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Growing your follower base isn’t just about numbers – it’s about building a community of engaged, like-minded individuals who align with your coaching business. Whether you focus on 1-1 coaching, group coaching, or online personal training (PT), having the right followers is crucial for your success.
But let’s be honest: getting the right followers can be tough. It’s often the biggest roadblock for many coaches trying to scale their businesses.
The good news? With the right tactics, you can attract more clients and create a thriving online coaching platform.
Here are four practical strategies you can start using today to grow your audience and enhance your impact as a coach.
1. Post Daily, Focus on Reels
Consistency is key. Whether you’re offering personal training, group coaching, or courses, daily posting keeps your brand visible. Reels, in particular, help you reach a broader audience faster.
Tips for success:
- Follow a content plan. Structure your posts to align with your coaching niche and goals.
- Use content hacking principles. Experiment with content types and analyze which posts drive engagement or attract more followers.
- Prioritize Reels. Reels often outperform static posts, making them a must for online PT coaching.
Pro Tip: Commit to daily posting and ensure at least 70% of your content consists of Reels.
2. Leave Value-Adding Comments
The more people who visit your profile, the better your chances of gaining followers. One simple way to get noticed is by commenting on other people’s posts.
How to craft great comments:
- Engage with posts that appeal to your target audience.
- Start by applauding the content creator – positivity builds connections.
- Share your unique perspective to add value to the conversation.
Pro Tip: Follow 20-30 relevant profiles and add them to your favorites. Commit to leaving five meaningful comments daily.
3. Collaborate With Colleagues
Collaboration posts are a powerful way to grow your follower base. By partnering with other online coaches or personal trainers, you tap into their audience while reinforcing your credibility.
Ideas for collaboration:
- Host a fun challenge and share the results in a post or Reel.
- Create content together, like sharing your favorite recipes, exercises, or tips.
- Go live on Instagram to discuss topics your audiences care about.
Pro Tip: Reach out to a new colleague every two weeks and suggest a creative collaboration.
4. Follow the People You Want as Followers
This strategy takes effort, but it’s effective. If you follow people in your niche, there’s a good chance they’ll follow you back – especially if your profile highlights your online coaching expertise.
What to know:
- Stick to 30 follows per day to avoid being flagged by the platform.
- Expect about 1 new follower for every 20 accounts you follow.
- Use targeted discovery – find active users by checking who’s engaging with posts on successful profiles in your niche.
Pro Tip: Dedicate time daily to identify and follow 30 relevant profiles.
Where Should You Start?
It’s unrealistic to implement all four tactics at once.
Pick one that feels manageable and commit to it for 30 days. Once you’ve built momentum, layer in another tactic. Over time, you’ll build a system that consistently grows your audience while staying aligned with your coaching business goals.
What’s your first step?