Thank You National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
How Industry Recognition Validates Professional Assessment Technology for Personal Trainers
Have you ever heard the phrase “if you build it, they will come”? In the software industry, it’s more like “if you build it, will they come?” We’ve been building TrainerMetrics (formerly Results for iPhone) over the last few years, and our biggest anxiety came when we launched our open beta in September 2015.
For bootstrapped fitness software built by personal trainers rather than Silicon Valley venture capital, consistent growth is essential for survival. This makes early industry validation incredibly valuable.
The Challenge: Marketing Professional Assessment Software Without Venture Capital
When people hear we’re building software, they immediately think of Silicon Valley and unlimited cash. TrainerMetrics is a bootstrapped web-based application built by personal trainers, so maintaining consistent growth is critical for project survival.
Why does this matter? Marketing isn’t cheap or typically free. How do you get fitness professionals to sign up for assessment software when your only marketing channel is a blog?
The answer came through industry alignment and professional recognition.
NASM Recognition: Validation of Our Assessment Philosophy
On September 14th, we discovered an excellent Q&A article published by the National Academy of Sports Medicine’s The Training Edge online magazine: “What are some quick and accurate body-composition measurement tools that won’t break the bank?”
This article perfectly aligned with our core philosophy: a few strategic body girth (circumference) measurements can yield crucial key performance indicators including body fat percentage, lean body mass, fat loss tracking, and ideal weight calculations.
Strategic Industry Engagement
We saw an opportunity to introduce TrainerMetrics to the professional fitness community through thoughtful engagement. We posted a comment with a simple screenshot and clear value proposition, demonstrating how our platform supports the assessment principles NASM promotes.
The result exceeded expectations.
The Impact: Industry Validation Drives Professional Adoption
NASM approved our comment, leading to immediate professional interest. Within one week, we received our first signups. Over three months, this single industry interaction generated over 50 new users, mostly personal trainers and certification candidates.
While 50 users might not sound overwhelming, it provided the perfect foundation for understanding our professional market.
What We Learned About Trainer Needs
The majority of these fitness professionals chose TrainerMetrics because:
Educational Support: It helped them better understand textbook concepts, specifically assessment calculations, procedures, and protocols
Modern Efficiency: They realized manual calculations are outdated practice, and TrainerMetrics provides reasonable solutions for complex formulas
Centralized Data Management: They could store all client data in one comprehensive platform
Professional Standards: The platform supported the systematic approaches taught in their certification programs
Why Industry Recognition Matters for Fitness Technology
Validation from Professional Organizations
NASM’s indirect endorsement through comment approval provided crucial credibility for our assessment platform. Professional organizations like NASM maintain high standards, so their platforms attract serious fitness professionals seeking legitimate tools.
Quality User Acquisition
Key metrics from this industry engagement:
- 25% conversion rate from article traffic to platform signups
- High user engagement and communication responsiveness
- Valuable feedback driving platform improvements
- Professional validation supporting future partnerships
Building Credibility in Professional Markets
Early recognition from respected industry organizations helps establish credibility that’s difficult to achieve through traditional marketing. When fitness professionals see tools discussed alongside NASM content, they understand the platform meets professional standards.
The Broader Lesson: Alignment with Industry Standards
Why Assessment Technology Resonates with NASM Philosophy
TrainerMetrics aligns with NASM’s emphasis on systematic, evidence-based approaches to fitness assessment. Both organizations promote:
- Standardized assessment protocols
- Objective measurement over subjective evaluation
- Professional development through systematic education
- Technology that enhances rather than replaces trainer expertise
Professional Recognition Drives Platform Development
Feedback from NASM-referred users helped shape TrainerMetrics into a more comprehensive platform that better serves professional needs. These users provided insights that improved:
- Assessment calculation accuracy and efficiency
- User interface design for professional workflows
- Educational resources supporting certification requirements
- Integration capabilities with existing trainer practices
Looking Forward: Partnership Opportunities
Gratitude for Industry Support
We want to give a sincere thank you to the National Academy of Sports Medicine for helping us gain initial momentum with TrainerMetrics. Whether intentional or not, their platform provided the professional validation that launched our growth.
Future Collaboration Potential
This experience demonstrated the value of industry partnerships in advancing fitness technology. We look forward to potential future collaboration with NASM and other professional organizations that share our commitment to evidence-based fitness assessment.
Key Takeaways for Fitness Technology Development
- Industry alignment creates authentic marketing opportunities
- Professional validation drives higher-quality user acquisition
- Fitness professionals value tools that support their education and certification
- Systematic assessment technology resonates with professional standards
- Early industry recognition provides foundation for future partnerships
The Power of Professional Community Engagement
For fitness technology companies, engaging authentically with professional communities provides more valuable marketing than traditional advertising. When your platform genuinely supports industry standards and professional development, recognition follows naturally.
TrainerMetrics continues to serve fitness professionals who demand systematic, evidence-based approaches to client assessment and progress tracking. Our early recognition from the NASM community validated our commitment to professional standards and continues to guide our platform development.
TrainerMetrics provides comprehensive fitness assessment technology aligned with professional standards taught by leading organizations like NASM, supporting trainers in delivering systematic, evidence-based client service.
Last updated: 9/9/2025
