How to Write the Perfect New Month Messages for New Gym Customers

One gym member is worth an average of $517 to a facility each year. And when you consider that it takes around 18-66 days to create a habit, the first few months of a gym membership are crucial for gym member retention. 

There’s a lot of information to share with new gym members if you want them to see the value in sticking around, and we believe SMS is one of the best avenues to do it. 

Learn about how text messaging saves you time by automating your first-month message strategy all while costing you pennies compared to the average gym lead acquisition cost of $27 per member. 

How to Use SMS for Your New Month Messages for Customers

There are three main statistics that paint a picture of just how successful SMS for gyms can be.

1. Text messages have a 98% open rate.
2. SMS produces engagement rates six to eight times higher than traditional email marketing. 
3. The average SMS campaign conversion rate is 45%. 

And when it comes to writing new month messages for members of your gym, speed, engagement, and follow-through are crucial. 

While there’s no exact formula for success, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to write impactful messages. 

• Make it personal: 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase from a brand that provides personalized experiences. Thanks to custom fields, you can send out mass messages with a personal touch, like a name or location. And because SMS is a two-way communication platform, you can also message clients individually after classes to check in on their experience and encourage them to come back again!
• Encourage two-way communication: A study from Hubspot found that adding the ability to chat in real-time with prospective customers provided 20% more qualified leads! To help engage with these prospects, we suggest writing messages that encourage responses that could lead to stronger sales pitches. 
• Have a clear call to action: Creating urgency and making it simple for members to act quickly on your offers is crucial. The fitness dream revolves around the “quick fix”. So if the process of joining the gym is difficult, imagine how unmotivated you’d be to become a member!

Templates for Your Gyms New Month Messages 

Your gym is most likely experiencing a rolling influx of new clients. Having an automated welcome sequence will allow you to nurture every lead with consistent TLC, without taking up all of your time. 

Below, we’ll share the must-include messages every gym should have in their welcome sequence as well as some re-introductory content for leads who have slipped away.  

Gym Welcome Message

Your welcome message is the first opportunity to hook a prospective client by sharing everything that makes your gym unique. You’ll want to be sure to include vital information like pricing and scheduling, as well as anything that sets your facility apart.

Free Trial Offer

6 out of 10 free trial offers turn into paying customers, making it one of the fitness industry’s most valuable tools. You’ll want to communicate this offer to leads early on in the welcome sequence, and be sure to create a sense of urgency to help communicate the value of the deal. 

First-Month Deal

Unlike other industries that can get away with a 1-2 week free trial, the fitness industry sometimes needs a little more time to create buy-in. That’s why a majority of gyms offer new member deals with a discount on your first month. This gives your leads a little more time to work your gym into their routine, enough to make it an ongoing monthly commitment going forward. 

Referral Specials

Customers referred by a friend or other customers have a 16% higher lifetime value than non-referred ones. So, while your new customers are enjoying their welcome perks, you’ll want to capitalize on their eagerness by introducing a referral program. Ask your clients to invite their friends to a free class, and if they sign up for a membership they’ll receive a discount on their monthly membership!

Slipping Away

If a prospective client starts to disappear on you 2-3 weeks after your free trial offers, they’re considered slipping away. This is your last shot to try and get their buy-in. Because they haven’t responded to your offers up until now, your best approach is to message them individually and ask them what’s holding them back. 

Their insight can help you develop your final pitch in the most individualized way possible. 

Just a 5% increase in customer retention can increase company revenue by 25-95%, so investing early in your welcome and win-back series is essential. 

To put our money where our mouth is, we have a 14-day free trial for you to test this new sequence out. No commitments or contracts, just the way we like it!