Online Coaching vs In-Person: What to Consider Before Going Digital

Table of Contents

1. The Value of 1:1 Coaching

2. The Rise of Online Coaching

3. Online Coaching vs. In-Person Coaching: A SWOT Analysis

4. How to Differentiate in the Digital World

   • Building a Strong Online Presence

   • Finding Your Niche

5. Converting Followers into Clients

   • Sustainable Sales Strategies

   • Smart Positioning

6. Multiple Revenue Streams for Coaches

   • Hybrid Coaching Models

   • Monetizing Instagram & Other Digital Platforms

   • Using MySport.Guru to Scale Coaching

7. Final Thoughts

The online sports coaching market is projected to hit $14 billion by 2029. Have you secured your slice?

The Value of 1:1 Coaching

There is no doubt that in-person coaching remains the undisputed champion of coaching for real-time feedback and physical corrections. Whether it’s refining proper running technique, improving freestyle swimming technique, or perfecting squats technique, hands-on guidance delivers results.

But let’s be real—1:1 coaching has limits. Your time is finite, geography restricts you, and burnout is real. To grow, you need a smarter and more diverse game plan.

The Rise of Online Coaching

The coaching industry is shifting and even through it's hard to put a number exactly on it, all the studies agree that the market will see considerable growth.

• "Sports Coaching Platforms Market was valued at USD 5.46 billion in 2021, and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 17.48 percent to USD 14.053 billion by 2029" - Maximize Market Research

• "The Sports Coaching Platforms Market size was valued at USD 184.35 Million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 1017.85 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of +23% from 2023 to 2030" - Open PR

This rapid growth means more opportunities for you to scale your coaching business online. Each product has their own point of difference and pitch and it can get overwhelming navigate and find the platforms which is right for you.

Just remember that a great sales pitch only means they are great at sales! Diving deeper is key, ask for a trial and see what works best from aquiring clients through to collecting the money and repeating the cycle.

Online Coaching vs. In-Person Coaching: A SWOT Analysis

	Online Coaching	In-Person
STRENGTHS	✅ Global Reach – No location restrictions. Sell coaching worldwide. ✅ Scalable Income – One technique breakdown can serve 50+ clients. Copy + Paste. ✅ Upfront Payment - Subscriptions or up-front payment reduce bill collection admin. ✅ Flexible Coaching Models – Work around your schedule with live sessions, video reviews, digital programs. ✅ Lower Overhead – No travel, no rented gym space.	✅ Immediate Feedback & Hands-On Corrections – This personal interaction can be more rewarding. ✅ Stronger Coach-Athlete Relationship – In-person sessions build trust, motivation, and accountability. ✅ Better Engagement & Commitment – Clients are less likely to skip scheduled sessions when they’ve committed to a physical meeting. ✅ Higher Premium Pricing Potential – Many clients value face-to-face coaching and are willing to pay a premium for the experience.
WEAKNESSES	❌ Lack of Immediate Feedback – Coaches can't see the non-verbal ques if their tips are being understood. ❌ Client Commitment Varies – It's easier for clients to break-up with you or be live stream no-shows. ❌ Tech Learning Curve – Need video editing, social media, and marketing skills.	❌ Limited Scalability – A coach’s time is finite, restricting how many clients they can take on. ❌ Geographic Constraints – Your client base is limited to those in your area, making it harder to expand. ❌ Seasonal Impact – Outdoor sports coaching can be affected by weather conditions, limiting income stability. ❌ Overhead Costs – Renting facilities, travel, and equipment can reduce profit margins.
OPPORTUNITIES	🚀 Exploding Market – Increasing market size means more clients shifting online 🚀 Multiple Revenue Streams – Memberships, courses, video breakdowns. 🚀 Leverage Social Media – Monetize your Instagram site to convert people who you are already connect with.	🚀 Hybrid Coaching Model – Combine in-person training with technique analysis via video for remote clients. 🚀 Corporate & Team Coaching – Partner with schools, corporate wellness programs, or sports teams to secure bulk contracts. 🚀 Group Fitness – Grow your income without needing more time in the day.
THREATS	⚠️ Saturated Market – Competing with global coaches, not just local ones. ⚠️ Platform Dependence – Reliance on clients from social media means algorithm changes can impact your reach overnight. ⚠️ Price Wars – Some coaches race to the bottom.	⚠️ Competition from Online Coaching – Clients now have access to virtual coaching, making differentiation crucial. ⚠️ Client Relocation & Scheduling Issues – Clients moving away or canceling sessions impacts revenue. ⚠️ Physical Strain & Burnout – Coaching multiple sessions daily can lead to fatigue and injury for the coach. ⚠️ Economic Downturns – In-person coaching is often seen as a luxury, making it vulnerable to economic downturns.

How to Differentiate and be Visible in the Digital World

Coaches online are not just competing with 10 other local coaches, they are competeing with 1,000 other online coaches. Differentiation and visibility becomes 100 times more important online.

Building a Strong Online Presence

Search engines and social media platforms favor experts.

• Optimize Your Social Media – Showcase your expertise, not just selfies.

• SEO & Blogging – Write about your expertise. Go deep, but also make the content skimmable so time-poor people get the most from you.

• Leverage Video Content – Short clips build credibility faster than text.

Finding Your Niche

Clients have endless online choices which can make it overwhelming for them. Conversly coaches have an endless pool of clients. Find a niche you enjoy working most with and there will still be a large pool of potential clients across the globe.

For example if you are a general Strength and Conditioning Coach online you might be competing against 100 other coaches on your platform. If you specialise, you can keep a higher price and possibly only be competing with 2 other coaches. This also mean you have a smaller client base, but on the plus side you will get less enquires that do not convert to paying clients.

Example niches:

• Technique-Specific – Squats or dinking.

• Sport-Specific Coaching – Be the go-to right hander spin bowling Cricket Coach or Freestyle Breathing Technique.

• Beginner Training – Offer all-round structured plans but for beginners or high-school students.

Converting Followers into Clients

Sustainable Sales Strategies

Stop chasing sales. Attract clients instead.

• Give Value First – Free tips, technique breakdowns, actual results.

• Low-Risk Offers – $45 for a one-time video analysis builds trust and gives you content and snowballs momentum for the next paying client.

• Structured Sales Funnel – Guide clients from free content to paid coaching.

  
  

Smart Positioning

• Don’t Compete on Price in the Long Term – Cheap coaching attracts cheap clients.

• Solve Specific Problems – “Freestyle swimming technique breakdowns in 48 hours.”

• Research Competition or Collaborate with them - Find a nieche where you think you're better than the rest. Don't worry if people are already doing it, it's about you doing it better. A platform like www.mysport.guru can help co-ordinate the positioning of coaches into neiches to maximise coach cut-through.

Multiple Revenue Streams for Coaches

Hybrid Coaching Models

• Combine in-person with asynchronous online coaching.

• In-person client moving out of town? Keep them hooked through your online offerings.

• Sell Workouts at Home or on Holiday programs to remote clients.

• Have a Holiday and still gain Income through online coaching.

Monetizing Instagram & Other Digital Platforms

• Channel your warm leads to sales platforms

• Membership Sites – Exclusive coaching groups for ongoing revenue.

• Affiliate Marketing – Partner with brands for extra income.

Final Thoughts

Online Coaching vs In-Person shouldn't be one or the other, just like scaling shouldn't mean sacrificing quality, doing less in-person work or working around the clock. The right online sports platform should allow you to work at speed with volume to work smarter, reach more clients and earn more.

👉 Ready to scale your coaching business? Apply to List as a Coach with us today!