Testimonial Request Sequence for Fitness Coaches Email Guide
Why Testimonial Request Sequence Emails Fail for Fitness Coaches (And How to Fix Them)
Your best client just referred someone new, but you have no proof of their incredible transformation to share. Imagine a potential client scrolling through your website.
They see your services, your prices, but where's the undeniable social proof? Without compelling testimonials, you're asking them to take a leap of faith based solely on your word.
That's not a marketing problem. That's a system problem.
You need a clear, repeatable way to capture the amazing results your clients are already achieving. These aren't just feel-good messages; they're powerful sales tools that build trust and convert prospects into loyal clients.
A single 'great job' text message can't carry the weight of your marketing. Your clients need to be guided, strategically, to articulate their journey and your impact.
The templates below are designed to do exactly that. They're structured to move your clients from 'satisfied' to 'advocate' without feeling pushy or awkward.
The Complete 3-Email Testimonial Request Sequence for Fitness Coaches
As a fitness coach, your clients trust your recommendations. This 3-email sequence helps you introduce valuable tools without sounding like a salesperson.
The Check-in
Ask how things are going and gauge satisfaction
Hi [First Name],
Remember that goal we set [X weeks/months] ago? I've been thinking about your progress.
How are things going with [specific goal or challenge you worked on]? What's one big win you've celebrated recently, or a challenge you're currently handling?
My priority is always to ensure you're getting the absolute most out of our work together. Your journey matters to me, and I want to make sure I'm constantly supporting your success.
If anything feels off, or if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reply. I'm here for you.
Best, [YOUR NAME]
This email uses the principle of reciprocity and active listening. By genuinely checking in and offering support without asking for anything, you reinforce your value and strengthen the client relationship. This builds goodwill, making them more receptive to a future request.
The Request
Ask for a testimonial with specific, easy prompts
Hi [First Name],
It's been fantastic watching your progress over the past [X weeks/months]. I remember you mentioned [specific positive outcome or feeling, e.g., 'feeling stronger than ever' or 'finally breaking through that plateau'].
Your success stories mean the world to me, and they're incredibly inspiring to others who are looking to achieve similar results. Many potential clients tell me they want to hear from people like you before they commit.
Would you be willing to share a brief testimonial about your experience working with me? It would be a huge help.
To make it easy, here are a few prompts you can use, but feel free to say whatever feels right: • What was your biggest challenge before we started working together? • What specific results have you achieved? • What did you enjoy most about our coaching/program? You can simply reply to this email with your thoughts, or if you prefer, you can share it directly here: [LINK TO TESTIMONIAL FORM/PAGE].
Thank you so much for your time and support!
Best, [YOUR NAME]
This email employs social proof and cognitive ease. By referencing their specific positive outcome, you activate their memory of success. The clear prompts reduce the cognitive load, making it easier for them to formulate a response and increasing the likelihood of completion. It also frames the request as helping others, tapping into altruism.
The Gentle Nudge
Follow up with those who have not responded
Hi [First Name],
Just circling back on my last email regarding your experience with [YOUR COACHING/PROGRAM NAME]. I know how busy life can get, so no worries if you haven't had a chance to respond yet.
I just wanted to gently remind you about sharing your success story. As I mentioned, your insights are incredibly valuable for others considering their own fitness journey, and they help me refine my services to deliver even better results.
If you're still open to it, a few sentences about your biggest win or what you enjoyed most would be fantastic. You can simply reply to this email, or use the link here: [LINK TO TESTIMONIAL FORM/PAGE].
If now isn't a good time, please just let me know. Either way, I appreciate you!
Best, [YOUR NAME]
This email uses the 'foot-in-the-door' technique combined with a low-pressure approach. By framing it as a gentle reminder and reiterating the value (helping others, improving services), it avoids appearing demanding. It also offers an 'out' ('if now isn't a good time'), which can paradoxically increase compliance by reducing perceived pressure.
4 Testimonial Request Sequence Mistakes Fitness Coaches Make
| Don't Do This | Do This Instead |
|---|---|
✕ Waiting until a client leaves or finishes their entire program to ask for feedback. | Integrate check-ins throughout their journey, especially after key milestones or significant progress, to capture genuine enthusiasm and specific wins. |
✕ Asking for a generic 'review' without any guidance, leading to vague or unhelpful responses. | Provide specific, easy-to-answer prompts that guide clients to share their challenges, results, and the unique value of your coaching or program. |
✕ Making it difficult for clients to submit a testimonial (e.g., long forms, complex platforms, or requiring video when they're not comfortable). | Offer simple options: allow them to reply directly to an email, use a short, mobile-friendly form, or even record a quick voice note if they prefer. |
✕ Not following up after the initial request, assuming a lack of response means disinterest. | Send a polite, low-pressure reminder email a few days later, reiterating the value of their feedback and offering to help make the process easier. |
Testimonial Request Sequence Timing Guide for Fitness Coaches
When you send matters as much as what you send.
The Check-in
Ask how things are going and gauge satisfaction
The Request
Ask for a testimonial with specific, easy prompts
The Gentle Nudge
Follow up with those who have not responded
Send after a win, project completion, or positive feedback.
Customize Testimonial Request Sequence for Your Fitness Coach Specialty
Adapt these templates for your specific industry.
Personal Trainers
- After a client hits a new personal best, achieves a visible physical change, or expresses a significant shift in confidence, ask immediately how they feel and what they attribute it to.
- Encourage short video testimonials right after a successful session or milestone, capturing their energy and authenticity.
- Focus testimonial prompts on how your in-person guidance, accountability, and tailored technique correction made the tangible difference in their results.
Online Fitness Coaches
- Ask clients to share screenshots of their progress tracking apps, before-and-after photos, or even short clips of them performing exercises, alongside their written testimonial.
- Highlight the convenience, flexibility, and effectiveness of online coaching in your testimonial prompts, addressing common hesitations about remote training.
- Request testimonials that specifically speak to overcoming geographical barriers, busy schedules, or previous failed attempts at online fitness, thanks to your unique approach.
Group Fitness Coaches
- Ask participants about the community aspect, the energy of the class, and how the group dynamic motivated them to push harder or stay consistent.
- Encourage testimonials that mention specific class types, formats, or instructors they particularly enjoyed, making the feedback more specific and practical.
- Focus prompts on the fun, camaraderie, and shared experience of the group setting, emphasizing how it differs from working out alone and makes fitness enjoyable.
Strength Coaches
- Prompt clients to share specific lifts, weight increases, strength milestones (e.g., first pull-up, new deadlift PR), or changes in body composition they've achieved under your guidance.
- Ask about how their increased strength has impacted their daily life, other athletic pursuits, or their overall sense of physical capability and confidence.
- Emphasize the precision of your programming, your focus on proper form, and how your coaching helped them avoid injury while making consistent, measurable progress.
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