7 Gym Email Campaigns That Boost Memberships Fast

The foundation of successful email marketing for fitness centers lies in sending the right message at the right time. Let’s explore the essential email types that should be part of your fitness email marketing strategy.

#1) Welcome Emails for New Members

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Welcome emails set the tone for your relationship with new members. They have an open rate of 91.43%, significantly higher than regular promotional emails.

Purpose and importance:

• Establishes immediate connection with new members
• Reduces buyer’s remorse and reinforces their decision
• Provides essential information to get started
• Sets expectations for future communications

Key elements to include:

• Warm, personalized greeting using the member’s name
• Brief introduction to your gym or fitness studio
• Clear next steps (scheduling first session, downloading app, etc.)
• Introduction to key staff members
• Links to helpful resources (class schedules, facility maps)

#2) Class and Event Promotion Emails

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Promoting your classes and events effectively can significantly boost attendance and engagement. These emails should create excitement and urgency.

How to structure:

• Use compelling subject lines that highlight benefits
• Include clear date, time, and location information
• Feature instructor bios to build connection
• Showcase what makes the class/event special
• Use high-quality images of actual classes

Class Promotion Email Flow:

P.S. You can use Campaign Monitor’s countdown timer block to create visual urgency for limited-time offers or class spots, driving higher conversion rates for your promotions.

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#3) Member Retention and Re-engagement Emails

Re-engagement emails help bring back gym members who are at risk of dropping out.

Identifying at-risk members:

• Haven’t visited in 20-30 days
• Declining visit frequency
• Not booking fitness classes they previously attended regularly
• Not opening your regular emails

Re-engagement Email Flow:

#4) Referral Program Emails

Member referrals are among the most cost-effective ways to grow your fitness business. Satisfied members can become your best marketers when properly incentivized.

How to structure the email:

• Clear explanation of the referral program
• Benefits for both the referrer and the friend
• Simple process for making referrals
• Compelling incentives (free month, training sessions, etc.)
• Success stories from previous referrals

Referral Email Flow:

Fitness Tips and Educational Content

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Providing valuable content positions your gym as an authority and keeps members engaged between visits.

Value of sharing expertise:

• Builds trust and credibility
• Keeps your gym top-of-mind
• Provides additional value beyond physical facility
• Encourages application of knowledge during gym visits

Educational Email Flow:

Campaign Monitor’s drag-and-drop email builder makes it incredibly easy to create visually appealing educational content with embedded videos, images, and interactive elements to engage your target audience.

Special Offers and Promotions

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Strategic promotions can drive immediate revenue and encourage upgrades or additional services. Timing these offers around seasonal peaks can maximize their effectiveness.

Seasonal promotions:

• New Year’s resolution campaigns (December-January)
• Summer body promotions (April-May)
• Back-to-routine email marketing campaigns (August-September)
• Holiday specials (November-December)

Membership upgrades:

• Personal training package discounts
• Premium membership tier promotions
• Add-on services (nutrition counseling, recovery sessions)

Promotional Email Flow:

P.S. Our dynamic content blocks let you show different content based on subscriber data within the same email—no cloning required.

Read Next:

• The Best Promotional Email Marketing Example Worth Checking Out
• 8 Best Practices to Encourage Customer Reviews Through Email
• 11 Incredible Welcome Email Examples (and Why They Work)

Before implementing fitness email marketing campaigns, you need a robust list of subscribers. Here are ethical and effective strategies for growing your email list.

Ethical List-Building Strategies for Fitness Businesses

• In-person signups: Train front desk staff to collect email addresses during tours and check-ins
• Website opt-ins: Place signup forms prominently on your website, especially on high-traffic pages
• Social media promotion: Use your social platforms to drive email signups with exclusive content
• Events and challenges: Collect emails through fitness challenges and community events
• Partner cross-promotions: Collaborate with complementary local businesses (health food stores, athletic wear shops)

Creating Effective Lead Magnets

Lead magnets offer immediate value in exchange for contact information. Effective fitness lead magnets include:

• Free workout guides tailored to specific fitness and wellness goals.
• Nutrition plan templates and meal ideas
• Recovery and stretching routines
• Fitness assessment tools
• “First week free” trial passes

Optimizing Website and In-Gym Signup Opportunities

• Place QR codes throughout your facility linking to signup forms
• Create dedicated landing pages for specific promotions
• Use tablet kiosks at your front desk for easy signup
• Implement exit-intent popups on your website
• Offer immediate incentives for signing up (free class, fitness guide)

You can use our custom form builder to create branded signup forms that match your gym’s aesthetic, increasing conversion rates and maintaining brand consistency.

