A Personal Touch: Stay Connected with Two-Way Texts and Email

Building and maintaining relationships with leads, members, and even former members is essential for your gym’s success. In today’s article, we’ll explore the art of maintaining these vital connections using two-way text messaging and email marketing. These powerful tools — when leveraged effectively — can transform your gym email marketing strategy and help you expand your fitness community.  

Personalized Engagement 

One-size-fits-all messages are a thing of the past. Today’s fitness enthusiasts expect personalized communication that resonates with their individual goals and preferences. When reaching out to leads, members, or former members, consider the following: 

• Segmentation. Divide your audience into groups based on their interests, fitness levels, and engagement history. 
• Customized content. Craft tailored messages that speak directly to each segment’s needs and interests. 
• Member’s journey. Map out the member’s journey from lead to loyal member and adapt your messages accordingly. 

Timely Communication   

Timeliness is key when it comes to maintaining relationships with your fitness community. The right message at the right time can make all the difference. Try scheduling contact within 12 to 24 hours after hearing from a lead. If you can respond instantly, even better. Ideally, you want to catch them while they’re feeling the emotions they felt when they reached out. Offer to answer any questions they might have to demonstrate your care and attention. This initial response could either stop or move your lead further into the funnel. Being both timely and attentive is important if you want to keep the conversation going and move the prospect toward purchasing a membership. Use two-way text messaging and email to: 

• Welcome new leads. Send a warm welcome message and introduce them to your gym’s offerings. 
• Acknowledge member milestones. Celebrate things like member anniversaries and personal records with special offers or heartfelt messages to show your appreciation. 
• Re-engage former members. Send reactivation emails with enticing promotions to win back former members. 

Responding quickly with relevant information allows you to take advantage of your current top-of-mind awareness. It also gives the impression that you care and are attentive — two attributes most people want from a gym. 

Intimate and Direct   

Two-way text messaging allows for quick and easy communication. Members can reply to your messages instantly, fostering a sense of connection and accessibility. You can also get to know your lead’s goals and challenges. Use this feature to: 

• Answer questions. Respond promptly to member inquiries, demonstrating your commitment to their success. 
• Create a feedback loop. Gather valuable feedback on classes, instructors, or facilities to make improvements. 
• Send appointment reminders. Missed appointments can be frustrating for both members and gym owners. Send automated text reminders to reduce no-shows and keep your schedule running smoothly. 
• Offer special promotions. Surprise your members with exclusive offers via text messages. Whether it’s a flash sale, a limited-time discount, or a free trial of your newest offering, text messages are an effective way to boost member engagement.   

Elevate Your Gym Email Marketing Strategy   

Email is still a powerful tool for maintaining relationships in the fitness industry, but it must be done properly. Use automation to follow-up with leads immediately. Automated emails aren’t necessarily going to get your lead in for a consultation, but they will buy you some time before you can get in contact with them personally. Make sure the automated content has an easy-to-use, highly visible call-to-action so the lead can book their appointment themselves.   

By immediately sending an auto “thank you” email, you’re communicating that you received their information while setting expectations with the lead. The auto email also gives you a chance to set your gym’s communication style while offering additional information. Use the following tips to make the most of each email opportunity: 

Include Compelling Content 

Crafting compelling email content is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention. Use concise subject lines and engaging visuals to increase email open rates. Consider these content ideas: 

• Success stories. Share inspiring member success stories to motivate others. 
• Educational content. Provide fitness tips, nutrition advice, and workout routines. 
• Event invitations. Promote gym events, challenges, and workshops through email invitations.   

Use Automations   

Save time and ensure consistent communication by setting up automated email campaigns. Email communication is an excellent way to show your members that they’re valued and that you’re thinking about them. Emails can also act as a valuable asset in your member retention strategy. Use automation for: 

• Onboarding. Welcome new members with a series of informative emails. 
• Member milestones. Automatically send congratulatory messages on membership anniversaries. 

Get Feedback    

Show your commitment to improvement by sending out regular feedback surveys. Use member input to enhance your gym’s member experience and keep members engaged.   

Zen Planner’s Two-Way Text Messaging and Email Solutions   

With Zen Planner’s two-way text messaging and email, you can easily implement these strategies. Zen Planner is designed to streamline and supercharge your gym email marketing efforts with the power of two-way text messaging and email. 

• Personalization. Zen Planner’s advanced segmentation tools allow you to tailor your messages to specific member groups, ensuring your communication is always relevant. 
• Automation. Say goodbye to manual follow-ups. Zen Planner’s pre-built campaigns include both email and text messaging, allowing you to engage with members effortlessly, saving you time. 
• Analytics. Track the performance of your email and text messaging campaigns with detailed analytics. Understand what’s working and optimize your strategies accordingly. 
• Integration. Seamlessly integrate Zen Planner with other software to simplify your operations.   

The fitness industry thrives on strong relationships. Two-way text messaging and email helps you maintain (and build) strong relationships with your current and potential members. By leveraging these tools effectively, you can engage with leads, nurture members, and win back former members with ease. 

Ready to upgrade your gym email marketing and text messaging to maintain lasting relationships with your fitness community? Contact Zen Planner today to learn more about our two-way text messaging and email solutions.