7 Reasons SMS Marketing is a Must for Fitness and Wellness Businesses

SMS marketing has become the fastest-growing channel for businesses looking to connect with their audiences in a more direct and personal way. Text messaging cements itself as a go-to form of communication which presents fitness and wellness businesses with an opportunity to meet their clients exactly where they are—on their phones.  

By investing in SMS marketing, these businesses can adopt a strategy that fosters engagement and drives results. Here are 8 reasons why SMS should be a part of your marketing strategy. 

1. You can connect with clients one-on-one

Text messaging offers fitness and wellness businesses a direct and personal way to connect with clients without relying on third-party cookies, or data collected by external companies to track user behavior online. Instead, SMS marketing focuses on zero- and first-party data, which comes directly from clients, such as their preferences or responses to your communications.  

With privacy regulations and data tracking limits making digital advertising less effective, SMS provides a reliable way for gyms, studios, spas, and salons to build relationships and deliver personalized experiences.   

2. SMS messages have high open rates

Consumers read text messages much faster than emails—most within just 15 minutes of receiving them. Coupled with an impressive 97% open rate, SMS offers unparalleled immediacy and visibility, making it one of the most effective ways to reach your clients.  

SMS is the perfect channel for sharing time-sensitive information like class updates, promotional offers, booking confirmations, or last-minute availability, giving clients the ability to act quickly and stay engaged with your business. 

3. SMS marketing drives quick actions and sales

According to internal data collected by SMS and email marketing platform Attentive, brands that use SMS see more than 10x more revenue than those that use email alone. Whether it’s promoting a limited-time offer on spa packages, announcing a new fitness class, or sharing a discount for first-time visitors, text messaging is a proven way to drive immediate action and ultimately more sales.   

With faster and increased open rates than other marketing channels, clients are more likely to click a link to book a class or purchase a membership directly from their phones, streamlining the customer journey and boosting conversions. 

4. SMS pairs well with email marketing

While email marketing remains valuable, text messaging can strengthen its effectiveness, resulting in better client experiences and engagement. Both email and SMS have distinct advantages. Email supports long-form content, allowing for more detailed information and multiple calls to action.  

In contrast, text messaging enables you to deliver succinct and immediate messages, making it perfect for quick messages like class reminders, flash sales on memberships, or special deals on spa packages. By using both channels, spas, salons, gyms, and studios can deliver consistent messaging and engage with clients on their preferred platforms. 

5. People constantly use their phones

The growing popularity of mobile devices and the increasing dependence on phones for communication and daily tasks present a significant opportunity for fitness and wellness businesses to engage with both current and potential clients.  

As consumers use their phones more than ever, SMS marketing offers a convenient way to connect with them in various ways, such as booking spa treatments and purchasing memberships. This approach enables businesses to communicate seamlessly, send updates, and facilitate quick bookings. 

6. Consumers want to hear from their favorite businesses

Globally, 91% of consumers have opted into SMS programs or are interested in doing so, demonstrating that SMS is a channel that they actively choose to engage with. For fitness and wellness businesses, this represents a significant opportunity to engage clients on their terms.  

Clients appreciate the convenience of receiving class and appointment reminders, promotional offers, and wellness tips directly to their phones, allowing them to stay informed and act with minimal effort.  

7. Text messaging fosters community and client loyalty

Fitness and wellness businesses thrive on creating strong client relationships. Whether it's forging connections as clients work toward fitness goals or enhancing their self-care routine with spa treatments and salon services, personalized experiences are key to building loyalty and trust. 

Text messaging enables gyms, fitness studios, spas, and salons to consistently send personalized communications such as birthday discounts, milestone acknowledgments, and wellness tips. These interactions help build community and loyalty, keeping clients engaged and encouraging them to return. 

Invest in text messaging for your business

SMS marketing is a game-changer for fitness and wellness businesses, offering a direct, effective way to engage with clients and drive meaningful results. With unparalleled immediacy, high open rates, and the ability to foster loyalty, SMS enables businesses to deliver personalized, time-sensitive communications that clients value.  

Through Mindbody's partnership with Attentive, solutions like Attentive's two-tap sign-up technology make it simple for your clients to opt-in to SMS marketing communications. This streamlined approach reduces drop-off rates and helps businesses grow their subscriber lists faster, ensuring more effective and efficient audience engagement. It also enables a broader reach, more engaged clients, and greater opportunities to boost sales and build long-term relationships. Now is the time to integrate SMS marketing into your strategy and connect with your clients.