What to Include in Your On-Demand Coaching Resource Library

You know you want a resource library. But what actually goes in it?

You could include everything. You should include only what matters. This guide walks you through thinking strategically about what resources belong in your library.

The Three Buckets of Content

All resources fall into one of three buckets. Understanding the difference helps you decide what to include.

1. Must-Haves

Content that every client needs, regardless of situation.

These are high-leverage resources that answer fundamental questions or enable success.

For most coaches, must-haves include:

• Welcome guide or onboarding video
• How to use your app or platform
• Form videos for core movements (squat, bench, deadlift for strength coaches; basics for general coaches)
• Nutrition fundamentals (macros, calories, protein)
• FAQ section answering your top 10 questions

Must-haves are the foundation. Every client should see them.

2. Nice-to-Haves

Content that deepens understanding but isn’t essential.

These are supplementary resources that enhance but don’t make or break the client experience.

Examples:

• Supplement guide
• Equipment recommendations
• Advanced training concepts
• Mindset and motivation content
• Progress tracking templates
• Recovery and mobility guides

Nice-to-haves add value. Clients who explore them go deeper. But their absence doesn’t break anything.

3. Aspirational

Content you could create eventually but shouldn’t feel pressure to include now.

These are resources that would be great but require significant effort.

Examples:

• Recipe collection with 50+ recipes
• Video library with 100+ exercise tutorials
• Meal plan templates for every goal
• Comprehensive supplement guide with 20+ products

Aspirational content is future state. Start without it.

What Most Coaches Should Include

Tier 1: Absolute Essentials (Start Here)

These are non-negotiable. Almost every coach should have these.

1. Welcome & Getting Started A 2-5 minute video or comprehensive guide introducing clients to what they’re getting and how to use the library.

Why: First impressions matter. Clients want to feel welcomed and oriented.

2. Form Videos for Your Core Movements If you coach strength, form videos for squat, bench, deadlift, rows. If you coach general fitness, form videos for basic movements. If you coach other things, videos for your core techniques.

Why: Form questions never stop. One good video answers 100 questions.

3. Nutrition Basics A guide to macros, calories, or the nutrition approach you recommend.

Why: Nutrition questions are constant. A clear guide reduces support burden.

4. FAQ Section Your 10 most-asked questions with answers.

Why: These questions are coming anyway. Answer them once, reference forever.

Tier 2: Important Supplements (Build Next)

Add these to make your library more complete.

5. Supplement Information If you recommend supplements, explain what they are, what they do, and why.

Why: Clients get confused or skeptical about supplements. Clear guidance builds trust.

6. Equipment Recommendations What do clients need? What’s optional? Where to buy?

Why: Reduces decision fatigue. Sets clients up for success.

7. Recovery & Mobility Resources Stretching guides, mobility videos, sleep tips, deload guidance.

Why: Recovery is underrated. Clients who recover well train better and stay consistent.

8. Progress Tracking Tools Templates or guides for tracking workouts, progress photos, measurements.

Why: What gets measured gets managed. Tracking drives engagement.

What to Include Based on Your Coaching Niche

Your specialty determines what matters most.

Strength Coaches

Must-haves:

• Form videos for lifts (definitely)
• Progression strategy (how to add weight, add reps)
• Periodization overview (what cycles you use)
• FAQ (common bench, squat, deadlift questions)

Nice-to-haves:

• Equipment reviews or recommendations
• Recovery & mobility for lifters
• Nutrition for muscle gain

Online Nutrition Coaches

Must-haves:

• Nutrition fundamentals guide
• Macro calculation guide
• Meal prep and food prep tips
• Recipe collection (even 10-20 to start)
• FAQ (about macros, hunger, adherence, etc.)

Nice-to-haves:

• Supplement information
• Restaurant ordering guide
• Progress tracking for body composition
• Mindset and habit content

Hybrid Coaches (Training + Nutrition)

Must-haves:

• Getting started guide
• Form videos for core movements
• Nutrition fundamentals
• How your program works
• FAQ

Nice-to-haves:

• Equipment recommendations
• Recovery guides
• Recipes
• Supplement info
• Progress tracking

General Fitness Coaches

Must-haves:

• Getting started
• Basic movement form videos
• Nutrition basics
• FAQ

Nice-to-haves:

• Equipment (bodyweight alternatives, home setup)
• Mobility and flexibility guides
• Mindset content
• Progress tracking

Thinking About Resources You Already Have

Before creating new content, audit what you already have.

Check your Vault for:

• Documents you’ve written
• PDFs you’ve created
• Images and infographics
• Spreadsheets or trackers
• YouTube links you’ve shared before
• Articles you’ve recommended repeatedly
• Tools or calculators you trust

You probably have more than you think. Use it. This is the fastest way to launch your first library. Platforms like HubFit let you simply drag these resources into collections, so you’re not re-organizing or duplicating work.

