6 Keys to a Successful (Fitness) Blog
Within any given week I get a handful of emails from people asking me how they can go about building a “successful” fitness blog. In today’s ever increasing digital world (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, The Matrix), it’s readily apparent that if you’re not up to snuff with technology – and all it has to offer – you may be left in the dust.
Do people have actual conversations anymore?
Believe me, I’m far from what you would call a technology geek. My cell phone would be considered an antique by today’s standards, I’m deathly afraid of Excel spreadsheets, and I can barely run a toaster without setting off a 5-stage fire alarm.
But one thing I do know – or, at least have a general grasp on – is blogging, and how fitness professionals can implement and use one to their advantage.
While a simple blog post couldn’t possibly come remotely close to explaining all the ins and outs of blogging, here are a few simple strategies/insights you’ll need to get the ball rolling.
Before we begin, however, let me address the elephant in the room. Is having a blog even necessary? No. Does having one mean you’ve finally made? Um, no.
I can’t reiterate enough my sentiments that one should gain ample experience before (s)he worries about starting a blog.
More important than having a popular blog is actually getting good (really good) at what you do – and actually coach people for a few years – before entering the blogosphere.
Just because you trained five people last week and read a book doesn’t mean you should start a blog about how to train people.
I mean, I made a meatloaf last night, I don’t consider myself an expert.
It’s just my personal opinion of course. And some may roll their eyes at me for being so “old school,” but I really feel that one should have 2-3 years of training experience under their belt before starting a blog. As a frame of reference, I started as a personal trainer in 2002. I didn’t start blogging until the fall of 2006. I spent a solid four years honing my craft, trying to get better before I even thought about spreading my knowledge to the interwebz. That, and blogs didn’t even really start gaining popularity until 2005. But whatever.
Anyhoo, lets get on with it.
1. Take the Initial Step
I understand this is the Captain Obvious thing to say, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t quite “get it.”
The first thing to consider is why do you want a blog in the first place?
Some people start a blog because they have a lot on their mind. Others use it as a source of venting. While others use it to build a brand and get their name out there.
Whatever the case may be, you have to start somewhere. Just saying you’re going to start a blog and then not doing anything about it isn’t going to get you anywhere.
Secondly, just write. About anything. One of the major deterrents as to why people are hesitant to begin with is that they feel they have nothing to say. More to the point, they feel as if everything has already been said and that they couldn’t possibly have anything more to add.
Let me let you in on a little secret: nothing is new, and everything has already been said.
But not in your voice. And not in your own context. Using myself as an example: I’m not like Nick Tumminello, or Jim “Smitty” Smith, or Dean Somerset, or any number of other bright guys (and women) who are thinkers and have an innate ability to come up with new(ish) ideas. I’m more of an interpreter. I’m able to read what others say and teach and parlay that info to others in an entertaining fashion.
Tracy Anderson is a quack, doesn’t know her ass from her acetabulum, and is about as intelligent as ham sandwich.
See how easy it is!
That wasn’t an original thought. Many have thought the exact same thing before me, and many will think the exact same thing years from now. In fact, I’m willing to bet that even when aliens visit Earth – when we’re all dead – they’ll somehow come across that video, scratch their heads, and think to themselves, “who the hell was that idiot?”
Suffice it to say, much like we would tell someone the hardest part about training is actually showing up, the same can be said about blogging. Just start. Go to blogspot.com, or blogger.com, or WordPress.com (which is what I would recommend), sign up for free, choose a template, and write.
2. Set a Schedule (and Be Consistent).
Once you are blogging, it’s important that you set a schedule and actually stick to it. Traffic isn’t going to come right away (more on this below), but one of the biggest traffic killers – in other words: deters people from visiting your site – is inconsistency.
This is going to be highly individual depending on one’s schedule. Pick a frequency. 2x, 3x, 4x per week? Whatever it is stick to it.
I strive for 4-5 posts per week, 3 minimum, and the fruits of my labor have paid off because I’m consistent.
Nothing turns people off than someone who blogs like a champ for a few weeks – providing killer content, increasing people’s level of awesome – only to disappear for a week. Stuff happens, life gets in the way, and there’s nothing you can do about that. Giving your readers a heads up (hey sorry everyone, I’m going to be away for a bit fighting terrorists) would go a long way as far as keeping them on your radar.
