Spa Clientéle Marketing Tips

Social Media Boot Camp Preview - Wednesday, April 7th at 2 PM EST

       



Please join me for a FREE preview of my upcoming Social Media Boot Camp on Wednesday, April 7th at 2PM EST.  Let me show you how Social Media can help your spa or massage practice grow and prosper. In this FREE class, we will discuss:

• The definition of social media
• Traditional VS social media marketing
•  7 reasons for using social media marketing
• The most popular social media tools
• Common mistakes people make with social media marketing
• Easy ideas for improving your social media results

Click here for more information or to sign up for the free class.  I'm very excited to share this information with you and hope you will be a part of the class.

Felicia

Social Media Best Practices

I love social media as a marketing tool. It's fun, free, and increasingly infinite in terms of reach. But it is not a medium that works just because you spend time on it. Smart social media marketers know they must have a plan in goal in place to make any social media outlet worth the time invested in it.

Recently, I read a few expert opinions about this very subject on Smart Blog on Social Media. The post - Social Media Rockstar's Best Practices - Part 1 asked a number of questions including this one.

Where do you see companies wasting time, money and other resources in their quest to turn social media into sales?

• Terry Starbucker: It's really a matter of figuring out if social media should even be a sales channel in the first place.
• Lorelle VanFossen: Not understanding what it is or how it works or where to find their audience. Twitter isn't the all-in-one place to find every audience.
• Drew McLellan: I think the biggest example of companies' wasting time, money and resources in the pursuit of sales is the lack of an overarching strategy.

I agree with everything said which is part of why I am holding a Social Media Boot Camp for spa and massage professionals. This 4 week class starts April 12, 2010 at 2 PM EST. It will be jam-packed with information on how you can grow your business, make more money, increase your professional network and market yourself and your business effectively and more affordably with social media.

The cost is just $197 - an incredible value that may never be offered again. And if you are one of the first to register, you can save $50 off of your registration cost. Consider it an Early Bird gift to you!

To learn more about the class or register, click here. I'd love to see you there!

Passion...perhaps the greatest marketing tool ever

First off, apologies are in order for my recent lapse in writing. Preparing for, attending and recovering from the Day Spa Expo in Las Vegas last weekend threw me into a bit of a whirlwind. It was a great show for me - thanks to everyone who came out and introduced themselves!

But onto the topic at hand - PASSION! When I speak about passion I am not talking about a steamy romance but rather the fire that burns within your heart/spirit/soul that makes you love whatever you do in the spa, salon, massage, wellness or service industry. The force that propels you out of bed and makes you give your all for every client, prospect and service. The energy that makes you declare "I love what I do so much that I don't care if I get paid." (OK well that last part may be a bit over the top, but I think you get what I am saying.)

When I was in Vegas I had a chance to see possibly the brightest example of passion in action at work I've ever found. One night after the conference, a group of colleagues and I went to a Motown review in the Paris hotel. The group that was featured, In Demand, serenaded us with classics from the 50s - 80s (My Girl, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, She's Got Sunshine were a few) most of it a capella. Great to wind down and relax to.

But as much as I enjoyed the music, what really stood out to me was the passion the whole group had for what they were doing. They weren't just singing - they were living the moment on stage, giving it their all and wrapping all of us up in their energy. It was amazing to watch all of them - especially the lead singer EC - put every ounce of energy (and sweat) into their performance. I wanted to get up on stage with them (one of my friends did actually) and bottle the enthusiasm and spark they had.  I've told TONS of people about them and will go back every time I am Vegas just to feel that electricity again.

The point is that their energy - their passion - made the whole experience unforgettable. How many of us bring that same level of intention and intensity to what we do? Can you honestly say that you treat each service like a stage-worthy performance? Or are you just going through the motions, doing the bare minimum or only the expected amount to collect a check at the end of the week?

If you are giving it your all and letting your love for what you do show through to your clients, BRAVO! Keep it up and let me know who you are so I can come see you.
 
ut if you aren't take some time to ponder WHY you aren't passionate about what you do and find ways to reignite your love and excitement for your craft and business. Let me know if I can help.

