Full Transcript
Lauren: So I was talking to this personal trainer friend of mine in SLO... she's got an Instagram with like, solid engagement, she's using Mindbody for her schedule. And she's like, "Do I even need a website?" And I'm thinking... I don't know, do you?
Honor: Welcome to the 805 Web Minute with Lauren and Honor... We make interwebs and website stuff make sense... Let's get into it.
Honor: Okay, so here's the thing. Instagram is great for engagement, and Mindbody is solid for booking. But neither of those helps you get found when someone searches "personal trainer near me" at like 8pm after making a New Year's resolution.
Lauren: Oh, because they're on Google, not scrolling Instagram.
Honor: Exactly. And those booking software "websites"... they're not really websites. They're booking pages.
Lauren: Wait, what's the difference?
Honor: So, think of it this way. Every trainer using Mindbody has the same layout. Same colors, same structure. It all lives on yourname.mindbodyonline.com. And Google doesn't rank subdomains like that.
Lauren: So it's like... having a cash register but no storefront. Like, great for taking payments, but no one's walking through the door because they can't find the door!
Honor: Perfect. That's exactly it. And here's a number that surprised me: 84 percent of personal training clients come from referrals.
Lauren: Oh! Okay, so word of mouth is still king.
Honor: Word of mouth is king, but... even when someone gets a referral, they still Google you. They want to see if you're legit before they commit.
Lauren: Right, because trusting someone with your body and your goals... that's personal. You want to know who they are first.
Honor: Exactly. And 19 percent of clients actually find their trainer through their professional website. So if your website doesn't exist or doesn't impress, you're losing almost one in five potential clients.
Lauren: That's... that's a lot. Okay, so what are people actually looking for when they land on a fitness website?
Honor: There are a few things. Number one: your story and your qualifications. People want to see certifications, your background, what makes your training philosophy different. And a real photo of you... not a stock image of some flexing model.
Lauren: Okay, so they want to know it's a real person with real credentials.
Honor: Right. Number two: client transformations. Before-and-after photos are the conversion tool for fitness. Nothing else proves you can deliver results like visual evidence.
Lauren: And booking pages are terrible at that, right? Like, you can't really tell the story behind the transformation.
Honor: Exactly. You might be able to upload a photo or two, but you can't explain the journey. A real website lets you showcase those wins in a way that actually sells.
Lauren: Okay, what else?
Honor: Number three: clear services and pricing guidance. You don't have to list every single price, but give people a ballpark. "One-on-one training starting at this much per session" or "Monthly membership from this amount." It helps them know if you're in their budget.
Lauren: So they're not wasting your time or their time if it's just... way out of their range.
Honor: Right. And number four: schedule and location. For studios offering classes, your schedule needs to be front and center and current. Nothing frustrates potential clients more than showing up for a class that was cancelled or rescheduled.
Lauren: Oh yeah, I've done that. You show up, the class isn't happening, and you're just... done. You're not coming back.
Honor: Exactly. And get this: 76 percent of people who search "near me" visit a business within a day. So if someone in Morro Bay searches "yoga class near me" and can't immediately see when your classes run, they'll find someone who makes it easy.
Lauren: Wow. Okay, so basically, make it stupid easy for people to know what you offer, when you offer it, and whether you're the real deal.
Honor: That's it. And the fifth thing is social proof. Reviews, testimonials, video testimonials if you've got them. Fitness is a results business. People want proof that you deliver.
Lauren: So if you have great Google reviews, don't just leave them on Google. Put them on your site.
Honor: Exactly. Let visitors see what working with you is really like.
Lauren: Okay, so what's the moral of the story here? What should my trainer friend actually do?
Honor: Keep using Instagram for engagement. Keep using Mindbody for booking and payments. But get a real website that does what those platforms can't: get you found on Google and build trust before someone ever books that intro session.
Lauren: Alright, so if you're a personal trainer or fitness studio owner and you want a website that actually works... give YouGrow a call!
Honor: Yeah, we build websites for fitness professionals on the Central Coast. 79 dollars a month, everything included. We handle all the updates... new class schedule? Send us an email. New client transformation to add? Just send the photo and a few words. Month-to-month, cancel anytime. No setup fee for founding members. And you're working with a neighbor in Arroyo Grande, not some faceless agency.
Lauren: That's solid. Alright, this has been 805 Web Minute. Thanks for listening.