How are your promoting lash extension services?

“Lash extensions are 85% of my spa business. I have been doing lashes for more than three years now, and my best promotion for new business is referrals. I have tried advertising and was never able to get my money back. I average 5-6 lash services a day, so I have built a good lash clientele. When I first started, I needed to build my clientele so I offered free services to everyone I worked with and other stylists I knew. They would be my advertising so when their clients noticed and asked about their lashes, they would give them my business card. In return, I would keep filling their lashes. I also did a monthly mailer discounting the first lash application to all existing clients, as a reminder of my new service. Now that I have more than 100 regular lash clients, this is the busiest time of the year! The holidays are a great time to get new lash clients. By offering party lash flares (just on the outer part of eyes), partial sets (a half-set with a gradual fade into the natural lashes) or fun holiday lashes (false lashes mixed with glitter/colored extensions), you can spend less time on each application and introduce new clients to the service. There are a lot of people that will try the extensions this time of year and only do the lashes for special occasions, but they will be at parties with a lot of potential clients. Lash extensions, when done properly, can be an amazing increase to your business and income! You have repeat business like no other service. Clients love the way they look with the extensions and will come back regularly for fills. For all my regular clients, I give them a free fill for their birthday and they love it. I also have a referral program—for every new customer my client sends me, they receive a free fill. I have a few clients, especially in the current economy, that are working hard at sending me referrals because they do not want to give up their lashes. My business cards are flying out the door! My clients love their extensions and tell me they never want to be without them. There is no better way to advertise than having your work walk around in front of people all day long. And people will always notice other people’s eyes. Remember, extensions are addicting—for you and your clients!”

—Michelle Bouse, owner, Beauty Boutique, Burbank, CA

CA Day Spa, CA Spas, Eye Lash lengthening, Spa Marketing

Despite the technical mumb-jumbo, marketing your business online is not complicated. If yours is complicated,, then it’s time to rethink your online marketing strategy. It doesn’t matter whether you are a medspa or a car dealer, you can use online marketing to effectively boost your business. I have consulted with hundreds of business over the years, and the prevailing issue that I come across again and again is that business owners start spending money on their website and online advertising without having a solid goal in mind. Begin with the end in mind, and work backwards from there. You cannot have any hope of succeeding if you don’t have a specific, measurable goal for your online marketing efforts.

There are only two real functions of online marketing, and chances are good that your current website accomplishes neither. If so, you are wasting money. The first function is lead generation - new patients / clients coming to your business ready to hand over their money in exchange for your services.

The second function is to market additional services to you existing patients. Now in this sense, I use the term “marketing” loosely, because marketing to existing clients usually resembles educating them. Educating them about your services, offerings, advantages, strengths, and doing it in a way that makes them ready to come in for more. Does your existing website truly educate people?

One of the main principles we share here at the Medspa Marketing Institute is the concept of the marketing funnel. The marketing funnel is your lead generation system, and it’s a series of marketing steps that turns prospects into patients. The second major system we teach ids the patient profitability pyramid (PPP). The two go hand in hand. You get new patients into the business via a well thought-out marketing funnel. Then, once they become patients, you use the PPP to get them back into your spa or practice, buying additional services - ideally more expensive services.

Your website and online marketing efforts are a component of both of these systems, but a single website cannot fulfill both. So , you may need to entertain the idea of having multiple websites. One for your lead generation efforts, and another to support you patient profitability pyramid. That may sound like a lot of work, but it’s really not, it just takes a bit of planning, and being strategic with your marketing efforts.

The next installment in this series will discuss how to create websites (or modify your existing sites) to effectively generate leads, or get your existing patients spending more money.

Full Article and Credits

Spa Marketing

In business, nothing matters more than selling your products or services. It doesn’t matter how cool your Web site is or how great your products or services are if your staff doesn’t have the ability to sell. Here are four techniques you can implement today to get more sales tomorrow:

Technique No. 1: Give It Away

That’s right, give it away! No, not the farm: the experience. Right now, your customers are concerned about the economy. So, you have to let them know why your products and services are the best choice for them. Use the experience your salon provides as proof of why you are different from the competition and you’ll rise to the top.

