How to Grow from 5 to 50 Online Clients: Smart Marketing Tips for Fitness Coaches

As a fitness coach, growing your online client base from 5 to 50 isn’t just about working harder. It’s about marketing smarter, building scalable systems, and delivering a great personalised experience no matter where your clients are.

In this guide, you’ll discover proven tips to help you expand your online PT coaching business. From using social media effectively to leveraging a platform like FITR to sell programmes worldwide, these strategies are designed to help you grow with confidence.

Whether you're just getting started or ready to level up, this guide will give you the tools to make it happen.

Here’s what’s inside:

1. Establish Your Online Presence

Define Your Brand

Before you focus on growing, it’s important to clarify your brand.

Ask yourself:

• Who do you work with, who are your clients?
• What makes your coaching style or method different?
• Why should someone choose you over another coach?

Everything from your Instagram bio to your website should reflect clear and consistent messaging. Speak directly to the kind of person you want to help. That might be busy parents, amateur athletes or new gym-goers.

Use consistent visuals too. Stick to a specific colour scheme, use professional photos, and choose a clear font that reflects your style so your target audience recognises your content.

Improve Your Visibility Through SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) helps people find you online. Even if you aren’t a tech expert, simple tweaks can make a big difference.

Focus on keywords using a tool like Google Trends to see what your ideal client would search for, such as:

• Online personal trainer UK
• Remote fitness coaching for athletes
• Beginner strength training at home

Include these naturally in your website content, Instagram captions, YouTube descriptions, and blog posts. If you also coach locally, make sure your Google Business profile is up to date.

2. Use Social Media to Attract and Convert Clients

Choose One Platform to Master First

Trying to show up on every social platform is exhausting and often ineffective. Start by choosing one where your ideal clients already spend their time. For most coaches, that’s usually Instagram, Facebook or TikTok lately.

Post content consistently. Focus on:

• Client stories and transformations
• Snippets from your own training
• Simple tips your audience can act on straight away
• Educational content about nutrition or mindset
• Behind-the-scenes moments that humanise your brand

Choose One Platform to Master First

Reels help you reach new audiences. Stories build deeper relationships with your current followers.

In Reels, share quick advice, highlight client wins, or bust fitness myths.

In Stories, talk to your audience like you’re chatting with friends. Share your daily routine, answer questions, and show your personality.

Create a Lead Magnet

If you want to turn followers into paying clients, offer something free in exchange for their email address.

This could be:

• A 7-day fitness challenge
• A nutrition guide
• A free video series on form or technique

Once they download it, follow up with an email sequence that introduces your coaching and invites them to join one of your paid programmes.

3. Use platforms rather than spreadsheets

If you’re programming manually in spreadsheets, you’ll hit a limit fast. That’s where a tool like FITR helps you scale without adding extra hours to your day.

Create Once, Sell Repeatedly

With FITR, you can design programmes that can be sold to multiple clients. These might include:

• Programmes for beginners or advanced athletes
• Niche options like strength for footballers or muscle building at home
• Bundles with meal plans or mobility routines

Each programme is delivered automatically. No emailing PDFs or setting up custom workouts for each new client.

Manage Payments and Delivery All in One Place

FITR makes your coaching business look professional. Clients can:

• Pay securely through the platform
• Access training and nutrition plans immediately
• Communicate with you directly

Everything is streamlined so you can focus on coaching, not admin.

4. Use Testimonials to Build Trust

Social proof is one of the most powerful tools you have.

Every time a client reaches a milestone, ask for feedback. This could be a quote, video, or short story explaining:

• What problem they had
• How your coaching helped
• What results they achieved

Share these stories on Instagram, your website, and your programme sales pages.

You can also use screenshots from messages or emails (with permission). These raw, real moments often resonate more than polished photos.

Testimonials help instil confidence in people who haven’t worked with you before. It’s good to shout about how great your coaching is, but it’s better if someone else confirms it. For example, here is a quote we recently received from a coach using our FITR platform.