Creative fitness content ideas will help you stand out on social media. It’s a crowded market with gyms, personal trainers, and fitness influencers all sharing workout content. So, how do you cut through the noise, generate engagement, and grow a loyal customer base?
In this article, we share 25 fitness content ideas for social media to help you build an engaged following and generate sales leads.
We’re a specialist fitness marketing agency with 15+ years of industry experience, so we know first-hand what works (and what doesn’t!). We’ve helped gyms, fitness studios, and personal trainers to successfully promote their businesses on social media, so our strategies are tried and tested.
Here’s a quick overview of the fitness-themed content ideas we’ll cover in this article…
- Fitness tips
- Exercise technique videos
- Fitness polls & questions
- Motivational posts
- Client success stories
- Fitness quizzes
- Educational fitness info
- Workout videos
- Fitness challenges
- Fitness awareness days
- Nutrition & meal prep routines
- Trainer takeovers
- Giveaways or competitions
- Countdowns & previews
- Promos & special offers
- Equipment highlights
- Behind the scenes
- Member FAQs
- Collabs & partnership posts
- Showcase awards, achievements & reviews
- Funny fitness quotes & memes
- Fitness content from other accounts
- Fitness goal tutorials
- Gym etiquette tips
- Interviews
- PLUS – Ready-made fitness content
Let’s explore each of these types of content and post ideas in more detail…
Fitness Marketing Resource Library
Generate a steady stream of leads, sales, and revenue for your gym, fitness studio, or personal training business.
Fitness Tips
Posting fitness tips is a great way to share useful content with your social media followers. Practical tips, helpful advice, and time-saving hacks are all popular with fitness audiences, so make them a staple part of your content strategy. For example, you could post…
- Tips for achieving a specific fitness goal – such as how to lose weight effectively and consistently, increase your strength through exercise progressions, or work towards a personal best running time.
- Ways to find time for exercise – like quick HIIT training sessions, power walks during lunch breaks, or making a commitment to work out first thing in the morning (before other priorities get in the way).
- Common exercise mistakes to avoid – such as incorrect form when performing a particular exercise, training too often resulting in injury, or eating habits that wipe out fitness gains.
Practical fitness tips like these make great Facebook posts, TikTok videos, and Instagram Stories. They’re a really versatile content type so you can basically use any format on any platform!
Exercise Technique Videos
Videos that demonstrate correct exercise techniques make brilliant fitness content. You can shoot short snippets as Instagram Reels and TikToks, or longer-form videos for YouTube and Facebook.
These videos are really useful to your followers since they can help them prevent injuries and get better results from their workouts. They also showcase the value of working with a fitness professional which can help people understand why it’s worth paying for coaching with an expert.
Read more… About how to film and live-stream fitness videos.
Fitness Polls & Questions
Running interactive polls and posting questions is an effective way to generate social media engagement. Content that gets genuine interactions performs better as platforms see it as a positive signal, and then show it to more people.
Fitness polls and questions encourage two-way conversations and make great gym content. So why not ask things like…
- What is your biggest fitness challenge?
- Do you prefer sit-ups or crunchies?
- How do you track your workout progress?
- What’s the one thing you wish you knew about strength training?
- Who is your fav celebrity trainer and why?
Instagram and Facebook have built-in poll functionalities and question stickers which are perfect for this. But you can also post images with the question on to any other social media platform. Simply give people A/B/C answer options to choose from and ask them to leave their vote in the comments. You can find ready-made question posts in our social media bundle…
Motivational Fitness Posts
Sharing motivational fitness content on social media is a tried and tested approach for successful accounts. Inspirational quotes are popular types of posts since they help followers to believe that they can achieve their goals. This is often the first step in helping people on their journey towards becoming fitter and healthier.
Posting motivational quotes and inspiring words of wisdom will often generate strong engagement. When content resonates with how someone is feeling, they’ll like and interact with it. It’s also common for these types of posts to be shared widely since followers will know someone else who will appreciate (or needs to hear) it.
