You want to set the base content in your app first before launching a challenge. We recommend creating a challenge around month four, once you have your publishing cadence down and are uploading content on a regular basis. Check out the info below to learn the basics of challenges and how you can start planning your first one.
What Are Challenges?
Challenges are workout programs created by you that encourage users to turn their workouts up a notch! They’re essentially programs that are scheduled and slowly released, designed to give users a competition with extra incentives to engage for a set duration of time.
The bottom line? Challenges are programs with entry rules and prizes.
To better break this down visually, here’s what each content type looks like in the consumer app:
In the example above, you can see that creator Aubrie has:
Challenge: Back @ It Challenge
Program: Shaped at Home
Category: Core & Abs, Follow-Along, and HIIT/Cross Training
When to Use Challenges
Challenges are ideal for fans who want structured content. These fans:
Enjoy guided fitness content
Need to be motivated (by you!)
Want extra incentive or competition in their workouts
How to Create Challenges in the Creator App
As we mentioned, challenges are essentially the same as programs, so when it comes to step-by-step instructions for creating your challenge workouts, review our steps to create programs in the creator app.
While you can build the challenge up front all at once, we recommend not releasing all of the videos at once. To create anticipation for your followers, schedule the workouts to be released each day of your challenge.
Here’s what this looks like in the creator app:
Note: Outline your challenge first so you know what workouts you need to record and when. For example, your outline for a 2-Week Bikini Body challenge might look something like this:
Monday: Lower Body
Tuesday: Upper Body
Wednesday: Cardio + Core
Thursday: Lower Body
Friday: Upper Body
10 Steps to Build a Challenge
- Choose a title or theme
Based on the type of content you typically share with your audience, brainstorm the types of challenges you think would best resonate with your audience.
Examples: 1-Week Ab Challenge, 10-Day Handstand Challenge, 30-Day Total Body Transformation
- Choose a duration
It's difficult to get people to participate in or complete a challenge that's longer than 30 days.
We recommend starting with a 1-2 week challenge.
- Choose your start and end dates
It's best to start your challenge at the beginning of the month, leading up to a holiday or season, or at the beginning of the week (on a Monday).
- Determine how you'll structure your workouts
How many workouts will you build for this challenge?
Will you publish a new workout daily?
Will you publish a new workout every few days?
Examples: Publish a new workout every day, publish five new workouts each week, publish one new workout every 5-7 days, publish five different types of workouts (i.e. upper body, lower body, core, cardio, and total body) to be completed on different days throughout the challenge.
- Select your prizes
Rewards in a challenge are important to motivate people to participate!
Examples: A one-on-one workout session (either virtual or in-person), a free e-book, a gift card, cash, apparel or swag from partner brands.
- Outline the rules
Tell your audience exactly how you'll be selecting a challenge winner.
Examples: Whoever engages the most over social media throughout the challenge, whoever completes the most workouts throughout the challenge, the best physical transformation.
- Create an entry method for participants
Users need to enter the challenge. Remember to detail the entry method in your description so the rules are crystal clear.
We recommend creating a Google Form for users to enter your challenge. You can then add the form to your app's insights and include it in your Linktree to promote on social media. If your challenge winner is based on physical transformations, you can also collect before and after photos through your Google Form.
- Prepare and film your workouts
Film the workouts for your challenge
Building a challenge is the same process as creating a program and creating graphics for that program.
- Create a pre-launch strategy
We recommend promoting your challenge at least one week before it starts to build excitement!
Ideas for announcing your challenge: Explain the rules, how to enter, and prizes on IGTV and Instagram Stories. Mention your challenge on all of your social media challenges with a CTA and signup link.
- Go live with your challenge!
8 Challenge Tips & Best Practices
Create new challenges quarterly
Make sure your fans can engage with you — and each other — by creating a Facebook group for your challenge
The ideal time frame for challenges is 1-2 weeks
Challenges are great to run just before a major holiday or change in season
Challenges can help you boost your subscriber rate and social media following — they’re a clear CTA to push new users into subscribing while delivering new content to existing subscribers!
Use these Canva templates to create cover images for your challenge on your phone. The program templates can also be used for challenges!
Film an intro video for your challenge using our sample scripts you can customize.
Complete five to 10 FAQs about your challenge. Check out our essential challenge FAQs here!
Challenge Examples
If you’re still in need of inspiration, check out these great creator challenge examples in the consumer app!
Aubrie Edgington’s “Back at It” Challenge
Challenge Highlight
Challenge Intro in Consumer App (with Intro Video & FAQ)
Jeremy Park’s “Art of War” Challenge
Challenge Highlight
Challenge Intro in Consumer App (with Intro Video & FAQ)
Juice & Toya's "Start Now" Challenge
Challenge Highlight
Note: There are two different variations of this Challenge in the consumer app — bodyweight and dumbbell. This is a great way to capture users who prefer different workout styles!
Challenge Intro in Consumer App (with Intro Video & FAQ)
For more Challenge examples from the pros, click here.