Balancing Documents vs. Links

Two types of resources: documents (files you upload) and links (to external content).

Documents

Upload PDFs, images, spreadsheets directly to your library.

Pros:

• You control everything
• No reliance on external sites
• Works offline
• Brand consistency (your designs, your voice)
• Great for proprietary content

Cons:

• You must update manually
• Takes time to create from scratch
• Larger file size can affect load time
• You’re responsible for accuracy

Use documents for:

• Your original guides
• Worksheets and templates
• Branded materials
• Proprietary frameworks
• Calculators you’ve built

Links

Paste URLs to external resources (YouTube, articles, tools, etc.).

Pros:

• Leverage others’ great content
• Always up-to-date (they maintain it)
• Videos play natively in your app
• Minimal effort on your part
• Variety of perspectives

Cons:

• You don’t control it (site could change or shut down)
• Requires internet to access
• Might have ads or distracting elements
• Less brand consistency

Use links for:

• YouTube videos (form demos, education)
• Articles and blog posts
• Third-party tools and calculators
• Other people’s resources you trust
• High-quality existing content

The Right Mix

Most libraries have a mix:

• 40-50% documents (your original content)
• 50-60% links (curated, high-quality external content)

This gives you the best of both: brand voice + variety.

Example: Your nutrition library might have:

• Your macro calculation PDF (document)
• Your meal prep guide (document)
• YouTube video about protein (link)
• Article about supplement brands (link)
• Recipes from a trusted source (could be document or link)

Content You Should Skip

Some ideas sound good but aren’t worth including.

Outdated or Inaccurate Content

If a link goes dead, a fact is outdated, or a product is discontinued, remove it. Stale resources look bad.

Content You Don’t Endorse

Just because something is popular doesn’t mean you recommend it. If you wouldn’t tell a client to read it, don’t include it.

Overwhelming Amounts of Any One Type

50 recipes for macro-hit snacks? Too much. Pick your top 10 and link to a recipe site for more.

100 form videos for the bench press? Overkill. One good one plus one “common mistakes” video is enough.

Content That Doesn’t Fit Your Niche

You’re a strength coach. Do you really need mindset content? Maybe. Do you need nutrition content? Maybe. Do you need a guide to choosing running shoes? No.

Stay focused. Include what directly supports your coaching.

Competing Information

If you teach one approach to training or nutrition, don’t link to contradicting approaches. Clients get confused. “Coach says this but this article says that.”

Either align all resources to your philosophy, or note the difference. “This expert takes a different approach but it’s worth understanding.”

The 80/20 Approach

Here’s the reality: 80% of client questions come from 20% of topics.

Identify your top 20% of questions. Build resources around those. Ignore the tail.

Example: You coach 100 clients. You get:

• 40 questions about macros
• 30 questions about form
• 15 questions about recovery
• 10 questions about supplements
• 5 questions about everything else

Your library should be:

• 40% macro content
• 30% form content
• 15% recovery content
• 10% supplement content
• 5% other

This means you’re not trying to be comprehensive. You’re strategic.

The Minimum Viable Library

Don’t wait for perfect. Here’s the absolute minimum to launch:

• 1 welcome video or guide
• 2-3 form videos (your most-asked-about movements)
• 1 nutrition guide (macros or your approach)
• 1 FAQ document with your top 5-10 questions

That’s it. Four things. You can launch with this.

From here, you add:

• More form videos (week 2)
• More recipes or nutrition resources (week 3)
• Recovery and mobility guides (week 4)
• Everything else (month 2+)

Launching a 70% library is better than planning a 100% library forever.

Getting Feedback on Content

Before finalizing, test.

Ask a few clients:

• “Is there anything you wish was in here?”
• “Was anything confusing?”
• “Did you actually read/watch anything?”

This feedback is gold. It tells you what’s missing or what isn’t landing.

Then add or adjust based on patterns, not one-off comments.

Next Steps

1. Audit your Vault. What resources do you already have?
2. Identify your top 10 client questions. Start your FAQ.
3. List your must-haves for your niche.
4. Build your minimum viable library with these core resources.
5. Launch and get feedback.
6. Expand based on feedback and client needs.

For more depth, explore:

• Documents vs. Links: What Works Best in Your Resource Library - Deeper dive on documents vs. external content
• 5 On-Demand Resource Library Templates Every Fitness Coach Needs - Pre-built templates to adapt
• 10 Resource Library Section Ideas Your Coaching Clients Will Love - Section inspiration based on content types

The best resource library is one that’s actually used. Start with what your clients need, not everything you could create.