AIBU to message yoga clients individually about returning after summer?

[Holdinguphalfthesky]

I run yoga classes and have had an extended break this summer. I’ve kept in touch by email and occasional messages to my WhatsApp Community, so people who are engaged know we start back next week. However, sales are very slow! As are responses on the WhatsApp groups. I worry that after a long summer my clients have drifted away.

(Reasons for the long summer were a mixture of financial- numbers dropping off during the hot weather as well as the usual summer reduction as people go away and also socialise a bit more- and also other work commitments I had to fulfill, and I was a bit overwhelmed as well.)

Would I be unreasonable to message individual clients to gently check in and ask if they intend to come back to classes?

Do it! People need a kick to get back into things in a new term. Also maybe say you have some spare slots so ask them to share the classes or bring a friend?

There are no rules that specify group messages only! If you message individually you're much more likely to get an answer one way or another.

Yes. One message is fine.
I run groups, and while they do drop off a bit in summer, I do feel they are better kept going if you can. People do go elsewhere if there’s an alternative that’s still available. My classes are not fitness related- I’d imagine anything health/fitness related would be even more wanted all year round.. (that’s just a musing, not a criticism).

I could be wrong but think you might be a bit early yet op!

Everyone I know with school age kids are busy organising back to school and back to work stuff.

My exercise and creative classes all start mid-September and I am grateful for the late start. Some start back first week September but it’s too early for me to get my head around!

Thank you! I don’t want to crowd anyone so wasn’t sure (sales have never been my strong point unfortunately!!).

@RockinCara you might think, but I used to keep classes going and it lost me money so now I stop them in summer (usually school holidays but plenty of my clients start going away from May these days as their kids are older) and around Christmas.

You could message them individually, but I wouldn’t put them on the spot too much!

“Hi X - Hope you had a good summer. Just reminding everyone that classes start again on (date) and you can re-enrol with this link (or however you do it) now. Looking forward to next term and hoping to see you back. Many thanks…”

I think it is fine to send one individual message just in case they snoozed the group chat. Something along the lines of looking forward to welcoming people back after the summer break, perhaps a 2 for 1 or bring a friend for free type offer valid for September to encourage uptake?

Not sure.
My yoga studio took an extended break.
I haven't signed up for anything yet. I've lost momentum and it's been an expensive summer.
I can see from Facebook that's it's starting back up and I think I'd feel a bit nagged if I received a message. I'm not sure how you get the tone just right so that people don't feel nagged.

Maybe you could do an offer of first session half price or even a special complementary class as a welcome back.

1st September is the new 1st January.
go for it op.

I got “back to yoga” yesterday after a 2 week break & it was fantastic.

I do Pilates classes and I appreciate the general reminders about booking into new blocks, but an individual message would really annoy me! Feels like putting people under a lot of pressure. If they want to come back, they will.

Yes you should. My pilates classes stopped as teacher went away all summer but I think she's back now and classes resume this week?? I think... I'd like her to confirm

Hmm … Don’t ask them if they’ll be returning - that would really put my back up.

Something similar to @maudelovesharold‘s suggested message would be acceptable. (I’m not on any sort of SM so would miss any communication that was not email or WhatsApp.)

But I would also want some assurance that I could rely on the classes actually taking place on a regular basis. Did you forewarn attendees that there would be an extended break in the schedule? If it’s possible you may not be able to fulfil all your class commitments it would be wise to find a reliable replacement teacher who will always show up if you can’t.

Could you do the “announcement” or “broadcast” (can’t remember what WhatsApp calls it) where it sends the same message as individual messages to people? I don’t know if it shows up differently, but if anyone asks you could say you just did a broadcast to everyone, not targeting individuals.

I definitely think it’s worth doing BUT I’d put some sort of offer on:

E.g. bring a friend who has never been before to a class in September and you both get the first session at half price (with a rule that says limited to one half price session per person to stop one person being multiple people’s friend over multiple sessions - maybe also a rule that only 1 person can introduce someone); introduce a new loyalty offer; cheaper first session for everyone on first week back in September; a third off for everyone that books in advance of the class; block book (and pay) for all sessions til half term/Xmas and get a cheaper price; etc.

I’d also put something on that says this offer is not transferable and only to be used by the person who’s phone number it was sent to… but if you think that sharing the offer you’d get more newcomers then put that in instead - feel free to share this offer with family & friends.

On top of this, I’d print some posters and go to see local shops and ask if you can put one up in their window or in a noticeboard - lots of independent businesses are happy to support local ventures like yours, and big chains like Tesco, Costa, etc often have community noticeboards.

Good luck - I hope you can get everyone going again!

I think you need to encourage them to come back by offering a come-back special. Five classes for the price or four or a set of six classes at a 15% discount, or something similar.

I think is very kind and considerate of you to be wondering wether an individual message would be too much. However, is not too much in my opinion people would be more likely to answer a personally addressed messge than a mass general one. You are doing nothing wrong, just confirming your numbers to plan your classes accordingly. No answer is an answer as well, so at least you know. Don't insist of course. Best of luck!

Thanks all! I think I will wait until next weekend (so the weekend before the return of classes) and if my regulars haven’t signed up by then I’ll message them individually- but just in case they muted the group chat, not as a request, as pp suggested.

Do it.

I'll be texting all my private tutoring clients over the next couple of days with a view to getting back to it in mid-September. I approach it assuming that of course they want to continue, then it's on them to tell me if they don't.

In your case, what's the worst that could come of a message? They ignore you? That's a message in itself.

I wouldn’t leave it until the last minute, @Holdinguphalfthesky. Because by then people may have made other plans.

This is a good balance. Don’t outright ask them if they’re coming back.
could you do a deal eg if they bring a friend who signs up then they get a class free or something?