But if you just disappear, and it’s a running trend, you’re going to have a hard time building a successful following.
3. Content is King
We all know the saying: if it looks like s***, and it smells like s***, then it’s probably s***.
Don’t write s***.
[Read THIS for some excellent ideas on how to write killer content]
I know a lot of “experts” will say that you need to pick a niche and run with it. There are plenty of fitness blogs out there which focus solely on fat-loss, some on nutrition, and others on how to go about training bomb sniffing dolphins.
Just go with it.
I like to blog about getting people stronger. It’s what I know, and it works for me.
Whatever you choose to write about and focus on, you better make sure it’s damn good content. You need to own it!
To that end a few thoughts:
– Grammar counts too. I’m no Shakespeare, but I can tell you that if you’re mis-spelling every other word, confusing proper usage of there/their/they’re, and otherwise just showcasing slipshod work, people will call you out on it.
As much as I hate grammar Nazis, there comes a point where you need to call a spade a spade.
NOTE: I’ll call myself out and state there’s a handful of misspelled (or even missed) words in this very post. Whatever. Give me a break. It’s blog, not a dissertation. And, I’m not wearing my glasses.
– ALWAYS give credit. Like I said above, nothing is new out there, but if you’re taking credit for things you didn’t say or do, you suck. And someone will figure you out sooner or later.
– Not every posts needs to be Atlas Shrugged. Lengthy posts – while cool for showing off your writing chops and definitely warranted when you’re writing about something you’re passionate about – will bore the crap out of people after awhile.
In his book Rise to the Top, Jon Goodman mentioned how you should have a schedule of short, to the point posts (400-500 words) that are easily “shared” and help to generate more traffic, and long(er), more elaborate posts to help “keep” your current readers.
An example of the former would be something like a quick mobility exercise, or a brief quip you learned from a DVD. An example of the latter would this very post which, approaching 1200 words, is probably long enough for today.
Check back tomorrow for some more insight on what makes for a successful fitness blog.
Comments for This Entry
Wil Fleming
Nice Work Tony! I think it is really important to get good at what you do before you start blogging about fitness. Spend time growing a client base, growing a business, actually get good at training people.... and then start blogging. If someone has 10 clients then I really don't want to hear from them. That's just me, I like all your tips. I just started blogging this year, and consistency is key (I am not super awesome at it yet though).August 29, 2012 at 1:14 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Couldn't agree more Wil (I actually added a little to the introduction discussing after I read what you wrote).August 30, 2012 at 7:04 am |
Wil Fleming
I was stomping around my gym yesterday calling myself an "in the trenches food expert" you know because I like to eat it and all. I liked your meatloaf analogy. Great post.September 1, 2012 at 10:17 am |
jhony555
Thanks for the great tips! Lold at the video btw:) Here's my blog which is very new.learn step by stepp how to keep fit your welcome at: http://fitbodyless.blogspot.com/July 17, 2013 at 8:53 pm |
Jay
Knock it off Tony!! You are gonna get me canned! That Tracy Anderson video is the funniest thing I have ever seen. What makes it particularly good is the look of "I suck at life" face the guy makes. She actually takes herself seriously with that crap? No. Really. People look at that and say, that's a good idea I want to take up intermediate miming to lose weight?? Honestly, it looks like Charlie Chaplin at a Rave! God bless you and folks like Nia, Jim Wendler etc.. who have their shit together and gives us good content it helps everyday people like me reach my goals.August 29, 2012 at 1:46 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Yeah, it was pretty ridiculous to say the least. I can't believe that people actually take her seriously.August 30, 2012 at 7:04 am |
MRT
I'd hit it...August 30, 2012 at 8:05 pm |
TonyGentilcore
I'm picking up what you're putting down.August 31, 2012 at 7:26 am |
catalin manea
I don't know who she is. I would search her name on google but I'm afraid I'm gonna find out she's some famous fitness expert and I don't want to know that ...September 14, 2013 at 7:05 pm |
Peter Curcio
Really liked this article, Tony. Definitely appreciate the words of wisdom. I'm just trying to start up my own blog (like many others out there) and appreciate your perspective. And even though I've heard some of these points before, it's good to hear them again. Cheers.August 29, 2012 at 7:18 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Great to hear Peter. I know nothing I said was revolutionary, but it's stuff people need to hear from time to time.August 30, 2012 at 7:05 am |
