The KIPS Podcast Kinesiology Institute for Performance Specialists

The reality of sustaining a career as a certified personal trainer is harsh and can be an eye-opening experience for some. The marketing for this industry is often presented as an all-smile and a great way to follow your passion. Still, it’s a profession that entails non-traditional work hours, nonstop hustling, and often getting out of your comfort zone. Not to deter anyone from becoming a personal trainer, as several benefits can be advantageous when building a sustainable client list and helping your clients reach their fitness goals. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, guest Jeff Payne dives into his best advice for new personal trainers. Jeff owns and operates his gym in Plantsville, CT, and develops content for his YouTube channel Sorta Healthy Trainer Education, which currently has over 63k subscribers. 

Jeff’s YouTube channel, Sorta Healthy Trainer Education, provides valuable insight for individuals looking to enter the fitness industry and business development tips for existing fitness professionals. Some of Jeff’s most popular content includes study guides and tips for passing the personal training exams for NASM and ACE. These videos have 100’s thousands of views and have helped views during the strenuous process of studying for a CPT exam. Throughout this podcasting session, host Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), and Jeff discuss the nuisances of personal training education and provide insight that can hopefully help new instructors save money during the process.

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Social media platforms update, and the content emphasized by each platform changes almost bi-yearly. One of the biggest mistakes fit pros make with social media is spending time creating content that worked 10-15 years ago. Audiences want to be entertained, and each social media platform has developed tools to enhance content creation. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), shares his take on content types within Meta and if they are worth spending your time on during your weekly social media calendar. 

The content type Tyler shares is heating up: Instagram Reels. There was a dip for content creators on Instagram while the platform pushed the verified blue checkmark membership. In the last month, representatives from Instagram shared how the platform would emphasize original content created by smaller creators. Tyler shares insight from the KIPS Instagram and the areas of the account that are growing.

The type of content Tyler believes shouldn’t be near anyone's social media calendar is Meta live streams. Unfortunately, live streams gain little traction compared to four years ago. According to AdWeek, back in 2021, Facebook Live videos received 3X higher engagement than a video that is no longer live and 5X more than standard photo posts. With KIPS, live stream content is organically reaching maybe a 1/5th of other types of content. This is, unfortunately, one of the changes in the kind of content being organically pushed to viewers and is one that content creators must adapt to.

Are there any platforms and content types you believe are great for organic traffic?

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The sensation of completing your personal training certification is truly gratifying. Having invested in an education package, you have acquired a certification that opens doors to employment opportunities in the field of personal training. However, after six months of working at a gym, it becomes evident that the reality of being a personal trainer is more challenging than the enticing advertisements may have portrayed. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, host Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), outlines five aspects that a prospective personal trainer may not fully grasp before embarking on their career. These tips can hopefully help an entry-level fitness professional get a jump on building their client list and start generating a livable income.

Remember that although this podcast offers general insights, a thorough onboarding process at a gym is crucial for providing entry-level trainers with the necessary tools for success. Not every gym provides an onboarding system, and thus, finding ways to get experience outside the gym can be valuable to developing a steady schedule within the fitness industry. In 2024, working with clients and getting experience does not necessarily mean inside the gym. Clients are more willing to exercise online, allowing entry-level instructors to expand their potential reach.

What are the aspects of the fitness industry that enticed you to seek out a personal trainer certification?



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Connecting with your audience is more than just hitting the record button on your camera and going through the motions of instructing an online workout. One of the unique qualities of YouTube is the ability to identify and speak to your ideal audience member. This might sound different at first, but it helps you to develop your brand and coaching style. In a traditional gym, you are more likely to instruct at popular times when members are available, but on YouTube, you work on speaking to your ideal audience because it helps to develop your channel audience. For example, a channel that develops pre and postnatal workouts will likely have coaching cues, music, and branding that attract this audience. More than likely, you wouldn't play a heavy metal playlist throughout the workout.

In the world of fitness, growing a channel can be a challenging task. However, having a systematic thought process can aid in the growth of the channel and can also have benefits while teaching in person. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, Joe Alvarado, a returning guest, shares his experience of growing his cycling channel to nearly 5,000 subscribers and how he has developed his online coaching style. Joe also provides valuable resources that have helped him over the years and offers advice for fitness instructors who want to learn more about this process. As a Studio Leader at LifeTime Fitness in Centennial, CO, Joe shares how his experience ties into his advice for fitness instructors searching for ways to create better online workouts.



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As fitness professionals, we strive to spread positive, evidence-based information. However, sometimes this information may not be as marketable as what is popular on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), discusses the challenges that fitness instructors face when creating content for YouTube. For example, using buzzwords like "fat-burning" and "six-pack" can attract a larger audience. The key is to ensure that these terms are used only to attract viewers and then provide them with evidence-based practices to help them achieve their fitness goals.

Tyler also discusses the importance of having a creator mentality on YouTube. Unlike the gym environment, where the atmosphere can be competitive, YouTube offers a global market with an expansive reach. Collaborating with fellow creators can help you learn how to create a successful fitness-based channel.

If you are already on YouTube, what barriers did you face when trying to grow your channel?



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There are indeed significant similarities between working in a gym and creating content for YouTube. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, host Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c), not only highlights these similarities but also emphasizes how your existing skills and experiences can be leveraged in both these domains. This validation of your abilities should boost your confidence and motivate you to explore new avenues for career growth.

One of Tyler's similarities is between YouTube thumbnails and how we appear within a gym to potential clients. Thumbnails on YouTube are essentially window shopping, and you are trying to gain a potential viewer's attention as they scan their homepage or search results. Our first thought about our appearance within a gym can be superficial, but there are other elements, such as when you’re training clients or working out on your own. Members of a gym are always watching and scanning a room, and how you engage with your current clients is a great demonstration of your services. Showcasing that you can teach a client solid technique goes beyond the results your client receives, and it’s important to remember that a potential client may be watching and ready to schedule their free consultation.

No matter how in-depth you want to get with YouTube, adding this piece to your weekly routine can open your options has a health, wellness, or fitness business. Starting small and creating how-to videos or exercise breakdowns can help you get experience creating content. Creating long-form videos as a fitness instructor is a major benefit for all creators, and it helps chip away at the watch hour requirement of monetization.



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