Less expensive than in-person trainers. This should be universal. If not, you have either found the most expensive online coach or the cheapest in-person trainer possible.
As alluded to above, coaches are typically more experienced. Being online allows us to have a nationwide pool of clients which let us focus specifically on working with competitors. Your local small town trainer just isn’t going to have the same kind of opportunities to work with as many athletes. Having a thorough program spelled out for you. As my team of coaches we are legitimate bodybuilding prep coaches and we cannot skimp or lack detail when it comes to weight training, cardio, nutrition, or supplementation.
What can you expect from the process? Initially we’ll have a brief phone call, during which time one of our coaches will give you the 30,000 foot view of the approach to contest prep, and you get your chance to interview them and see if you think they are the right coach to help you. If you connect with them things start to move very quickly at that point. They’ll have you complete a questionnaire and submit your initial progress pictures as quickly as possible, and we’ll schedule a Skype session for your formal orientation/interview. This will last about an hour, and is their chance to really get to know you and help them design the best possible program for you. They’ll also map out what the competitive year is going to look like for you, and discuss your physique’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas we’ll be focusing on based on your progress photos.