How to use TikTok for personal trainers

Taking Your TikTok Account to the Next Level

The newcomer to social media platforms―TikTok, has its fair share of controversy. Even after the threat of banishment by the Trump administration, TikTok has become one of the front-runners in social media. It began taking the US by storm during COVID, garnering the most downloads of any other app, and it hasn’t slowed its pace. Ways to appeal to TikTok users differ from Instagram and Facebook, but it’s worth it if you’re starting with little to no followers, are a creative content maker, or are trying to appeal to Gen Z and Millennials.

After catching your audience’s attention with engaging fitness content, directing them to your coaching app can make it easy for them to explore personalized workout programs and connect with you instantly.

PRO TIP:

If you already have a personal TikTok where you’ve primarily posted health and fitness content, you can switch it to a creator or business account without losing your followers. It may be worth auditing your personal page to delete irrelevant posts before switching to a business account. If switching to a business account overnight will bamboozle your audience, it’s worth making a separate business account and linking to it from your personal account’s bio page.  

Why you should be using TikTok to find clients 

Still Time to Make a Splash. In 2021, only 45% of marketers utilized TikTok in their marketing campaigns, which is projected to jump by 40% by the end of this year.¹ There was also a 700% increase in the perceived effectiveness of TikTok campaigns in fulfilling marketing goals over the previous year. The effectiveness of Instagram and Facebook campaigns fell dramatically even though over 90% of influencers and businesses use Facebook for marketing.² Even with billions of people on TikTok already, not everyone is using it for marketing. There are still places where you can find your niche, perfect your marketing plan, and build followers quickly.

PRO TIP:

Luckily, fitness/sports is one of the most popular categories on TikTok, with over 57 billion views in 2021, meaning you already have a potentially large audience. Post, post, and post some more! Thursday around 7pm is the best time to post for maximum engagement, but Insights will let you pinpoint when your audience is most active as you build a following. If you’re more of a later riser, TikTok also has peak posting times into the evening as opposed to Facebook and Instagram, which see the best engagement during the day.  

TikTok Users Love to Shop! Even if they weren’t planning to, nearly 70% of users feel compelled to whip out their debit card when scrolling through the app.³ Users of the app have a wide range of incomes, with around 37% making over 6-figures.⁴ If your services are niche, upscale, or valued highly, TikTok can be a great place to find clients. On the other end of the spectrum, TikTok is popular amongst low-income users. It can also be an excellent place to find traction if you’re starting with limited services.

PRO TIP:

The power of the giveaway is real! TikTok users love free stuff! It can be anything from t-shirts and blender bottles to a free training session. If you’re doing a giveaway, make your followers work for you by asking them to make unboxing videos reviewing your product or a review of your service! TikTok has discovered that the customer journey doesn’t end after the purchase; it loops back into itself as consumers love to make video reviews.  

Facebook and Instagram have cemented themselves as the frontrunners of social networking applications, but TikTok’s star is only set to rise and become more popular. With a wealth of users in their teens and early to mid-twenties, they’re primed to grow with the platform. You too can build your influence and grow with the app. 

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Author: Bobby O'Connell FRSA CSM