2020 was not a favorable year for the masses, especially for the fitness industry, which was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many gyms had to shut down for months, some permanently, forcing fitness professionals to face a stark reality: to survive, they must adapt. In short, every fitness professional should consider adopting a more hybrid approach to the services they offer and how they scale their business.
The harsh reality is that most people aren’t returning to the gym soon. A big part of that is that many don’t have a gym to go back to, and there’s been a rush to optimize home gyms. One lesson from this challenging year is that providing a capable, streamlined online service to current and prospective clients has never mattered more. I’ve long argued that a hybrid fitness business—one that serves people both in person and online—is a smart model.
My first online client was back in 2005–2006, when smartphones weren’t very smart yet. I delivered programs with a simple Excel spreadsheet and even received payments by check through the mail. The online space has come a long way since then. Today there are many websites and resources to help you get started, but The Online Trainer Academy has a multi-year lead and offers the tools you need to succeed.
Here’s how the free trial works: you can start at no cost today and receive instant digital access to the entire OTA curriculum, including the Fundamentals of Online Training (338-page textbook, Version 3.0), video lessons, and a step-by-step workbook to help you build your business. If, after 30 days, you’re seeing results and want to continue, you’ll be charged the first monthly payment of $87, to be followed by 11 more payments over the year. If you decide the program isn’t for you, simply cancel within the 30-day window and you won’t be charged. In short, you have a zero-risk opportunity to explore. If you choose to proceed, you’ll have access to a comprehensive program designed to help you run a hybrid fitness business that can serve clients both in person and online.
