Creating a Track Ontheside is one of the most powerful ways to organize, share, and grow your content; whether you’re packaging training advice, educational resources, behind-the-scenes moments, or an ongoing series. Tracks provide you with a flexible container to bring related content together; helping you build deeper, more meaningful connections around what you do best. Let’s walk through how to get started and what to keep in mind as you build your first Track.
This article will help you understand what a Track is, how to design one with intention, and how to publish it with confidence. You’ll also find answers to common questions along the way. Whether you're launching your first Track or refining one you’ve already created, this guide will help you move forward with clarity.
What is a Track?
A Track is a flexible content package you design around a specific theme, purpose, or audience. Think of it as an empty container that you fill with related content, similar to playlists on Spotify or YouTube. You choose what goes inside and who can access it.
- Public (free) Tracks are a great way to group content you want to share openly. For example, if you documented a rock climbing trip to Ten Sleep, Wyoming, you could gather all the photos, videos, and posts from that trip into one Track. Content shared in Public Tracks is visible to anyone and is also eligible for brand sponsorship.
- Private Tracks are a great option for sports teams, clubs, or associations. The Private Track serves as a central place to share up-to-date information, training guidance, announcements, and educational content with a specific group. Content shared in Private Tracks is free and visible to the requestor only once approved by the Track owner. The Track owner can decide to grant or deny access to the content.
- Paid Tracks allow athletes to offer exclusive content that users unlock with a paid day pass, month pass, or all-access pass. These Tracks are ideal for specialized training content, deeper educational material, or other premium experiences you want to share.
No matter your audience, Tracks give you one organized place to build value and connection over time.
Tip: Because Tracks are a collection of related posts, not one-off posts, you can continue adding to them as your story, season, or goals change.
Designing a Track with Intent
You can create one Track or several, depending on how you want to organize your content and serve different audiences. Follow these four steps to design and share Tracks that will turn viewers into fans and advocates.
1. Find your content focus
Start by identifying the audience you want to reach. Then think about what type of content would be most valuable for them. Planning your focus ahead of time will help give your Track clarity and purpose. For more tips check out our article here.
2. Define your Track goals
Tracks are flexible, which means you can design them in ways that best support the story you want to share.
A single Track might include:
- Training tips or educational videos
- Nutrition, fueling, or recovery insights
- Video podcasts, Q&As, or in-depth discussions
- Behind-the-scenes moments
- Ongoing series or themed content that evolves over time
Some creators build multiple Tracks around different aspects of their expertise.
Example: A multi-sport athlete might create one Track focused on triathlon training sharing step-by-step guides about their routines. They may create another Track dedicated to long-distance running recovery, featuring multiple episodes and articles.
3. Create your Track and load up your content
Regardless of your content’s topic, you get to decide how you want to share and monetize it in your Track. So, once you've determined the audience and goals for your Track, you’re ready to create it and add your content.
Choose from the three Track types—Public, Private, or Paid. This will determine whether your Track content is available for free, upon request, or through a paid all-access pass. You can add any type of content post created Ontheside to a Track. That way you have the flexibility to share your expertise in the format most comfortable to you.
4. Promote your Track
Once your Track is live, share it with your existing followers who want insider access or to learn directly from you. Be sure to tag @ontheside_world so we can promote your content, too!
→ Get more tips on how to promote your content here.
If you’re considering creating a Paid Track but feel unsure, remember; what you’ve learned can genuinely help someone else. Your experience has value - especially for athletes who are earlier in their journey or inspired by the path you’re on.
Note: While formal certifications and degrees help to build credibility and offer great value to fans, we know that not everyone has this level of training. Ontheside is built to support athletes of all levels with different goals. Even without formal credentials, your lived experience can be incredibly valuable to those just starting out or following a similar path. Our community includes young and aspiring athletes, seasoned pros, and experienced coaches.
Your Tracks are a way to showcase your unique expertise and connect with fans who are inspired by your journey. By aligning your content with what your fans value and thoughtfully setting up your Tracks, you’re setting yourself up for success.
Learn how to create and build your Tracks in detail here.
