How to Start a Fitness Instagram

With the hugely popular social media platform boasting over 1.4 billion users worldwide, it is no surprise that you want to know how to start a fitness Instagram.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you exactly how to start a fitness Instagram using our own account as a case study, so you can see how it’s truly possible for you too.

Table of Contents:

• How to Create a Successful Fitness Instagram: A Case Study
• How to Set Up A Fitness Instagram In 9 Steps
• 4 Content Ideas To Make Your Fitness Instagram Stand Out
• How to Create Effective Instagram Fitness Content
• 3 Tips for Maximising Reach With Your Content
• How To Monetise Your Fitness Instagram Account
• Before You Go!

How to Create a Successful Fitness Instagram: A Case Study

As we’re explaining how to start a successful fitness Instagram page, you may well ask yourself where our expertise comes from. Well, we don’t expect you to simply take our word for it. That’s why throughout this article we will base all our tips and analysis on our own fitness Instagram.

As of 2025, we have accumulated over 39,000 followers. And this is all down to marketing tactics, not just good luck.

You need to entice your followers with high-quality content consistently to achieve a loyal following. You will need patience, too, as success won’t happen overnight. But with the right social media plan in place, you’ll have a much higher probability of success.

That being said, let’s get straight into the first step of starting a fitness Instagram.

How to Set Up A Fitness Instagram in 9 Steps

#1 – Find Your Niche

When starting your Instagram fitness account, you need to begin by deciding on the specific niche you’re going to target.

Remember, fitness is a very broad topic. The people who follow a yoga Instagram account are not the same people who follow a bodybuilding account. Avoid assumptions and first decide what your page is going to focus on.

This decision will determine many different things about the future of your fitness Instagram – everything from content ideas to your handle and overall aesthetic. As a result, getting this down first is incredibly important.

Some fitness niches that might encapsulate your passions include but are certainly not limited to the likes of:

• Personal training
• Yoga studio / yoga instructor
• CrossFit
• Training for specific populations (e.g; female only, those with disabilities, etc.)
• Body positivity

These should at least give you some indication of what we mean by having a niche topic when creating a fitness Instagram.

#2 – Define Your Target Market

Once you have finalised your niche, your target market should follow directly from this. For example, here at OriGym, we are a fitness course provider, so our target market is athletic men and women typically in their 20s on Instagram. 

Our goal is to reach this target market by educating potential students and highlighting the benefits of a career as a PT, all while keeping the content relevant, on-brand and entertaining. We’ve found that a powerful mix of all of these factors is a recipe for success. 

For example, take a look at a snippet of our Instagram feed below:

As you can see, we have a combination of posts that all aspire to achieve the aforementioned goals. Everything we share is directed to our target audience and informed by our niche.

#3 – Define Your Page’s Aesthetic

It is super important to keep all of these factors in mind while creating content and ensure that you’re not neglecting the aesthetics of your feed too. 

Just as your target market should be directly impacted by your niche, your page’s aesthetic should be impacted by your target market- you want to visually appeal to your potential client base.

As you can see in the example, our feed is on-brand with our colours, a uniform typography and graphics. It communicates professionalism and shows the care that’s gone into your feed which is what people want to see on a regular basis. 

This is particularly true for those who are trying to sell a service or product, which is why you should be relating the aforementioned factors to your niche of choice. You need to communicate your efficiency and trustworthiness behind your brand by taking care of your brand image. 

By thinking carefully about your content ideas for your fitness Instagram, you can certainly get this message across effectively. For example, it would be a little out of the ordinary to have a dark aesthetic when making a fitness Instagram for a yoga studio perhaps. 

The bottom line is choosing a niche can help you get noticed and matching your content choices to this niche is how you’re going to communicate your brand, business, product or service more effectively.

#4 – Set Up A Business Account On Instagram

In order to access detailed insights about your Instagram account, a personal account won’t suffice – you’ll need to change to a business account. 

Thankfully, this is extremely straightforward. But just in case you’re new to the world of social media, we’ll explain how to create your page from scratch. Feel free to skip this first part if you already have a personal account.

First, head over to the app store or desktop and sign up, like this page below:

If you already have Facebook, this step is even easier since you can simply connect the two. If not, you must have a Facebook page in order to have an Instagram business account.

