TikTok is seen as a place where people do all kinds of weird dances and challenges.
But in recent years, it’s become a fun marketing tool for personal trainers and fitness studios to boost their brand and engage with a massive audience.
If you’re not on TikTok yet, you’re missing out on some serious visibility and potential new members walking through your doors.
Why grow your TikTok presence?
Imagine increased engagement from your local community, more people discovering your classes, and a flood of new clients who found you through your killer content.
Sounds good, right?
Well, In this guide, I’m going to break down 7 practical steps that’ll help you master TikTok marketing for your fitness studio and start turning views into memberships.
Why TikTok?
If you’re wondering whether TikTok is worth it for your fitness studio, here’s why you should jump in now.
Massive, Fast-Growing User Base
TikTok has exploded in popularity with over 1 billion monthly active users globally.
This includes a diverse audience across all age groups (mostly young) but yes, even your clients’ parents and the 50+ crowd are hopping on.
This means your fitness studio has the potential to reach a diverse audience that you might not connect with on other platforms.
Your studio could be in front of a whole new crowd of TikTok users who are looking for workout tips, motivation, and of course, fun fitness content.
Organic Reach – No Big Ad Budget Needed
One of the best things about TikTok is that you don’t need a massive advertising budget to grow. You can reach thousands, even millions, without spending a dime on ads!
The platform’s algorithm is designed to push organic content (yes, even from smaller accounts) to the right people.
If your videos resonate, TikTok will help you get seen without you having to shell out big bucks on paid promotions.
In short, it’s the perfect platform for fitness studios looking to grow their fitness business without breaking the bank.
Fitness videos + TikTok = A Perfect Match 🧡
TikTok’s short, engaging videos fit perfectly with the kind of content your fitness studio can create.
Whether it’s sharing your clients fitness journey story, debunking fitness myths, quick exercise tutorials, or sharing motivational moments, educational content that provides value to the user thrives in the TikTok fitness world.
People love short videos that they can try out in their living room or save for their next gym session.
On average, US adult users spend 53.8 minutes per day on TikTok
And guess what? They’re likely to follow your page to keep getting that awesome fitness advice.
By showing off your expertise in these bite-sized, fun videos, you not only entertain your audience but also position your studio as a go-to source for other personal trainers.
The Algorithm’s Viral Magic
TikTok’s unique algorithm gives every video a chance to go viral.
Yep, even if you’re just starting out.
Unlike other social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram where followers matter more, TikTok looks at engagement.
If people are liking, commenting, and sharing your video, it’ll get pushed to even more users.
So, whether you’ve got 50 followers or 50,000, the potential for your TikTok videos to go viral is huge.
And the best part?
You can start building that buzz from day one.
How to Grow Your Fitness Studio TikTok in 7 Steps
Here is how you grow your fitness studio’s TikTok account.
Step 1: Set Up Your TikTok Business Account
First things first, let’s get that account set up properly. If you don’t have TikTok downloaded yet…what are you waiting for?
Once you’ve got the basics, it’s time to switch over to a business account – because we’re here to grow your fitness brand, not just scroll for hours (although that’s tempting).
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner to open settings.
- Select “Manage Account” and then “Switch to Business Account.”
- Choose a category that fits your studio (you’re in fitness, so pick wisely!).
Now that your business account is live, let’s optimize that profile.
Your bio is prime real estate – this is where people will decide if they want to follow you or not.
You need to make it pop:
- Use a clean, high-quality profile picture. Your studio logo works great for this.
- Write a short, snappy bio that clearly tells people what they can expect from your content (hint: fitness tips, motivation, and good vibes).
- Don’t forget the emojis. They add personality and catch the eye.
- Add a clickable link – maybe your website, or even better, a specific landing page designed just for your TikTok visitors.
Step 2: Define Your Target Audience
You can’t just throw content out there and hope it sticks.
To really grow your TikTok, you’ve got to know who you’re talking to. Who’s your ideal follower?
Is it fitness newbies? Hardcore athletes? Local community members looking for a fun way to stay active?
Once you define your target audience, you can start tailoring your TikTok content to meet their needs.
If they’re beginners, make sure to post easy-to-follow workout tips.
If they’re seasoned gym-goers, give them advanced training hacks.
The more you cater to their interests, the more likely they are to follow, engage, and eventually sign up for personal training.
Pro tip: Check out the trending content in your niche to get a sense of what your audience is already loving. Then, put your own unique spin on it.
Step 3: Showcase Your Unique Fitness Studio Identity
There are probably a hundred fitness studios out there, so what makes yours stand out? That’s what you need to be showing off on TikTok.
