The PT Roadmap

A weekly newsletter for personal trainers that'll guide you in your career to become a better coach and build a better business.

Hey!

Thanks for opening up today's PT Roadmap.

Let's get into things.

One Social Media Post Worth Your Time

I enjoyed this post from Eugene Teo on how the hyperextension is a lot like a stiff leg deadlift.

I haven't used the hyperextension much in my training or with clients, but seeing it like this makes me realise I'm missing out on an excellent exercise that might better suit some clients.

I'm not saying it replaces the SLDL - there's a place for both, and the resistance curve is different - but I personally don't love how SLDL's feel. This gives me another tool in the posterior chain exercise toolbox.

One Coaching Cue

"We're looking for beauty and the beast on your reps."

When to use it?

To help your clients understand the tempo we're looking for on most exercises.

Controlled eccentric (beauty) and aggressive concentric (beast).

Got a coaching cue you love using that works like a charm?

Hit reply, as I'd love to hear it!

One Business Tip

A month or so ago, I asked our 20 community members at Lift the Bar to fill in a survey about how they'd gotten fully booked during their times as PTs.

Here are 4 of the most important lessons:

Sidenote: these lessons are specifically for in-person PTs, although they do have a crossover to online.

1) Social Media Wasn't a Central Piece.

Most PTs who filled in the form used social media, but it wasn't their main source for getting clients. They got their clients through word of mouth and using networks they were already a part of.

When they did use social media, they focussed their content around the people they were training; what they were achieving in their sessions, the challenges they overcoming, the milestones they were hitting etc. This way, they'd reach their client's friend groups and be more likely to get referrals.

2) Word of Mouth is Still Number One.

19 out of the 20 who filled in the survey said their most successful "getting clients strategy" was word of mouth.

Here are a few things that'll help you reach more of your current client's friends/ family/ colleagues:

• Do great work. Super obvious, but nobody tells their friends about things that aren't good or improving their lives.

• Get results. 'Results' is specific to the client, but it's important that your training is helping the client get the result they are after. This may not be a transformation, but it might be two workouts a week that are all about them and getting some headspace.

• Post about your clients (just make sure you get permission). Tag them in your stories, celebrate their successes (PBs, goals hit, technique improvements, new exercises mastered etc), highlight their milestones (50, 100, 200 sessions), take a selfie with them after a great session. Any number of things that your client can share with their followers.

• Run "bring a friend or family member for free" weeks. Or run a seminar on your chosen topic and tell your clients they can bring two friends for free.

• Send novel gifts or thank you cards. I once got a new client because I sent a client a 2-year anniversary recipe book gift. She posted it on social media, tagged me in it and her friend reached out.

• Ask for referrals. This post from Jonathan Goodman is a nice way to do them.

3) Get on Google My Business.

Potential clients aren't looking for a PT on social media. The first place they'll usually go is Google.

So, make sure you're on Google My Business.

Get some nice photos up of you training clients, update your page so it reads well and get some reviews up from your clients.

4) Free Works.

Free gets a bad rap in our industry but the way I think about free sessions is a bit like a clothing store having a changing room. It's just a chance to try the thing on without having to pay money for it just yet.

I built my PT business on free sessions, and over 75% of the PTs who filled in this survey told us they'd used free sessions to get clients effectively.

One Coaching Tip

Does anyone else love a finisher? I do!

I don't use them all the time, and they aren't a replacement for well-structured training programmes, but they can be a nice way to finish a PT session.

Plus, most clients like a bit of variety and finishers provide a nice space to add some in.

--

The Washboard: for the client who loves core work.

Example:

• Crunch variation

• Plank variation

• Hollow body hold

• Weighted carry

Repeat for 1-4 rounds.

--

The omg this is horrible: for the client who loves to work hard.

• Upper ex - DB shoulder press

• Lower ex - Split squat

• Core ex - Bear crawl

• Cardio ex - Star jump

Do it for rounds or for time.

--

The gun show: for the client who wants to fill those sleeves.

Escalating density training for bi's & tri's

1. Pick two ex's - e.g curls & rope pushdowns

2. Set a timer for 6-15mins

3. Choose a weight that would be comfortable for 12 reps

4. Do 6 reps of each exercise and alternate between the two ex's with minimal rest until timer ends

This works with other muscle groups too.

Just be sure to pick sensible 'safe' exercises.

—

Death by lunges: For the client who loves... lunges or pain?

Set a timer for 1-2 mins. Do walking lunges until timer stops. Fall over. Repeat.

—

Leg Zeppelin: For the client who loves training legs.

• 12 split squats each side

• 12 reverse lunges each side

• 24 bodyweight or goblet squats

• Rest 90 seconds

• x 1-3 rounds

As you can see from these examples, the great thing about finishers is you can get creative. You can edit these to suit your clients, their level and the equipment options you have.

The key is to remind your clients that this is not a time to let their technique disintegrate. If that's happening, it's worth changing the exercise for something less technically challenging, reducing the load or increasing the rest time. We want to work hard, but not to the point where technique is drastically compromised.

Thanks so much for reading.

Until next Friday, Stuart.

Whenever you're ready, here are two ways I can help you:

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2) Listen to the LTB Podcast. Latest episode: Dr. Katy Fisken: Lessons From a Doctor-Turned-Personal Trainer