Fitness Business Networking: 7 Tips for Building a Strong Network

Working as a fitness professional is a very rewarding career.

After all, you’re changing lives every day, helping clients reach their fitness goals, while encouraging them to become better versions of themselves.

It’s also never been a better time to be in the industry—the global fitness market is expected to be worth $434.74 billion by 2028. In addition, the online/virtual market is expected to grow to $187.8 billion by 2032.

With over 122,000 fitness businesses and hundreds of fitness business coaches in the U.S., the industry is all about community, and tapping into this network is crucial for your career growth and success.

As the fitness industry continues to expand, networking and building relationships with like-minded professionals can help you stay competitive and take advantage of new opportunities.

Fitness business networking doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take some work.

Whether you’re just starting your fitness career or looking to take your business to the next level, we’ve put together some helpful tips to enhance your networking efforts.

1. Join all the fitness associations and organizations you can

If you’re looking to expand your career, joining fitness associations is a no-brainer. They’re a networking gold mine!

By joining one of more of these organizations, you’ll get access to a wide range of resources, tools, and support to stay on top of the latest trends, research, and best practices in the industry.

Think of it as an investment in your career that can pay off big time.

Which should you join? Here are some of the top ones across North America:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• Fitness Business Association (FBA)
• Boutique Fitness Solutions (BFS)
• International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA)
• IDEA Health & Fitness Association
• Canfitpro

Also, don’t overlook the power of local groups like your Chamber of Commerce. It can help you become visible in your community and create further connections with nearby business owners.

2. Attend live or online industry events

Many of these fitness organizations host live conferences and trade shows, featuring seminars and workshops, either online or in person.

Not only do these events offer a fun and exciting way to connect with hundreds of attendees, experts, and innovators, they’re a great opportunity to keep your certifications current.

Additionally, most conferences feature keynote speakers from some of the top names in the industry, giving you access to exclusive content you can’t find anywhere else.

What are some of the most popular yearly events? Here are some of our top picks:

• FitPro Growth Summit—June 8-10, 2023, Scottsdale, Arizona
• IDEA World—July 12-15, 2023, Los Angeles, California
• Canfitpro Global Conference & Trade Show—August 16-20, 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• The Summit by BFS—October 5-6, 2023, New York City, New York
• IHRSA Conference & Trade Show—March 6-8, 2024, Los Angeles, California
• SUCCEED! FBA Virtual Conference & Expo—three events a year

3. Volunteer at fitness events

We get it, you’re busy and time is your most valuable resource, never seemingly having enough.

That said, volunteering some of your time is actually a sneaky good investment, adding a ton of fitness networking opportunities as a business owner.

Why? Well, you’ll be talking a lot, to everyone—from event organizers and potential clients to industry leaders and event speakers. Meaning you can showcase your skills to leads or have an in-depth personal conversation with the presenters, simply by giving your time.

With volunteering, there’s many places you can volunteer, too, from local gym events, charity runs, or non-profit boards, just to name a few. Try to support causes you’re passionate about.

It’s these small time commitments that can pay off big, providing amazing growth opportunities, both personally and professionally.

So, take a look at your schedule and try to volunteer at a handful of fitness business events each year. You never know what may come of it!

4. Attend fitness classes from other studios in your area

Looking to meet new people in the fitness industry?

Perhaps the easiest fitness business networking method is to stay local, taking classes or services at other studios or gyms in your area.

Not only will you increase your visibility with other local instructors, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts, but you’ll also get to experience different workout styles and techniques. This can help you gain new insights and skills you can utilize at your own business.

In addition, attending local fitness meetups, such as group runs or hikes, further connects you with like-minded individuals in your community who could potentially benefit from your services down the road.

5. Collaborate with other fitness pros

Are there other local fitness or wellness pros that you can team up with? Maybe you met a few business owners at one of those conferences and trade shows.

Now’s your chance to work with them, offering joint services, workshops, or classes.

Let’s say you’re a yoga studio owner and you met an operator of a high-end training facility with several trainers and nutritionists under one roof.

For instance, the yoga studio owner could host a regular yoga class at the training facility, while telling participants all about the studio. At the same time, a nutritionist from the training facility could deliver a series of workshops and inform attendees about their 1:1 consultations.

The benefit of partnering up also means you can market these ventures to multiple audiences, ensuring that these collaborations are worth everyone’s time.

6. Connect on social media and online communities

Sure, nothing beats meeting people in person, but you’re also going to want to leverage the power of social media and various online communities.

• Start with your own social platforms to stand out. Create engaging content based on the latest trends, and don’t forget to reach out to anyone that comments on your posts and start a conversation. That simple DM can turn into a valuable connection.
• Join online social groups and communities related to the fitness industry on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit, while commenting on posts of other users or sharing valuable insights of your own. Find relevant groups where you can contribute in a meaningful way. Plus, engaging with other fitness influencers helps attract a whole new audience. How do you choose the right group? Check out this blog for some Facebook Group options from top fitness professionals.
• Sign up for fitness business podcasts to keep informed on the latest industry trends. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of 10 podcasts to listen to, or you can even interview some of the best in the business and attract new members by starting your own podcast.

7. Prepare yourself for any opportunity

To make the most of every fitness business networking opportunity, you need to set yourself up to succeed.

Whether it’s a fitness conference or local event, whenever you go anywhere, bring with you a stack of business cards to hand out to potential clients and exchange with other fitness enthusiasts.

It’s the perfect reminder that a meeting occurred. Also, if you’re meeting online, send them an e-card or Thank You email.

Make sure all your contact information is on your card, including your phone number and website.

Speaking of your website, that’s the first place all your new leads and connections will go after meeting you, so ensure that it properly showcases your business. It’s like your online business card, elevator pitch, and front desk staff, all in one place.

Front and center on your homepage, be sure to include detailed information about your classes, contact info, and testimonials.

Additionally, creating valuable and interesting content with blogs and webinars will help you build trust and credibility among your potential clients, while leading to opportunities to grow your network of fitness professionals.

Plus, you’ll need to focus on your website’s on-page, off-page, and technical search engine optimization (SEO) to boost your local search ranking, ensuring your target audience can find you.

Click here to learn how to transform your website into the ultimate lead conversion tool and how Presence—our full-service custom website agency—can help streamline your purchase experience, boost SEO, and maximize conversion rates.

Start building your fitness network today!

Most studio or gym owners look at fitness business networking as a chore, and one more thing they have to do.

But it really is a necessary part of the job, helping you build your authority in the industry so that leads and other fitness pros know who you are.

So, whenever you’re at a conference or event, dress to impress, introduce yourself, and swap contact info with your new connections so you can reconnect later on. Relationships aren’t built in a single meeting, so remember to follow up.

Now that you’ve built your network, let WellnessLiving help with the rest. Our all-in-one software takes the stress out of business management with all the tools you need to attract, convert, and retain more clients today! Book a free, no-commitment demo for more.