From co-posting with members and staff to looping in other creators, the gyms getting real reach right now are using collab posts to unlock entirely new audiences and rack up serious views.

But it’s not just collabs.
One gym used a security cam skit to roast bad racking habits (and followed a member to a restaurant). Another turned a workout into a hilarious challenge. A third showed how just walking and talking through your space builds trust and community.

Today’s full report breaks each one down:

You’ll also get the week’s best audios, what not to post, and how to turn basic content into growth.

Let’s build something worth watching

Got feedback? Questions? A post you want featured or analyzed? We actually read every reply. Hit us up. We’re building this for gym owners who give a damn.

Scroll down… the top-performing posts of the week are waiting!

Engagement: 🧠 4,054 Likes • 132 Comments • 2.6k Shares • 229k Views
Format: Reel (1:40)
Audio: Original Audio - in the gym audio
Source: @theloftatlanta

🧠 Why it worked:
A fun, visually chaotic challenge with two jacked dudes tossing kettlebells and squat bars like chess pieces. Impossible to scroll past.
The post popped not just from content, but collaboration — it featured 3 accounts, including a gym with 150k+ followers. This multiplied exposure instantly.

💡 Try this:
→ Run your own version of this challenge.
→ Collab tag everyone involved — members, trainers, your dog if they’ve got followers.
→ The more creators you tag, the bigger the net you cast. It’s visibility x credibility x community… and it’s free.

Engagement: 🧠 145k Likes • 918 Comments • 14k Shares • 7.6million Views
Format: Reel (0:39)
Audio: Original Audio - Fast EDM song
Source: @alphagymbali

🧠 Why it worked:
Starts like a security cam clip and ends like a skit. A member skips reracking weights, so the trainer chases them down to a restaurant and returns the favor.
It’s funny, surprising, and every lifter has lived this. That relatability + the low-fi security cam vibe made it feel like something you weren’t supposed to see — which is exactly why people shared it.

💡 Try this:
→ Lean into gym pet peeves. You’ll strike gold with stuff everyone’s experienced.
→ Shoot it like a security camera (no captions, no polish, just vibes).
→ Scripted ideas work best when they don’t feel scripted.

Engagement: 🧠 203 Likes • 40 Comments • 24 Shares • 3,974 Views
Format: Reel (1:30)
Audio: Original Audio - Audio track of them talking with some background
Source: @thecollectivegilbert

🧠 Why it worked:
No trending audio. No crazy challenge. Just two owners walking through the gym, talking to the camera.
It felt personal. Real. Like a friend showing you around.
This didn’t rack up millions of views, but it did spark great comments and build real connection.

💡 Try this:
→ Film a 30–60 sec walkthrough. Introduce your staff, show off your space, talk like a human.
→ Post it with captions. Pin it. Send it to leads. It’s your 24/7 welcome video.
→ Big brands can’t do this. You can and that’s your edge.

Want access when we launch?

There’s no perfect formula. Just patterns that keep showing up and the gyms willing to test them out.

The ones getting real traction? They’re not obsessing over trending dances or viral audio. They’re building community, spotlighting members, and making people feel something.

That’s your edge. It’s not about becoming a content creator… it’s about capturing what makes your gym worth walking into.

So this week, keep it simple:

And if you’ve got a post you’re proud of, or something you want us to break down in a future report, hit reply. This thing works better when we build it together.

Talk soon,
GCR

This newsletter exists to raise the bar for gym content everywhere.

If it helped you see what’s working, it’ll help someone else too.
Share it with a gym owner who’s ready to stop guessing and start posting with purpose.

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