Read Next:

• 6 Email List Management Best Practices
• Why Verifying Emails is a Win-win for Email Marketing

Segmentation is crucial for delivering targeted and relevant content to your subscribers. Segmented campaigns can lead to a 760% increase in revenue.

Member vs. Prospect Segmentation

The first level of segmentation divides your audience into current members and prospects:

Member communications focus on:

• Retention and engagement
• Upselling additional services
• Community building and events
• Usage maximization

Prospect communications focus on:

• Converting to paid membership
• Addressing objections and concerns
• Showcasing facilities and benefits
• Limited-time offers and incentives

Segmenting by Membership Type

Different membership tiers have different needs and interests:

• Basic members: Value-focused content, upgrade opportunities
• Premium members: Exclusive perks, advanced classes, VIP events
• Corporate members: Team challenges, workplace wellness tips
• Student/senior members: Age-appropriate workouts, special community events

Segmenting by Activity Level and Class Preferences

Activity-based segmentation allows for highly targeted communications:

• Highly active members (3+ visits weekly): Advanced workout tips, performance challenges
• Moderately active members (1-2 visits weekly): Consistency encouragement, varied class suggestions
• Infrequently active members (<1 visit weekly): Re-engagement content, motivation, useful fitness tips

Class preference segments:

• Strength training enthusiasts
• Cardio class regulars
• Mind-body practice participants (yoga, Pilates)
• Group fitness attendees
• Personal training clients

Segmenting by Goals and Interests

Goal-based segmentation ensures content aligns with member aspirations:

• Weight loss/management
• Muscle building/strength
• Athletic performance
• General fitness/health
• Stress reduction/wellness

Our advanced segmentation tools let you target specific member groups based on behavior and preferences, ensuring your emails always reach the right audience with the right message.

Read Next:

• Top 5 Email Marketing Segmentation Strategies
• Guide to Segmentation in Marketing for the Evolving Marketer

The effectiveness of your email campaigns depends heavily on compelling subject lines and valuable content.

Best Practices for Subject Lines

• Keep subject lines short – 41 characters is the optimal length
• Create urgency with time-limited offers (“Last chance: 50% off personal training ends tomorrow”)
• Ask questions that spark curiosity (“Is your workout routine holding you back?”)
• Use numbers for clarity (“5 reasons you’re not seeing results”)
• Send personalized email messages (“John, we missed you at HIIT class!”)

Examples of high-performing fitness email subject lines:

• “Your custom summer workout plan is ready”
• “Only 3 spots left in tomorrow’s spin class”
• “We noticed you haven’t visited in 2 weeks…”
• “Members like you are loving this new class”
• “Your fitness results after 30 days [Report Inside]”

A/B Testing Strategies

Testing is essential for optimizing your email performance:

Elements to test:

• Subject lines (length, tone, personalization)
• Send times (morning vs. evening, weekday vs. weekend)
• Call-to-action button text and color
• Email layout and design
• Content length and format

Our A/B testing tools let you test subject lines, content blocks, or CTAs to optimize results based on real user behavior. Plus, you can preview emails across devices and test for spam risks before launch.

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Read Next:

• How to Be an Email Subject Line Superhero
• How to Write Blog Posts That Boost Your Email Newsletter

Your emails need to look great and function well on all devices, especially mobile.

Mobile Optimization

• Use single-column layouts that adapt to screen size
• Ensure buttons are large enough for thumb tapping (minimum 44×44 pixels)
• Keep copy concise and scannable
• The body font should be 14px minimum
• Test across multiple devices

Visual Best Practices for Fitness Emails

• Use authentic images of your actual facility and members (with permission)
• Maintain consistent branding with your logo, colors, and fonts
• Include before/after transformation photos (with permission)
• Show diverse body types and ages to appeal to your entire audience
• Use white space effectively to avoid a cluttered appearance

Call-to-Action Optimization

• Limit each email to one primary CTA for clarity
• Use action-oriented language (“Start Your Trial Today,” “Book Your Class Now”)
• Make buttons stand out with contrasting colors
• Position CTAs after you’ve established value
• Create urgency with limited-time offers

BTW, our responsive templates give you tons of mobile-optimized options for promotions, newsletters, and more. And, the auto-branded template feature pulls your brand’s logo, fonts, and colors just by entering your website URL – saving you design time while maintaining consistent branding.