Once you have done that, you can work through the following steps:

1.  Go to your Facebook Account (personal)
2.  Click the top right corner so you can see your menu settings and click Pages, it will look like this below:

3. You can then press “Create”. This will take you through the process of setting up a Facebook business page that you can connect to your fitness Instagram page:

4. You will then see the following screen, which will guide you through the setup process:

Once this is done, you can head back over to Instagram and follow the following steps:

1. Go into settings (via the cog symbol in the top right-hand corner of the Instagram dashboard)
2. Click “account”
3. Click “switch to business profile”
4. When prompted, choose the Facebook business page that you just created.

Then, you’re ready to go! You’re all set up on both Facebook and Instagram, now collectively known as Meta. Once you have done this, it is time to start getting creative with your page and spreading the word.

#5 – Choose A Great Handle

This step will require some significant thought. As you’re setting up a business account rather than a personal one, your handle needs to be professional but still be fitting for social media.

In case you’re unaware, your handle is your username – it is the name beside the blue tick below:

To choose your handle, go to “edit profile” in the settings. Generally speaking, you’ll want to pick a handle that is:

• Memorable
• Easy to spell
• Easy to say
• Representative of your niche

Try to avoid Instagram handles that have numbers after them, e.g. Yogafit3. These can easily get confused with other accounts and result in other users following the wrong page.

Ideally, your handle should include your name and some variation of “PT” if you’re a personal trainer. Alternatively, try researching some synonyms around exercise and fitness.

You can see below a PT that does this well, as well as fitting in some other relevant fitness credentials too:

The key is to be sensible and logical with your handle. At the end of the day, your goal is to get new followers to your Instagram fitness account, so don’t make your prospective followers guess what your account is all about!

#6 – Choose Or Create A High-Res Profile Picture

When creating a fitness Instagram account, your profile picture must convey professionalism. If you don’t already have a logo or a high-resolution image of yourself, you might want to think about getting one professionally made or get a fitness photographer to take a few shots.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend lots of money! You can get a logo from a graphic designed for as little as £10 on the likes of People Per Hour or Upwork. The prices can range dramatically depending on the experience of the freelancer, but you can see below how this variety can look:

A basic design won’t cost you much, and the time saved trying to do it yourself is more than worth the minimal investment.

Now you have your image, do it justice and make sure you upload it with the correct dimensions – 180×180 pixels. This way, your image will maintain its high resolution on both desktop and mobile devices.

If you don’t know where to resize an image, you can use this free tool. These may seem like tedious tasks but the effort you put into these smaller jobs makes all the difference when trying to grow your fitness Instagram account into something popular and legit.

#7 – Write A Bio

Your bio will be one of the first pieces of information that prospective followers will see when viewing your account. Making a good first impression is paramount.

Your bio should match the style and tone of your account. Again, this may sound obvious, but it is absolutely key to attracting new followers. A good fitness Instagram bio consists of a few factors including:

• Short bullet points
• A summary of what your account is all about
• Links to your other social profiles / websites
• Branded hashtags
• Contact information

You might find it beneficial to weave in your credentials to show users you have a particular level of authority in the fitness industry. This might help users trust your advice and content more than they would somebody without any credentials at all.

Nonetheless, you don’t want to pack your bio full of fluff. Keep it concise and utilise other features of a business Instagram account to save space. For example, on a business account, you can add button features underneath the bio, like this:

By adding this contact button to your page, you’re able to save potential space in your bio section for other things you want to include.

Once you user clicks on the contact button, this screen will pop up below:

This is a great place to store contact information so you’re not overcrowding your bio. Keep it simple and succinct while still including the most necessary information for your page.

#8 – Grow Your Account To 100 Followers

Gaining the first load of followers is arguably the most challenging part of growing an Instagram account. It can seem like a long journey but it is certainly possible. 

Once you hit the 3 figure mark you can really begin to show other potential followers that you have a steady flow of people who already enjoy your Instagram fitness post ideas.

To get started, you can:

• Ask family and friends to follow and promote your page. It may sound obvious, but this is the starting point for all Instagram users.
• Use other social platforms. You can easily mass invite all your other friends from Facebook over with a few clicks of a button. In settings, you’ll find the “invite” option that allows you to choose from a list of your Facebook friends. 

You should also make sure to announce that you have started a fitness Instagram page through other platforms that you are active on, such as LinkedIn and X. 

This kind of support and networking can start your profile off on the right foot, so get the ball rolling with this as soon as possible.

