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How many followers does a fitness influencer need to make money?

How many followers does a fitness influencer need to make money?

Posted by Tyler Spraul, Certified Strength and Conditioning SpecialistĀ® (CSCSĀ®) on June 8, 2023 ā€” Updated on January 24, 2024

Discover the magic number of followers needed to become a paid fitness influencer. Learn the impact of engagement, niche vs mainstream and more. Hint: there is no magic number. There is no set number that guarantees someone will become a fitness influencer or receive payment from brands; instead, it depends on several factors like engagement rate per post, niche-specific content quality, and relevance.

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

Learn how to make money as a fitness influencer and all about the income opportunities for fitness influencers based on their followers count, niche market, and income sources. Discover top fitness influencer earners in the industry, learn how to make money from fitness, and then be sure and use the best software platform around for growing and managing your fitness business.

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Behind the Scenes: The Magic Number of Followers for Paid Fitness Influencers

Fitness influencers have become an essential part of the fitness industry, and their popularity has been on the rise in recent years. These individuals are social media personalities who have a massive following, and they use their influence to promote various aspects of fitness, including workout routines, diet plans, supplements, and fitness gear.

Fitness enthusiasts frequently look up to these influencers for inspiration and advice on how to achieve their fitness goals. The concept of fitness influencers is not new; it has been around for some time.

However, with the growth of social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, fitness influencers have gained widespread popularity due to their ability to reach a vast audience. Their immense following has made them valuable assets for brands looking to market their products or services in the fitness industry.

The Role of Fitness Influencers in the Industry

Fitness influencers play a crucial role in shaping the opinions and actions of people interested in health and wellness. They act as motivators by showcasing what is possible through dedicated training regimens and healthy diets.

Additionally, they provide valuable information about nutrition, exercise routines that can help people achieve specific goals. Moreover, these influencers can change individuals’ perception towards physical activity by promoting a positive attitude towards exercise while presenting it as fun rather than an unpleasant obligation.

The Big Question: How many followers do you need?

The question arises: “How many followers do you need to become a paid fitness influencer?” In general terms, there is no set number that guarantees someone will become an influencer or receive payment from brands; instead, it depends on several factors like engagement rate per post, niche-specific content quality & relevance. Some brands may prefer working with micro-influencers (less than 1,000 followers) who have higher rates of engagement than working with major celebrities or macro-influencers (over 1 million followers). While others may have a predetermined threshold of followers for accepting sponsorship deals.

In the next sections, we will explore some factors that impact an influencer’s income potential beyond just follower count, including engagement rate, niche vs. mainstream influencers, and other ways influencers earn revenue through sponsored content and affiliate marketing.

Defining a Fitness Influencer

Fitness influencers are individuals with a strong social media presence who have the power to influence their followers into adopting healthier lifestyles. These individuals typically have a background in fitness, whether it be as a personal trainer, athlete, or health enthusiast.

They use their platforms to share workout routines, healthy meal plans, and motivational content with their followers. What sets fitness influencers apart from regular fitness enthusiasts is their ability to reach and connect with large audiences through social media.

They use platforms such as Instagram and YouTube to share their knowledge and inspire others to live healthier lives. Their content often includes photos and videos of themselves demonstrating exercises or sharing tips on how to improve one’s overall health.

Having a strong social media presence is essential for fitness influencers. It allows them to connect with their followers on a more personal level and share valuable information that can positively impact people’s lives.

They also use their platforms to collaborate with brands in the health and wellness industry, expanding their reach even further. Fitness influencers are individuals who use social media platforms to inspire others towards living healthier lifestyles by sharing tips, tricks, workouts routines, healthy meals plans etc. having a strong social media presence is crucial for them as it helps in connecting with followers on an intimate level while collaborating with brands within the industry that expands their reach further making them one of the most impactful influences in people’s life towards exercising well-being

The Influence of Followers on Income

The Power of Social Media Followers

Social media has created an unprecedented opportunity for individuals to grow their personal brand and monetize their passions. Fitness influencers, specifically, have found success in the industry by building a loyal following online.

Generally speaking, the more followers an influencer has, the higher their income potential. It is important to note that follower count isn’t the only factor in determining an influencer’s value, but it still plays a significant role.

