Your next client is probably scrolling right now. More and more people find where to eat, train and unwind on TikTok and Instagram, and Pilates has become part of the weekly routine for a lot of them, especially younger people who put feeling good first.
People tend to choose a Pilates studio that’s nearby, looks like somewhere they’d like to try, and comes recommended by someone they trust. That’s where creator content comes in. When a local creator films their first reformer class, it feels like a recommendation from a friend. Viewers see the studio, the instructors and the class for themselves, so by the time they book, it’s as if they’ve already been. And because the creator’s audience lives nearby, the people watching can actually turn up.
The hardest part is finding the right people and getting them through the door. Searching for creators takes a lot of time, your message can get lost in their DMs, and you may have tried before and been ghosted, or had a creator book a free class and not turn up.
Why Local Creators Work for Pilates Studios
- Pilates content performs well on social. It’s visual, satisfying to watch and still feels new to a lot of people.
- They lower the fear factor. Lots of people are nervous about their first class. Seeing someone like them try a new studio, or Pilates for the first time, makes booking feel easy.
- They keep your page fresh. A steady flow of creators visiting gives you new recommendations to reshare between your own posts.
How Can Pilates Studios Work with Influencers and Creators?
There are four common ways:
- Gifted classes: Invite a creator to try a class or two, and if they like it, they share their honest experience with their followers.
- Paid partnerships: Pay an influencer with a bigger following for agreed content, like a series of posts around a new class or studio launch.
- Creator events: Invite a group of creators to a launch, a PR day or a special class.
- Videos for your ads: A reformer class looks great on camera, which makes it ideal for ads. With Ad Studio, creators film at your studio to your brief, and you own every video you approve to run on Instagram and TikTok.
What to Offer Creators
The clearer and more generous the offer, the more excited creators will be to come. For Pilates studios, that’s often:
- A free class, plus a little extra like merch or a matcha if you have it
- A few sessions or a free month, so they can share how Pilates fits into their routine
- A spot at a launch or special class, which gives them something different to film
How Joli Works for Pilates Studios
Joli is a creator platform for hospitality and leisure brands. You set a campaign live, and local creators who’d like to visit apply.
- Set up your campaign: add what you’re offering, like a class pack or your intro offer, when creators can book and what you’d love them to capture.
- Creators apply: local creators who like the look of your studio apply, so there’s no messaging to do.
- Choose who comes: check their content, engagement rate and where their followers live, then approve the ones whose style fits your studio.
- They take a class: creators book a reformer like any other client, and if they enjoy it, they share it with their followers.
- See the results: their posts land in your content library, building a bank of real recommendations.
Every creator on Joli is based in the UK and reviewed by our team before they can apply to anything. We also ask creators to confirm their attendance 24 hours before they arrive, so you’re not left holding an empty reformer.
If you also run mat or strength classes, our guide to fitness studio marketing covers launches and timetables in more detail.
What Creator Content for Pilates Studios Looks Like
A strength class at Reformer LDN, filmed exercise by exercise on the reformer. It shows the machines, the studio and how a session flows, which is exactly what a nervous first-timer wants to see, and the saves show viewers bookmarking it to try for themselves.
You can read how other leisure brands use Joli in our customer stories, including Rocket Padel, whose creator content has had more than 448,000 views since April 2024.
If you’d like a steady stream of creators coming through your door, book a demo and we’ll show you how it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I market my Pilates studio?
Focus on what makes people book: a clear overview of your location and offers, a smooth booking journey and social proof from people they trust. Local creators are one of the quickest ways to build that social proof, alongside reviews, referrals and community events.
How do I get influencers to promote my Pilates studio?
Start with creators who live locally and whose style suits your studio. Offer a clear, generous experience, like a class pack or your intro offer, and give them a simple brief. Platforms like Joli make it easier by connecting you with vetted local creators.
Do Pilates studios need influencers?
It's well worth considering. More people now discover where to work out on social media, and seeing a real person try a class builds trust in a way your own posts can't. Creators get your studio in front of new local audiences, show what a class is really like and give people the confidence to book their first session.
How do I get more sign-ups to my Pilates studio?
Make your intro offer easy to find and easy to book, then get it in front of local people. Creator content is a great way to do this, and rather than spending hours finding and messaging creators yourself, Joli lets you set a campaign live and creators apply to visit.
Should I pay creators or gift classes?
Most studios start with gifted classes. Paid content makes sense when you want content for ads, or when a creator has a highly engaged local audience.
What if other people in the class don't want to be in the content?
Book the creator onto a reformer at the end of a row, or into a quieter session, so other clients stay out of frame, and let the class know before you start. If you'd rather keep filming separate, a creator class or launch event means everyone there is happy to be on camera.
