Social Media for Trainers That Actually Gets Clients

By CJ Critney | Trainer Marketing | 10 min read

You're posting workout videos daily, getting 50-100 likes, and ZERO client inquiries. Here's the brutal truth: likes don't pay bills. Here's the simple system that gets me 5-10 qualified leads/month from social media with just 3 posts/week.

Why Most Trainer Content Fails

The problem: You're posting for other trainers, not for potential clients.

Your ideal client doesn't care about exercise science. They care about RESULTS.

The 3-Post Content System

Post 3 times/week. That's it. Quality over quantity.

Monday: Client Result/Transformation

Example Caption:

"Sarah lost 22 lbs in 12 weeks.

She works 60 hours/week as a lawyer. No time for 2-hour gym sessions.

We trained 3x/week for 45 minutes. She hit 120g protein daily. That's it.

Busy professionals: You DON'T need hours at the gym. You need a smart plan.

Link in bio to book a free consultation."

Why this works: Shows proof, targets your ideal client (busy professionals), includes CTA.

Wednesday: Educational Value (Solve a Problem)

Example Caption:

"Can't lose weight even though you're 'eating healthy'?

You're probably making one of these 3 mistakes:

1. Not tracking portion sizes (that salad is 800 calories with dressing)
2. Drinking calories (your Starbucks is 400 cals)
3. Not eating enough protein (you need 120g+/day)

Fix these and the scale will move.

Want help? Link in bio."

Why this works: Addresses a common pain point, provides value, soft CTA.

Friday: Behind-the-Scenes/Lifestyle

Example Caption:

"6 AM with my client John this morning.

He's 52, never lifted weights before starting with me 6 months ago.

Today he deadlifted 225 lbs.

Never too late to get strong.

Taking 2 new clients this month. DM me if interested."

Why this works: Relatable, shows you training real people, direct CTA.

The Content Formula That Converts

Every post needs 3 elements:

1. Hook (First Line)

Grab attention immediately. Ask a question, state a bold claim, or address a pain point.

Good hooks:
- "Can't lose belly fat? Here's why..."
- "I trained 200+ busy executives. Here's what they all do..."
- "Your trainer is wrong about cardio."

Bad hooks:
- "Happy Monday!"
- "Leg day today"
- "Feeling grateful"

2. Value/Proof (Middle)

Give them something useful OR show social proof (client results).

3. CTA (End)

Tell them what to do next. Don't be subtle.

Good CTAs:
- "Link in bio to book free consultation"
- "DM me 'READY' if you want help"
- "Taking 2 new clients this month, comment below"

What to Post (Specific Content Ideas)

Client results: Before/after photos, weight loss updates, strength PRs

Educational: Common mistakes, nutrition tips, training tips, myth-busting

Behind-the-scenes: Training sessions, day in the life, client wins

Local content: "Best gyms in [your city]", "Where to eat healthy in [city]"

Personal story: Your transformation, why you became a trainer, challenges you've overcome

Instagram Reels Strategy

Reels get 10x more reach than photos. Use them strategically.

What works:

What doesn't work:

Frequency: 2-3 reels/week mixed with photo posts

Local Facebook Groups (Underrated Gold Mine)

This is where I get 30% of my clients.

Strategy:

  1. Join 5-10 local community Facebook groups (your city, neighborhood groups)
  2. Engage authentically for 2 weeks (comment on posts, be helpful)
  3. Post value once/week (not salesy)

Example Facebook Group Post:

"Hey Westlake Village community! I'm a local personal trainer and wanted to share my top 3 favorite hiking trails in the area:

1. Wildwood Park (easy, family-friendly)
2. Sandstone Peak (challenging, amazing views)
3. Conejo Canyons (moderate, less crowded)

Anyone else have favorite local trails?"

Result: People engage, check your profile, DM you asking about training.

The DM Follow-Up System

When someone comments or DMs:

Step 1: Respond within 1 hour (speed matters)

Step 2: Ask qualifying questions:
"What are your fitness goals?"
"Have you worked with a trainer before?"
"What's your timeline?"

Step 3: Offer free consultation:
"Let's hop on a 15-min call to see if we're a good fit. Does Tuesday at 2 PM work?"

Conversion rate: 50% of qualified leads book consultation, 60% of consultations convert to clients.

What NOT to Do

The Weekly Schedule

Monday 9 AM: Post client transformation (Instagram + Facebook)

Wednesday 9 AM: Post educational tip (Instagram Reel)

Friday 9 AM: Post behind-the-scenes (Instagram photo)

Saturday: Engage in local Facebook groups (comment, provide value)

Daily: Respond to DMs/comments within 1-2 hours

Total time: 3 hours/week
Result: 5-10 leads/month
Conversion: 2-4 new clients/month

The Bottom Line

Stop posting for likes. Start posting for leads.

The formula:

Result: Consistent flow of qualified leads without spending hours on content creation.

Want My Complete Social Media Templates?

I'll give you 30 days of pre-written captions, reel scripts, and DM response templates. Just plug and play.

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