Sell ​​more with SMS marketing: the sports coach guide

You have little time, and so do your customers. The SMS arrives in your pocket, can be read in a few minutes and triggers immediate actions. Used well, SMS marketing becomes your most profitable channel to fill your sessions, reduce no-shows and sell your offers, without spending your evenings.

Tip: centralize messages, planning, payments and monitoring on the same platform to save hours every week. The EKKLO resource center guides you step by step: info.ekklo.com.

Why SMS is the weapon of profitable coaches

Numbers that count

• Read rate often above 90% in just a few minutes.
• CTR 10-30% depending on the offer and the list.
• Setup time: a few hours for measurable results within 7 days.

Concrete use cases for coaches, studios and boxes

• Fill a slot that becomes empty at the last minute.
• Recall a session tomorrow + offer a duo upgrade.
• Launch a flash sale on a pack of 10 sessions.
• Reactivate clients who have been inactive for 30 days.

Legal framework and trust

• Obtain clear consent (opt-in) above all sending.
• Identify the sender and offer an easy way to unsubscribe (e.g. “STOP”).
• Respect reasonable times; no sending early in the morning or late in the evening.

To get started quickly on the acquisition side, get some ideas here: obtain your first 3 clients.

Lay the foundations: consent and own basis

Where and how to collect opt-ins

• Online and in-room registration (check box, clear clause).
• On a dedicated page with a useful counterpart: nutrition checklist, trial session, training calendar.
• QR code at reception: “Receive free slots and private discounts”.

Segment to stay relevant

• Goal: weight loss, performance, fitness.
• Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
• Source: local salon, Instagram, sponsorship. A targeted message converts 2 3 times better than a mass mailing.

Frequency and list hygiene

• Recommended pace: 2 to 4 SMS/month per segment.
• Purge invalid numbers; update preferences.
• Test on 10-20% of your base before expanding.

4 scenarios to convert quickly

1) Welcome offer with deadline

Objective: transform a contact into a paying customer within 72 hours. Example: “[First name], -20% on your 1st pack until Sunday. 3 places remaining. Book here: link."

2) Fill a canceled slot

Objective: avoid shortfalls. Example: “A place has become available tomorrow at 6 p.m. for HIIT. Answer ‘YES’ to take it. Online payment: link."

3) Trial → frictionless pack

Objective: convert the trial into a pack within 24 hours. Example: “Congratulations for today's session! -15% on pack 10 if you book before tomorrow 8 p.m.: link."

4) Seasonal flash sale (48 hours)

Objective: trigger impulsive purchases with real scarcity. Example: "Back to school special: 2 private coaching sessions offered for any 20 pack (48 hours). Details: link."

4 scenarios to build loyalty and increase the basket

1) Reminders + smart upgrade

D‑1/D‑2 reminder with duo option: “Bring a friend tomorrow, -50% for them. Answer ‘DUO’.”

2) Reactivation of silent customers

After 30 days without a visit: “Are we getting back on the road? Booster session offered this week. Answer ‘GO’.”

3) Upsell nutrition/programming

After 2 weeks of attendance: “Ready for the next level? Nutrition plan + monthly monitoring. 5 places this month: link."

4) Community and social proof

Announce a 21-day challenge, highlight a testimonial, offer a sponsorship reward.

Copywriting, timing and measurement: the 3-step method

1) A message = an objective

Structure type (≤160 characters):

• Short context
• Clear benefit
• Credible urgency
• Single CTA + short linkEx: “Last place Cross Training 7 p.m. -10% if booking < 3 p.m. Answer YES or book: link”.

2) Timing that respects and performs

• 12 p.m.-2 p.m. or 5 p.m.-7 p.m.: often winning times.
• Key days: Monday for planning; Thursday to fill the weekend.
• Avoid holidays and very late evenings.

3) Measure and optimize

• Track clicks, conversions, revenue/sms, unsubscribes.
• UTM on your links to attribute sales and reservations.
• A/B test: subject (pre-header), angle, social proof, deadline.

Need a common thread to automate everything? Read: automate your coaching business.

Automate without losing the human touch

Essential workflows

• Registration → Welcome SMS + 72-hour offer.
• Cancellation → “free space” alert to the interested segment.
• Late payment → reminder + payment link.
• Birthday → personalized message + loyalty bonus.

Simple omni-channel

Combine SMS, email and DM: SMS for immediate action, email for details, DM for the relationship. Everything consistent, same promise, same deadline.

Quick response scripts

Prepare 5 standard responses: availability, prices, location, cancellation policy, payment methods. Copy and paste, personalize in 10 seconds.

Single tool = fewer errors

Centralize your campaigns, reservations and payments to trigger the right messages at the right time. Find out how the EKKLO ecosystem facilitates these automations: info.ekklo.com.

Action plan in 7 days

Days 1-2: compliance and collection

• Update your forms with opt-in explicit.
• Create a “private offers by SMS” page + QR code at reception.

Days 3-4: your 6 basic messages

• Welcome, free space, trial → pack, reactivation, reminder + duo, flash sale.
• Write 2 variations of each for A/B tests.

Day 5: segmentation and tags

• Segment by objective and level.
• Tag the acquisition source to compare profitability.

Days 6-7: tests and launch

• Test on 15% of the basis.
• Analyze revenue/SMS and unsubscriptions.
• Deploy to the rest and plan the next 4 weeks.

To remember

• SMS marketing acts quickly: target, simplify, a single CTA.
• Segmentation and timing explain the essentials of results.
• 6 scenarios cover 80% of your needs (filling, conversion, loyalty).
• Measure revenue/SMS and unsubscriptions to manage.
• Automate without dehumanizing: always personalize the first name and context.

Conclusion and action plan

Express checklist

• Opt-in in place + STOP mentions.
• 6 ready models + 2 variations each.
• Segments created + tracked links.
• Automated scenarios linked to your planning and payments.

Skip take action with EKKLO

Want to set up these campaigns in a few hours, without changing your habits? Centralize your reservations, payments and messages with EKKLO and track the impact on your revenue. Explore the resources and get started here: info.ekklo.com.

To maximize the effect of your SMS promos, create clear and desirable offers: design attractive packages.