The New Year is synonymous with fresh starts, and one of the most popular resolutions is to get in shape. Gyms see a surge in memberships during this time, but converting new members into loyal, long-term members is challenging.
Don’t get us wrong, email and social media outreach can be effective, but there’s a more immediate and personal way to reach leads and members: texting.
Text messages let you communicate directly and build personal connections with your gym members. It’s a channel where you can engage with members in real time. You address individual needs and build a stronger community.
Let’s explore how to leverage text messaging to boost initial engagement and increase membership retention to create a fitness experience beyond the New Year’s resolution hype.
Why Texting Works for Gyms
High Open Rates
Text messages have an open rate of over 98%, compared to just 20% for emails. This means your members are practically guaranteed to see your messages.
Personalization
Texts can be personalized with the member’s name, workout preferences, and goals. Sure, emails can also be personalized, but it’s not a direct, 1-to-1 communication method like texting. When you give members a direct way to contact you, it makes them feel valued and helps them grow a stronger connection to your gym’s community.
Convenient Communication
Texts are generally read in real-time, allowing you to reach members at the right moment with relevant information or motivation. Emails sit in inboxes while texts are quick and easy to read, even on the go. This makes texting ideal for connecting with busy gym members.
6 Tips for Effective Gym Texting
Whether you’re just getting started with scheduling texts to leads and members or you’re trying to increase your responses and engagement, review these six tips.
1. Get Permission
Always get permission (opt-ins) from people before texting them. You legally can’t text people without them opting in to receive texts.
2. Personalize Your Messages
Use someone’s first name as the bare minimum personalization. In addition, use their insights and preferences to tailor your messages to their interests and goals. Talk about what’s important to them!
3. Keep Messages Short and Sweet
Texts should be concise and easy to read. Aim for no more than 350 characters. Otherwise, people will skim everything you send, if they read it at all.
4. Use a Clear Call to Action
Ask leads and members to do ONE THING when you text them. This might be to reply to a question or to click a link to schedule. A simple, clear CTA makes them much more likely to actually follow through. Don’t give them a laundry list of tasks to complete.
5. Be Consistent With Follow-Up
Don’t bombard members with texts, but do aim to text them once or twice a week. This should be automated so you’re not spending tons of time trying to connect with every person.
6. Track Your Results
Monitor your response rates, click-through rates, and engagement metrics. This way you see what types of messages get people excited to engage with you and take action.
8 Ways to Use Texting to Boost Engagement and Gym Membership Retention
Here we’ve outlined eight different tried-and-tested messaging strategies for gyms. When you reach out to leads and members for these reasons, you start conversations that make them more likely to stick with you.
1. Invite Leads for Trials or Challenges
Take advantage of people’s eagerness to try something new in the new year. Run a free trial promotion or a 6-week challenge to make it easy to get in the gym.
Use this offer in your ads to generate new leads and collect their phone numbers. Reach out to them via text to gauge their actual interest. You should also send texts to past leads who never joined to invite them to participate.
2. Hold Members Accountable
Make it a regular part of your processes to send accountability texts to support and encourage members. You know that accountability is key for reaching goals. By checking in through text, you make it convenient for members to talk with you about their wins and struggles.
3. Welcome New Members
Send a personalized welcome text to new members, introducing them to your gym and its amenities. Make it clear that they can and should text you back. This helps you build community.
Example: Welcome to [Gym Name]! 🏋️♂️ We’re excited to have you on board. Your goals are our goals, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Need workout tips or class info? Just reply and we’ll crush your fitness goals together!
4. Send Motivational Messages
Send regular motivational messages to encourage members to return to your gym. Share workout tips, success stories, and inspirational quotes. Base these messages on the preferences and goals of specific members.
Example: Hey [First Name]! Remember, every drop of sweat gets you closer to your goals. You’ve got this! Keep pushing, keep grinding, and watch those results shine. 💪 What’s your goal for the week?
5. Remind About Classes and Events
Send reminders about upcoming classes, events, and workshops. You can also offer exclusive discounts or early access to new classes for members who text in.
Example: Hey [First Name], your [Class Name] is at [Time] today. Gear up and bring your energy. We can’t wait to see you!
6. Request Regular Feedback
Ask members for feedback on their experience at your gym via text.
Example: Hey [First Name], It’s [Your Name] from [Gym Name]. We value your fitness experience and would love to hear your feedback. How are your workouts with [Trainer Name] going?
7. Promote Special Offers and Deals
Send exclusive deals and promotions to your members via text. This could include discounts on memberships, personal training sessions, or merchandise.
Example: [First Name], join us today and get 20% off your membership fees for the first three months! Don’t miss this chance to reach your fitness goals while saving big. Text or visit us for more details.
