13 proven tips on how to grow your fitness Instagram

Growing a fitness-focused Instagram account requires a deep understanding of your target audience. Identifying your audience will help you create relevant content that addresses their needs and encourages them to take action.

A fitness trainer’s audience can be highly diverse. Here are some characteristics to consider:

The better you know your audience, the easier it is to market your social media for gyms and fitness centers and promote your personal training services.

If you want to learn how to grow your fitness Instagram or another social profile, the first step is to properly set up your profile description. In this section, we’ll explain what to add to your profile description section to make it more effective in attracting clients. The following social media marketing tips fit gyms and any fitness trainer, whether you’re into CrossFit, yoga, or any other fitness niche.

On Instagram, Facebook, or any other social media platform, it could be tricky for a fitness trainer to keep all important info in one place. For example, your service details might be in highlights, client progress photos in a post, info about the guide you sell in Stories, and if someone wants to contact you, they have to either DM you or hunt for your phone number.

That’s why one of the key social media marketing tips for gyms and fitness businesses is creating a link in bio page. A link in bio page is a small webpage where you can store everything your clients need in one spot. On it, you can put a call button, a booking form, a description of your services, experience, product photos and descriptions, location, and more.

A link to your link in bio page can be added to the bio or About section of the social media you’re on. When clients tap the link, they’ll land on a page with all the info they need and an easy way to take action.

Here’s an example of how your personal trainer link in bio page could look.

Here you can check the full version of the above link in bio page.

To create this page, we used Taplink. Taplink is perfect for creating a fitness link in bio page because it:

Creating a fitness link in bio page involves four main steps:

There is more: we’ve prepared a guide on how to create a link in bio page for fitness trainers. It includes step-by-step screenshots showing exactly what to do and where to tap to set up your page.

Don’t forget to add the link to your link in bio page in the bio or About section of all your social media, including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and others. Now, your followers can access all your key information with just one tap on the link in bio.

Your bio or About section is the first thing visitors notice when they land on your profile. That’s why it’s essential to succinctly fill it out to give them a clear understanding of you.

In your bio or About section, you can add the following:

Below are examples of bios you could write following our tips:

Check out more ideas — we’ve prepared 160 fitness trainer bios for social media. Just choose the one you like and add it to your profile description.

Another tip on growing your fitness Instagram is adding your location to your social media bio if the platform supports it. This helps potential clients know where you train and whether they can book an in-person session with you.

Having a location in your bio or About section also improves your social media visibility. Platforms take location into account when showing search results, meaning people in your area searching for a trainer are more likely to find you.

Add your location to your Taplink link in bio page as well. Unlike just listing an address, Taplink lets you add a map. This way, your followers can more easily understand where you are and find you.

Here’s how your map on the link in bio page might look.

Post regular, high-quality, and authentic content to grow your fitness account on Instagram and other social media and attract a loyal following. Here are detailed guidelines on what types of content you should consider creating.

Sharing client progress is a must when it comes to growing a fitness account on Instagram and other social media. This type of content can be posted in various formats:

Along with the progress, add a short client story. Describe how they started, their lifestyle before training with you, the time it took to see progress, the challenges they faced, and how they overcame them.

Don’t forget about ethical considerations. Make sure to get explicit permission before publishing any client photos, videos, or data.

By sharing workout result content, you not only showcase the effectiveness of your training program but also inspire others to achieve their goals. This creates an atmosphere of support and motivation within your community and helps you grow your fitness Instagram account.

Below is an example of an Instagram Story with a client testimonial and his workout results.

Inspire people to exercise by sharing photos or videos of workouts. These can be full-length training sessions or just one or two exercises. You can cater to both beginners and more advanced athletes.

Be mindful of technique when demonstrating exercises to help prevent injuries. Ensure that your body positioning is clearly visible to the audience in your images or videos.

Showcasing exercises is especially beneficial if you sell fitness guides or training checklists. Followers need to understand that you’re able to demonstrate correct technique and provide clear instructions.

If you sell a workout plan, a guide, or another digital product, add it to your Taplink link in bio page, which we’ve told you about earlier. When adding the product to the page, Taplink allows you to include its images, descriptions, and pricing. And followers, who’re interested in your guide, can buy it right from your fitness trainer page.

For example, here’s what a home workout guide looks like on the trainer’s page:

See the whole fitness trainer’s link in bio page and the digital product page.

