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Pump up your channel with tips from top fitness channels, and become adestination for fitness enthusiasts.

1. Tailor workouts to a target audience

Workout and other types of fitness-focused videos can be useful for everyone; butsuccessful fitness channels often focus on developing videos that meet the uniquehealth and fitness needs of a specific audience.

Some ways to do it

Lesson: Health & fitness channels

Identify your current demographics: Monitor the demographics data in YouTubeAnalytics to determine who is visiting and subscribing to your channel. Is thiswho you expected?

Choose relevant topics and formats: Brainstorm what types of videos yourtarget audience will most likely enjoy and which you’re able to consistentlydeliver. Both are important for a healthy channel.

Package your videos: Consider developing thumbnails and metadata thatappeal to your core audience.

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See it in action

Create a great user experiencefor families

Cosmic Kids Yoga provides fun andsimple workouts that are designed tohelp families practice yoga together.

Design workouts for specificaudiences

Blogilates built a fiercely loyalsubscriber base, who are 96%female, by tailoring workouts,thumbnails, metadata andcommunity-building tactics to theirtarget audience.

2. Make it easy to follow along

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An in-person instructor can make it simple to complete entire workouts. Creatorswho replicate this experience frequently see higher video completion rates andincreased audience engagement.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Visual aids can help motivate viewers to finish strong

Livestrong helps viewers follow along by including visual aids like (A) moves &modification demos (B) exercise names, (C) progress bars, and (D) timeremaining.

3. Jump into a routine

Describe each move: If viewers can’t easily see their screen while working out,they’ll rely on your voice to guide them. Be sure your directions are clear andmotivating.

Show modifications: Enable viewers of all fitness levels to follow along withyour routines. Consider demonstrating and explaining exercise modificationswithin your videos.

Provide aids on-screen: It can be helpful to display useful elements likeexercise names, progress bars, time remaining, and the next exercise in the set,to help viewers stay oriented during and make it through workouts.

List exercises and reps: Consider using the description field to list all exercisesand suggested reps. This is not only useful for viewers deciding which videos towatch, but also serves as rich metadata that can help YouTube’s discoverysystems surface your videos more effectively.

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Without proper structure and motivation, viewers are less likely to commit to yourchannel’s workouts. Encourage viewers to stick to a clear regimen so they continuereturning to achieve their personal fitness goals.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Workout calendars can help build repeat behavior

Blogilates posts monthly workout calendar PDFs. Each of the curatedexercises corresponds to a full workout video on the blogilates YouTubechannel.

4. Organize workouts into sets

Create a workout calendar: Consider developing a day-by-day workout plan.Some creators who do this will link to each exercise listed on their calendar tothe corresponding video on their channel.

Upload regularly: Aim to create and communicate a consistent upload scheduleso your audience knows when to come back to your channel for new workouts.

Remind fans to get moving: Try utilizing social media outlets to buildawareness and drive repeat visits to your channel. Get creative -- considerposting video links, inspirational messages and success stories to keep themomentum going.

Issue workout challenges: Some creators experiment with challenging theirfans to get through a series of workouts that they compile.

Get users to create playlists: Encourage viewers to click “Add To” below theplayer so they can add your workouts to their playlists and easily find themeach time they come to YouTube.

Use cards: Help viewers navigate through a workout series by linking from onevideo to another via cards.

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With so many workout videos on YouTube, viewers may find it difficult to choose.Many top fitness channels help their fans find workout routines that are right forthem by organizing them into sets using playlists and metadata.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Organizing workouts into user-friendly playlists

As part of its playlist strategy, SixPack Shortcuts indicates which setof videos require equipment andwhich do not so viewers can find theright workouts. For example, theplaylist on the left is titled, “Workoutvideos (No Equipment Needed” andthe playlist on the right is titled,“Workout Videos (EquipmentNeeded)”.

The power of well-optimizedplaylists

Two playlists that indicate ifequipment is required (red) or if noequipment is required (blue) areresponsible for more than 50% oftotal watch time driven by playlistson Six Pack Shortcuts.

Develop full programs: Consider organizing individual workouts into playlistcompilations so fans can go from one workout to another for a complete bodyworkout.

Target body parts: Some channels create playlists to enable their viewers totarget a specific body part, such as abdominals, arms, or thighs.

Organize by discipline: If your channel has multiple exercise disciplines likeyoga and dance, think about how you could organize them into playlists foreasy discovery and use.

