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Fitness Influencer Management (Guide + Tips)

Fitness Influencer Management (Guide + Tips)

Posted by Tyler Spraul, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) on May 27, 2023 — Updated on November 14, 2023

Wondering what you need to know about fitness influencer management? The best fitness influencer management companies can help fitness influencers better monetize their fitness followers.

The health and wellness industry is booming, and fitness influencers are leading the charge. These social media personalities have built massive followings by sharing their workout routines, healthy eating habits, and motivational messages. As a result, brands are turning to fitness influencers to promote their products and services. However, managing these partnerships can be challenging, especially for those new to influencer marketing.

In this article, we will explore the world of fitness influencer management and provide tips for building successful campaigns that drive results.

Our overall experience with Exercise.com is a breeze. We love how easy it is to integrate this app with our current workflow while providing great fitness programs for our customers and save us time in the process.
Julie Ledbetter
Owner, Ledbetter Fitness

Whenever you are ready to really take your online fitness business to the next level, be sure and check out the best fitness software for influencers to help you sell workout plans, run fitness challenges, create online workout groups, and more — all from you very own custom branded fitness app!

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Understanding the Role of Fitness Influencers

Before we dive into the specifics of fitness influencer management, let’s take a closer look at what fitness influencers do. These individuals use their social media platforms to share their fitness journeys and offer inspiration to their followers. Some may be professional athletes or personal trainers, while others are simply fitness enthusiasts with a knack for creating engaging content. Regardless of their background, fitness influencers have built a loyal following of like-minded individuals who look to them for guidance and motivation.

But what makes fitness influencers so appealing to their followers? For one, they often showcase their own transformation stories, which can be incredibly inspiring for those who are just starting their fitness journeys. Additionally, fitness influencers tend to be very open and honest about their struggles, which can make them more relatable to their followers. This level of authenticity can be hard to come by in traditional advertising, which is why brands are turning to fitness influencers to promote their products.

The Rise of Fitness Influencers in Social Media

The rise of social media has given birth to a new era of fitness celebrities. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube have allowed fitness influencers to connect with their audience on a personal level, sharing snippets of their daily lives and offering insight into their fitness routines. This level of accessibility has made fitness influencers more relatable than traditional celebrities, leading to higher engagement rates and increased influence. As a result, brands have turned to fitness influencers to promote their products and services, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.

One of the reasons why fitness influencers have been so successful on social media is their ability to create visually appealing content. Many fitness influencers have a keen eye for design and aesthetics, which can make their posts stand out in a sea of other content. Additionally, fitness influencers often collaborate with other influencers or brands, which can help them reach new audiences and expand their reach.

PJF Performance
I sold a workout program and matched my yearly salary of in-person training within two weeks of selling to my community!
Paul Fabritz
Founder and BS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, ACE, FMS, PJF Performance

Types of Fitness Influencers: From Personal Trainers to Athletes

There are many types of fitness influencers with varying levels of expertise in the health and wellness industry. Some may be certified personal trainers, while others may be professional athletes or fitness enthusiasts with a strong social media presence. Regardless of their background, all fitness influencers have one thing in common: they inspire and motivate their followers to be healthier and happier.

Personal trainers and coaches often use their social media platforms to offer workout tips and advice, while athletes may showcase their training routines and competition highlights. Fitness enthusiasts may focus on healthy eating or mindfulness practices, offering a holistic approach to wellness. Regardless of their niche, fitness influencers have the power to influence their followers’ behavior and encourage them to make positive changes in their lives.

How Fitness Influencers Impact the Health and Wellness Industry

Fitness influencers have had a profound impact on the health and wellness industry, particularly in the realms of exercise, nutrition, and self-care. By sharing their own experiences and offering advice, fitness influencers can help their followers overcome physical and mental obstacles on their fitness journeys. Additionally, fitness influencers often partner with brands to promote products that align with their personal brand. This association can add credibility to the brand and result in increased sales.

However, it’s important to note that not all fitness influencers are created equal. Some may promote unhealthy or unrealistic body standards, which can be damaging to their followers’ mental and physical health. It’s important for brands to carefully vet their influencer partners and for followers to be discerning when it comes to the advice they receive from fitness influencers.