#9 – Populate Your Instagram Page

The next step is to start making your account look like you post consistently – and, just as important, that these posts are of high quality. 

Think about it – would you follow an account with only 3 photos? Chances are probably not, because it isn’t adding any value to your feed. So, to begin with, try to convey some authority with some aesthetic and branded content.

However, don’t go overboard with content all at once and avoid spammy posting schedules. If you share more than 1 post a day, you may begin to feel the negative effects of the Instagram algorithm. Read on below for more information about the optimal posting schedule.

Over a period of time, you’ll want to share at least 10 relevant images or videos on your account and stick to these sizes whenever you post:

• Square images: 1080×1080
• Vertical images:  1080×1350
• Horizontal images: 1080×566
• Stories: 1080×1920

Finally, thumbnails are a really important part of keeping a uniform feed. Reels are a super popular component of Instagram, so putting some effort into what these will look like on your feed makes a huge difference.

Though you have the option to choose a frame from the Reel you have uploaded, you can also upload a thumbnail separately, which is what we would recommend. For example, take a look at how this Instagram Reel fits seamlessly into our feed:

The extra care taken into making an aesthetically pleasing feed, while also taking into consideration the importance of including Reels into your social media plan, makes a huge difference in the acceptance of your fitness page.

Aside from the look of the posts themselves, ensure you include popular hashtags to get your posts and page out to other people who you don’t know. Putting these on posts is a great way to go out of your local realm and reach new potential audiences – but we’ll explain more about hashtags and other ways to boost your account later!

4 Content Ideas To Make Your Fitness Instagram Stand Out

#1 – Utilise User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content (UGC) is one of the best ways to grow your fitness Instagram once you have some sort of following behind you. UGC refers to any content that is created by other users who have endorsed your brand, business or page.

Some examples of UGC include:

• Images and videos. You can share content featuring people who have endorsed your product or service. e.g., clients who have trained with your PT company.
• Social media content. This is good to use if you have reviews on social media that could benefit your brand or create discourse around your page in general, such as sharing our posts on others’ IG stories.
• Testimonials. You can share any positive testimonials that you have received from people who may have posted comments on your page. Alternatively, you can screenshot and share reviews on the likes of Trustpilot.

UGC is a super convenient way to show other potential clients that you already have trusted followers who create content for your brand.

#2 – Future-Proof Your Page With Instagram Reels

With video content becoming increasingly popular on social media, creating Instagram Reels is the best way to stay up to date with what people (and the algorithm) want to see.

For example, take a look at how we regularly upload Instagram Reels on our feed below:

You can see from the highlighted boxes the frequency with which we upload Reels on our Instagram page. The reason we do this is due to the return on engagement that we receive. 

You can see below a comparison between two of our posts. One of them is a Reel while the other is an image post:

Take a look at the huge difference in reach and engagement between an image post and a Reel.

The statistics speak for themselves – you can see how the algorithm works and it seems to be that video (in this instance Reels) is the way to get your page out there.

#3 – Implement The 80/20 Rule When Posting

If you want to build your following on Instagram while also promoting your business, following the 80/20 rule is essential.

This rule simply means that 80% of your posts should be focused on sharing useful information or entertaining content for your followers. The remaining 20% can then focus on promoting your services.

Once you have found your momentum in uploading, you may want to experiment and try out different frequencies of posting. Do some analysis on your competitors and see how frequently they promote their brand in comparison to valuable content.

At first, however, the 80/20 rule is a good starting point for you if you’re new to Instagram. It provides you with a basic strategy so you’re not going into it totally blind.

#4 – Display Your Knowledge and Authority With Educational Content

In the fitness industry, there can be a great deal of misinformation. That’s one reason it’s essential to display your credentials in your page bio, as discussed above. But there are other things that can help show that you know what you’re talking about – and that includes sharing educational content.

Posting simple infographics can be a great way to deliver useful information to your followers while also boosting your reputation as a source of knowledge. For example, take a look at this post below:

As you can see, it is a simple and digestible piece of content that can go a long way in terms of adding value to your fitness Instagram ideas.

How to Create Fitness Content for Instagram

Now that you know how to start an Instagram fitness page, you might want to get familiar with how to create all the ideas you have conjured up.

With that in mind, here are our 3 top tips to put your ideas into action.

#1 – Use Canva To Make Your Posts Look Professional

You may have already heard of Canva. It’s a hugely popular site that allows anybody to create professional-looking graphics regardless of their budget.

