Interview with an Influencer: Jono Castano (@jonocastanoacero)
Jono Castano, a Sydney based fitness educator and owner of Acero Training Series chats with us about how his fitness journey let to the founding of #onecommunity and a following of over 403k.
This week, we had a chat with Jono Castano, a Sydney based fitness educator and owner of Acero Training Series. Jono has also founded #onecommunity to spread positivity across social media and has since amassed a following of 403k.
Jono chats with us about how he keeps his content authentic, remains dedicated to his fitness journey, and inspires his followers to do the same. Don't miss it!
Can you tell us about yourself and your blog? What made you get into blogging?
My name is Jono Castano. I’m a 27-year-old personal trainer based in Sydney. I am the owner of Acero Training Series which is a community based online program. We focus on helping everyone become the best they can be.
I started blogging as I felt the community needed more information to understand fitness in a general format, as I believe some articles are too complex for consumers to understand.
What are your secrets to success and how did you turn your passion into a paying job? Or was it the other way around?
It really depends on what you view success as.
My view is success is determined by the #onecommunity becoming the best version of themselves by the information I give through social media. Success at work comes down to consistency and dedication. I see so many trainers wasting time scrolling up and down rather than being proactive and helping around the gym floor.
Biggest misconception about you and your job?
The real struggle of a personal trainer. People think it’s a glamorous life because you get paid well and you choose your hours. They never see how many days I’m working or how many hours I spend at the gym. I'm creating individual programs for hundreds of people, answering texts 24/7, checking in and providing weekly feedback and list seriously goes on! This job isn’t easy, but that’s why not many are successful - they struggle with the 1% percent.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to focus on myself and be myself. In such a saturated industry, some get caught up comparing themselves to successful trainers or Instagram personalities and think “why am I not like them?”. It’s important to keep your identity too.
What are two learnings since starting out?
Never let the low times affect the energy you put out through social media or at work. People can sense energy and when we create negativity it’s a bad place to be in.
Focus on the important values, the “why”, and the love you have for what you do.
How has social media influenced your business?
Social media has given me the platform to share my passion for fitness and helping others become the best they can be. It’s so powerful. It’s crazy that some people don’t even use it!
We have the tool to influence and help so many, but some choose to use it for wrong reasons. As a business owner I’m always getting leads through social media on a weekly basis. You have the power to use it however you want, be smart.
What tools do you find indispensable for social media?
The most important tool that I tell anyone about when starting a social media account is to know your purpose and your "why". Then you can create content that displays that vision. Followers want to know who you are! Not just a person behind a still photo every single post.
How did #onecommunity come about? Why do you think that it has been so successful?
Personally, I’d say creating a community that everyone can be a part of. A place where no one feels they’re not good enough. Our community is based on helping everyday people make the most out of their day through workouts or simply through day to day motivational tips.
Your #onecommunity following is highly engaged, how do you keep this up?
#onecommunity was created to spread a positive community across social media that everyone can be a part of. It’s growing everyday with followers and continues to change people’s lives. They are the ones that keep it alive, without the community none of this would have been possible.
I encourage the #onecommunity to post regular content from their workouts to food, or even videos of them simply being themselves. It’s about being accepted for who you are and not having to change any of that to fit in.
What content works best on your feed and why?
Anything to do with fitness or workouts works best on my social channels. I like to focus on teaching the basics rather than crazy workouts where someone can easily get injured or feel disappointed because they can’t do it.
What are 2 of your favourite posts that you’ve ever done and why?
I’d have to say my recent pre-engagement photo because that photo is more than a photo to me. Me and my fiancé Amy have been dating for over 10 years now and we have never done professional photos like that before! So that’s one for the house.
Second post is when I created my brand Acero Training Series and watching how far it has come over the years - it’s insane!
What has been your favourite brand collaboration to date and why?
I’d have to say raising funds for Medical Research with St George. I love getting behind great causes and that’s why I love social media. I get to spread awareness to a large audience.
How do you go about choosing the brands that you work with?
I focus on what the brand is going to bring to the one community and myself. I work with brands who also focus on the same vision of helping others.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to become an influencer?
My advice to anyone getting started - have a purpose and know why your creating your page. Never focus on how many followers, likes or comments you get! Authenticity is key.
CREDIT: @jonocastanoacero
