A personal trainer website or gym website has to lower one barrier: the first step. Many people want to get fitter but find it daunting to walk in somewhere. Your website needs to show they're welcome, what they can expect and how to book a trial session or intake easily.
This article covers what a personal trainer or gym site should include, how to make prices and timetables clear, how online sign-ups work and how to get found in your city. It works for a freelance trainer (zzp'er) with their own studio and for a gym with hundreds of members.
What should a personal trainer website include?
As a personal trainer, you're selling yourself. People choose someone they click with. So your website should be mainly about you and your approach.
- A homepage that says who you train, for example beginners, over-fifties, athletes or people with back problems.
- A personal page about you, with real photos, your qualifications and why you do this work.
- What you offer: single sessions, programmes, partner training, small group or online coaching.
- How a first appointment or intake works.
- Client stories, with their permission.
- Your prices, or at least a starting price.
- A button to book a free introduction or intake.
Be careful with promises. 'Lose ten kilos in ten weeks' grabs attention, but creates expectations you can't always meet. Show how you work and what clients say about you instead. Don't put before-and-after photos online without clear permission.
What extra does a gym website need?
A gym or studio has more to tell than a single trainer. Visitors compare location, facilities, classes and memberships.
- An up-to-date class timetable that reads well on a phone.
- An overview of classes with a short explanation and level.
- Memberships and prices in a clear table.
- Opening hours, including around public holidays.
- Photos of the real space, the equipment and the changing rooms.
- The team of trainers, with faces and specialisms.
- Clear directions and parking information.
The class timetable is often the most visited page. Make sure you can update it easily yourself, or that it comes automatically from the system members use to book classes. A timetable in a PDF is hard to read on a phone and soon goes out of date.
Making prices and memberships clear
Unclear prices are one of the biggest reasons people drop off. They want to know what it costs before they get in touch. Here's how to make it clear:
- Put all memberships side by side, with what's included.
- State the term, notice period and any joining fee. Hidden costs cause hassle later.
- For personal training, explain what a session costs and whether there are discounted packages.
- Show what the trial session or intake costs, or that it's free.
Online sign-ups, trial sessions and booking appointments
The fewer steps between 'I want to try it' and 'I'm booked in', the better. A visitor who decides at ten in the evening to get started doesn't want to wait until the next day for an email.
- Let visitors choose a trial session or intake themselves in a calendar.
- Send an automatic confirmation and a reminder the day before.
- Let members sign up and pay online, if your software supports it.
- Link the calendar to your own schedule, so you're never double-booked.
For many trainers an existing booking tool is enough. Do you have specific needs, such as session packs or your own members' area? Then custom work can pay off. Read more in our article on an online booking system and on automatic reminders, which reduce no-shows.
Offering online coaching through your website
More and more trainers combine training in the studio with remote coaching. Think of a training plan, nutrition advice and a weekly check-in by video or chat. That way you also help clients who live further away, and you rely less on fixed hours in the gym.
If you want to offer online coaching, your website needs to be set up for it too:
- A dedicated page explaining how online coaching works, week by week.
- Clarity on what the client gets: plans, check-ins, adjustments.
- A fixed price per month or per programme, with the term.
- A way to start and pay straight away, or a free introduction first.
As your number of online clients grows, separate emails and WhatsApp messages soon get messy. Your own area where clients log in for their plans and progress can save a lot of time. Read about it in our article on building a members' portal.
Getting found as a personal trainer or gym
People search for 'personal trainer' or 'gym' plus their city or neighbourhood. Distance plays a big role: hardly anyone travels far to train. So local findability matters.
- Fill in your Google Business Profile completely, with photos of the space and your opening hours.
- Ask happy clients for a review.
- Create a page per audience or offer, such as 'personal training for beginners' or 'outdoor bootcamp'.
- Share a short, useful tip on your site now and then, such as how to do an exercise.
Social media is often a trainer's first point of contact. A short video of a session on Instagram brings people to your site. Read more in Instagram for business.
Mistakes to avoid on a fitness website
- Only stock photos of muscular models. That often puts beginners off.
- No prices, or prices without the notice period and joining fee.
- A timetable that doesn't match reality.
- No way to book a trial session straight away.
- Promises about results you can't guarantee.
A website for your studio or gym with Violexa
At Violexa a custom website starts from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT) per project. That includes design, build, a design that works on every screen, basic SEO, Google Analytics, a CMS and training. An integration with your booking system or your own members' area comes at a fixed price agreed upfront. We work from Amsterdam for businesses across the Netherlands.
Want to know what your studio or gym needs? Request a free quickscan. In 30 minutes, online or on site, we look at your situation together. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price indication, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal trainer website cost?
At Violexa a custom website starts from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT). That includes design, build, basic SEO and a CMS. An integration with a booking system costs extra, and you get a fixed price for it upfront.
How do I get more clients as a personal trainer?
Be clear about who you train, show client stories and make a free introduction easy to book. Also make sure you have a good Google Business Profile and reviews.
Can members book classes through the website?
Yes. You can do that with an existing booking tool linked to your site, or with a custom system if you have specific needs. What matters is that the timetable and your schedule always match.
Can I put clients' before-and-after photos on my website?
Only with the client's clear, recorded permission. These are personal and sometimes sensitive images. If you're unsure about the rules, ask a lawyer for advice.
