📲 Swipeable Retargeting Ads: Sell Fitness Without a Single Before-and-After Photo

👋 Hey Visionaries!

Here’s the truth: most fitness ads look exactly the same. Scroll through your feed right now and you’ll see it—side-by-side transformations, “8-week shred” promises, and more “before” selfies than anyone asked for.

The problem? They don’t tell the full story. And worse, they can alienate the very people you want to attract: the beginners, the busy professionals, the folks who don’t see themselves in those images (yet).

That’s why the most innovative gyms, studios, and coaches are ditching the transformation clichés and leaning into story-based retargeting—a strategy that connects on a deeper level and drives better results.

Let’s get to it. 👇

🎧 Prefer to Listen?

Catch this edition’s audio breakdown in the FitVision podcast, available now in the Supafitgrow Circle Community.

🚫 The Limitation of Before-and-After Ads

Before-and-after images will always have a place, but here’s what they can’t do:

• Build an emotional connection with someone who feels unseen or intimidated.

• Communicate the experience of being part of your community.

• Showcase your expertise or unique approach without relying on appearance.

They sell a result, but they don’t build a relationship. And in 2025, relationships drive conversions far more than hype ever will.

The Power of Story-Driven Retargeting

Story-driven retargeting shifts the focus from what someone looks like to what someone experiences when they join your world.

Instead of saying: “Lose 20 lbs in 6 weeks!”

You’re saying: “Feel energized, confident, and supported in a place built for people like you.”

This approach works because it speaks to the why—the reason people hit “sign up” in the first place.

Why it works:

• It Meets People Where They Are
  Leads in your retargeting pool already know you. They’ve clicked your ad, visited your site, or watched your videos. Story-driven ads feel like a natural, warm conversation—not another sales pitch.
  

• It Builds Authority Without Bragging
  By sharing real experiences, expert insights, or behind-the-scenes moments, you position your brand as trustworthy and human.
  

• It Creates Emotional Resonance
  Fitness isn’t just about physical change—it’s about confidence, freedom, and longevity. Story-first ads connect with those deeper desires.

📊 The Shift We’re Seeing in Fitness Retargeting

Across our network of gyms, studios, and coaching brands, one clear pattern is emerging: story-first creative is outperforming transformation-first creative across every major channel.

Here’s what’s driving the shift:

• Platform Priorities Are Changing
  Ad platforms like Meta and TikTok are rewarding authentic, organic-feeling content. Story-driven ads not only stay compliant but also earn better delivery at lower costs.
  

• Audiences Are More Sophisticated
  Consumers can spot a hard sell from a mile away. They want to engage with brands that feel real, not salesy. That’s why ads showing the experience, the energy, and the community are winning attention and trust.
  

• Retention Is the New Growth Lever
  The brands using story-driven ads aren’t just signing more members, they’re keeping them longer. By building relationships through retargeting, they create a sense of loyalty that goes beyond price or promotions.
  

• Owned Audiences = Sustainable Growth
  Retargeting with stories keeps leads warm, even when ad costs fluctuate. Brands that consistently nurture their audiences see steadier pipelines and healthier ROI over time.

This isn’t a short-term hack. It’s the foundation for sustainable marketing in a crowded, competitive fitness market, where trust and connection drive not just clicks, but memberships and renewals.

🚀 The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just a tweak to your ad strategy; it’s a shift in how you communicate your value.

When you move away from hard-selling “results” and toward building trust through storytelling, your retargeting ads stop feeling like ads and start feeling like a natural part of your audience’s feed.

That’s how you become the gym, studio, or coach they keep thinking about, until the day they finally sign up.

🎁 The Takeaway

Retargeting doesn’t have to be loud or pushy. The leads in your pipeline don’t need another sales pitch; they need to be reminded of why they were interested in the first place.

By showing the journey instead of just the before-and-after, you build connection, credibility, and confidence. And that’s what turns a lukewarm lead into a committed client.

📘 New Resource: The Swipeable Ad Playbook

We’ve put together a deep dive into story-driven retargeting for gyms, studios, and online coaches. Inside, you’ll discover:

• How to reframe your messaging to connect with today’s fitness buyer.

• The psychology of storytelling that builds trust and authority.

• Examples from real brands winning with story-first retargeting.

👉 Join the Circle Community to Access the Playbook

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Takeaway: Gain clarity and start the new year with a winning plan.

🗣️ Share Your Story!

We want to hear from you! What’s one setback you turned into a success in your fitness business? Reply to this email; your story could be featured in our next edition!

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👂🏻 Let’s Hear from You!

What’s your top goal for 2025? Reply to this email and let us know—we might feature your story in next week’s FitVision!

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Here’s to building your vision!
Michael Friedman - Chief Editor