Overall, fitness influencers have become an integral part of the health and wellness industry, offering inspiration, motivation, and guidance to their followers. As social media continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how fitness influencers adapt and continue to shape the industry.

Building a Successful Fitness Influencer Management Strategy

Now that we’ve explored the role of fitness influencers in the health and wellness industry, let’s turn our attention to building successful influencer campaigns. In today’s digital age, influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for brands to reach their target audiences and build brand awareness. In the fitness industry, influencers have the ability to inspire, motivate, and educate their followers on a range of health and wellness topics.

However, building a successful influencer campaign requires careful planning and execution. In this article, we’ll explore some key steps to building a successful fitness influencer management strategy.

Identifying the Right Influencers for Your Brand

The first step in building a successful influencer campaign is to identify the right fitness influencers for your brand. This involves researching influencers in your niche and evaluating their engagement rates, reach, and overall brand alignment. Look for fitness influencers who share similar values and goals as your brand to ensure a strong partnership.

It’s also important to consider the influencer’s audience demographics. Are they primarily male or female? What age range do they fall into? Understanding the influencer’s audience will help you determine whether they are a good fit for your brand and whether they can help you reach your target audience.

Establishing Clear Goals and Objectives

Once you’ve identified the right influencers, establish clear goals and objectives that align with your overall marketing strategy. Do you want to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, or boost sales? Whatever your goals may be, make sure they are specific, measurable, and achievable.

It’s also important to consider the timeline for your campaign. Is it a short-term campaign or a long-term partnership? Establishing clear goals and objectives from the outset will help you measure the success of your campaign and make informed decisions about future strategies.

Developing a Comprehensive Influencer Marketing Plan

With your goals and objectives in mind, develop a comprehensive influencer marketing plan that outlines the campaign’s timeline, budget, and deliverables. This plan should include the type of content you want the influencer to create and how it will be promoted. Additionally, consider creating a contract that outlines the terms of the partnership and any legal considerations, such as FTC guidelines.

It’s important to work closely with your influencer to ensure that the content they create aligns with your brand’s values and messaging. This will help you build a strong and authentic partnership that resonates with your target audience.

Measuring the Success of Your Fitness Influencer Campaigns

Measuring the success of your influencer campaigns is crucial to understanding their impact and optimizing future strategies. Use tools like Google Analytics and social media management platforms to track metrics like engagement rates, website traffic, and sales. Analyze this data regularly to make informed decisions that will drive results.

It’s also important to solicit feedback from your influencer and their audience. This will help you understand what worked well and what could be improved in future campaigns. By continuously refining your influencer management strategy, you can build strong and effective partnerships that drive real results for your brand.

Nurturing Long-Term Relationships with Fitness Influencers

Building a successful influencer campaign is just the beginning. To truly reap the benefits of influencer marketing, it’s important to nurture long-term relationships with your fitness influencers. This can help you build a loyal following and establish your brand as a trusted authority in the fitness industry.

Communication and Collaboration: The Key to a Strong Partnership

Regular communication and collaboration are essential to building a strong partnership with your fitness influencer. Make sure to keep in touch with your influencer on a consistent basis, whether it’s through email, phone calls, or video chats. This will help you stay up-to-date on their progress and provide them with clear and concise direction.

It’s also important to collaborate with your influencer on new ideas and content to keep the partnership fresh and engaging. Ask for their input on upcoming campaigns or product launches, and be open to their suggestions. This will help you create content that resonates with your target audience and reflects your brand’s values and mission.

Providing Support and Resources for Influencer Growth

Supporting your fitness influencer’s growth is also crucial to building a successful partnership. Provide them with the resources they need to continue creating high-quality content that aligns with your brand. This may include access to equipment or software, professional development opportunities, or even additional compensation for their work.

One way to support your influencer’s growth is to provide them with access to industry events and conferences. This will give them the opportunity to network with other influencers and industry professionals, and to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the fitness industry.

Recognizing and Rewarding Influencer Achievements

Recognizing and rewarding your influencer’s achievements is a simple way to show your appreciation and solidify the partnership. Consider providing bonuses or exclusive access to your products or services for hitting milestones or achieving specific goals. This will show your influencer that you value their efforts and encourage them to continue creating great content for your brand.