8. Build a Loyalty Program
Referrals can absolutely spike your growth. Offer discounts/rewards to loyal members and combine that with requests for referrals. Loyal members will want to share their good experiences with people they know.
Text Message Templates for Gyms
Here are some specific texts gyms can implement to boost engagement and retention:
Welcome/Onboarding Drip Campaign
Create a series of automated texts that welcome new members. Introduce them to your gym’s offerings and provide helpful tips for getting started.
Example:
Day 1: Hey [First Name]! We’re excited to welcome you to the [Gym Name] family. Get ready for a fitness journey filled with energy, support, and amazing results! 🏋️♀️ Have any questions? Just text us back!
Day 3: Ready to take it up a notch? Explore our classes, meet our trainers, and discover the variety of workouts waiting for you. 💪🔥
Day 7: Hi [First Name]! Let’s chat about your fitness goals. Reply with your goals, and we’ll create a plan just for you.
Day 14: Hey [First Name]! You’ve been rocking it for two weeks! How are you feeling? Any victories to share? Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small. We’re here cheering you on!
Day 21: [First Name], ready for some insider tips? Check your inbox for exclusive workout tips, nutrition hacks, and member-only discounts. We’re here to make your fitness journey even more exciting!
Day 30: Happy one-month anniversary at [Gym Name], [First Name]! You’ve shown dedication, and we’re thrilled to be part of your fitness success. Keep up the work! 🏆💪
Day 60: Hello [First Name]! Can you believe it’s been two months working on your fitness goals at [Gym Name]? You’re halfway to smashing those goals. Share your progress, and let’s keep the momentum going!
Day 90: Congratulations, [First Name]! You’ve reached the 90-day mark of your fitness journey. Reflect on your achievements, set new goals, and know that we’re here cheering you on every step of the way.
Motivational Mondays
Start the week with a positive text message, sharing an inspirational quote, a workout challenge, or a success story from another member.
Example: Meet [Member’s First Name], our inspiring success story! Just a few months ago, they started their fitness journey with [Gym Name]. Today, [Member’s Name] has gained confidence, strength, and a healthier lifestyle. Learn how we helped [Member’s First Name] crush their goals and how we can help you do the same! (link)
Birthday Wishes
Make members feel special by sending a personalized birthday greeting. Consider adding a special offer or discount.
Example: Happy Birthday, [First Name]! 🎂 Here’s to another year of crushing goals together. Enjoy your special day!
Post-Workout:
After a workout, send a message acknowledging their effort and suggesting their next steps for progress.
Example: Awesome workout today, [First Name]! Here are some exercises you can do at home to keep that progress rolling. (link) Every effort counts, and you’re one step closer to your goals. Keep it up!
Win-Back Drip-Campaign
Reach out to inactive members with exclusive offers or re-engagement challenges to bring them back through the door.
Example:
Message 1: Hey [First Name]! It’s been a while since we’ve seen you at [Gym Name]. We miss having you with us! As a special welcome back, here’s an exclusive [discount/offer] on your next membership renewal. Reply for more details. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
Message 2: Hey, [First Name]! We hope you’re ready for a fresh start. Join our 21-Day Fitness Challenge and rediscover the joy of working towards your fitness goals. Fun workouts, exclusive perks, and a supportive community await! Reply ‘join’ to kickstart your comeback.
Message 3: [First Name]! This is it – your final opportunity to grab our exclusive [discount/offer] and get back into the fitness groove. At [Gym Name], we believe in your journey and are here to support you every step of the way. Reply or visit us to claim this offer!
Message 4: Hi [Member’s Name]! We’ve missed your energy at the gym. How about a complimentary coffee and a catch-up session? Let us know if you’d like to schedule a chat with one of our fitness experts. We’re here to discuss your goals, address any concerns, and create a plan just for you.
Message 5: [First Name], our gym community isn’t the same without you. Renew your membership today, and let’s pick up where we left off. (link)
Boost Your Gym Engagement and Retention with Skipio
Personalized engagement is the key to keeping your gym members motivated and committed to their health goals. And the best tool to create meaningful, direct communication is Skipio.
With Skipio, gyms create genuine relationships through personalized texts, offering tailored workout tips, motivation, and exclusive deals.
Skipio empowers gym owners and managers to welcome new members and nurture existing relationships with automated reminders, personalized messages, and re-engagement campaigns. Skipio helps you make sure that every member feels valued throughout their time at your gym.
Ready to increase your gym’s member engagement in 2024? Start texting with Skipio. Get started with a Skipio plan today.
This post was originally published January 4, 2024 and was most recently updated on January __, 2025. Updates include additional text message templates and links to new resources for gym owners. The section “Invite Leads for Trials or Challenges” is totally new. Build a Loyalty Program. Hold Members Accountable.