You’ve got new leads coming in, loyal members showing up, and exciting stuff happening at the gym. But your emails? Meh.

If you're like most gym owners, email marketing isn’t at the top of your priority list. But done right, it can boost retention, drive revenue, and automate the hustle. Done wrong? It's just more noise in someone’s inbox.

Here are 5 common email marketing mistakes we see (and how to fix them):

1. You’re not sending from a custom domain

Still sending gym emails from a Gmail or Yahoo account? That might work for personal notes, but for your business, it’s giving “side hustle,” not professional brand. A custom domain (like info@yourgym.com) builds trust, improves deliverability, and helps your emails actually land in the inbox instead of the spam folder.

Fix it: Wodify makes it easy to connect your domain and send emails that match your brand. It’s a small step with a big impact. Your members will take you more seriously, and email providers will too

2. Your emails look like a Craigslist ad from 2007

We get it. You’re a gym owner, not a designer. But your emails still need to look good. Plain text with no branding, inconsistent fonts, or misaligned buttons screams “we’re just winging it.” If your emails don’t look professional, it’s hard for your gym to feel professional to the reader.

Fix it: Templates save you time and keep things consistent. That’s why we’ve created a template library for all the emails you’ve already been sending, from promos and announcements to client check-ins and special events. 

These templates are a great starting point, but you can (and should) make them your own. Use Wodify’s drag-and-drop email builder to turn a generic email into something that represents your gym’s unique vibe in minutes. 

3. You’re blasting everyone the same message

A first-time lead and a 3-year member shouldn’t get the same email. That’s how you lose interest… and trust. 

Generic messaging feels impersonal and usually gets ignored. But we get it: building out a full customer journey sounds overwhelming. It’s a lot of work. That’s why most gym owners avoid it.

Fix it: Segment your audience. New lead? Send them a lead-nurture sequence. Loyal member? Keep them engaged with value-driven content like performance tips, gym news, or upcoming events.

Wodify gives you the tools and the team to make this easier. With segmentation, automations, and customizable workflows, you can deliver the right message at the right time.

Plus, our Business Success Engineers will work with you to map out a custom journey tailored to your business goals. No guesswork. No tech headaches. Just a clear path to better engagement.

4. No clear call to action (CTA)

A lot of gym emails fall flat because they don’t ask for anything. “Just wanted to share this update!” might sound friendly, but it leaves your reader wondering, so what? 

If you’re not guiding people toward an action, you’re not marketing. You’re just sending digital postcards.

Fix it: Every email should have one clear goal—book a class, refer a friend, check out your latest merch drop. Make the button obvious and the higher up in your email, the better. Say it like you mean it. And don’t be afraid to repeat your CTA if it’s mission-critical.

5. You’re not looking at the numbers

You expect members to track their progress because that’s how growth happens. But when it comes to email marketing, too many gym owners send and forget. If you're not checking your metrics, you're flying blind and wasting time on content that might not even be landing.

Fix it: Start simple. Open up a spreadsheet and track just three things: open rate, click-through rate, and unsubscribes. That’s it.

What’s good for these metrics? Aim for an open rate of 25% or higher, a click-through rate around 2–5%, and keep unsubscribes under 0.5%. These benchmarks will help you gauge whether your emails are resonating or just taking up space in the inbox.

Review these after every send. Over time, you’ll see what subject lines are grabbing attention, which content drives clicks, and what might be turning people off.

The bottom line of your email marketing

If your email marketing isn’t pulling its weight, it’s not because email doesn’t work—it’s because it’s not working for you. The good news? You don’t need to be a marketing wizard to fix it. You just need the right tools and a little consistency.

Book a free demo to see Wodify in action and learn how our all-in-one platform can simplify your marketing, streamline your operations, and drive real results.