Ems
Tony, I'm sorry but that video was the funniest thing I have ever seen and as a result I'm pretty sure I didn't retain much of what I read of the blog. I cannot, for the life of me believe that video is actually real, let alone that she can take herself seriously as a 'trainer'. Wowza......August 29, 2012 at 7:27 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Well I can't fault you there for not remembering what I wrote. It's MY fault for putting the video in there.....;o)August 30, 2012 at 7:08 am |
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Steven
On the calling a spade a spade topic... I might care about your sentiments, if they're not too sappy, but I'd rather avoid your sediments.September 1, 2012 at 8:14 pm |
TonyGentilcore
hahaha. Good call on that. Now I need to go back and try to find where I used the wrong word.September 3, 2012 at 11:11 am |
TonyGentilcore
Bam: Found it. Thanks for the heads up on that oneSeptember 3, 2012 at 11:16 am |
jhony555
Thanks for the great tips! Lold at the video btw:) Here's my blog which is very new.learn step by stepp how to keep fit your welcome at: http://fitbodyless.blogspot.com/July 17, 2013 at 8:52 pm |
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Cansin Pek
Thanks for the great tips! Lold at the video btw:) Here's my blog which is very new. i'm sharing my clean healthy recipes :) http://calloffitness.blogspot.comJanuary 22, 2013 at 10:20 am |
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Catalin Manea
Great post Tony! I needed some inspiration as I'm new to blog writing and this is just what I wished forSeptember 14, 2013 at 6:59 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Glad to hear that it was helpful Catalin.September 17, 2013 at 6:24 am |
Kat Brennan
My friend just got his fitness trainer certification and he wanted to start a blog. I will have to show him this article so he can get his blog off the ground and noticed!November 21, 2013 at 11:01 am |
Steve Reed
Thanks for a sensible article that puts a lot into perspective. I'm a PT and relatively new blogger who has been writing for a while, but is always getting stuck with my own insecurities and worries about success. You article told me what I know, but I needed to be told. Appreciate it.March 5, 2014 at 8:44 am |
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Fresh.Happy.Healthy
I loved it! You have great charisma!March 25, 2015 at 10:16 am |
linjojoson
Hi Tony, You are absolutely right! Content is the king, even if you check the top google results, you can see that those blogs have good quality and lengthy contents. Google respect good content and thats how they respect the googlers . Moreover I think we need to have a passion to fitness to develop one awesome fitness blog. Have a look at my detailed guide in developing your fitness blogJuly 14, 2015 at 7:55 am |
Nikkah Lubanga
Hi, is it necessary to have a fitness instructor certificate before starting to write a fitness blog? I'm really into fitness and I'm an online content writer, so maybe a combination of the two would be ideal to start a fitness blog.October 7, 2015 at 8:47 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Nope, not necessary in the slightest. Although I'd encourage you to know and respect your scope of practice and be careful of giving detailed medical/training advice. For instance I wouldn't give dietary recommendations because I'm not a registered dietician. I'll talk about food or give my take on certain topics, etc....but I know my scope of practice. Along those same lines I'd limit yourself to topics you know well and that you have a good understanding of. You have to be careful.October 8, 2015 at 8:26 am |
Nikkah Lubanga
Thanks Tony! I will keep that in mind. All the best!October 9, 2015 at 2:27 am |
TonyGentilcore
Sounds like you know what you're doing. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!October 9, 2015 at 7:36 am |
Ridwan Mao
The line after the first paragraph really stuck out to me, and I'm not sure if you mean tit this way but: "Do people have actual conversations anymore?" - I think a huge key to having a successful blog is actually talking to the people you want to benefit. What do they need from you? If your blog is/becomes a business, you need to serve your readers by giving them the most relevant and helpful information. And that comes from having actual conversations with real people to get insights into how you can make the most impact in your reader's lives. I used to have a blog. I wrote for 6 months before I realized the only people reading it were my family members... and I had to send it to them for them to open it. Lesson learned, conversations had, insights gleaned, and now I'm working on another that will be much more meaningful and useful for the people I want to help and work with :) Agreed with all your points. Great articleNovember 11, 2015 at 3:04 pm |