How Follower Count Impacts Income

When it comes to sponsorships and brand deals, companies are often looking to reach as many people as possible with their message. Therefore, influencers with larger followings tend to have more negotiating power when it comes to compensation for sponsored content. A fitness influencer with 100k followers may be able to command $500 per sponsored post while an influencer with 1 million followers could earn upwards of $5,000 per post.

Examples of Successful Fitness Influencers With Different Follower Counts

While follower count can impact an influencer’s income potential, it is not the only indication of success in the industry. Here are a few examples of successful fitness influencers at different follower counts:

Jen Selter

Jen Selter, Fitness Influencer
Jen Selter

Jen Selter is a fitness influencer with just over 12 million Instagram followers. She initially gained popularity through her impressive workout videos and photos showcasing her toned physique. Her social media presence led her to become a spokesperson for brands like FitTea and Lululemon.

Bret Contreras

Brett Contreras
Brett Contreras

Bret Contreras is known as “The Glute Guy” in the fitness community thanks to his expertise on developing strong glutes. Despite having a smaller following than some other fitness influencers, Contreras has found success through his highly specialized and focused content. He has written several books on the topic and is frequently sought after for speaking engagements and workshops.

Cassey Ho

Cassey Ho
Cassey Ho

Cassey Ho is a prominent fitness influencer with over 1 million YouTube subscribers. She is the creator of Blogilates, a popular pilates-based workout program. Ho’s relatable personality and motivational message have helped her amass a loyal following. She frequently collaborates with brands like Puma and Fabletics on sponsored content.

Overall, while follower count certainly plays a role in an influencer’s income potential, it should not be the sole focus when trying to build a successful brand as a fitness influencer. It’s important to create quality content that resonates with your audience and establish yourself as an authority in your niche to attract potential sponsors and increase your earning potential.

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The Role of Engagement

Why Engagement Rate Can Be More Important Than Follower Count

While having a large number of followers is important for becoming a paid fitness influencer, engagement rate is equally significant. In fact, it can be argued that engagement rate is more important than follower count.

This is because engagement measures the number of people who interact with an influencer’s content. The higher the engagement rate, the more likely it is that an influencer’s followers are interested in their content and will take action on sponsored posts.

Brands want to work with influencers who have high engagement rates because they want their products or services to reach as many people as possible. High engagement rates also indicate that an influencer has a loyal and engaged audience, which can lead to increased trust and credibility for the brand.

Tips for Increasing Engagement on Social Media

There are several ways to increase engagement on social media:

1. Post consistently ā€“ Consistency is key when it comes to building a loyal following and increasing engagement. Posting regularly will keep your followers engaged and interested in your content.

2. Use hashtags ā€“ Hashtags make your content discoverable by people who aren’t following you yet but may be interested in your niche. Use relevant hashtags on every post to increase visibility.

3. Engage with your audience ā€“ Engage with your followers by responding to comments, asking questions, and encouraging discussion around your posts.

4. Create quality content ā€“ Share valuable information or create visually appealing photos/videos that resonate with your audience.

5. Collaborate with other influencers ā€“ Collaborating with other influencers in similar niches can help increase exposure and introduce new audiences to your content.

While having a large number of followers is important for becoming a paid fitness influencer, engagement rate should not be overlooked. By implementing these tips for increasing engagement on social media, influencers can build a loyal and engaged audience, which can lead to increased income potential.

Niche vs Mainstream Influencers

The Importance of Choosing a Niche

When it comes to fitness influencers, there are two main categories: mainstream and niche. Mainstream influencers typically have a larger following, but focus on more general fitness topics such as workouts or healthy eating.

Niche influencers, on the other hand, have a smaller following but specialize in a particular area of fitness such as yoga or weightlifting. While mainstream influencers may seem like the more obvious choice for brand partnerships and sponsorships due to their larger audience reach, niche influencers can be just as valuable.

By focusing on a particular area of fitness, they can build a loyal and engaged community around their content. This allows them to promote products and services that are specifically relevant to their audience’s interests.

Follower Count Requirements

The follower count requirements for niche vs mainstream influencers can vary greatly. Mainstream fitness influencers often have hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers, while niche influencers may only have tens of thousands.