By using templates, pre-made fonts, graphics and more, you’re able to create Instagram content with ease. You won’t have to worry about asking yourself “what should I post on my fitness Instagram?” – you’ll have a host of engaging ideas right at your fingertips.

Spend some time looking on Canva and exploring the possibilities. Get some practice in and you’ll be on your way to a professional-looking feed in no time.

#2 – Establish A Colour Palette

Colour palettes for brands are crucial. They help to keep your posts uniform across all your social media channels, including your Instagram feed. You can pre-save branded colour palettes on the likes of the aforementioned Canva. 

This can help you to keep your colours in one place and whenever you need to design a post, you can simply click the desired placement of your pre-saved brand colours. This is a simple way of professionalising your page and creating powerful brand awareness.

#3 – Don’t Neglect Your Captions

Captions add context to the visual you have created for your feed. Whether you want to expand on an infographic or simply tell the story of your post, captions are the place to do it.

A caption is also a great place to encourage engagement. For instance, why not ask questions that people can then answer in the comments? This increases engagement and the overall health of your post, since you’re going to be responding to the comments too.

For example, take a look below at GymShark Women’s Instagram post that does this effectively:

These types of captions leave room for conversation and can be a great way to encourage discussion about your page and the services you offer.

3 Tips for Maximising Reach With Your Content

#1 – Embrace The Power Of Hashtags 

Hashtags help to organise and optimise your fitness Instagram content, enabling potential followers to discover your page easily when scanning Instagram’s community. But how do you use them effectively?

The first thing you should remember is that you can use up to 30 hashtags per post. However,  you can run the risk of your content looking very spammy if you use too many.

Nonetheless, more hashtags is generally better, since you’re getting your post onto a variety of different Explore pages. Some studies show that engagement can increase by over 440% when using 11+ fitness hashtags compared to using none at all.

According to an analysis by Louise Myers at Visual Social Media, the number of hashtags you use affects engagement as follows:

• 0 Hashtags – 18% interaction per 1k followers
• 1 Hashtag – 29% interaction per 1k followers
• 2 Hashtags – 41% interaction per 1k followers
• 3 Hashtags – 39% interaction per 1k followers
• 4 Hashtags – 31% interaction per 1k followers
• 5 Hashtags – 43% interaction per 1k followers
• 6 Hashtags – 33% interaction per 1k followers
• 7 Hashtags – 30% interaction per 1k followers
• 8 Hashtags – 39.5% interaction per 1k followers
• 9 Hashtags – 49.5% interaction per 1k followers
• 10 Hashtags – 22% interaction per 1k followers
• 11 Hashtags – 79.5% interaction per 1k followers

This shows that using 11+ hashtags will increase your engagement and help you get more followers to your fitness Instagram page.

But what hashtags should you use when trying to get new followers on Instagram?

Firstly, you need a mixture of very popular fitness hashtags and more long-tailed ones, as well as local ones if they apply to you. Here is an example of all three types of hashtags:

• #Bodybuilding – Popular hashtag. These hashtags will get you some great initial engagement with instant likes, comments and follows.
• #KettlebellTraining – Long-tail hashtag. These will be searched for by far fewer people, but will stay at the top of the search rankings for longer and attract more people based on the specific nature of the hashtag.
• #FitnessLondon – Location-specific hashtag. Similarly to long-tail hashtags, these will get fewer impressions but will help you attract people in your local area. This can be especially beneficial if you are using your fitness Instagram to grow your local business.

By using the right mix of these hashtags in the right amount, you’ll find it significantly easier to attract new followers and grow your page.

#2 – Optimise Your Posting Schedule

When trying to grow your fitness Instagram, you need to factor in the best times of the day to post if you want to generate as much attention as possible.

According to a study by Shopify, the best times of the week to post to maximise your engagement are:

• Monday: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
• Wednesday: 11 a.m.
• Thursday: 7 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. 
• Friday: 4 p.m. 
• Saturday: 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Sunday: 7 p.m. 

Though this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to post only at these times, you could trial and error your typical schedule compared to a schedule adhering to these times and see which has the best levels of engagement.

#3 – Use Automation Software

Using automation software is a good option for those who have larger followings and simply don’t have as much time as they’d like to invest in their Instagram page.

An Instagram tool used by start-ups and large organisations alike is Combin. As such, this is the tool we will use as an example to demonstrate how to grow your Instagram fitness page.