TonyGentilcore
I agree with that 100%. I try to respond/answer every email or comment that's directed towards. I don't need to write a dissertation or anything, but I think it builds a nice rapport to at least acknowledge someone's comment or question.November 12, 2015 at 9:43 am |
Hana Virgen
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little Bloke Fitness
This is interesting, and well thought out work. I currently write my own workout blog at where I discuss different equipment such as Power Racks I will heed your words!March 7, 2016 at 9:52 pm |
Mike Scarlett
Thank you an excellent primerApril 22, 2016 at 12:22 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Glad it helped, and thanks for reading.April 25, 2016 at 8:17 pm |
saran
This is very good motivation, I like number 2 to set the schedule its very important to manage the time for workout.September 5, 2016 at 11:58 am |
saran
This is very good motivation, I like number 2 to set the schedule its very important to manage the time for workout.September 5, 2016 at 12:58 pm |
Sunny
This was such an awesome blog post that I subscribed. It kind of hurt my feelings that you said one should wait 2 years before starting one haha because I have been in the industry for 1 year and 4 months. However, I have such a passion for it and before I upload anything I do plenty of research to double check I am up to date. Do you think I should hold off until I've built more experience and clientele?September 12, 2016 at 5:53 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Admittedly I wrote this post a few years ago. My stance has changed since then.September 15, 2016 at 11:27 am |
Sunny
This was such an awesome blog post that I subscribed. It kind of hurt my feelings that you said one should wait 2 years before starting one haha because I have been in the industry for 1 year and 4 months. However, I have such a passion for it and before I upload anything I do plenty of research to double check I am up to date. Do you think I should hold off until I've built more experience and clientele?September 12, 2016 at 6:53 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Admittedly I wrote this post a few years ago. My stance has changed since then.September 15, 2016 at 12:27 pm |
James Toon
I enjoyed reading this article. I have been building up my massage blog (www.earthelementmassage.com) over the last year or so and greatly appreciate tips on making it worth doing. Thank you!November 9, 2016 at 9:56 am |
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Julia Peter
Useful information ..I am very happy to read this article..thanks for giving us this useful information. I appreciate this post. Lifetime FitnessFebruary 7, 2017 at 1:11 am |
Sanjay dx
Do i need any fitness or nutrition certificates to start a fitness website or blog?March 20, 2017 at 3:11 pm |
myfitnesspulse
Nice tips there. I think inconsistency is the biggest factor. I need to use more of a personal tone as well. BTW you have got a nice blog here.April 20, 2017 at 3:43 am |
sandeep
Fitness is part of our life and we should have to do exercise, Gym and yoga daily .that is very useful for our body to keep us fit and active whole day. Due to a lots of work pressure stress fitness is our necessity. Thanks for these wonderful tips. https://goo.gl/cD7CR3April 22, 2017 at 2:06 am |
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Reece O'Connor
Hey Tony Great Stuff!!! It's really helpful point for a person who think to start blogging about fitness. Thanks JDP FitnessJune 29, 2017 at 1:51 am |
Tony Author
Glad it helped Reece.July 1, 2017 at 7:51 am |
Fitness Posters
I was listening to a podcast where a very experienced coach said that he found it just wasn't financially viable to run an online blog or coaching business and give proper attention to his athletes. Thoughts?August 1, 2017 at 3:33 am |
Tony Author
Who says it HAS to be financially viable to do it?August 1, 2017 at 9:51 am |
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Holly Martin
Very resourceful article! I'm a fitness trainer and with my colleagues am writing a fitness blog, which is highly researched and contains useful tips & insights. Completely agree with all the points you shared for any aspiring blogger who wants to start his/her own fitness blog. This gives a clear roadmap :)December 13, 2018 at 4:25 am |
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Maik Wiedenbach
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