Another way to recognize your influencer’s achievements is to feature them on your website or social media channels. This will help them gain exposure and build their personal brand, while also showcasing your partnership and the value that your influencer brings to your brand.

In conclusion, nurturing long-term relationships with your fitness influencers is key to building a successful influencer marketing campaign. By communicating regularly, collaborating on new ideas and content, providing support and resources for growth, and recognizing and rewarding achievements, you can establish a strong and mutually beneficial partnership with your fitness influencer.

Erica Nangle Fitness
Exercise.com is amazing! Positively surprised by the efficiency at responding and helping out!
Erica Nangle
Owner, Erica Nangle Fitness

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Fitness Influencer Management

In today’s world, fitness influencers have become an integral part of the fitness industry. With their vast reach and influence, they can help promote products and services, and their endorsement can make or break a brand. However, it’s crucial to consider the legal and ethical implications of fitness influencer management before entering into a partnership.

Ensuring Transparency and Authenticity in Influencer Partnerships

Transparency and authenticity are critical considerations when partnering with fitness influencers. It’s essential to make sure that the influencer discloses their partnership with your brand in all applicable posts and content. This disclosure is necessary to ensure that the audience is aware of the influencer’s relationship with your brand and can make an informed decision.

Moreover, it’s crucial to ensure that the content being produced aligns with your brand’s values and messaging. If the content is not aligned with your brand’s values, it can lead to confusion among the audience and may harm your brand’s reputation.

Therefore, it’s recommended to work with influencers who share your brand values and can produce content that aligns with your messaging.

Navigating FTC Guidelines and Regulations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established guidelines and regulations that must be taken into consideration when partnering with fitness influencers. These guidelines require influencers to disclose their partnerships with brands adequately.

It’s crucial to ensure that your influencer complies with these regulations to avoid any legal issues. Failing to comply with these regulations can lead to significant legal problems and damage your brand’s reputation.

Therefore, it’s recommended to work with influencers who have experience in complying with FTC guidelines and regulations.

Addressing Potential Conflicts of Interest

Finally, it’s essential to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise when partnering with fitness influencers. Ensure that your influencer aligns with your brand values and messaging, and avoid partnering with influencers who may be in direct competition with your brand.

Moreover, it’s crucial to ensure that the content being produced by the influencer does not promote any conflicting products or services. This promotion can lead to confusion among the audience and may harm your brand’s reputation.

Therefore, it’s recommended to work with influencers who can produce content that aligns with your brand values and messaging and does not promote any conflicting products or services.

In conclusion, legal and ethical considerations are critical when partnering with fitness influencers. Ensuring transparency and authenticity, complying with FTC guidelines and regulations, and addressing potential conflicts of interest can help you build a successful partnership with a fitness influencer.

Des B Fit
I am grateful to have been able to create an app for my online family to grow with, and be able to support a business that I believe in.
Desiree Pfeifer
CEO, DBFT LLC

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Fitness Influencer Case Studies

Below are some composite examples (based on real life) of ways fitness influencers can work with fitness influencer management in order to grow and scale their fitness business. See how using Exercise.com to create your own fitness app, run fitness challenges, sell workout plans, and more can result in significant revenue.

Case Study 1: Expanding Reach and Revenue with Custom Workout Plans

Jane is a fitness influencer specializing in yoga and mindfulness. While she has a decent following, she struggles to monetize her audience effectively and expand her reach. Jane partners with a fitness influencer manager who helps her leverage Exercise.com’s platform to sell custom workout plans. The manager assists in pricing strategy, marketing efforts, and negotiation with partners for promotion. With their combined efforts, Jane’s online fitness business grows significantly. The addition of custom workout plans not only provides additional revenue but also strengthens her brand as a fitness authority, leading to a larger, more engaged audience.

Read More: Best Workout Plan Sales Software

Case Study 2: Launching a Successful Fitness Challenge with Influencer Management

John, a well-known fitness influencer focusing on strength training, wanted to increase engagement and boost his revenue. His manager suggested launching a fitness challenge via Exercise.com, a proven method for achieving both goals. The manager helped John design the challenge, set the pricing, and organize the marketing strategy. They worked together to build hype through John’s social media channels, encouraging followers to join the challenge and share their progress. This initiative significantly increased engagement on John’s platforms, helped to convert followers into paying customers, and built a strong sense of community around his brand.