Client Success Stories
Sharing client success stories on social media is a great way to show followers that your fitness training gets results! This type of content provides proof that your memberships, workout programs, or training methods actually work for normal people. It’s also a great way to celebrate your members’ or clients’ achievements.
You can use lots of different formats for success story content on social media…
- Videos where the client tells their story directly to the camera
- Facebook and Instagram posts of before and after photos
- Photos of the client with a text overlay stating what they achieved
- Instagram Stories that reshare the other formats you’ve created (such as embedding Reels)
- Instagram Story Highlights where you pin all the success stories to a highlight on your bio
Fitness Quizzes
Health and fitness-related quizzes make brilliant social media content because they drive engagement and leads. People love to test their knowledge by answering a few quick questions so they generally get lots of interaction.
With the right questions, you can also use fitness quizzes to generate leads for your business by helping people identify what their training needs are. You can use Instagram Stories, Facebook posts, or Tweets (Xs?) to share quizzes with your followers.
Fitness Marketing Resource Library
Generate a steady stream of leads, sales, and revenue for your gym, fitness studio, or personal training business.
Educational Fitness Content
Posting educational and informative fitness content is another way to build a loyal and engaged following. It’s a fundamental fitness content marketing technique that’s proven to work.
Teaching your audience about health and fitness can help them achieve their goals, and also position you as a knowledgeable authority on a topic. This means people are much more likely to work with you as a personal trainer or join your gym.
Sharing info that educates your audience can also help you to sell to them. Explaining the benefits of a particular type of training, how it affects the body, and why it’s effective can all make people more inclined to try it. Videos and ‘did you know?’ posts work really well for this type of content.
Top tip – whenever you read an interesting fitness article or research paper, why not share it with your followers at the same time? It’ll help position you as an authority and educate your audience too.
Workout Videos
Workout videos make ideal fitness content on any platform – they’ll work on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram too. Posting workout videos is a great way to show people what it’s like to train with you. They can also inspire followers to try a new type of workout that they might not have considered or known about before.
So, whilst you’re working out, why not record a quick video? Here are a few fitness video ideas you can try…
- A complete workout class where people follow along
- Gym workout snippets where you cover every exercise you do in a typical session
- A particular programming regime you follow
- Progressions that make popular movements even more challenging
Fitness Challenges
We can’t talk about gym content ideas without mentioning fitness challenges. They’re great for social media since they encourage engagement and drive people to take action towards their exercise goals. They make a brilliant ‘taster sample’ of your offering and can also be a source of lots of different content.
You can create polls about which types of challenges or goals people are interested in, educational content that outlines the benefits and how to perform various exercises, and success story content of people who complete them.
There are lots of different types of fitness challenges or weight loss challenge ideas that you can adapt to social media. Or you can pick one exercise (such as the plank or different types of squats) and challenge gym members and social followers to incorporate it into their daily routine. Remember to get them to tag you in their attempts to generate more buzz and interaction.
Fitness Awareness Day Content
Posting fitness content related to awareness days can be a great way to grow your reach. It allows you to tap into a trending topic at peak time so that your posts are seen by a bigger audience than usual. National Fitness Day, International Yoga Day, and Stress Awareness Month are just a few options that you can post about. Remember to use the relevant fitness hashtags or @ mentions for these campaigns.
Check out this list of fitness awareness days to find ideas that align with your training offering.
Nutrition Tips & Meal Prep Routines
Fitness isn’t just about exercise – nutrition plays a key role so share content about this too. So include nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and meal prep routines in your content mix.
Think about the most common barriers that hold people back from eating healthily and then create content around them. So, if lack of time is an issue then you can post quick meals ideas or batch prep solutions that will help people overcome it. This problem/solution approach is a great way to generate ideas for all sorts of health and wellness content marketing themes, not just fitness.
