Hello friends! As one of Boston’s first fitness YouTubers and successful fitness influencers, I had no idea what I was doing in 2009! I didn’t go to business school, I was a personal trainer and creator with a social media account. I wanted to be a reporter on television. It was very strange for me to try to sell a product when I just wanted to report the news! Well, fast forward almost 15 years and I have built a successful online fitness and wellness business across multiple social media platforms. I have tried everything. I’ve been around for a long time, like before instagram even existed, and I’m here to tell you what I wish I knew back then. So if you love fitness, maybe you teach fitness classes, or you already have an online wellness business, or you’ve gone viral on Facebook or Instagram and you’re wondering how to capitalize on this new audience, you’re in the right place!
Not only will I tell you what I wish I knew, but I’ll also tell you how to do what I didn’t do at first so you don’t have to worry about trial and error. I’ll explore effective strategies to build a strong online presence, focusing on the power of email lists and leveraging social media to engage and grow your audience
What I wish I knew #1
The strength of any online business lies in its email list.
I didn’t realize the importance of converting my YouTube viewers into customers, but the first step is to capture their email address. I had 200,000 YouTube channel subscribers but 0 emails. I knew my target audience, I just didn’t know I needed their emails to make real money. I didn’t think my followers would buy a home workout program, but I was WRONG! I was at the mercy of the algorithm. As a top fitness and nutrition coach for FASTER Way To Fat Loss, I’ve since learned that you need emails to make money beyond sponsorships, sponsors, advertising, and affiliate sales, which we’ll get to later.
Building a strong email list is the foundation of your success
- Why email lists matter: Unlike fleeting social media trends, an email list is a constant and direct line of communication with your audience. It’s yours, not affected by algorithm changes or platform policies.
- Starting your list: Start by offering something of value – a free workout guide, nutrition tips, or exclusive content in exchange for email signups.
- Cultivating Relationships: Regularly send engaging content, updates about your services and personalized messages to keep your subscribers informed and connected.
What I wish I knew #2
Build a social media strategy.
I was a wing it girl when Instagram first came out! I posted what I felt without much thought or purpose as to who I was reaching out to. I knew I was in the fitness and fitness industry, but I didn’t care about the engagement rate! I thought hashtags were annoying. I didn’t want to lean on wheels as a content creator because I wasn’t good at dancing and showing words seemed stupid to me. Fool with… Here’s how to level up your IG game.
- Consistent Posting: Regular posts keep your audience engaged and help establish your brand as a trusted source of fitness inspiration and information. Post daily if you can!
- Trending sounds and visuals: Use popular sounds and hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts. This is especially effective on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
- Commitment is key: Encourage comments, shares and interaction. Respond to messages and comments to build a community around your brand.
- Educational Content: Share workout tips, nutrition tips and wellness strategies. This positions you as an expert in the field and a key resource for fitness knowledge.
- Fun and inspiring: Combine fun, light-hearted content and personal stories to create a well-rounded social media presence that resonates with your followers.
- Watch Time and SEO: Pay attention to the details. Longer watch times signal engaging content, while understanding SEO can boost your visibility in search engines and platform searches.
Starting an online fitness business journey has been an exciting and rewarding endeavor. By building a strong email list and using social media strategically, I have built passive income and brand awareness. Remember, your journey is about inspiring and empowering others through fitness, and with these tools, you’re well on your way to making a significant impact.
What I Wish I Knew #3
There is plenty of space at the top.
This is more of a mindset. I was friends with the Tone It Up and Blogilates girls. Both had their own fitness programs and fitness apps. I didn’t create one, but instead promoted this one from TIU because I didn’t want to compete with them. I didn’t know, I wasn’t racing. There was always enough room for all of us to support each other!
Would you like to know more? I often have friends contact me to ask me out for coffee to talk about how they can use social media to grow their businesses. I created this Coffee Chat Cot Sheet so I can give the same experience and knowledge to others! Get your copy here.
In this guide you will find strategies for promoting your magnet to get the right emails. You’ll learn the exact strategies I’ve implemented to help my IG followers grow by 50% in the last month and my overall reach by 1500%!
Curious how to build that email list? What about how to create your lead magnets? Get your copy here now.
DM me on instagram @SarahFit with any questions!