Whether it’s your sleek studio design, your killer workout programs, or the strong sense of community you’ve built – your brand identity is your superpower.
Consistency is important here. Stick to the same colors, vibes, music, and even hashtags that reflect your brand.
Make it so that when people see one of your videos, they know immediately, “Oh, that’s [Your Studio Name] – I love their content!”
Step 4: Post Engaging, High-Quality Content
TikTok is all about grabbing attention, and you’ve got about 3 seconds to do that.
So, you’ve got to make your videos eye-catching right from the start.
Here are some content ideas:
- Quick workout tips that your followers can do at home or at your studio.
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your gym life – give your audience a sneak peek of what it’s like to be part of your community.
- Client testimonials or success stories to build trust and motivate others to join.
- Fun fitness challenges that get people involved and engaged.
And remember, variety is the spice of life. Don’t just stick to one type of video content.
Mix it up with tutorials, transformation videos, motivational clips – whatever keeps your audience coming back for more.
Step 5: Leverage TikTok Features
TikTok gives you so many options to make your content pop. Ever heard of Duets? How about Stitch?
These features allow you to engage with other creators’ content—either by reacting to their videos or adding your own spin on them.
It’s like a built-in collaboration tool that instantly gives your fitness studio more exposure.
And then there is TikTok Live!
It’s the perfect way to connect with your followers in real time.
You can demo a workout, answer questions, or just chat about fitness goals.
The more you connect with people, the more they’ll want to stick around.
Another thing to take advantage of is TikTok’s editing tools.
You can keep your videos fun, professional, and super engaging without needing fancy software.
Make sure to add music, captions, or effects to give your studio’s videos that polished but professional fitness vibe.
Step 6: Participate in Challenges
Want to make your TikTok blow up?
Get in on the viral challenge game.
TikTok fitness challenges are huge for exposure because, let’s face it, people love jumping on trends.
You can either hop onto existing fitness challenges created by other TikTok influencers (there’s always something popping up!) or create your own studio-specific challenges.
Imagine getting your local community involved in a “90-day fitness transformation” or a “Studio Squat Challenge.” When people see others doing it, they’ll want to join in.
Plus, when you use popular challenge hashtags, TikTok’s algorithm can push your content out to way more people.
Going viral might sound like a stretch, but this is where it starts.
All it takes is one challenge to blow up and suddenly… you’ve got a flood of new followers checking out your studio.
Step 7: Make Good Use Of Hashtags
Hashtags on TikTok aren’t just cute—they’re crucial if you want to reach a broader audience.
First off, do some research.
Find fitness-related hashtags that are trending – those will help you catch the wave of people searching for that content.
But don’t just stop at the trends.
Mix in some niche-specific hashtags that cater to your local audience or specific fitness services you offer (think #PilatesLovers or #HIITChallenge).
And here’s the twist – branded hashtags. Create your own!
Something like #StudioStrong or #YourGymNameChallenge.
Not only does it promote your studio, but it gives your followers something unique to rally behind.
Combine these with the popular tags, and you’ve got a hashtag strategy that’s both broad and studio-specific, which is going to help boost visibility.
Posting Frequency and Timing
The algorithm loves it when you show up regularly, which means your videos are more likely to be pushed out to a bigger audience.
Now, I know what you’re thinking — “How often should I post?”
The sweet spot is aiming for at least one post per day.
On average, brands post on TikTok about 16 times per month, which is just over one post every two days.
But remember, quality over quantity. It’s way better to post one solid video daily than to throw out a bunch of half-baked ones that don’t hit the mark.
And with timings research shows that the best times to post on TikTok are:
• Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., noon, and 2 to 6 p.m.
• Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.
• Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m.
But these are still just averages, here is how you can figure out the best times to post for your business:
- Experiment with different posting times and see what sticks. Morning? Afternoon? Late-night? Play around with it.
- Use TikTok analytics to see when your audience is most active. They’ll show you what time your followers are online and ready to engage.
- Pay close attention to when your videos get the most likes, comments, and shares. Those are your golden hours.
It’s better to stick to a regular schedule, even if you’re only posting a few times a week, than to be all over the place. Stay consistent, and the algorithm will reward you.
Conclusion
Alright, there you have it—7 solid steps to grow your fitness studio’s TikTok.
Now, I know as a fitness professional it can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but remember, consistency and creativity are important.
TikTok is all about being authentic and showing your personality, so don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with it.
The more you engage with your audience and stay consistent, the faster you’ll see results.
So, get out there, start creating, and watch your fitness studio blow up on TikTok.
