The PT Roadmap

A weekly newsletter for personal trainers to guide you to become a better coach and build a better business.

Hey!

Thanks for opening up today's newsletter. I appreciate you being here.

I have a shorter newsletter today as my 4-year-old kid has been sick for half of the week, and I’ve had to cram three work days into one half-day. Kids are such a joy…. I wanted to ensure I showed up, as I’m forever telling my clients how important that is, so here we are!

In today’s issue:

✅ Business topic

✅ Recommended exercise

✅ Social post worth your time

Let's get into it!

Business

A simple way to increase client retention.

Why is it important to consider client retention?

If you’re not retaining your clients, you’ll have to spend all your time looking for new ones.

Which is not what you want.

Retaining clients for an extended period is much more fun as you watch them improve and grow. And you get to develop an incredible relationship with clients who stick around.

One tip to help you improve yours

If there is always something on your calendar for your clients, you’ll find it easier to keep them.

This works because it acts as a wrap-around for retention. Your clients know it’s not just their training that they’ve got to look forward to, but also something else.

These don’t need to be huge events, either.

It's just something planned out and announced 1-2 months ahead.

Lastly, if it brings them all together, you get the bonus of improving the sense of community within your client base.

Here are some ideas:

• Four or six-week nutrition challenges.

  • Give your clients a focused period to improve and work on their nutrition. This could be framed as a fat loss phase if that’s your jam or as more of a mindful eating/ improve your nutrition habits if that’s more your style.

  • Get them all in a Facebook or WhatsApp group. Set some initial targets. Daily or weekly accountability. Weekly habits (eat slowly, count your calories, water intake, eat until you’re 80% full etc) and a small surcharge (£80-150).

• Obstacle course race.

  • This could be any external event (5K, cycle event, mini-triathlon, open water swimming).

• Group hike, walk or something similar.

  • I took my clients’ rock climbing and hosted a bake-off-style challenge. If you’re in the Fife or Dundee area in Scotland, one of my clients just opened up a sauna on a beach where you can swim in the ocean and then get in the sauna. Get creative.

• Internal challenge.

  • Most steps in a 14-day or 30-day period. Monthly workout goal + accountability. Daily mobility exercise.

• Learn a new skill challenge.

  • Handstands. Pistol squats. Turkish get-ups. Cook a new meal.

• Group workout.

  • Plan a big outdoor group workout. Everyone brings a food item—outdoor workout, then picnic.

If you’ve never done something like this, don’t overthink it. Pick one, spend 10-15 mins planning it, announce it to your clients, and try it.

Exercise

This Week’s Exercise: Landmine Single-Leg RDL

I love this SLRDL variation as you get more stability from the fixed bar (vs using a standard straight bar, dumbbells or kettlebells.

And because you can add more load. I’ve got clients who have maxed out my kettlebells (70lbs) and can do 120lbs on this.

I have a couple of clients who struggle with grip as the bar rotates, so I’ve bought this attachment. I can’t say whether it’s any good as I don’t have it yet, but I will report back!

Social Post

Keep your cues and coaching points positive.

That’s the take-home from this excellent post from Barbell Rehab.

Thanks so much for reading.

Until next Friday, Stuart.

Here is how I help in-person PTs like you build businesses they love:

Monthly Social Media Templates

Get sent five done-for-you social media templates each month. These are tried and tested templates, allowing you to post better content consistently.

You’ll build stronger relationships, showcase your expertise and get more people enquiring about your services.

Try a month for £12

1-1 Business Coaching

Fed up of spinning your wheels trying to grow your business?

Wish you had a clear plan to help you hit your client and income goals?

Not sure whether you should take on more clients, launch a new service or try something different to get your business where you want it?

January is right around the corner.

And now is as good a time as any to put the things in place that’ll help you take advantage of the increased interest in fitness that occurs every New Year.

If you’re interested in having a business coach who has been where you are and will help you create a plan to move you and your business forward (without signing you up for a 5K rip-off mentoring service or having you send cold DMs daily), let’s talk.

Hit reply, and we’ll set up a free 30-minute consultation.