Personal Training Business Cards

For this post I’m going to assume that you don’t have a professional business card made up for your personal training business, so it’s going back to the basics of what information you should have on there.

How extravagant you get with your card is a personal choice, as long as it is good quality, in good condition, easy to read and has all of your contact details, then you can’t go wrong.

The order you present your information on the card is also up to you. Unlike the Japanese, who not only have a ritual on how to present their business cards, their Meishi have a set format of company name in largest font, job title and then their name. Since there are no preconceptions in western countries, you can pretty much put what you want, where you want on yours.

Regardless how you design your card, it should contain the following:

• Business name: If you have a logo then you want to display this to increase your brand awareness.

• Name and qualifications: Your name, or what you prefer to go by. Also, have the initials of any degrees you have after your name, this always looks impressive and you worked hard to achieve them so celebrate that.

• Phone number: Your best contact number. Unless you live alone, never put your home number. There is nothing worse than calling someone for business and getting their mum or flat mate and through no fault of their own, is unhelpful, not to mention pretty much useless at turning a phone enquiry into an appointment. The number you put on the card; even if it is your personal mobile should be treated as a business line. Set up a brief and concise voicemail and answer calls professionally.

• Email: Register a professional email name. If you have a business website, link your email. If you don’t, then I would suggest a gmail account and try and register your business or personal name. Hotlovin69@hotmail.com, is not an appropriate business contact.

• Website or Blog: Your website or blog address. These days it is not uncommon for people to 'cyber stalk' before employing someone, so make sure if you have your web address listed on your card that it is finished and looks presentable.

• Studio or gym address: This is important, though can be in a smaller font to allow space for your logo. A small map on the back of the card is always a nice touch.

Some other information you could include:

• Your mobile personal training region: If you are a mobile trainer, perhaps on the back of the card you could have a list of regions that you service.

• Picture: I have seen cards with pictures of the trainers on them and frankly, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. It has nothing to do with how attractive the person is, but recall that this image is on a tiny card and it is generally the first piece of promotional material that you will supply a potential client, so you may want to use the space for more appropriate information. Cards with images of relevant equipment, like a dumbbell for example, have a much wider appeal and look great.

• Specialties: You could have a brief list of your specialties either on the back or side. I saw a card once and the personal trainer had listed theirs transparently behind the rest of the text information, it added a nice effect.

The colours, fonts and the layout are entirely up to you.

Make sure your card reflects your individuality and spend some time considering the layout so you’re proud of them, then hand cards out ruthlessly.

Here are some links to popular sites that make good quality, inexpensive business cards:

The Gymhouse specialize in fitness printing solutions and will ship all over the world.
Click Business Cards is a great site with a very affordable range of cards.
Personal Trainer Business Cards is another printing company that specialize in the fitness business.