Indicate workout lengths: Arranging videos by workout length can help usersquickly find exercises that fit into their schedule constraints.

Separate by ability levels: Make it easy for beginner, intermediate, andadvanced users to use your workout videos by creating playlists specificallytailored for them.

Equipment needed or not?: Some creators help viewers choose appropriatevideos based on the equipment they have available.

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5. Blast the music

Music can be a powerful way to help push your audience through tough workouts,but sometimes it’s more important to hear what the instructor’s saying. Severaldifferent audio strategies have proven to be equally effective. If you choose toinclude music in your workouts, be sure it doesn’t infringe on any copyrights byartists, labels and others.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Use free audio tracks: Find and download music for your videos usingYouTube’s cost-free Audio Library. If you’re monetizing your videos, you get thismusic for free.

Pay for specific tracks: Some creators use third-party music library providers topurchase the music they think their community will enjoy the most.

Collaborate with musicians: Reach out to YouTube musicians whose musiccomplements your workout style. You could promote their music within yourvideos.

Leave music out: Focus exclusively on your workout instruction and leave themusic choice to your users.

Upload two versions: Let your audience decide! Try uploading two versions ofthe same workout video -- one with music, the other without -- and then linkbetween the two videos using cards or the description field.

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Some channels don’t use musicat all

FitnessBlender guides subscribersthrough workouts without anybackground music; this allows usersto select their own workoutsoundtrack.

Other channels use music tomake their videos stand out

Blogilates leads subscribers throughpilates workouts set to Top-40 musichits, like this one by Dia Frampton.

6. Bring a friend with you and collaborate

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The buddy system can work as well on YouTube as it does at the gym. Popularfitness stars frequently collaborate on new videos and recommend each other’schannels to their respective fans; when done correctly, collaborations can be aneffective way to attract new audiences and increase views.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Build relationships in advance: Interact with channels you respect and want towork with before asking them to collaborate with you -- this can help buildstronger and more effective partnerships in the long-run.

Experiment with collaborative formats to get the best results:

Guest appearance: Some creators choose to invite popular YouTubers toappear in one-off episodes. (E.g., You could ask a popular beauty vlogger togo through your workouts.)

Guest-based series: Consider creating a recurring series with at least oneguest featured prominently in each episode. (E.g., Have popular YouTubersdemonstrate workout modifications.)

Skill-sharing: Find collaboration opportunities in which both parties canleverage the other’s skills and/or resources. (E.g., you could set a workoutto a music channel’s audio tracks.)

Co-creation: Some creators work with one or more other creators to ideate,create, and promote videos together (E.g., individual videos within a serieslive on one another’s channels and link between each other via cards, calls-to-action, etc).

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Get creative with collaborations

LivestrongWoman combined thefitness know-how of Tone It Up andstyle expertise from a popularfashion/beauty channel for acollaboration that drove thousandsof new subscribers.

Yes, collaborations really work

This LivestrongWoman collaborationvideo drove over 40% of totalchannel subscriptions during themonth immediately following thefitness/beauty collaboration.

7. Tap into fitness culture and events

Shared experiences can be powerful ways to join conversations that have built-inaudience interest. Take advantage of “tent-pole” events, or cultural milestones thatorganize our viewing habits throughout the year such as major holidays, bigsporting events, movie releases and more. Increasingly, top fitness channels areidentifying tent-pole events that their audiences care about most, and are creatingspecial videos or playlists around those events.

Some ways to do it

Identify opportunities: Monitor YouTube search interest using Google Trends touncover potential topics for tent-pole events. (Notice how searches for “pilates”jump every January, while searches for “Olympics” jump only every four years.This shows seasonal popularity.)

Release early: Try publishing tent-pole programs well ahead of the actual eventso you can tap into the pre-event buzz and get indexed by YouTube’s discoverysystems.

Promote event-specific programming: Consider using social media, paidpromotion and other means to drive new and existing audiences to this specialset of videos.

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See it in action

Annual summer bikini series

Tone It Up releases an annual bikiniseries each April to give audiencesenough time to get in shape beforebeach season is in full swing.

Olympics-inspired programming

Olympic hopeful, Amanda Russell,tapped into the interest surroundingthe 2012 London games withOlympics-inspired workouts, like her“Train Like An Olympian Workout”and athlete interview series.

