Fitness Business Texting Best Practices

As you run the day-to-day of your fitness business, you’ve learned the value of good communication. Hopefully you have tapped into the power of texting your members…it’s a great way to quickly and easily stay in touch.

But, if you’re not careful, texting could turn great communication into unprofessional, frustrating annoyances for the recipients. We won’t let that happen!

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin (or optimize) a texting program for your members and clients:

Be Authentic 

Above all, you should be yourself when you communicate (especially in something as personal as a text message). You’ll be sharing the same message inbox as your clients’ family members and friends, so you have to treat it with respect. Creating text messages isn’t something you can really delegate or outsource. Texts should come from you or your team, and they should be in your own voices. 

Don’t Be a Wet Blanket

Sending blanket texts to your entire database isn’t the best way to operate. Sometimes, when there is an emergency or some amazingly good news, that might be the right approach. Otherwise, save the bulk communications for email. Texts should feel very individualized, and your clients will reward you with individual loyalty. Make them feel like they are the most important person at the time you sent the text. 

Chill Out with the Frequency 

Texts should be used sparingly, yet consistently. If you overuse this channel, they will opt-out and you’ll lose it as a means to reach your people. Train your clients to feel good when they receive a text from you, so they’ll look forward to it. Before you hit send, think to yourself if this is a text you would enjoy receiving or something you’d appreciate.

Stay Positive 

Since text messages are so personal, they are not the best medium for delivering unhappy news. DO NOT send payment reminders, guilt trips for missing a training session, or information about policy changes via text. Those can all happen over email, direct mail, or even a phone call. Texts should be uplifting or at the very least trigger a conversation. If they have missed a class, simply let them know you missed them and ask if everything’s okay.  

Professional but Personal

It’s important to add personality into your text messages…a cold text is worse than none at all. Add some flair with emojis or gifs IF that is your style. But use all of those things sparingly. Also, be sure to practice good grammar. Use proper punctuation and try to avoid shortened words or phrases. This is your business, after all, and a little thoughtful professionalism in your presentation goes a long way to separate you from the crowd. 

TBH this is rly important, k?

Get After It!

The most important thing to remember about texting is to use it as a means to reach your clients. It’s a great channel into their lives, and as long as you respect that, your relationships will grow immensely. 

To see how many gym owners are leveraging smart texting tools from Naamly to communicate with their clients, visit www.naamly.com or call us at 480-660-0203.

Or, just shoot us a text. 🙂

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