Technique No. 2: Get Referrals

Nothing is as great as a referral. Why? Because referred customers are nearly 80-percent sold on your salon already, thanks to your current customer base. Converting them the remaining 20 percent of the way is a no-brainer. However, most salespeople rarely get this opportunity because they never take the time to ask for referrals. Don’t make that mistake; ask your clients if they know someone who would enjoy your products and services. Chances are they do and would be happy to bring them in—especially if you offer an incentive for their efforts.

Technique No. 3: Introduce Yourself With Influence

The first step to meeting a new client is making a quality introduction. You must introduce yourself as an expert in the industry and tell the person why he or she should want to spend money at your salon. Also tell the customer why he or she should do business with you instead of your competition.

Technique No. 4: Practice To Make Your Pitch Perfect

There’s that romantic notion that you can get in front of a customer and “fake it ‘til you make it.” It doesn’t work. Instead, you should practice your sales spiel until you know it backwards and forwards. Rank your points in order of importance; when you present them to a prospective client, start with the important items and work towards the very important ones.

But before you communicate the most important point that drives homes the idea that you are the customer’s best choice, tell them something negative about your salon. For example, maybe you’re more expensive than the competition. If so, tell the potential customer up front. Why? Because you will come across as a trustworthy and credible resource, which will make the customer feel more comfortable with you. Then, you can turn around and hit them with your best feature—the one that makes your salon worth the greater expense.

Regardless of how you’ve performed when selling in past, these four sales techniques will help you achieve more success and make more sales.

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Spa Marketing

Build client Loyalty

• Build loyalty with existing clients and employees.
• 80/20 rules always apply.
• Stay in contact with the spa’s most loyal 20%.
• Keep track of your top customers and let them know you appreciate their business.
• Create a spa environment that is positive for employees and customers.
• Develop an online marketing program.
• Use all those client email addresses you’ve been collecting over the years.
• Let customers know about special events, new treatments and promotions going on at your spa.
• Send clients an email and give them a good reason to come in for a new spa experience.
• Provide value and strengthen relationships with existing clients.
• Send clients appointment reminders.
• Let clients know when you have appointment openings.
• Deliver Welcome emails for new clients.
• Send out a spa newsletter.
• Think long term.
• Update your website and keep it current.
• Educate your clients.
• Optimize your connections with clients.
• Know your audience and what they need. 

Spa Finder, Spa Marketing

• Create partnerships with other retailers and garner support for your business.
• Have a spa event at your day spa or salon.
• Get out of your comfort zone to create new customers.
• Look for ways to provide a key service to an unserved market.
• Help others. Selflessness and helping others is empowering. Problem solving for others keeps you ready for new challenges.
• Improve your processes.
• Correct mistakes that you’ve too busy to fix.
• Act on revenue-generating processes you have been meaning to get to but keep putting off. 

Building a spa, Day Spa, Spa Business, Spa Finder, Spa Marketing

What is SEO… for Salons, Day Spas & Massage Clinics?

Spa Marketing & Advertising

SEO- stands for Search Engine Optimization.
10 years ago, this term didn’t exist… but now it’s probably the
most vital media for a professional day spa or salon.
I.e: Your Day Spa, Salon, Massage Clinic.

Why? Well, research and trends are showing that EVERY day more and
more people are choosing their professionals that they want to do
business with… and buying every day products ‘on-line.’

Even in our own seminars, I’ll do a poll with the audience and ask
them, “How many of you go online to check the news, get directions, buy
airline tickets, gifts etc… NOW… more than you did 1 year ago?”

Answer: an overwhelming # of hands go up.
Pretty much the entire room.

Which Means:
“YOUR CLIENTS & PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS… are online looking for skin
care treatments, streaks, massage, hair cuts, and in many cases a
general hair salon or day spa to frequent.”

