Why Some Online Trainers Are Snakes
Needless to say, our industry is plagued by crooked individuals. I know there are people like this in all industries, but this (health, fitness, supplementation) is the industry I know so I’m voicing my opinion strictly on my industry. Everyone and their brother is a “guru” these days. Yet, I’m not even sure how or why they can classify themselves as such. I mean heck, I haven’t heard of 95% of these people and I’ve been in the industry for over 15 years. There are many things you need to consider when looking at online personal trainers so that you aren’t taken advantage of and ripped off. Here’s why some online trainers are snakes.
Cookie cutter programs
When you pay for a workout or nutrition program, you would expect it to be personalized to your wants and needs, right? Well, unfortunately, many online trainers missed that memo. In fact, many of them send out the same training or nutrition program to EVERY client they have. They might change the calories or macronutrients slightly (and add the client’s name), but other than that, you could put one program on top of the other and they would completely align.
So, what gives? If you are trying to build your business and grow, don’t you think eventually when people talk they would find out they have the exact same program to follow? Sure, these trainers might think they are pretty slick and efficient, but I guarantee that when word starts to spread that they are using cookie cutter programs, their business is done.
I’ve seen programs from some of these Instagram models who are selling programs and they are complete garbage. They are preying on people outside of our industry in hopes that they don’t know any better. It’s the soccer moms out there and the dad-bods that are buying into the hype. Don’t be fooled. If the program looks like it was out of the pages of Men’s Health, it probably was.
In addition, if you are asking for something specific and don’t get it, or the online trainer isn’t willing to modify things, that should throw up a red flag that you need to ask for your money back and go find a new online trainer.
Stealing from others they used in the past
As if cookie cutter programs weren’t already the worse, online trainers can stoop even lower by stealing a program they purchased from someone else online. They either copy and paste everything, or if it’s password protected they simply retype everything with their logo and sell it online. Talk about scammers! It’s difficult to know if an online trainer is doing this unless you’ve worked with other people who one of them just so happens to be the person they stole it from. But, many competitors these days who turn into overnight online trainers are simply stealing from their old coach for profit. It’s actually disgusting when you think about it.
Many times, just like with the cookie cutters, these trainers aren’t willing to modify anything and say the program must be followed as is in order for you to see the best results and that any modifying can alter or lessen the results yielded. It’s all BS. It’s their way of picking up as many clients as they can without needing to actually use their brain to help people reach their goals.
No credentials
How many of you are trainers? Has anyone ever asked what your credentials are? Probably not, right? How many of you are not trainers, but work out with one or are looking to? Have you asked your trainer or prospective trainer what their credentials are? Probably not, right? Are they even qualified to be called a “trainer” and work with clients? Unfortunately, online there are many who say they are trainers, but they have nothing to back it up. They are either a pretty face or bodybuilder who looks the part, but has no education or certifications to back it up.
Don’t settle for unqualified online trainers. You need to ask questions to ensure you are comfortable not only working with this individual but giving them your hard-earned money. Just because they have a good body in their Instagram photos does not mean they know what the heck they are doing. I know quite a few Instagram models who are “online trainers” and they are some of the dumbest people I’ve ever tried to hold a conversation with. In all honesty, if you are looking at an online trainer who just so happens to be an Instagram model, just stay away. You’ll thank me later when another trainer gets you in shape much quicker and for less money than the Instagram model would.
They use others to run their business
There is a well-known Instagram model who has a HUGE following. She also has an online training business and it all looks legit from the outside looking in. However, not only is she not qualified and doesn’t have the brains to even get herself in shape (that’s why she has so much plastic surgery), but on top of it she doesn’t even write her own programs—she pays other people to!
What a crock of crap! Here you are paying top dollar because this chick has millions of Instagram followers and looks like she fits the part, but she’s not even the person behind the computer that you’re working with. She has a team who writes all of her programs for her. Then on top of it, looking at her programs, they too are cookie cutter programs and not individualized. The only time you’ll get to talk to her is when you get pissed off and demand your money back. Then you’ll actually get a response from the real person (even though she’s a fake and fraud).
If this is how the business is run, it should at least be noted and disclosed that the programs give are not of her own structuring and could be from an employee or assistant (or from whoever). At least be upfront with your clients so you don’t completely lose face when they find out the program is junk and you paid for something that wasn’t really from the person it was intended to come from.
This whole things sounds like a story with the main character being Brittany Dawn!
Their image does not correlate with brains
Just like the guy in the fancy suit isn’t necessarily rich or important, the body of an online personal trainer doesn’t always mean they have brains. You would think they go hand in hand, but they don’t. Many of the online models who are online trainers exercise for hours every single day which sets up their clients for failure. While they can afford to be in the gym over two hours, their clients work real jobs and aren’t simply snapping photos all day to post on social media as a “job.”
Stop being fooled and go back to #3 of this article. What are their qualifications? Interview them before you open up your wallet. If you don’t like what you are seeing or hearing from the individual, move onto the next candidate.
Volume over value
Too many online trainers are trying to get as many clients as they can. Which is good, but you should only take on as many as you can handle and still provide insane amounts of value to. When you lose sight of value and everyone is simply a number, you lose touch with your client.
If you can only manage to handle 10 clients before it becomes too much work and not enough hours in the day, then you need to cut yourself off from taking on new clients. Some online trainers are more worried about the dollars than in the results their clients are getting. They start with 10 clients, move to 20 clients, then 50 clients, and before you know it, they are trying to automate everything because they can’t keep up with the influx of questions from clients, progress pictures, new program structuring, etc. If you own a business (any business), your main focus should be on delivering value and results to your customers and clients. If you can no longer do that, you need to take a step back and figure out why you started your business in the first place.
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