Blogging is a great way for personal trainers to develop a long-lasting relationship with their existing clients. It is also a great way to attract prospective clients, build your audience and grow marketing assets. But sometimes it can be a little tricky to get started and you might wonder whether it's even worth it.
So let's talk about a few statistics that might inspire you to get started or if you're already blogging, do more of it:
- Websites with a blog have tend to have 434% more indexed pages. (source)
- 47% of buyers viewed 3-5 pieces of content before engaging with a sales rep. (source)
- Blog articles with images get 94% more views. (source)
- B2B marketers that use blogs get 67% more leads than those that do not. (source)
- Marketers who prioritize blogging are 13x more likely to achieve a positive ROI on their efforts. (source)
- SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads (such as direct mail or print advertising) have a 1.7% close rate. (source)
- Companies who blog receive 97% more links to their website. (source)
- Blogs have been rated as the 5th most trusted source for accurate online information. (source)
- Once you write 52 or more blog posts, blog traffic generation increases by up to 77%. (Source)
If blogging still sounds like too much work to you, you're probably just not going to be a blogger. And that's OK. There are loads of other ways to get traffic to your site.
But if you're liking the look of those statistics and want to start a fitness blog, here are 8 tips to help you get started.
1. Be Focused on a Goal
Is your blog intended to give generic information to your readers or do you plan on writing exclusively for people who take part in obstacle courses or for post natal mothers?
When starting a blog, it’s extremely important to keep an end goal in mind. Every post should have a purpose. The type of content you write will vary depending on the goal or purpose you have.
Most personal trainers just start writing. While that probably is the best way to get started, having an end goal for your blog in mind prevents you from wasting your time on content that won't serve your business.
To do this, think about what people who would consider hiring you at some point might need help with. Then answer those questions. This will help you find a relevant audience and it will enable you to customise your posts for your readers.
For example, will a protein flapjack recipe blog be more or less useful to a new mother than a blog about post natal fitness. That's rhetorical. You know the answer ;)
When starting a blog, it’s extremely important to keep an end goal in mind. Every post should have a purpose. The type of content you write will vary depending on the goal or purpose you have.
Most personal trainers just start writing. While that probably is the best way to get started, having an end goal for your blog in mind prevents you from wasting your time on content that won't serve your business.
To do this, think about what people who would consider hiring you at some point might need help with. Then answer those questions. This will help you find a relevant audience and it will enable you to customise your posts for your readers.
For example, will a protein flapjack recipe blog be more or less useful to a new mother than a blog about post natal fitness. That's rhetorical. You know the answer ;)
2. Be Authentic
It’s easy to find blogs that churn out the same old health and fitness advice in a one-size-fits-all post. But, the reality is, no one actually likes reading these types of articles.
People visit a fitness blog to actually understand whether they can realistically achieve their fitness goals or not; and if they can, how.
When readers visit your blog, what they look for isn’t your advice, but your personal story and the way you interpret information.
I remember the moment I realised this to be true. I built a website for a personal trainer who had dyslexia. I didn't know this and encouraged him to write. He did and got an amazing reaction to his posts.
Naturally, I went to check it out and the spelling and grammar was terrible. But the way in which he delivered the message was amazing!
Stay true to yourself and post something from the heart. This will help you be more credible and relatable to your readers.
People visit a fitness blog to actually understand whether they can realistically achieve their fitness goals or not; and if they can, how.
When readers visit your blog, what they look for isn’t your advice, but your personal story and the way you interpret information.
I remember the moment I realised this to be true. I built a website for a personal trainer who had dyslexia. I didn't know this and encouraged him to write. He did and got an amazing reaction to his posts.
Naturally, I went to check it out and the spelling and grammar was terrible. But the way in which he delivered the message was amazing!
Stay true to yourself and post something from the heart. This will help you be more credible and relatable to your readers.
