Written by Trisha Enriquez
The world of fitness continues to evolve; where years ago the main stream of income was typically 1:1 personal training, today, because of social media, things sure have changed! For all of you fitness fanatics out there who are interested in making some extra pocket money from sharing what you love online, this article’s for you! I feel so grateful to be able to call this my job. I am a fitness blogger and digital content creator and in fact, I was able to leave my corporate 9-5 gig to do this full-time, and I haven’t looked back! Now this write up isn’t meant to get you to quit your day job, but if you’re even the slightest bit interested in a career as a fitness content creator, then keep reading.
Here's How To Get Started
The quickest way to get started is just to start. No, really. Just start posting and sharing. If you’re passionate about fitness and have a genuine desire to help others live healthier lives, then start sharing your tips and tricks. Don’t worry about how many followers you have or how many likes you’re getting, the key is just to start … and start now.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
It’s important to be able to share your true love for fitness through photos and videos because you not only have to talk the talk, but you gotta walk the walk! Be sure to share quality content that is visually appealing and unique to you and your brand. People love pretty photos and videos, but make sure you are also supporting that with value in your copy and captions.
How To Connect With Brands
The first thing I always recommend to those just starting out on social media is to organically tag and mention the brands you already know and love. If you’re wearing a brand in a photo, don’t be afraid to tag that company and even mention to your community why you love them as much as you do. These little things don’t go unnoticed and brands are always looking for ambassadors. Perhaps it’s YOU!
Slide Into DMs
If there is a brand you’re dying to work with, slide into their DMs and tell them just that. Explain how you can support the brand in your own unique way. Most IG accounts are actually run by an agency, so you can also ask them to connect you to a marketing person to discuss the potential of a collaboration. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know!
Consistency is Key
Just like working out, being consistent on social media makes all the difference. Posting regularly and showing up on stories daily is important, especially to brands who are interested in potentially working with you.
Being You Is Your Superpower
The #1 rule is to stay true to you. Your audience and community will grow because they love you and your story. Your voice is unlike anyone else’s on social media, so go and inspire hundreds and thousands of people with your personal fitness journey! Remember, imposter syndrome can be fairly common in this industry, so don’t let it get the best of you. No one is you … and that is your superpower!
How Much Should You Be Charging
It’s the wild west on social media and if you talk to different people, everyone will have a very different opinion on what to charge when it comes to posting. You might even start with working with brands in exchange for product if its a brand you are already using and sharing organically. Just remember that your time is valuable and you do deserve to get paid for your work. I would always suggest starting at 4% of your following as a very general base rate for a post. Again, this rate can change drastically depending on so many things, such as the quality of the photo you are sharing (i.e. iphone vs. DSLR); is it a video or a still post?; does the brand want to boost/amplify your post; do they want to reshare the image on their newsletter? These are just a couple of things to keep in mind, so always be mindful of what you are agreeing to before moving forward!
How To Get Ahead of the Game
Social media is a beast with its ongoing changing algorithm and the demand to show up all the time. I admit, despite how much I love what I do, it’s not always the easiest job. My biggest recommendation is to seek help when it comes to managing your social media. Really Social is a social media management company that I launched this year to help content creators, businesses and brands get a ahead of the game. I know it can be a lot, especially when you have a lot on your plate like training clients or juggling your 9-5. The team at Really Social can help with everything from posting, creating stories to engaging with your community and analyzing your insights. If you’re looking for some extra support to elevate your online presence, Really Social can help with providing you with a social media strategy plan to help manage all your posting with ease. If you want to learn more, hit us up here or come say hello on IG @reallysocial.ca. We can’t wait to hear from you!