SMS Marketing for Gym & Fitness Centers
Operating a gym or fitness center means valuing each member. High enrollment in classes and consistent visits signify thriving business.
Conversely, a decline in these areas indicates challenges.
Every year starts with a surge in new memberships, with January accounting for approximately 12% of new sign-ups. However, a significant portion of these new year resolution enthusiasts tend to drop off by the third month. So, the question arises: How can you attract new members to your gym and ensure they remain engaged?
The solution is straightforward: leverage text message marketing. This essential strategy places your gym’s promotions and updates right at your clients’ fingertips. Through text messaging, you establish a direct line of communication with both existing and potential members, including those who have stopped coming or are considering leaving.
We could extensively discuss the merits of texting, yet the rationale for its use can be summarized into three key points.
It’s effective. Firstly, it’s highly effective. You’re likely aware of the statistic that 98% of text messages are opened, a stark contrast to the 16.97% average open rate for emails, making it an obvious choice.
Text messages also offer a personal touch. Individuals reserve their phone numbers for those they trust, positioning your messages right alongside those from friends and family, rather than lost in an inbox among hundreds of other messages from various brands and businesses.
It’s budget-friendly. Moreover, text messaging is cost-efficient. Initiating a new marketing avenue might seem daunting without the guarantee of immediate returns. Fortunately, many SMS platforms offer affordable plans that start at a lower cost than the average phone bill.
It’s fast (on both sides). Finally, the process is swift for both sending and receiving. Unlike the back-and-forth of phone calls or lengthy email exchanges, texts allow for quick dissemination of information. With the capability to broadcast messages to many or tailor them to individuals in mere seconds, and considering that 90% of messages are read within the first three minutes, your audience is almost guaranteed to engage with your content promptly.
How SMS Text Marketing works for Gym & Fitness Centers
Text message marketing can effortlessly turn your business objectives into reality, requiring minimal setup and virtually no need for trial-and-error.
Keywords
SMS keywords are unique words or phrases that your customers can text to your number and opt in to text messages from your business.
Campaigns
A campaign is a text message you send to your contact list. You can send campaigns once, schedule them, or set them as recurring.
These are helpful for big announcements like new location openings, brand-new classes, special offers, and emergency messages about closures or maintenance.
Autoresponders
Autoresponders refer to the automated messages that are dispatched following a new subscription to your text messaging service.
This functionality allows for the crafting of a sequence of messages scheduled to be sent over a span of days, weeks, or months, maintaining your audience’s interest in your enterprise.
Utilizing autoresponders is an excellent strategy for creating a positive initial impression and fostering a welcoming environment for new members. These messages can provide essential onboarding information and key insights on maximizing the benefits of your gym.
Data Collection
The Data Collection feature enables you to tailor your messaging segments (groups of contacts sharing common characteristics) according to the feedback from your audience.
You have the flexibility to request basic information like their name, or to delve deeper by establishing custom fields to gauge their interests (for instance, cardio classes, weightlifting, or personal training).
This gathered data aids in refining your messaging for enhanced outcomes, allowing you to ensure that each member receives only the content they are interested in. For example, your CrossFit enthusiasts are likely more eager to learn about the workout of the day rather than the upcoming yoga class.
How Gym & Fitness Centers can utilize SMS Text Marketing
Put Keywords in Plain Sight
Whether displayed on a sign in the gym’s window or shared across social media platforms, showcasing your unique keyword in accessible locations offers potential members a straightforward and effortless method to connect with your gym. By sending a single word via text, they can instantly receive all the necessary information they need, along with additional details.
Welcome New Members Automatically
Automatically engage with newcomers through an autoresponder, providing them with a motivational message that sparks their enthusiasm about joining your gym, and possibly include a promotional gift like a branded water bottle or lanyard.
Send Out Promotional Offers
Promotions, ranging from class discounts to complimentary gym merchandise, are key to keeping your members active and meeting your sales objectives.
Reward the first 50 members who renew their memberships with t-shirts, create a bring-a-friend event for complimentary workouts, or take advantage of Text-to-Win capabilities to organize swift contests.
Send Out Class Schedules or Maintenance Updates
Unexpected events, such as last-minute class cancellations or gym equipment maintenance, can be a source of inconvenience. However, members will value being informed promptly about these occurrences.
Communicate the specifics of these changes, including the duration of maintenance or the anticipated resumption of classes, and suggest alternative options.
For instance, if treadmills are out of service, inform your members about alternative cardio options available, such as available spots in an evening spin class or a running club that meets at the gym.
Send Encouraging Texts to Keep Members Coming Back
Retention programs for gym members can significantly contribute to business growth. It’s common knowledge that members might feel disheartened, lose motivation, or become too occupied, leading to decreased gym attendance.
Combat this trend by dispatching motivational texts that coax members back. Inform them about forthcoming classes or events, jog their memory regarding their fitness aspirations, or simply express that they are missed.
A proven method to enhance these efforts is to focus on personalization. Incorporate your staff as team members within your text messaging platform, allowing them to personally connect with their class attendees.
When motivating your members or making newcomers feel welcomed, it’s crucial to acknowledge them as individuals and show that there’s a genuine person who cares about their well-being.
Segments can also be utilized to organize your members based on the duration of their membership subscriptions, whether they renew monthly, quarterly, or annually.
By establishing a specific segment, you’re able to reach out to members as their renewal date nears, reminding them to renew their membership to continue enjoying your gym’s offerings without interruption. Moreover, the convenience of Text-to-Pay allows them to renew directly via their mobile devices.
For those with continuous enrollment, Scheduled Texts serve as an ideal mechanism, ensuring messages are automatically dispatched at the appropriate renewal periods.
This strategy can be reversed to acknowledge and reward members for their loyalty. Consider sending a congratulatory message for their continuous membership, accompanied by a class voucher or an exclusive discount.
Sample Promotional Texts for Gyms 💪
One of the best parts of using texts to communicate with members is that they’re easy to write. Make sure to offer value with each message and to keep them straightforward. Here are some ready-to-use fitness center SMS templates to get you started: