In the latest episode of Profit Made Simple, I had the privilege of speaking with Kim Barrett, one of Australia’s most respected digital marketers.

Kim shared his incredible journey into digital marketing and provided actionable strategies for fitness business owners to leverage digital marketing, dominate their niche, and future-proof their businesses in 2025.

Kim’s story began in his teenage years when he and his father started breeding tropical fish. To promote their venture, he became a moderator for an online forum, which led to his first marketing breakthrough—securing $40,000 in sponsorships for the platform.

His entrepreneurial journey continued as he explored various ventures, eventually landing in Facebook advertising. He played a key role in marketing for major names like Gary Vaynerchuk and Eric Thomas, proving his expertise in digital strategy and online lead generation.

Kim emphasised that becoming a dominant figure in the fitness industry requires three key components:

The first step in growing your business is consistently attracting quality leads. Running targeted Facebook and Instagram ads tailored to your ideal fitness clients is critical to keeping your pipeline full.

Kim stressed the importance of nurturing potential customers through consistent engagement. Building a robust email list, running retargeting ads, and leveraging social media to stay top-of-mind can dramatically improve conversions.

Creating valuable content that positions you as an authority in your space is essential. Leveraging Reels, YouTube Shorts, and educational fitness content will help establish credibility and attract new clients.

Kim shared key strategies to help fitness entrepreneurs stay ahead in the evolving digital landscape:

One of the biggest mistakes fitness businesses make is trying to market to everyone. Kim advised targeting specific audiences such as office workers, tradies, or busy parents. Creating ads that speak directly to their unique pain points leads to higher engagement and better conversion rates.

While AI tools can streamline content creation and marketing automation, Kim warned against overusing AI-generated content. Instead, business owners should focus on their authentic voice, using AI as a supporting tool for scripting, ideation, and ad targeting.

Meta is pushing short-form video content, specifically Reels. Kim highlighted that advertisers who prioritise Reels in 2025 may receive additional exposure and ad credits from Meta, making it a powerful tool for fitness entrepreneurs.

With many fitness businesses struggling due to economic fluctuations, Kim emphasised the importance of financial preparedness. Having cash reserves allows businesses to capitalise on opportunities like acquiring struggling competitors, expanding locations, or doubling down on high-ROI marketing campaigns.

Kim outlined a few crucial trends that fitness entrepreneurs should leverage:

• Trial Reels on Instagram – A feature that allows businesses to test Reels with new audiences before publishing them publicly.
• AI-Powered Ad Targeting – Using AI-driven insights to refine ad targeting and improve campaign performance.
• Personalised Advertising – Creating hyper-targeted campaigns for different demographics instead of generic messaging.
• Omni-Channel Marketing – Expanding beyond Facebook Ads and incorporating YouTube, TikTok, and Google Ads for maximum exposure.

The digital marketing landscape is evolving rapidly, and fitness entrepreneurs who adapt will thrive. Kim’s insights provide a roadmap to dominate your market, build a strong online presence, and future-proof your business.