If you do NOT have a strong presence, then you are losing business
that is sitting literally in your back yard.
Here is another way of putting it:

“When you open a salon or day spa… do you rent or buy real estate?”

Answer: Of course

“Do you put a sign up?”
Answer: Of course… (or you should)

Last question, imagine having the ability to go into ‘just’ the
homes in your city, suburb, small town that are ‘interested’ in
what you have to offer… and these people have questions.

Wouldn’t it be great to ONLY talk directly to those people…
answer their questions, give them educational and promotional
materials… and invite them into your place of business?

This is a No-Brainer… the answer is “YES.”

Now, I realized that I didn’t go into the 2 different types of SEO
here… however I will in future emails.

What I wanted you to ‘get’ is that the future of spa marketing,
salon marketing and massage marketing is on the Internet (with few
exceptions… very few). And the sooner you get your website
presence dominating the search engines… the more success you will
have and the more money you will make.
It’s that simple.

Spa Marketing, Spa Professionals

 

This article is brought to you by Spavelous.com.

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8 Salon and Spa Marketing Tips That Will Attract A Surge Of New Clients

Salon and spa marketing strategies for in-house and new client acquisition bring customers in like clockwork when there is a systematized approach in place. Here’s how to get started.

Brian and Angie Maroevich, salon owners and marketing consultants, just completed a new marketing ‘mini course’ for salon and spa owners called, “8 Salon And Spa Marketing Tips Guaranteed To Attract A Stampede Of New Clients.” This free marketing course  helps salon and spa owners discover new ways of looking at their current marketing strategies and improve upon current ones to achieve measurable results in client acquisition.

Studies show that if clients and prospective clients are not contacted at least once per month they will either forget about the business they originally frequented or choose another competitor. For every month you do not contact a current customer or prospect you lost 10% of your influence over them. Over the course of one year without contact you become the equivalent of a complete stranger.

What is the solution?

The answer is to put a spa marketing system in place.
A marketing system is basically where a salon or spa owner plans ahead and puts a procedure in place for various promotions to be implemented on specific dates. This way they know what marketing piece and/or promotion is going out on what date, and they have it planned out at least 6 months in advance. This way the salon and spa owner is not playing catch-up all the time.

It is recommended that a salon and spa owner use a combination of media when communicating with customers and prospects. For example, communication through e-mail blasts, direct mail, newsletters, internet marketing and the telephone are just three ways to get a salon or spa name in front of prospective clients.

However, sticking with one form of communication will dilute ones marketing efforts, especially if e-mail is used. E-mail is not as personal as direct mail and telephone contact, and spam filters will only allow a certain percentage of the messages to get through.
Most salon ans spa owners are too busy working in their salon to begin and maintain a marketing system, but it’s one of the most important parts of growing a business.

Here’s how to solve that problem. Create a marketing calendar that lists all of the marketing strategies that need to be implemented and set a deadline date. In addition, create small goals each day or week to build upon each marketing strategy so that it is ready to launch on the deadline date that is set.

A systematized approach to salon and spa marketing will produce measurable results. The bottom line is if a salon or spa owner does not ‘touch’ a client or prospective client frequently they will spend their money and send their referrals elsewhere.

Full Article

Today many clients are locating their spas deals online.  If your spa is not listed with several spa directories, you need to sign up now.  Having a website is not enough, people have to be directed to your website.   

Day Spa, Spa Advertising, Spa Business, Spa Business Plan, Spa Marketing

 

This article is brought to you by Spavelous.com.

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Relationship Marketing: How It Can Help In Today’s Economy
 
Can a bad economy put a dent in your sales? A colleague of mine thought so as she watched her sales decline during the last six months. Like most of us, she has heard the news reports suggesting that we are in a recession and wondered if that is the reason her sales are down. I was not so sure, and asked if she had recently cut back on her advertising and marketing. Her response? Yes—as a means of limiting expenses. I then asked if she was meeting new people and developing relationships. She said no. To me, that indicated these two things could be a large part of the problem.

