AFPA Health and Fitness Blog

Starting your own business as a nutritional professional is exciting. You get to set your own hours and help your clients make lasting positive changes in their health. You are also doing it solo, which can make drumming up business and networking a bit intimidating. 

As your health coaching business grows, you may find that handling a larger volume of clients becomes overwhelming. After all, you have an increasing number of clients needing your attention day in and day out.  

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to market your health services online. 

Whether you’re the owner of a successful health business or a beginner solo entrepreneur, having revenue goals is a crucial step many people overlook. Goals give direction to effort, keep you motivated, and help you maintain your success. They encourage the steady and consistent growth of your business.

Social media isn’t really optional for fitness coaches anymore—it’s essential. When potential clients are searching for a fitness coach to help them reach their goals, Facebook and Instagram are often the first places they look.

When you get only one shot at a great first impression, you’ve got to get it right. Luckily, with just a few small tweaks, your social media presence can be a natural extension of yourself and an enjoyable way to inspire and engage with other fitness trainers, friends, and potential clients.

Syndromes are collections of symptoms that frequently co-occur and typically do not have a clear known cause. Without a clear cause, getting treatment can be as difficult as getting a proper diagnosis. Also, treatment for syndromes often include lifestyle changes, which can be overwhelming to tackle alone. Fortunately, holistic health coaches can be helpful allies in the path to recovery for one such syndrome: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

Nutrition and wellness technology is a fast-growing industry. And with the increase in health-conscious, tech-savvy consumers, keeping up with the recent advancements will not only get your clients better results but is crucial for staying ahead of the competition in this fast-growing market.

It’s no secret that more people care about what they eat and the role food plays in maintaining and improving their health. The nutrition industry is expanding, and the need for qualified nutrition professionals is expected to increase over the next seven years.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published August 2016 and has recently been updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Pursuing a nutrition certification for personal enrichment is hugely valuable, and can help you integrate healthier eating into your fitness and wellness mix. But it's also an opportunity to expand your career in new ways, giving you many options when it comes to providing nutritional counseling.

When you earn a certification — credentials that highlight your education and knowledge — you'll be in a strong position to choose from a range of jobs. Here are just a few that you might consider:

Editor's Note: This post was originally published July 2015 and has recently been updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

As a nutrition consultant, you have a unique opportunity to help your clients develop better eating habits, achieve their weight-loss and fitness goals and ultimately maintain healthy and fulfilling lifestyle changes. "Proper nutrition is essential to healthy living and overall well-being," writes the staff at Livestrong. "A nutritionist can play an important role in your health by evaluating your diet and offering you personalized advice." It's also an opportunity to help inspire others and encourage them to shape a happier and healthier outlook.