Fitness influencers' aggressive sales tactics are on the rise

Fitness influencers' aggressive sales tactics are on the rise: when your online buddy turns into a pushy salesperson

First they flatter you, then they ask about your pogre, and eventually they try to sell you an 80-euro course. A growing number of users report that fitness influencers have moved from building community to outright commercial harassment. The line between a relationship of trust and sales pressure has become completely blurred.

From admiration to spam: a relationship that falls apart

The pattern repeats itself: a user trinc the profile of a muscle-bound influencer who seems inspiring. They exchange messages, the influencer comes across as friendly, asks how the trinc is getting on, offers advice. But soon the conversation drifts toward selling services: training plans, diets, miracle products. What began as a genuine interaction turns into an aggressive sales strategy.

The desperation to sell tears down all barriers

The economic crisis and market saturation have led many freelancers and small entrepreneurs to abandon any pretense of subtlety. One example cited is a retiree trying to sell products to family friends, offering discounts "just for you." Another case is an acquaintance who, instead of recommending services, directly pushes irresistible offers. The result is that trust erodes and personal relationships suffer.

The myth of viral success: everyone competing against everyone

Before social media, a local business was enough to make a living. Now, anyone offering a product or service competes nationally or globally. "The big players are the ones who sell, the ones with an advertising budget," goes the argument. Small sellers are trapped in an unequal struggle, and many resort to pressure tactics to survive. The promise of getting rich online collides with reality: most people only find fierce competition and razor-thin margins.

The phenomenon is not new, but it has intensified. The next time an influencer asks how your training is going, it may not be out of concern: they just need to close the month.