Are you tired of writing detailed emails and then hearing, "I didn't know that was happening!" from clients in class the next day? As a fitness consultant, I often hear some variation of "email is dead" from new clients, but did you know that 73% of millennials prefer to receive business communication by email? Over 300 billion emails are sent and received daily, so how do you stand out?

In digital communication, crafting attention-grabbing newsletter subject lines is essential for fitness studio owners looking to keep their clients engaged, informed, and excited. A compelling subject line is often the difference between having your newsletter opened or being lost forever in an overcrowded inbox. So how do you do it? Here are ten practical strategies to help you write better subject lines to ensure your newsletters get the attention they deserve.

1. Keep It Concise and Clear

When it comes to subject lines, brevity is your best friend. Aim to keep your subject lines around seven to ten words, clearly capturing your newsletter content's essence. Also,

• Use strong action words that resonate with your audience.

• Remove unnecessary words like adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions.

• Re-write your sentence to replace longer phrases with single words.

Examples:

1. Write Better Emails That Actually Get Opened

2. 10 Subject Lines that Make Your Clients Want to Click

2. Spark Curiosity

Curiosity is a powerful motivator. Pique your readers' interest by creating a sense of intrigue that only tell part of the story, so they have to click to find out. Your subject line should prompt a desire to learn more, encouraging recipients to open the email to satisfy their curiosity.

Examples:

1. You'll Never Guess Where We Found Our New Instructor!

2. The Surprising Formula for Lasting Fitness Results

3. New Class Format Coming! (you're going to love this)

3. Personalization Matters

72% of buyers admit that they only open personalized messages. Addressing your recipients by their first name in the subject line can instantly establish a personal connection and increase the likelihood of your newsletter being opened. Additionally, tailor your subject lines to resonate with your specific audience. For instance, "Andie, We've Got Customized Workouts for Busy Professionals Like You" speaks directly to a time-strapped demographic.

Examples:

1. Sarah, That Class You've Been Waiting For is Here!

2. Feeling Stuck, Ellie? Try This Class to Get You Back On Track.

3. Do You Have Plans This Weekend, Joe? (Because you do now!)

4. Create a Sense of Urgency

Nothing sells like the risk of missing out. Instill a sense of urgency in your subject line to encourage immediate action and get your emails opened. Incorporate phrases like "Last Chance!" to convey a feeling of scarcity and importance. 

Examples:

1. Don't Miss Out! 4 Spots Left in September's Yoga Retreat

2. Only 2 spots left in Yoga & Mimosas on Saturday. Grab One!

3. New Tanks in the Studio Tonight! These Sold Out Last Time

5. Agitate Pain Points

Everyone is trying to fit more into their day to solve their problems. By identifying and spelling those issues back to your client, you're saying, "I know you're having a hard time; luckily, I can fix that." 

Examples:

1. No time to Lift? These 30-Minute Classes Will Get You To Your Goals.

2. Skip the Squats. Try This Exercise to Build Without Knee Pain.

3. Hey, Busy Parents: Leave the Childcare to Us and Get to Class.

6. Be Welcoming

Chances are, you have a welcome email in your fitness studio that lets new clients know what to expect, how to sign up, and where to park. This email contains crucial experience information, so let's ensure it gets opened. 

Examples:

1. Welcome, Ashley! Open This for Everything You Need Before Your First Class.

2. You're Here, Matt! We Have All Your FAQs Inside.

3. You're About to Have the Best Week Ever, Megan. Welcome to Limitless!

7. Win Them Back

Gyms tend to lose 50% of their new members in the first six months. Of course, your first focus should be retention and community building to decrease attrition, but here are subject lines to re-engage clients who have fallen off or grab subscribers who haven't been reading lately.

Examples:

1. Jasmine, Can You Believe It's Been a Month? Here's What You've Missed!

2. It's Mutual. We Miss You, Too. 

3. You Almost Missed It! Last Day to Snag Your Super-Sale Come Back Class

What Not to Do:

1. Avoid Spam Trigger Words

Steer clear of words and phrases that might trigger spam filters and decrease the chances of your newsletter reaching your recipients' inboxes. Overusing words like "free," "sale," CAPS, $$$$, and excessive punctuation (!!!) can land your email in the dreaded spam folder. 

2. Write Subject Lines That No One is Opening

Don't beat yourself up if you've used one of these before. We're all learning all the time. Try to avoid generic classroom textbook-worthy subject lines that will be sent straight to the trash like these.

• Here's Your February Newsletter

• What's Going On at Limitless Studio This Month

• Happy Tuesday!

• Summer Updates

3. Fail to Adapt

If you're emailing clients every Monday and your open rate is only 5%, it's time for a change. Use mail software's analytics to see what days and times your emails land the best. Experiment with different subject lines and preview texts and be willing to learn from your tests. A consistently high bounce rate will negatively impact your deliverability, so clean out old contacts, put a pop-up on your website to get new leads and write subjects that get opened. 

Crafting compelling subject lines is a skill that significantly impacts the success of your fitness studio's newsletters. It's an art form that takes practice, but with these strategies, you can boost your open rates and develop stronger connections with your audience, leading to greater engagement and loyalty in the long run.