Healthy meal prep routines are popular on social media, along with ‘what I eat in a day’ type content. Pre-workout meals, post-workout snacks, or general healthy eating advice also work well. Posting videos, photos, and step-by-step instructions can help you bring these tips and routines to life for your followers.
Try cataloguing your nutrition habits throughout the day. People are always fascinated by what fitness professional eat so share elements of your food rituals that might inspire or educate others. It might be how you…
- Plan your meals ahead
- Food prep for the week
- Select seasonal produce
- Make a specific healthy recipe
- Or just share beautiful photos of your meals!
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Trainer Takeovers
If you run a gym social media account, then ask your fitness trainers to take over for a day. Accounts takeovers are really popular and can add some personality to business profiles.
Trainers can share their own workout routines, fitness tips, or even behind-the-scenes glimpses of their training sessions. They’ll like have lots of creative fitness content ideas of their own too. This is also a great way to introduce new team members and build a sense of community in your club.
Giveaways & Competitions
Fitness giveaways and competitions make great social media content as they can grow your following and boost engagement too. With the right prizes on offer, you can attract your target audience and stop them scrolling past your posts. This might be the latest new fitness product, access to your newest workout program, or nutritional supplements.
The most successful competitions are planned with social media marketing goals in mind. If you want to grow your following, then get people to follow your account and tag a friend in order to be entered. If you want to raise awareness of your new fitness program, then get people to tag two friends who would like it. Doing this will ensure your competition content drives meaningful results for your fitness business.
Countdowns & Previews of New Offerings
Use your social media content to generate buzz about new classes, programs, or product launches. Post countdowns that build anticipation and reveal sneak peeks of what’s coming to generate excitement. Instagram Stories makes it really easy to do this with its countdown feature but on other platforms you can simply post a series of images in the build up.
Promos & Special Offers
If your social media account represents a fitness business, then you’ll need to work promo posts into your content calendar. These types of post encourage followers to buy something immediately by highlighting a special offers, limited-time deal, or simply showcasing your offering and asking people to purchase. They work best when combined with educational content that explains the benefits of your offering, so people have already been warmed in advance.
Gym Equipment Highlights
If you run a gym, then you can also use social media to highlight special features of your fitness equipment. This could be built-in workout programs that your cardio machines offer, training accessories that offer specific fitness benefits, or new and unique kit that your competitors don’t have. It’s a great way to explain how your equipment can be used effectively for various workouts and ensure members get the most out of their training programs.
Behind the Scenes
Post content showing what it’s like behind the scenes of your fitness business or personal account. Sharing photos and videos that provide sneak peeks or exclusive access can help followers feel part of your community.
- Gyms – Behind-the-scenes content for gym and health clubs might include how your team prepares for group classes, the delivery of new equipment, or showcasing your rigorous cleaning routine.
- Personal trainers – behind-the-scenes posts for personal trainers could cover how you go about preparing custom fitness programs for clients, what a workout session is like with you, or a CPD training course you’re attending.
- Online Creators – behind-the-scenes content for fitness influencers and bloggers might showcase a new online program that you’re working on, how you prepare for an event or photoshoot, or what a day in the life looks like.
Fitness FAQs
Frequently asked questions make great fitness content for Instagram and Facebook since they’re inherently valuable to your followers. Consider what the most common client queries are and then create posts, videos, and Stories that answer them. Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Will strength training make me bulky?
- How much weight can I lose in 6 weeks?
- What is HIIT?
- When is the best time to exercise?
Collab Posts
Collaborations are really popular on social media because they enable you to tap into new fitness audiences. So think about complimentary accounts that you might be able to partner with. They should have a similar target audience to yours but not be directly competing…
- Gyms – If you run a gym, then consider collaborations with your supplement suppliers or local businesses.
- Personal trainers – If you’re a personal trainer, why not collab with local health food cafes, nutritionists, or sports clubs.
