SMART Marketing with Social Media

Note: I'll be teaching about Social Media at the Day Spa Expo in Las Vegas, NV (March 13-15) and would love to see you there. My class is on the 13th at 2:30 PM. Hope you can make it!

  The Internet has really taken the business world by a virtual storm over the last few years. In fact it seems like new tools and applications are being created daily allowing new opportunities for marketing to emerge.

Though I primarily use social networking to educate and reach out to past, present and future clients of my marketing coaching business, I have also used Facebook and LinkedIn.com to help fill empty appointment times in my very part-time massage practice. When I've got a few too many holes in my schedule I'll post some of the open times and occasionally offer a discount to fill them up.

Does it work? Definitely! Imagine that by spending less than 1 minute per week typing, I have often increased the weekly sales of my tiny practice by $80 (or more). In a year's time that one extra weekly appointment could mean as much as $4160 in additional revenue to my bottom line. Just imagine what the results could be for spas and service providers who have bigger client networks than I do. The boost in sales and profits could definitely be a lot higher!

Here are three SMART steps I suggest you take today to market your spa or salon with social media:

Pick a social network that you will enjoy using for business (or that your clients belong to) and become a member of it. Take care in creating your profile to include information about your business including website(s) and a business summary or description. Post a link to that site on your company website or issue an invitation for your clients to connect with you there. This can be done through an email, in-house signage or even a printed letter or flyer. Once your profile is all set up, start small by posting regular updates about what is new in the spa, events that are coming up or current specials.

Find a local online group that your clients and potential clients are likely to belong to. Look for groups on your social network that interest you or somehow can relate to the services you offe and that are in your geographic area. Some examples of the types of groups you might consider targeting: local business owners and associations, athletic clubs or teams, or men’s and women’s organizations, charities and causes, or even your children’s school. Once you join,  become active in the group posting comments or information that is relevant and helpful to its members, drawing a focus back to your spa or practice (and website) whenever it makes sense. People will begin to get to know you and your business through the conversation.

Start a blog that shares relevant information or thoughts with your clients and prospects.Your blog provides a way for people to learn about you, your company and services as well as related topics. It's a somewhat like a journal so it can be a little off the topic of what you do at the spa and can be fairly informal. Encourage your clients to sign up for a subscription or RSS feed to your blog so that they can get immediate notice of new posts and articles right to their email box or desktop.

Social networking sites allow you to announce events, promote new services, share resources, and add a higher level of credibility to your career if handled properly. Be aware that just like with email, you should always “think before you post” and only write what you don't mind the entire world knowing about you and your business. Whatever you decide join and whatever you choose write, know that done properly, SMART social media marketing can translate into more clients and sales and services for your spa.

And in March, be on the look out for information on my Social Media Boot Camp. Details for my free preview webinar are coming soon!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Tracy]

Hi Felicia,
Great tips especially on joining local groups for a more precise reach because location is one of the main reasons for repeat patronage. I am using this social for sharing discount coupons called Myzerr.com which also features an iPhone app that shows users where the nearest spa deals are. Have a look at the site if you can because it is designed to help promote local businesses in a social network environment.