Getting Clients as a Wellness Pro: Real Strategies That Still Feel Good with Christina Chu | #4

What if the best way to grow your business wasn’t on Instagram ads or fancy funnels, but through genuine connection and showing up as your real self? In this episode, we talk with Christina Chu, a Boston-based sports dietitian and founder of Christina Chu Nutrition. Christina shares how she grew a thriving client base starting from scratch during the early days of COVID. With zero dollars spent on advertising, she built her business through word of mouth, authentic partnerships, and simply offering her skills for free to the right people. She breaks down how she chose gyms, protected her brand, stayed true to her values, and still finds joy in content creation. If you're a wellness pro trying to get clients without selling out, this is a must-listen.A Chicago-area/virtual sports dietitian who serves athletes, including professional fighters, D1 wrestlers, NWSL players, actors, former NFL athletes, corporate executives, youth baseball recruits, and more. She maximizes athlete potential through science-driven, realistic, and effective nutrition interventions. Every athlete is truly unique, which should be embraced, not diminished, when developing a proper fueling strategy.Reach out to Christina: Web: https://www.christinaychu.com/IG: @christinaychuPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ChristinaChuStudiosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-y-chu/Umo's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassy.sports.dietitian/Bri's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theathletitian/If you got something from today's Hot Tea, make sure you subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and spill the tea with someone else! Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(4:11) Growing through word-of-mouth and referrals(5:41) Being a woman of color in wellness(7:41) Common mistakes new dietitians make(10:11) Finding aligned clients and dietitian referrals(12:41) Building gym partnerships(18:11) Using free sessions to build trust(22:30) Clear messaging vs aesthetic marketing(24:41) Selling without overselling(34:11) Vetting brand partnerships(39:19) Gut checks and knowing when to say no(44:37) Final advice for starting out and growing sustainably