In this forward-looking episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I explore where the fitness industry is heading next — and how you can position yourself to thrive as it evolves.

Using current UK and global data, I unpack the key economic, social, and behavioural shifts that will shape the industry from 2026 onward. You’ll learn why the fitness sector is growing despite economic uncertainty, what rising competition means for you, and how to adapt your business to meet the changing needs of clients in the years ahead.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why the fitness industry is thriving even while the wider economy struggles

✅ The friction between rising demand for fitness and consumers’ financial caution

✅ How Gen Z is reshaping the market — and what that means for future coaching careers

✅ Why competition will increase and why that’s good news for standards

✅ The five mindset and service shifts that will help you stay ahead through 2026 and beyond

Resources & Links

• Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt
• Weekly newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

The end of the year doesn’t have to mean slowing down your business. In this special festive episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I share four key areas to focus on right now so you can finish 2025 strong and start 2026 ahead of the pack.

You’ll learn how to maintain momentum through the festive season, avoid the classic “January reset trap,” and set your business up for a record-breaking new year — all while your competitors are switching off early.

What You’ll Learn

✅ How to keep leads flowing during the quiet months (and plant seeds for Q1 success)

✅ The importance of getting organised early with clients and your diary

✅ Why you should plan your price increase before the new year

✅ The power of skill acquisition and how to avoid “shiny object syndrome”

✅ Why your success in 2026 starts right now — not in January

Resources & Links

• Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt
• Weekly newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

AI can feel overwhelming — new tools, new trends, and constant hype. But in this episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I simplify everything down to three clear ways personal trainers can use AI to grow their business right now.

You’ll learn how to think about AI properly, avoid the “magic pill” mindset that keeps most coaches stuck, and focus on using it to enhance your work, save time, and reduce costs — all without losing the human touch that makes your business unique.

What You’ll Learn

✅ The “AI as a tool, not a magic pill” mindset shift every coach needs

✅ How to enhance your coaching skills and output using AI (without lowering quality)

✅ Time-saving examples you can use immediately in your business

✅ How AI can lower your costs and help you scale — even as a one-person business

✅ Why 2025 is the time to build simple, repeatable systems using AI

Resources & Links

• Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt
• Weekly newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

In this episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I share two of the powerful mental models I recently taught at my private client event — Reverse Benchmarking and Feedback Loops.

You’ll learn how to stop copying what everyone else in the fitness industry is doing and start thinking differently. These tools will help you develop original ideas, improve your systems, and build a business that stands out because of how you think — not just what you do.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why “copying success” often leads to mediocrity

✅ How reverse benchmarking helps you spot what’s missing instead of what’s working

✅ How to apply lessons from outside fitness to differentiate your service

✅ Why your business already has feedback loops — and how to use them

✅ Practical examples of feedback loops that improve retention and client experience

Resources & Links

Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt

Newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

Most PTs are chasing quick wins in their marketing — but that’s why they stay stuck in feast-and-famine cycles. In this solo episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I break down why 90% of PTs are marketing the wrong way and show you the three key market segments every coach must focus on.

I’ll share stories from my own journey, including mistakes I made early on, and how shifting to this approach gave me stability, consistency, and long-term client growth.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why rushing to make sales creates desperation (and lost clients)

✅ The three segments of your market: the 10%, the messy middle, and the future

✅ How to market to each group effectively (with practical examples)

✅ Why front-end offers are essential for converting “on-the-fence” clients

✅ How to plant seeds now for the clients you’ll work with in 12 months

Resources & Links

Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt

Weekly newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

AI can generate workouts, write macros, and even answer client questions but there’s one advantage it will never be able to steal from you: human-first service.

In this solo episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I break down the core service edge that sets great coaches apart, and how to use it to out-serve competitors and stand out in a crowded market.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why “basics beat brilliant” when it comes to client service

✅ The role of responsiveness and clear communication in retention

✅ A four-stage breakdown: awareness, enquiry, onboarding, client experience

✅ The small human touches AI can’t copy — and why they drive referrals

✅ A practical challenge to spot and fix low standards in your own business

🔗 Resources & Links

Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt

Newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

In this solo episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I unpack one of the biggest mistakes personal trainers make: misreading their market.