3. Create Content That is Relevant to Your Audience
The type of blog you'd write to attract women who wish to reduce post-partum weight would be vastly different to the blog you'd write for seniors with back problems. The readers you cater to will determine the type of articles you publish.
Figure out what your clients want to read about by literally asking them. There's a Facebook group for everything. Find one that's full of your ideal clients and literally ask them.
Figure out what your clients want to read about by literally asking them. There's a Facebook group for everything. Find one that's full of your ideal clients and literally ask them.
4. Tackle One Issue at a Time
It’s easy to get enthusiastic and write about a whole host of unrelated things in a single article. But, doing so will make your post look poorly-researched and sloppy; and it will detract from the reading experience.
Instead, write about a single topic in each individual post. This will make you look more focused and knowledgeable to readers. Additionally, by tackling just one topic at a time, you give yourself a wider scope to write about various topics, which otherwise isn’t possible.
Instead, write about a single topic in each individual post. This will make you look more focused and knowledgeable to readers. Additionally, by tackling just one topic at a time, you give yourself a wider scope to write about various topics, which otherwise isn’t possible.
5. Switch it Up With Your Content
First-hand accounts, infographics, tips & tricks, how-to lists, case studies and research accounts are just some of the many types of content forms out there. If you don’t want your readers to be bored, keep experimenting with the type of content you publish.
You don’t always have to write your own blog posts. You could also invite a fitness expert or nutrition specialist to guest post on your blog. You can even curate content from other websites and share it on to your blogs.
You don’t always have to write your own blog posts. You could also invite a fitness expert or nutrition specialist to guest post on your blog. You can even curate content from other websites and share it on to your blogs.
6. Include How-to Videos and Photos
How-to posts and videos are great for fitness blogs, as they allow you to explain in detail various exercises, diets and workout techniques. For example, if your blog is for inexperienced runners practicing for a marathon, you could include a how-to post or video about developing the right running form. You can talk about the do’s and don’ts in detail and post relevant pictures of the gear to use, the right footfall, types of pronation and more.
List-based articles work great when you want to post how-to posts.
List-based articles work great when you want to post how-to posts.
7. Encourage Discussions and Sharing
People share blog posts which they feel will add value to their lives or the life of someone they care about. A great way to increase the value of your content is to reply to any comments you receive and start a discussion.
You can even end your article with a question and ask your readers for a reply. Stimulating discussions are the perfect way to promote social media sharing. Doing these things will not only make your blog be more visible and memorable; but, it will also help you get ideas about topics you can write about in the future.
You can even end your article with a question and ask your readers for a reply. Stimulating discussions are the perfect way to promote social media sharing. Doing these things will not only make your blog be more visible and memorable; but, it will also help you get ideas about topics you can write about in the future.
8. Be Consistent
Finally, it’s important to remember that the success of your blog, much like the success of your clients, lies in consistency. Your readers and clients will love your blog, only if they receive valuable information regularly.
One post every now and then simply won't cut it.
Readers seldom look towards blogs that inconsistently post articles. They also don’t appreciate the same type of articles over and over again. So, if you really wish to strike a chord with your clients, then post articles which are different and which offer a refreshing perspective; and post them regularly.
Maintaining a blog is a lot of work. At My Personal Trainer Website, we specialise in managing blogs and websites for fitness trainers. We handle end-to-end website management and we will take care of all bug fixes, technical revisions and software corrections; allowing you to focus completely on your writing.
If you’d like to learn about our services, feel free to contact us for more information.
One post every now and then simply won't cut it.
Readers seldom look towards blogs that inconsistently post articles. They also don’t appreciate the same type of articles over and over again. So, if you really wish to strike a chord with your clients, then post articles which are different and which offer a refreshing perspective; and post them regularly.
Maintaining a blog is a lot of work. At My Personal Trainer Website, we specialise in managing blogs and websites for fitness trainers. We handle end-to-end website management and we will take care of all bug fixes, technical revisions and software corrections; allowing you to focus completely on your writing.
If you’d like to learn about our services, feel free to contact us for more information.
