits better for them.

Margie

That's just horrendous marketing -

No I don't think they're traitors -

But you do need a strong foundation in Real World Training before you can do that -

I think too many new trainers think they'll get rich in online coaching or information products -

They don't realize noone will want to buy your products or services online unless you first can sell them face to face -

[standAPART]

Ah. Yes.

Unfortunately, this is what will sell his services, though. I do agree it's questionable ethics.

And, see; he's been effective with his selling tactics even among professionals!

But here's the thing; those who do not agree with his ethics and values will look elsewhere.

Will it impact training as a whole, what he's doing? Probably not. If he can deliver, great, but not all styles work for everyone, so some will drop out and look for what fits better for them.

Margie

That's just horrendous marketing -

No I don't think they're traitors -

But you do need a strong foundation in Real World Training before you can do that -

I think too many new trainers think they'll get rich in online coaching or information products -

They don't realize noone will want to buy your products or services online unless you first can sell them face to face -

Great point Kaiser...

I'm going to go out on a limb here and pee off some people, but in my opinion, fitness professionals that SOLELY conduct their business online (only), actually are sub-par in trainers in "real-life". That includes those mentioned above.

[Christina]

in my opinion, fitness professionals that SOLELY conduct their business online (only), actually are sub-par in trainers in "real-life". That includes those mentioned above.

I completely agree. How would you ever get any hands on experience? Do you know how much I have learned from face-to-face training?

On a different note, why do some of the top professionals in our industry stand behind people who make these sorts of comments?

Christina