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Case Study 3: Promoting a Custom-Branded Fitness App

Emma, a fitness influencer focusing on HIIT workouts, had developed her custom-branded fitness app through Exercise.com. However, she was finding it challenging to promote the app and generate downloads. Emma’s manager came up with a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote the app across all her channels. They arranged collaborations with other fitness influencers, secured sponsored posts, and created engaging content showcasing the benefits of the app. The manager also arranged special promotional offers for the first few hundred downloads, which encouraged Emma’s followers to act quickly. As a result, the number of app downloads increased, leading to a steady source of revenue for Emma and a more cohesive brand presence.

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Case Study 4: Increasing Engagement and Revenue with Live Virtual Workouts

Mike, a fitness influencer, has a following interested in bodyweight workouts. He’s been posting workout videos, but engagement and revenue have plateaued. His manager suggests leveraging Exercise.com to host live virtual workouts. The manager helps Mike plan, price, and promote these live sessions, including a secure payment gateway and a smooth sign-up process. As a result, Mike’s followers appreciate the interactive experience, leading to increased engagement, and the live sessions add a new revenue stream to his business.

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How much is a fitness influencer management fee?

The management fee for a fitness influencer can vary widely depending on factors such as the influencer’s popularity, reach, and earnings. Typically, management fees fall around 10-20% of the influencer’s earnings. However, this can shift based on the manager’s role scope and the specific arrangement between the influencer and their manager.

What does a fitness influencer manager do?

A fitness influencer manager handles the business aspects of the influencer’s career. Their tasks often include seeking partnerships and sponsorship opportunities, negotiating contracts, managing the influencer’s schedule, and helping with content strategy and brand positioning.

Do fitness influencers need a manager?

Whether a fitness influencer needs a manager depends on several factors, including their career stage, workload, and personal skills. As an influencer’s career grows, the complexities of managing brand relationships, contracts, and schedules also increase. In such scenarios, having a manager can be extremely beneficial. However, if an influencer is just starting out or if they are comfortable handling these responsibilities themselves, a manager may not be necessary.

What does fitness influencer management include?

Fitness influencer management can include a variety of tasks, all aimed at optimizing the influencer’s career. This includes identifying and securing sponsorship opportunities, negotiating contracts, handling public relations, managing schedules, providing strategic advice on content and brand development, and often handling financial matters such as budgeting and invoicing.

How do fitness influencers get a manager?

Fitness influencers can find managers through various means. Networking within the industry, seeking referrals from other influencers, or hiring from talent management agencies are common methods. Some influencers may even find that their contacts, such as photographers or videographers, have connections to management professionals.

How much do fitness influencers pay assistants?

The pay rate for assistants to fitness influencers can vary based on the influencer’s earnings, the complexity of tasks assigned, and the assistant’s experience level. As a rough estimate, influencer assistants might make anywhere from $15 to $30 per hour or more. Some influencers might also choose to pay their assistants a salary, which can vary widely based on the same factors.

When should a fitness influencer get a manager?

A fitness influencer should consider getting a manager when the administrative and business aspects of their career become too time-consuming or complex to handle on their own. This often happens when an influencer’s popularity grows and they start getting more brand partnerships and sponsorship opportunities. Having a manager can free up the influencer’s time to focus on content creation and engaging with their audience, which are key aspects of their role as an influencer.

Getting Started

Fitness influencer management can be an effective way to promote your brand and reach a new audience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can build successful influencer campaigns that drive results. Remember to build strong relationships with your influencers and stay mindful of legal and ethical considerations to ensure a successful partnership. With the right strategy in place, fitness influencer management can be a valuable addition to your marketing toolbox and a catalyst for growth in the health and wellness industry.

Kellie Davis - Fit Thrive
With Exercise.com, I’m able to reach people around the world with the programs that I design, implement, and push out. You don’t have that opportunity working in a local gym. So that’s been huge.
Kellie Davis
Founder/Trainer, Fit Thrive

And if you are a fitness influencer looking to grow your fitness brand online, check out the best fitness software for influencers so you can grow your fitness business online.

Book a demo today to get started!

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®). He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life.
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