Over 60% of adults are online using Instagram and there are over 25 million business profiles on the platform. Instagram is a great platform for personal trainers if leveraged correctly. As of 2018, the mobile photo-sharing network has reached 1 billion monthly active users, with 320 million+ posts using the #fitness on their posts, and of course the recent success of fitness influencers on social media platforms, there has never been a more auspicious time to be on Instagram as a personal trainer. Many successful trainers use the platform to grow, promote, educate and inspire, especially celebrity trainers. If you really want to grow your business and become the next Brandon Carter of the fitness community, then read ahead as we share our top tips to grow your following on Instagram. After successfully completing a personal training programme and after having taken advantage of the fantastic connections we have at Focus Fitness UK with some of the largest health and fitness operators in London, you can move to grow your personal profile on Instagram. Here is everything you need to know:
Setting Up Your Instagram Account
Upon opening the Instagram app, you’ll be prompted with 2 choices for creating your account — Log In With Facebook or Sign Up With Phone or Email. Be sure to sign up with a business email so your Instagram profile isn’t linked to your personal Facebook account. Next, use a username recognizable to visitors. This name is what’s displayed on your profile; so make sure your handle is both professional and clear. Additionally, it is best to consider switching to a business account as you grow your profile so you can run ads for any services/offers you are running (class passes etc). If you’re looking for inspiration, here are
Optimizing Your Instagram Account
Now it’s time to choose the right profile picture. Your profile picture is a big part of your first impression on new visitors. Consider using a fitness logo if you have one or a picture which suggests your vocation is in the health and fitness industry, preferably yourself pictured in fitness clothing and a big smile on your face to show your playful side (great for attracting followers on Instagram). Furthermore, keep your image style consistent with your branding and visual markers to keep your customer journey uniform. Remember Instagram profile pictures are automatically cropped into a circle, so leave room around the corners of your image. Next up is your bio: Instagram bios have a 150-character maximum, so your message here needs to be clear and concise. Mention the gym you work at (using their Instagram handle as reference), and what you do for other people. Phrase your message in a way that tells others the impact you will have on them, target their emotional state and try being as witty with your text as possible, a light-hearted tone works best on Instagram. Lastly, add a call to action in your bio for followers to convert, a URL to your business site is also a good option.
Get Active
The best way to get the ball rolling and gain some traction with your account is to start engaging with accounts. This means following, liking, sharing and commenting on other accounts. Start with the general public, people who are interested in fitness but do not work in the fitness industry, then move to engage with personal trainers and fitness influencers. This process is an ongoing requirement on Instagram if you want to consistently grow relevant followers, once you’ve gained some momentum, you’ll be able to spend more time working on bettering the value of your own content which is how your account will really stand out from the rest, more on this in a future post. Moreover, if you have a business card, be sure to put your Instagram handle and any other social accounts on your business card, then let word of mouth do its job.
Final Notes
Follow the tips above and you should be well on your way to building and growing an evergreen Instagram account for your personal training business. We hope you have found this blog useful, please share on Facebook with anyone you feel might find the post useful. Lastly, at Focus Fitness UK we offer guaranteed job opportunities with some of the top gyms in London. All you need to do is email info@focusfitnessuk.com with your name, number, email and the name of the gym that you want to work for. Contact us today for more advice about starting your career as a successful personal trainer!