8 Gym Email Campaigns That Actually Work

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for boosting attendance, re-engaging inactive clients, and increasing revenue. But not all campaigns are created equal. Generic newsletters don’t move the needle—targeted, automated emails do.

With MailerLite and real-time client data from your booking system, you can create smarter campaigns that run themselves and deliver results.

Here are 8 proven email campaign ideas tailored for gyms.

1. Segment your audience using client data

Use synced client fields to create powerful segments:

  • Membership type (e.g. Unlimited, 10-Class Pack)
  • Join date
  • Last class or PT session attended
  • Risk tags (like “injury” or “low motivation”)
  • Total classes or PT sessions attended

Examples:

  • Target loyal clients who’ve done 50+ classes
  • Send reactivation nudges to clients with no bookings in 3+ weeks
  • Promote class packs to clients with high PT usage

2. Automate onboarding for new clients

The first few weeks matter most. Set up an automated email sequence that welcomes new members and guides them through their first days.

Include:

  • A warm welcome
  • Booking instructions
  • What to bring to class
  • How to stay consistent
  • A personal video from your team

Use the join date to schedule emails for Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, and so on.

3. Win back inactive clients

If someone hasn’t shown up in a while, don’t let them drift away.

Create a segment for clients whose last attendance was over 14 days ago, and send:

  • “We miss you—ready to jump back in?”
  • “Come train this week and get a free gift”
  • “Let’s pick up where you left off ”

Make it easy to book right from the email.

4. Celebrate milestones with booking counts

Orlo now tracks the total number of PT sessions and group classes each client has completed.

Use this to trigger milestone campaigns:

  • “You’ve hit 10 classes! ”
  • “50 sessions down—stronger every day”
  • “100 workouts with us. You’re a legend.”

These messages show appreciation, build loyalty, and encourage continued attendance.

5. Send monthly newsletters with community stories

Keep your gym top-of-mind with a monthly email that your members actually want to read.

Ideas:

  • Trainer of the month
  • Client transformation stories
  • New class times or formats
  • Seasonal promotions or challenges
  • Healthy recipes or mobility tips

Add real photos—faces outperform stock images every time.

6. Send targeted upgrade or referral offers

With synced membership and usage data, you can send tailored promotions to specific segments.

Examples:

  • “Upgrade to Unlimited and get your first PT free”
  • “Train 3x this week and win a sports massage”
  • “Refer a friend and you both get €10 credit”

Tip: Exclude clients who already have Unlimited or high-tier plans.

7. Automate birthday messages

It’s simple, easy to automate, and highly appreciated.

“Happy birthday! Come in this week for a free shake—or bring a friend for free!”

Add a little bonus to keep the vibe festive and generous.

8. Test, learn, and improve

MailerLite provides great visibility into:

  • Open rates
  • Click-throughs
  • Unsubscribes
  • A/B test results

Try experimenting with:

  • Subject lines
  • Sending times (e.g. Sunday evening vs Wednesday morning)
  • Short vs. long-form content
  • Plain text vs. visual layout

Use these insights to refine your strategy month after month.

Final Tip: Celebrate effort, not just attendance

Whether someone has just booked their first PT session or completed their 100th class, every milestone is a chance to connect.

With automated data syncing and smart segmentation, you can create high-impact campaigns that feel personal—without doing the work manually.

Need help getting started? Read the MailerLite integration guide

Next: Schedule Insights

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