8. Beef up beyond your core

Expanding the scope of your videos can open your channel to new audience-building opportunities. Established creators sometimes post videos about topicsclosely related to their own channel to provide viewers with a holistic fitnessexperience and to help ensure their channels continue to grow.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Put your existing audience first: Before introducing new topics and formats,consider your existing audience’s demographics and preferences. Make sureyou don’t alienate your most loyal fans with content they didn’t subscribe to.

Ask your audience: Find out what other topics your fans want to learn about.Ask them directly!

Do your homework: Before introducing drastically new topics, review the 10fundamentals of a creative strategy and then see what the top channels in yourarea are doing particularly well. Use these insights to maximize the appeal ofnew video genres.

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Supplementing workouts with healthy recipes

CrossFit® launched a Constantly Varied Nutrition series which naturallycomplements the channel’s core focus on strength and conditioning training.

9. Define what makes you unique

Not surprisingly, people tend to follow fitness trainers who inspire and motivatethem, and who deliver real results. Channels that clearly communicate their uniquestyle and philosophy are often able to develop close connections with viewers,which can result in increased subscriber growth.

Some ways to do it

Get your channel page into shape: Consider outfitting your channel with abanner, an icon and a channel trailer that work together to help visitors quicklyunderstand whether it’s the right channel for them.

Create a concise channel description: Develop an elevator pitch that clearly andquickly communicates what your channel is about and why people shouldwatch it.

Include video bumpers: If you decide to include bumpers (or intros and outros)in your videos, consider briefly referencing what type of content can be foundon the rest of your channel.

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See it in action

Clear channel description and branding

StrengthCamp uses clear branding, an introductory trailer, and playlists on thechannel page to inform viewers that the channel is all about strength trainingquestions and answers.

10. Connect with your audience

Building rapport with viewers can be a powerful way to grow your community andturn casual viewers into super fans. Popular fitness channels frequently interactwith their viewers.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Solicit questions: Ask audiences what they want to see next -- their feedbackcan serve as powerful inspiration for your channel’s future programming.

Live Q&A: Make yourself available to fans around the world by holding livequestion-and-answer sessions on your channel.

Feature success stories: You could ask your fans to contribute before-and-afterstories, photos and videos to serve as inspiration and proof that your workoutsystem works.

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Let the audience ask you questions directly

On top of its core exercise videos, Fitness Blender directly addresses audience-submitted questions with its "Your Questions Answered" Q&A series.

11. Maximize results with full-length workouts

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Short tutorial clips are popular on YouTube, but viewers are increasingly turning tofull-length workouts for their fitness needs. Many fitness channels successfullyfeature a mix of demonstration clips and full-length workouts that compileindividual moves into cohesive regimens.

Some ways to do it

See it in action

Upload long-form, full-bodyworkouts

FitnessBlender uploads full-lengthworkouts (30-60 minutes) thatconsistently drive millions of viewsper video.

Viewers appreciate full-lengthworkout videos

A popular fitness channel’s short-form videos (<10 minute) (A) werenot as popular as their full-lengthvideos (B) as indicated in this graphshowing average views per video.The full-length videos drove 40xmore average views (C) per videoover the same time period.

Film as if your fans are working out beside you: Consider walking audiencesthrough a full-length workout as you would in a gym setting. As an addedbonus, you could link to short clips that teach correct movements andmodification options.

Compile clips: Try stitching together existing short-form tutorial clips into a full-length video.

Incorporate breaks: When running viewers through full-length workouts,consider including natural breaks for water and rest. Doing so may increasevideo view-through rates.

Add progress markers: Motivate your viewers through an entire workout byenabling them to track their progress. You could add visual guides and graphicsduring post-production.

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Try it

How will you make your channel more accessible and targeted to a fitness-focused audience?

What changes will you make to your channel design to optimize for youraudience? Are there specific improvements that will attract the fitnesscommunity?

Name three ways you will interact with your audience to keep them inspired andmotivated, and that will keep them coming back to your channel for more.

Sign in to save your answers.

Check your knowledge

You create 30-minute cross-training workout videos. What aresome takeaways from creators that you can use to help youraudience make it all of the way to the end of the video?

Rely on verbal motivation and the promise of sculpted abs.

Offer resting periods to give your viewers a chance to catch their breath beforethe next exercise begins.

Include on-screen progress bars, show modifications for each exercise, anddisplay the amount of time left.

Challenge them to feel the burn and criticize slackers.

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