Now Available - Laser Coaching Sessions

Growing a business comes with plenty of challenges. Though many of us try to do it all, sometimes we need to talk with someone who has been in our shoes and understands the demands and issues business owners face. Whether you are looking for immediate solutions to specific problems or just want to do some general brainstorming about your business, I am ready to help you. No matter what phase you're in right now, we'll  determine your immediate business goals and objectives as well as a plan to help you attain those goals.

Bring your toughest marketing or operational challenges to this focused one hour phone consulting session. We'll work together to find the right solutions to your problems and help you move beyond the place you've been feeling stuck in. We've been where you are and will help you find the answers you need to move ahead in your business.

This one-time session is regularly $147 and includes a follow up email summary of the key points, recommendations and referrals made during your session. BUT...if you book your appointment online before March 31st (meaning your appointment happens before the 31st) you'll get a special rate of just $99. 

Ready to schedule your session? Open appointments are available immediately. And there's need to fill out any forms or sign up for a lengthy coaching program. Just bring your top challenges and readiness to move forward to the call.

 

3 Ways to Increase Your Retail Sales

When you use the word massage or spa, most people immediately think of a tranquil environment, relaxing, beautifying and/or healing services or just envision a place to unwind and getaway. However it is extremely important for business owners and managers to think also of the retail area as a powerful and perhaps equal contributor to your business’ health, not to mention that of your clients. That being said, it is important to realize that simply carrying a few retail products will not be enough. You must plan for the success of this area. Here are a few ways to improve your retail mindset and results.

1 - Understand Why Clients Buy Retail
It is important to remember that most people come to a spa or wellness business seeking solutions for pain relief, stress management or various skin and issues. Someone who comes in for a facial may want to look and feel younger, improve the appearance of a scar or get their acne under control. In the case of a massage, they may be suffering from a few aches and pains, general tension or be recovering from an injury. And with body treatments such as back facials, cellulite wraps, self- tanning or body polishes, people often seem to be preparing for something special such as a big event or trip.

When they have these services done at a spa or reputable business, clients expect to be treated by knowledgeable professionals who not only can provide the treatments but also make educated suggestions about how to continue to improve their condition or appearance after they leave. For this reason it is vital that massage, wellness and spa professionals are prepared to meet those needs with a proper array of at home products for skin, body and mind. Knowing your clients and their specific motivations can help you determine how to stock your retail area from top to bottom.

2 – Have the Right Set-Up
Begin by thinking of your retail area as an additional treatment room, setting it up to have many of the same features as a treatment room. This includes things like appropriate lighting, furniture or fixtures that are appropriate to showcase, display or test the products, and a clean workspace. You may also want to accent the treatment area with elements from your treatment rooms such as fountains or flowers or give it a completely different look to set it apart from the rest of the business.

Just as you want a treatment room table to look fresh and inviting when a new client enters the room, you will also want to ensure that your product area is clean and well maintained. All products and display areas should be monitored throughout the day or between client visits. Product pricing, brochures, usage instructions, PR features/mentions and all other collateral should be attractive, informative and up to date. And of course all products available for purchase should be stored and rotated properly so that clients never encounter expired or rancid items in your stock.

3– Include Retail Products with Gift Certificate Purchases
Whether a client purchases online gift certificates through your website or at your office or business, including retail products in some of the packages or specials you offer can increase your gift certificate and retail sales. For example if your average gift certificate sale is $50 and you want to increase that amount to $75, include a “free gift with purchase” certificate or incentive toward a retail purchase coupon that can be redeemed along with the certificate. Choose something that has a high perceived value but that is not too expensive to give away or a product that you are trying to feature or highlight. You might also offer a package that includes a corresponding product – a take home body polish or moisturizer with a Salt Scrub or After Sun package, for example - that is actually part of the purchase price of the package.

The goal behind each of these suggestions is to provide the client with what they really want – solutions to their problems. Make it easy for people to buy those items that will help them take the relaxation or healing experience home with them. It will benefit your bottom line and increase your clients’ overall satisfaction.