Overview
A fitness studio in Toronto wanted to reconnect with inactive members and increase new membership sign-ups before the summer season. Traditional follow-up channels like email and social media did not generate strong engagement. The team realised that members were far more responsive on WhatsApp, making it the ideal platform to deliver daily motivation and maintain consistency.
By using SheetWA to send personalised WhatsApp messages in bulk, the studio launched a simple and interactive fitness challenge that revived interest and created a supportive community among participants.
The challenge: Re-engaging inactive members required a new approach
The studio struggled with low engagement from inactive members. Many people who had signed up earlier had stopped attending due to busy schedules or lack of motivation. The studio also wanted to attract new clients with a low-commitment entry point that could lead to paid memberships.
The main issues included:
poor visibility on traditional marketing channels
low re-engagement rates from inactive members
difficulty managing large-scale communication manually
limited time for trainers to send individual messages
The team needed an approach that felt personal, interactive, and easy for members to join. WhatsApp offered familiarity and convenience, but managing conversations one by one was not feasible.
The solution: SheetWA to power a 7-day fitness challenge
The studio launched a “7-day home fitness challenge” designed to help people restart their fitness routine. SheetWA allowed trainers to send personalised bulk updates directly from Excel while keeping messages simple and conversational.
Here is how the challenge was executed.
Daily workout videos and motivational notes
Trainers recorded short workout videos and paired them with hydration reminders or simple fitness tips. Using SheetWA, these messages were sent to all participants but still addressed each person by name.
Example:
“Hi Sarah, here is your day 3 workout. Stay hydrated and let us know when you complete today’s challenge.”
Instant progress sharing
Participants could reply with photos, videos, or short updates. This encouraged accountability and made the experience more interactive. Trainers responded with quick feedback and encouragement.
Built-in accountability routine
Daily messages helped participants stay consistent. Seeing others share their progress in the group motivated inactive members to restart and complete the challenge.
Organised data tracking
Participant details were stored in an Excel, including:
name
WhatsApp number
engagement status
conversion status
Read More : How to Send Bulk WhatsApp Messages from Excel
This helped the team track activity and identify who needed additional encouragement.
Results: WhatsApp campaign improved engagement and conversions
The WhatsApp challenge delivered strong improvements within one week.
Metric | Before SheetWA | After SheetWA |
|---|---|---|
Challenge participants | Low interest | 210 participants |
Conversion to paid memberships | 10 to 15 percent typical | 54% |
Daily engagement | Inconsistent | Very high |
Community interaction | Minimal | Strong, ongoing conversations |
A deeper look at the outcomes:
Higher participation momentum
More than 200 people joined quickly. Many inactive members saw the challenge as an easy way to restart their fitness journey.
Strong conversion rates
Nearly half of the participants transitioned into paid memberships. The friendly and personal communication on WhatsApp built trust and motivation.
Development of a supportive community
Participants shared progress images, daily reflections, and motivation. The WhatsApp group turned into a community that extended beyond the initial challenge.
Time savings for trainers
Using SheetWA, trainers sent daily messages in minutes instead of hours. This freed up time to create better content and respond personally when needed.
Fewer drop-offs
Daily WhatsApp reminders created structure, reducing the number of participants who abandoned the challenge midway compared to previous email-based programmes.
Impact: Bulk WhatsApp messages strengthened engagement and loyalty
The fitness studio achieved:
renewed interest from inactive members
a growing pool of warm leads who felt supported
higher membership conversions
stronger customer loyalty through consistent interaction
WhatsApp became their most effective channel for engagement. The group continued even after the challenge ended, with members sharing tips and trainers posting updates.
Why SheetWA worked
SheetWA supported the studio by:
connecting directly to WhatsApp without technical friction
allowing bulk personalised messages
making daily communication fast and reliable
supporting an interactive programme that suited the platform
Key learnings for fitness studios
WhatsApp challenges create strong engagement and accountability.
Personalised messages encourage inactive members to return.
Short videos perform well because they are easy to consume on mobile.
Small studios can build strong communities without large marketing budgets.
Takeaway
The experience of this Toronto-based fitness club shows how WhatsApp can be far more than a messaging tool. When used with the right structure and content, it becomes a community builder, a re-engagement channel, and a powerful lead nurturer for small to mid-sized fitness businesses. Members who had previously disengaged were willing to return once communication felt personal, supportive, and consistent. WhatsApp created a sense of accountability that traditional email reminders could never achieve.
Read More : 13 Real Examples of Successful WhatsApp Marketing Campaigns
The 7-day fitness challenge demonstrated that customers do not always need complicated programmes to restart their journey. What they need is guidance delivered in a format they already use every day. Short videos, motivating notes, and simple hydration reminders gave participants a clear daily routine. By receiving updates directly in WhatsApp, they felt connected to the trainers and to the challenge itself. This structure helped reduce drop-offs and encouraged members to complete the full programme.