However, it’s important to note that follower count isn’t the only factor brands consider when choosing which influencer to work with. Niche influencers often have a higher engagement rate with their followers compared to mainstream influencers.

Their smaller audience allows them to form closer relationships with their followers and create more targeted content that resonates with them. This means that even if they don’t have as many followers as a mainstream influencer, their engaged community can still provide value for brands.

Examples of Successful Niche and Mainstream Fitness Influencers

Examples of successful niche fitness influencers include Kayla Itsines, who has built her brand around her Bikini Body Guide program for women, and Jen Selter who is known for her impressive glute workouts. These women may not have millions of followers like some mainstream fitness influencers, but they have been able to build a loyal community around their niche topics and have worked with major brands in the fitness industry. On the other hand, examples of successful mainstream fitness influencers include Joe Wicks, who has over 4 million followers and has written several best-selling books on health and fitness.

He has partnered with major brands such as Nike and teamed up with YouTube to create a popular workout channel. Another example is Cassey Ho, founder of Blogilates, who started her fitness journey by creating Pilates videos on YouTube.

She now has over 4 million subscribers and has partnered with brands such as Puma and Target. Overall, both niche and mainstream influencers can be successful in the fitness industry.

While follower count is important, it’s not the only factor that determines an influencer’s value to brands. By choosing a niche topic and building a strong community around it, even smaller influencers can provide significant value for brands looking to reach a targeted audience.

Other Factors that Impact Income Potential

Brand Partnerships

While follower count plays a significant role in an influencer’s earning potential, it’s not the only factor. Influencers who have a smaller following but are highly engaged with their audience can still earn a good income through brand partnerships.

Brands are willing to pay for authenticity and a loyal following, even if it’s not as large as other influencers. When choosing brand partnerships, it’s essential to consider whether the brand aligns with your values and message.

Another way to increase income potential is by collaborating with brands on long-term partnerships rather than one-off sponsored posts. This type of partnership requires more commitment from both parties but can be incredibly lucrative for the influencer in the long run.

Sponsored Content

Sponsored content refers to paid posts or videos created specifically for promoting a particular product or service. These types of collaborations often offer higher pay rates than regular brand partnerships because they require more time and effort from the influencer.

When accepting sponsored content deals, it’s crucial to understand that transparency is key in maintaining trust with your audience. Influencers must disclose when posts are sponsored, and any opinions expressed must be honest and authentic.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services from other companies through unique links provided by those companies. Influencers who drive traffic and sales through these links receive a commission for each sale made. Affiliate marketing is an excellent way for influencers to diversify their income streams beyond sponsorships or branded content deals.

However, it requires careful consideration of what products align well with your brand image and message. While follower count is undoubtedly important in becoming a paid fitness influencer, there are other factors that can impact earning potential significantly.

These include building strong relationships with brands through partnerships rather than just individual sponsorships, creating authentic sponsored content, and participating in affiliate marketing to diversify income streams. As the influencer industry continues to grow and evolve, it’s essential for influencers to adapt their strategies continually.

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Build Your Own Fitness Brand

Throughout this article, we have explored the question of how many followers someone needs to become a paid fitness influencer. We have seen that while follower count is important, it is not the only factor that determines an influencer’s income potential. Engagement rate, niche vs mainstream appeal, and other factors such as brand partnerships and sponsored content all impact an influencer’s earning potential.

It is clear from the examples we have explored that there are successful fitness influencers with a range of follower counts. While having a large following can help open doors for opportunities and negotiations with brands, it does not guarantee success on its own.

An influencer who has built a community of engaged followers with a specific niche or audience can be just as successful or even more so than someone with a larger but less engaged following. Ultimately, becoming a paid fitness influencer requires hard work, dedication, and consistency.

Building a strong personal brand on social media takes time and effort to create quality content that resonates with your audience. Success may not come overnight but with consistent effort in building oneā€™s presence and connecting with their audience in an authentic way can lead to great opportunities.

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

Are you ready to try the best software for fitness influencers, gym owners, personal trainers, and fitness professionals who are serious about growing their fitness businesses?

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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 SpecialistĀ® (CSCSĀ®). 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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