Simple communication

How to write great text messages for your gym members

How to write great text messages for your gym members
Written by ALEXANDRA Published on 2023-03-07 4 minutes read

Text messages are a great way to communicate with your gym members because it's easy to send, fast and has a huge open rate.

How many times have you left a text message you received unopened? Well, everyone has at least one phone that they constantly check, and text messages are harder to ignore.

Unlike the rest of the direct communication channels, such as email or app notifications, SMS requires neither technical knowledge on the part of the recipient nor an Internet connection.

Therefore, a message sent via SMS has more chances to reach the recipient and be opened and read.

The main disadvantage of this channel is that you can only send a short message without pictures or other resources. At the same time, sending a message also involves additional costs because you must use the services of a sending operator.

However, SMS marketing can yield good results if you know how to use this channel.

Online bookings classes

How to set up a text message marketing strategy

Just like any marketing campaign, text messages also need a strategy. However, you don't need to schedule every SMS you plan to send in the coming months ahead of time.

However, I recommend setting up some guidelines, especially if you're working with a larger marketing team.

First, decide which messages are appropriate for this communication channel.

Since it incurs an additional cost for each message sent, sending an SMS to confirm each class booking is unnecessary. You have automated emails for that.

Conversely, if you have an offer on certain memberships, you should definitely text your members about this.

Also, if you have to change the club's operating hours, especially if the change is immediate, it is good to send an SMS to the members affected by this change.

Another important consideration is when you send these messages. Since an SMS is sent immediately and doesn't depend on the recipient doing anything to receive the message, you must carefully choose the time of day you send it.

As with in-app notifications, nothing is important enough to send a text message in the middle of the night or early in the morning. Instead, set a time interval in which messages can be sent.

For example, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. During these times, the chances of disturbing your members are lower.

SMS marketing

How to write a text message

A text message has only two elements:

  • The phone number from which it is sent
  • The content of the message

For the phone number from which the message is sent, you don't have many options. It is usually a short four-digit number.

I suggest registering an identifier with the name of your gym within 11 characters. That way, when the member receives the message, they will see your club's name instead of a short number. That way, the message is more personalized, and they don't have to figure out who sent him the SMS. Registering this custom identifier involves an initial cost, after which you can use it indefinitely, depending on the area where you live.

As for the content, this is where your writing skills come into play. You have 140 characters, including punctuation and spaces between words. So, use them wisely.

As with in-app notifications, it is not necessary to use formal language. Text messaging is an informal channel through which you must convey the message directly and as succinctly as possible.

Also, don't try to include more than one topic. So, if you want to notify members about a great membership offer, do not include in the same message that you re-opened the pool. Instead, send the second message later, preferably at least a few hours apart.

Don't forget to include a call to action. Do you have an offer on memberships? Encourage them to buy that membership to take advantage of the special price. Do you have a new referral program? That's great! Tell them to bring as many friends as possible to the gym.

Use colloquial and friendly language without too many descriptive words. Of course, the member must immediately understand what you are trying to convey. Don't forget you can also use emojis if you think they're useful. Just don't use them too much.

SMS templates that you can use at your gym

If you don't yet have a strategy for your SMS marketing campaigns, I'll leave you with a few templates you can use at your club.

Welcome new members

Welcome to Panther Fit! We are glad you chose our fitness club, and we are here for whatever you need. Have a great workout!

When you organize an event

Do you have weekend plans? Register on our website for the Yoga in the Park event. Participation is free, but the spots are limited. Hurry up!

Celebrate a member's goal

Wow! You have just attended the 100th BodyPump class. Congrats! You are awesome!

Membership expiration alert

Attention, your membership is about to expire in a few days. So don't forget to renew it online for special discounts.

Discount on a certain membership

We have launched new summer sales. Now you have a 20% discount on all full-time memberships. Renew it directly on our website!

Discount codes for memberships

Use the code DISCOUNT25 the next time you renew your membership online, and you'll get a surprise.

Reminder for unused services

Don't forget you still have 3 unused PT sessions that expire this month. So come to the gym to schedule your next training session!

Contact an inactive member

Because we are missing you terribly, we're gifting you 30% off your 3-month membership if you use the code COMEBACK when you shop online. We are waiting for you!



ALEXANDRA
ALEXANDRA

Fitness Club Business UAE
Fitness Club Business UAE

Are you interested in similar articles? Do you find this subject interesting? Then you should sign up for our newsletter.

Each week we'll email you a summary with the latest news and insights on your gym's activity.

Our team curates content that will help you expand your business - management, leadership, team development, industry tips, interviews, and other interesting resources.

Sign up
10 concrete ideas to attract new leads
thumb
How to attract the attention of leads and extend your contact list? We know 10 methods that work for sure.
Free download

Are you struggling to increase the number of new members joining your fitness center?

There is an easier way to get more members! Communicate efficiently with them through automated emails, provide them the option to purchase memberships online, delight them with a professional mobile app and member account, and surprise them with fast services at the reception desk.

With UPfit.cloud, everything is done quickly, and you can start seeing results in a matter of days. Find out the advantages of our platform in a 20-minute demo session.


REQUEST A DEMO

We also recommend...

8 simple ways to improve your marketing strategy to recruit new members

It is essential to have a marketing strategy that will help you recruit as many new members as possible for your gym. Sounds complicated? Don't worry. It's not! With just a handful of tasks, you can quickly grow the number of new members, without a large budget.

Read More

How to help your reception desk team excel

Your front desk team is just as important as any other department. My advice is to give them as many resources as possible so that the member's experience is memorable... in a positive way, of course.

Read More

How to convince members to obey the rules of your gym

To ensure a comfortable atmosphere for all your members, each person entering your gym should obey simple rules. That doesn't mean you have to argue with difficult members, but there are ways you can convince them to be aware of their behavior.

Read More

Free guides for your gym

We have created a series of free guides that will help expand your gym: advice on increasing sales, lead management, optimising your online marketing strategy, creating a corporate program, and so much more. There are dozens of e-books and guides with useful information and ideas for ambitious gyms, that are willing to use all the tools available to grow their business and recruit more members.

Free download

Free guides for your gym
Top-of-the-range software for excellent results

Software that perfectly adapts to your gym's activity

Each gym is unique. That is why UPfit.cloud has a wide range of services, tools, and features that perfectly match your business.

Regardless of how you manage your gym or fitness club activity, UPfit.cloud can be customized so it's easy to use for your team and simple for your members.