Many myths in sports prevent people from reaching their goals. Help your audience uncover the truth and avoid common mistakes. Consider debunking the following myths:

By sharing myth-busting content, you show a science-based approach to your work. This builds trust with your audience and strengthens your reputation, increasing the chance that your followers will reach out to you.

Presenting your gym visually is an excellent social media strategy for a fitness business as it helps potential clients experience the gym’s unique environment.

Film a guided video tour, introducing followers to different rooms and training zones. Capture both an empty gym so they can see the space clearly and during training sessions to showcase the energy of the environment.

You can also showcase individual equipment and accessories, explaining their purpose and how to use them. Keep followers informed about new equipment to demonstrate that your gym is constantly evolving.

When people see that your gym is comfortable and well-equipped, they are more likely to book a workout in it.

Share valuable information that benefits your audience and helps them achieve their fitness goals. In your Instagram fitness tips, cover different aspects of fitness such as:

Sharing practical and easy-to-follow fitness tips is a great way to position yourself as an expert in the field. Followers who find your tips helpful are more likely to book training sessions with you or buy your fitness products.

These are the muscle gain tips that a personal trainer shares on her YouTube channel.

Growing your fitness account on Instagram, Facebook, and other socials isn’t just about posting content — it’s also about interacting with your audience. Interaction leads to more activity from your followers. And the more active your followers are, the more social media algorithms help to boost your Instagram fitness account.

Below are some social media campaigns for your fitness business to help you interact with your audience more and grow your fitness business Instagram account.

Host contests or challenges on social media for your followers! There are many creative contest ideas to choose from. To get started, consider trying one of the following:

For prizes, choose something valuable for your audience. It could be a discount on your training program, a fitness accessory like a smartwatch, or even cash.

Hosting contests and challenges helps build a strong and loyal community around you. When participants use contest hashtags and tag you in their posts, it boosts your account’s visibility, helping you stand out from the competition.

Asking direct questions to your followers is another way to interact with them and grow your fitness social media accounts.

Your questions can cover various topics, ranging from serious to lighthearted. What matters most is making them easy for your audience to understand. Here are some question ideas for inspiration:

Don’t just ask questions — share your own experiences too. For instance, you could post about an awkward gym situation where you thought you were alone but got caught doing something odd. Then, encourage your followers to comment with their own funny gym stories.

Asking your followers questions is a simple yet effective method to stimulate discussions and comments. By encouraging this interaction, you not only strengthen your community but also gain valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and motivations. Keep the conversation going!

Try asking questions in posts, videos, or Reels, just like the trainer did below.

Engage with your audience in real time, not just through posts and comments. Answer their questions, ask your own, work out together, or cook healthy meals.

Plan your live session in advance: select a topic, create a short plan, and set up the equipment that might be needed. This will help you stay focused, know what to say and what to do. For example, structure your live session as follows: 5 minutes for greeting your audience, 15 minutes for a workout, and 10 minutes for answering viewers’ questions.

Announce your live sessions beforehand. Post about it in your feed or stories a day or two in advance, sharing the topic and duration. This allows your followers to schedule their time and be sure to tune in.

Make sure to save your live video on social media after it ends. On Instagram, for example, you can share your live session immediately after it ends. This way, followers who missed it can watch it later.

Going live lets your followers see the real you, your true emotions, and humor. Engaging with them in real time strengthens relationships and builds trust.

Email marketing enables you to stay connected with your followers beyond social media. Unlike Instagram or other platforms, where reach depends on algorithms, emails go straight to subscribers, making it more likely they’ll see your message.

Your promotional emails can cover a variety of topics. You might share educational content like workout techniques or healthy eating tips, notify subscribers about special offers and discounts on training, or announce the release of new fitness products.

To encourage people to subscribe, offer them a lead magnet. A lead magnet is a freebie people get in exchange for their email. This could be a workout checklist, a nutrition plan, or a discount on your training program.

To build your email list, create an opt-in form. Taplink allows you to set up an opt-in form on your link in bio page, which we discussed earlier. Your opt-in form may look like this:

Taplink also enables you to automate the lead magnet delivery. When a subscriber submits their email address, they will automatically receive an email with the lead magnet — without any extra effort on your part.

Email marketing can help grow your client base and increase sales. Just remember: the goal isn’t just to sell. Make sure to also share valuable content that will benefit your audience.

Now you know the strategies for social media marketing for personal trainers and gyms and how to grow your fitness Instagram account. Let’s summarize everything we’ve discussed. To grow your fitness Instagram, focus on:

We hope these tips will help you successfully market your personal training business on Instagram and other social media.