Too many coaches assume they know what clients want—but end up building offers that miss the mark, stall growth, and leave them chasing leads. In this episode, I’ll show you how to truly understand your market, test your assumptions, and create offers that clients are excited to say yes to.

You’ll learn why market feedback trumps guesswork, how to build services around real client pain points, and the simple steps you can take to stop wasting energy on ideas that don’t sell. If you’ve ever wondered why your “perfect offer” isn’t landing, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Why most PTs misinterpret their market (and the dangers of guessing)

✅ The role of feedback, testing, and iteration in building offers that sell

✅ How to align your pricing and service with what clients actually value

✅ Practical steps to refine your market understanding and attract more ideal clients

Resources Mentioned:

Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt

Newsletter & coaching info: http://mattrobinsoncoaching.com

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction: The market myth

3:20 – Why most PTs misread client demand

8:00 – Feedback vs. assumptions in offer creation

14:00 – The role of testing in building a winning offer

20:00 – Aligning pricing with perceived client value

24:00 – Action steps for understanding your market

In this solo episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I tackle the viral claim that “fitness coaching is dying.”

Spoiler: it’s not. But parts of the industry will disappear.

We dive into the real shifts happening in the market — from AI and tech disruption, to consumer trust issues, to the low standards that drag the industry down — and what all of this means for coaches who want to build a long-term, thriving business.

If you’ve been worried about where the industry is heading, this episode will give you perspective, confidence, and a clear direction forward.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ The 5 key forces reshaping fitness coaching today

✅ Why “generic programs + calorie targets” are finished

✅ Why 80% of online coaches will be replaced by tech (and how to avoid it)

✅ The human-first skills and values that future-proof your business

✅ How to filter the hype and focus on what really matters

Resources & Links

• 📲 Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt
• 📰 Weekly newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

Share & Connect

If this episode helped you cut through the noise, share it with another coach who’s feeling uncertain about the future of the industry.

In this solo episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I unpack a growing trend in the coaching industry: trainers who want some online clients for flexibility and extra income — but don’t want to go fully online or post content every day.

I call this the Fulfilled Coach approach: a solid in-person business as your foundation, 10–15 online clients for additional income, and a freedom-focused model that protects your lifestyle.

This episode breaks down how to build that business step by step, avoid common mistakes, and make online coaching work for you — without burning out or abandoning what already works.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why the first 100 days of online coaching are crucial

✅ 4 practical insights to grow online without being a content slave

✅ How to leverage your in-person business for easier online wins

✅ Why documenting your work beats chasing trends

✅ A new way to use front-end offers to attract the right online clients

✅ Why long-form content creates better leads than short clips

Resources & Links

Connect on Instagram: @mattrobinsonpt

Weekly newsletter & coaching info: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

Share & Connect

If this episode gave you clarity on building online, share it with another coach who’s stuck trying to go “all-in” online.

In this unique episode of Fitness Business Insights with Matt Robinson, I share a full interview I recently recorded for the new podcast Make Life Better by Design, hosted by my long-time PT client and former architect, Kevin Drayton.

This conversation is unlike anything we’ve shared before — not strictly about business or fitness, but about design as a way of thinking, living, and coaching. From my early days in strength & conditioning, to how I view coaching as a form of problem-solving, we explore how principles of design show up in everything from PT programming to identity, routine, and long-term health.

If you’re curious about the thinking behind the coaching, this one is worth a listen.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why I believe every coach is a designer (whether they know it or not)

✅ The mindset shift I made going from elite athletes to everyday clients

✅ How I map skills from one area of life into another

✅ What I look for when building retention and trust with clients

✅ Thoughts on AI, trust, social media, and the future of coaching

✅ Why education needs to be completely redesigned for the world ahead

Resources & Links

• 🎙 Listen to Kevin’s podcast: Make Life Better by Design
• 📲 Connect with me: @mattrobinsonpt
• 📰 Read & subscribe: mattrobinsoncoaching.com

Share & Connect

If this episode gave you a new way of looking at your work or life, share it with someone who’s ready to rethink what it means to be a coach, leader, or designer.