GETTING YOUR PT BUSINESS
ONLINE TO SURVIVE THE
COVID ECONOMY
Taking your PT business online may help reduce your losses, diversify your offering and add a degree of
protection against future challenges, writes online health and fitness coach Scott Gooding.
O ver the past few months the world has turned upside
down, with the new coronavirus plunging many countries
and industries into various levels of lockdown. The health,
fitness and wellbeing industries have been severely
impacted by the government-mandated closure of gyms. I have
started seven businesses within the industry during the last 20 years,
including a holistic online health program based on fitness, nutrition
and mindfulness (Reconditioned.Me), so I’ve experienced my fair
share of ups and downs. Coronavirus could have really inhibited the
business, had it not been for the fact that it was already online to
begin with.
Reconditioned.Me was launched online in 2018, and if we fast
forward two years, that digital focus has really helped the business
mitigate the impact of the current challenge. In fact, when the
restrictions were put in place, I immediately noticed a spike in
demand for our services, as people sought ways to stay fit and
healthy online, at home.
Many personal trainers and industry professionals are worried
about their ability to survive the current climate for an extended
period of time without access to the gyms and other facilities they
rely on to run their businesses. You may well
be among them. I completely understand
this fear, and it is not unwarranted: but if you
take action to change the way you operate
your PT business, you may be able to reduce
your losses, diversity your offering and
add a degree of protection against future
challenges. Consider this key point: it’s
never too late to get your business online. I
recently made the decision to bring forward
the launch of another business, The Good
Meals, by six months, and we managed
to get it up and running online, in next-tono-time.
The closure of gyms in Australia hasn’t
stopped people fulfilling their fitness needs,
it’s just changed how they’re doing so. If
you’re trying to get your personal training
or fitness business online in the wake of
COVID-19, here are a few things to consider.
28 | NETWORK WINTER 2020