In a nutshell, Combin is an automation tool which will safely:

• Follow and unfollow users
• Like photos
• Comment on photos
• Schedule tasks
• Blacklist unwanted users
• Analyse your account’s growth and engagement

If this sounds like something that could benefit your page and can help you improve your fitness Instagram, you can find some instructions on setting your account up below:

1. Go to Combin and select the right pricing plan for you.
2. You will then be asked to link your account. Put in your Instagram username and click “allow permission”.
3. You will then be presented with a dashboard when you log in.
4. Using the search option down the left-hand side, you can enter the username of an account whose followers you want to follow. Alternatively, you can search for users based on hashtags.

How To Monetise Your Fitness Instagram Account

A fitness Instagram account is a great way to promote your existing business, whether you’re offering personal training sessions or online nutrition advice. But it can also act as a direct source of income – especially as your follower count increases.

Read on below to find out how you can turn your flourishing Instagram account into a reliable revenue stream by collaborating with other brands.

#1 – Join An Influencer Marketing Platform

If you want to turn your thriving fitness Instagram account into a source of income, then why not become a brand ambassador or fitness influencer? This might seem like a big step, but it can be easier than you think – especially if you make use of an influencer marketing platform like Upfluence.

Upfluence is widely used by brands looking to improve their online marketing strategy, as it simplifies the process of finding influencers who can create relevant content for their audience.

For instance, brands can use the platform’s advanced search function to filter their search by keyword and demographics. This allows them to find influencers who fit with the goals of their marketing campaign, as well as those who will appeal to their target audience.

By specifying your niche on Upfluence, you will find it much easier to connect with brands who share the same vision and goals as you and your target audience. They are then more likely to approach you to become a fitness ambassador for their brand. 

Another advantage of using Upfluence is that it allows you to analyse your performance metrics on Instagram, including:

• Engagement rates
• Average comments and likes
• Average views
• Audience demographics

As well as allowing you to see where you can make improvements, brands can also see these statistics and make data-based decisions on whether you are the right fit to represent their products or services.

You will also be able to begin building up a portfolio of positive feedback from previous brand collaborations to display on the platform. This will prove to brands that you are reliable, and they are therefore more likely to want to collaborate with you.

#2 – Build A Media Kit

A media kit is essentially a portfolio of your work, showing your achievements, past partnerships, and future career goals. They are designed to represent you, your brand, and the type of content you create to show brands looking to collaborate with an influencer why they should choose you.

Even fitness influencers with smaller followings – known as micro-influencers – should have a media kit, as some brands are becoming increasingly interested in working with those with a niche yet highly engaged audience.

When creating your media kit, you should include:

• An introduction to who you are
• A headshot of you
• Key information about your brand
• Samples of your posts
• Key metrics, such as followers, likes per post, and average post engagement rate
• Your niche and target audience
• The types of content that you offer 
• A portfolio of your previous partnerships, including engagement statistics
• Pricing
• Contact information

If you want to start monetising your fitness Instagram by working with other brands, you should start creating your media kit so that you’re ready for the next step.

#3 – Reach Out And Pitch To Fitness Brands

Once you have created your media kit, you can start reaching out to brands yourself. Although influencer marketing platforms are a great way of making yourself visible to brands and sponsors, you shouldn’t waste time waiting for brands to approach you.

Instead, you should be proactive and use Instagram to find relevant brands that you’d like to work with. You can then get in touch with them directly with a personalised pitch via direct message or through their brand’s PR email address.

LinkedIn is a great platform for discovering who to address your pitch to. For example, the head of brand at Gymshark is Noel Mack:

It’s crucial to ensure that any pitches you make are personalised to the brand and not generic, as this shows that you understand the products and services that the brand offers to their target demographic. 

You should follow brands you’d like to work with on their social media accounts and pay attention to the types of partnerships they establish with other influencers. This can give you some idea of the type of content they produce, so that you know how to suit your pitch to their needs.

Before You Go!

Hopefully you now feel more confident about how to make a fitness Instagram. From setting it up to getting the word out about your page and even turning it into a source of income, be sure to refer back to this guide whenever you’re ready to take the next step into progressing your page further.

Don’t forget, if you’re wanting to bring more authority to your page and start advertising your services, then why not enquire about one of OriGym’s Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma? Find this and many other fitness courses in our downloadable course prospectus.