- Online creators – If you’re an influencer or blogger, then partner with online businesses and brands that you use and love.
Once you’ve found other social media accounts to partner with, you can do joint posts, takeovers, or run competitions together. This is a great way for fitness accounts to expand their reach and grow their online following. Plus, it means you can tap into their collective wisdom to source innovative fitness content ideas that you might not have thought of!
Awards, Achievements & Reviews
You’ve already shared your clients’ success stories – now it’s time to showcase your own too! Post about awards you’ve won, achievements and milestones you’ve reached, or positive reviews you’ve received. This type of content helps build your credibility and positions you as a trustworthy authority in your fitness niche.
Funny Fitness Content
Sharing funny fitness content on social media is another effective way to grow a following and drive engagement. Posting humourous fitness quotes, entertaining memes and gifs, or sarcastic captions can help you stand out on social. It shows that you don’t take yourself too seriously, which can make you more likable and relatable online.
Fitness Content From Other Accounts
Social media platforms aren’t just useful for posting your own fitness content. You can also share great posts from other accounts or articles from credible websites. Just add your own caption, opinion, or hot take to their content.
This is a great way to position yourself as a knowledgeable authority and ‘one-stop-shop’ for fitness information. It also an opportunity for networking with other fitness professionals – sharing their content is an effective way to build connections.
We use Flipboard, Feedly, and Later to collect shareable fitness content ideas for our clients. Instead of trawling social media accounts, blogs, and websites for interesting posts and articles, they can curate them on your behalf. Simply set up your accounts to follow your favourite content sources, such as Men’s Health, Prevention, Self, or ACE. Then share to your social media profiles directly from their app or website.
Fitness Tutorial Videos
Tutorial videos are hugely popular on social media and make great fitness content. They’re different from workout and technique videos because they explain how to achieve a specific fitness goal. For example, tutorial videos might outline the steps to losing weight effectively, bulking up, or boosting athletic performance.
This type of content gives your social media followers a complete solution. It often requires comprehensive explanations, which can make it more suited to long-form videos on YouTube. Fitness tutorial videos can encourage followers to sign up for your classes, training, or online programs since many people won’t want to go it alone.
Boost Social Media Engagement
Download our free guide to boosting social media engagement for health and fitness businesses.
Gym Etiquette Tips
Share quick tips on gym etiquette, from wiping down equipment to re-racking weights. It’s always helpful to remind people of the expectations around how people should behave in your fitness facility. And there’s always a chance that new members won’t know or think about these tips, so it’s worth regularly weaving them into your content plan.
Interviews
Interviews make for interesting and insightful fitness content on social media. They’re a great option for educating your audience and helping them learn more about different fitness topics. Interviewing people is also a great way to build your network in the fitness industry.
There are lots of interview formats you can use on social media, from talking head videos to image posts featuring ’10 questions with X expert’. Long-form video interviews are a particularly useful content type, since they can be edited and repurposed into other formats too. You can post the original to YouTube, chop it up into shorter Instagram Reels and TikToks, and turn quotes from the interview into Facebook image posts and Instagram Stories.
Engaging Fitness Content Ideas for Social Media
So, there you have a comprehensive list of creative and engaging fitness content ideas for Instagram, Facebook, and any other social media platforms you use. Whether you run a gym, personal training studio, or content creation business, you’ll find post ideas to suit your needs. Sharing a mix of content types that’s tailored to your target audience will set you on the right path to growing an engaged social following.
If you don’t have time, then we’ve got ready-made fitness posts for social media, including Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. They’re based on 15+ years of fitness industry marketing experience working with global brands, local gyms, and online startups. We’ve applied marketing best practices and the lessons we’ve learned along the way to create a comprehensive package of social content for fitness businesses.
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Fitness Marketing Resource Library
Generate a steady stream of leads, sales, and revenue for your gym, fitness studio, or personal training business.
