Tips and Tricks for Creating a Fitness Instagram

If you’re asking our opinion on which social media platform is the best one to put your fitness business on, we say this: While each social platform has its benefits, fitness businesses especially flourish on Instagram. And here's why: it's entirely visual! 

Pictures and videos are essential in showing prospective gym members the type of community you foster and the clients you serve. And that is exactly what Instagram can give them a taste of. It's why more and more influencers in the fitness industry are tuning into this one specific channel.

In this marketing guide, we will go over some key areas to pay attention to, including posting the most effective content types, engaging clients and prospects through social networking, and reaching your target audience. We want you to be able to make the most of your Instagram account and be able to grow your fitness brand. 

Personal Profiles Vs. Business Profiles

The first thing you want to take a look at is which type of profile you have set up, a personal profile or business profile. Business profiles didn't always exist, so if your account is older you may still be on a personal account. Switch to a business profile (here's how) to unlock Insights and other business tools.

Create an Online Community 

Ok, you've created your profile, added your logos, and posted a few images. What's next?

Now you need to build your loyal community! Here a few ways to get started doing just that:

• Social networking: Interacting on other Instagram users pages, commenting and liking 
• Tagging other people or pages
• Re-gramming content (posting other's content, tagging them with credit)
• Creating contests with a call-to-action, such as "Please like this, share this and tag a friend to be entered." 
• Asking your members to follow you and help share your content 

#UseHashtags

We know you're working hard to get your fitness brand name out there. You can help yourself reach them by using hashtags. Don't forget your hashtags!

• Browse hashtags to see which are the most popular and relevant within your industry, and tag your content with them!
• Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post (10 per story), but you don't need to use that many. Generally, 10 is considered a good max.
• Get fun with them! #MotivationMondays #TacoTuesdays (Oh wait, maybe that's #TransformationTuesdays) #WorkoutWednesdays, etc. 

Instagram Stories 

Instagram stories are another excellent tool to utilize. They are ingeniously placed short videos (or photo montages) at the top of every Instagram feed which help snag the attention of many Instagram users before they see the main content feed. Each story lasts for up to 24 hours at a time and is the perfect way to help humanize your brand by giving viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse or sneak peek into classrooms. It also helps to announce and push deals and promotions. 

Celebrate Your Clients

Your clients know you love them, but it never hurts to shout it out from the rooftops, or in this case Instagram. People love to be loved! Social media is a fun space to remind your members that you not only notice their hard work but you're grateful they continually choose to take classes with you.

You can create shoutout posts as they strike your fancy or you can do something more structured like Member-of-the-Month awards. 

Quantity Vs. Quality 

Because so much content is posted to social media each day, you might start to feel like you have to keep up. It’s a trap! Don’t fall into it. Take your time and have fun. Your Instagram viewers understand and appreciate the difference between quantity and quality content. 

• Post high-quality photos
• Mix up your Instagram posts to keep it fresh. Bounce back and forth between pictures, short videos, motivational quotes, shoutouts and re-grams
• Be authentic, and engage with clients who comment on your posts

Above all, have a good time with creating the content on your fitness business Instagram account. If you're having fun creating it, your clients will have fun engaging with it.