Read Next:

• Learn How to Make Your Emails Mobile Responsive
• Email Design: The Best Practices Guide (+ Bonus Checklist)

Tracking the right metrics helps you understand what’s working and what needs improvement.

Our analytics dashboard shows real-time performance data alongside comprehensive engagement metrics. Track everything from bounce rates to customer journey analytics and unsubscribes in one centralized view.

Read Next:

• 17 Email Marketing Metrics Every Marketer Needs to Know
• What are good open rates, CTRs, & CTORs for email campaigns?

Marketing automation is a game-changer for busy fitness business owners, allowing personalized communication without constant manual work.

Welcome Series Automation

Trigger: New member signup or email subscription Sequence:

1. Immediate welcome email with next steps
2. Day 3: Facility overview and class recommendations
3. Day 7: Community introduction and social media invitation
4. Day 14: Check-in and feedback request

Birthday and Anniversary Automations

Trigger: Member’s birthday or membership anniversary Sequence:

1. Day of birthday/anniversary: Congratulatory message with special offer
2. 3 days before offer expiration: Reminder to use special offer
3. Day after offer expiration (if unused): Extended deadline or alternative offer

Re-Engagement Workflows

Trigger: Member inactivity (no visits for 14-30 days) Sequence:

1. Day 14 of inactivity: Friendly check-in
2. Day 21: Value reminder with new offerings like virtual training programs and group training
3. Day 28: Special “we miss you” offer
4. Day 35: Final attempt with survey about their absence

Class Booking Follow-ups

Trigger: Class registration Sequence:

1. Immediate confirmation with class details
2. 24 hours before class: Reminder with preparation tips
3. 2 hours after class: Thank you and feedback request
4. 3 days after class: Related class recommendations

Our visual journey builder enables you to create automated email workflows that are triggered based on customer actions. Member missed their scheduled class? Send a friendly reminder. A subscriber didn’t open your welcome email? A follow-up is automatically sent.

Read Next: How to Grow Your Business with Email Marketing Automation

Follow these best practices to maximize the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.

Optimal Send Times for Fitness Audiences

Research shows these times tend to work best for fitness audiences:

• Morning emails (6-8 AM): Reach early risers before their workouts
• Lunchtime (12-1 PM): Catch people during breaks when they plan activities
• Evening (7-9 PM): Connect when people are planning their next day

However, your specific audience may differ—test different times and analyze your results.

Email Frequency Recommendations

Finding the right balance is crucial:

• For active members: 1-2 emails per week maximum
• For prospects: 1 email per week during nurturing phase
• For inactive members: Reduce frequency to avoid unsubscribes

Compliance Considerations

Stay legally compliant and respect member privacy:

• Include clear unsubscribe options in every email
• Maintain updated privacy policies
• Get explicit consent before sending marketing emails
• Keep records of how and when consent was obtained
• Follow local regulations (GDPR, CAN-SPAM, etc.)

Our send time optimization uses machine learning to deliver emails when each member is most likely to engage, while our inbox and spam testing tools ensure your messages land directly in recipients’ inboxes

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Planning your email marketing calendar in advance ensures consistent communication and allows you to leverage seasonal opportunities.

Seasonal Campaign Ideas

Health and Fitness Holiday Tie-ins

Leverage these fitness-related observances in your email calendar:

• National Nutrition Month (March)
• Stress Awareness Month (April)
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May)
• Global Wellness Day (June)
• National Yoga Month (September)

Planning for Consistent Communication

Create a balanced mix of email types throughout the year:

• Weekly class schedules and updates
• Monthly newsletters with fitness tips and member spotlights
• Quarterly fitness challenges and community events
• Seasonal promotions and special offers
• Triggered automations based on member behavior

Read Next: 5 Email Marketing Calendar Templates to Kickstart Your Campaign