The economy may have something to do with fewer people spending money, but there is nothing you can do about that. What you can do is practice relationship marketing with people in your sphere of influence to increase your business sales. Think about this:

Joe Girard was listed in The Guinness Book Of World Records as the “World’s Greatest Retail Salesman” for 12 consecutive years. Girard wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth; rather, he was abused by his father as a child, lost multiple jobs as an adult and eventually went bankrupt. Finally, he landed a job at a Chevrolet dealership and did very well—in fact, he personally sold more cars than most dealerships. People stood in line to buy a car from Girard—but why? Because he practiced relationship marketing.

Every year, Girard sent 13 handwritten cards to each of his clients and prospects: one card per month and an extra card at Christmas. These mailings were cards of appreciation, tips and giveaways—never about special sales, discounts or promotions. Over the course of 15 years, Girard sent 13,000 handwritten cards. Each of Girard’s recipients began to anticipate a card from him every month and he was always the first person on their minds when they were ready to buy a car.

So, how can you implement relationship marketing in your business? Try these strategic objectives (which also will help your businesses to better withstand the impact of economic downswing):

Develop Strong Relationships
People do business with people they know, like and trust. It’s your job to make this connection happen. To do that, you must go beyond the superficial and become genuinely interested in your customers and prospects. For instance, you can meet clients at a coffee shop and get to know them personally, without the usual business discussions. I often do that. I make mental notes on what is going on in their lives, so I can refer to it the next time we connect. Then I nurture my relationships by consistently staying in touch.

Consistency Is The Key
You can stay connected with your contacts by sending heartfelt cards like Girard did, or through phone calls, e-mails and newsletters. You lose 10 percent of your influence every month you do not have contact with our clients, but just a five-percent increase in customer loyalty could add 20 percent to 80 percent to your bottom line.

Form A Strategic Objective To Stay In Touch
One way to do this is to set up campaign postcards to go out once a month. Also, find or develop a system for remembering birthdays. In addition, you can think of something unique to your salon clientele or the tanning industry. For example, some real estate agents record closing dates and send anniversary cards, while some veterinarians record the birthdays of client’s pets and send birthday cards. I have found that a simple and sincere card can make a huge impression on someone, especially if they are having a bad day. Sometimes, I include a gift card or small gift with a thank-you card.

Understand & Use The Law Of Attraction
When you express appreciation, recognition or encouragement, you are focused on giving and abundance instead of scarcity. Every human being wants to feel acknowledged, loved and appreciated—and when you send love and thanks out into the world, you get it back tenfold. This is the Law of Attraction, where what you focus on expands. The opposite also is true, however, meaning that if you are focused on your lack of money, you will continue to have a lack of money. Instead, try to inspire yourself by visualizing what you want in your life—those good feelings will bring good things to your business.

Use The Rule Of 250 To Build A Referral Network
As a small-business owner and entrepreneur, you probably know at least 250 people. In fact, you may know many more than that. And each one of those 250 knows another 250, and so on. See where this is going? When you make a commitment to stay in touch with people you know—and remember they each have hundreds of contacts—you have the potential to reach thousands. Additionally, you can build your network by joining local and online business-networking groups. Referred customers usually are already sold on us through the testimonial of the person who referred you.

Ultimately, when you build strong networks and nurture meaningful relationships with the people you serve, you will garner unlimited referrals and be less affected by economic down cycles. Start making relationship marketing part of your business today and watch your business grow.

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Spa Marketing

Can You afford twenty cents a day?  The Basic Marketing solution to bring leads to your spa $75 a year.

Can you afford $2 a day…Truth is you can’t afford not to.  The Enhanced Spa Listing

Building Med Spa Business, Spa Advertising, Spa Marketing

 

 

This article is brought to you by Spavelous.com.

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There are many new ways to generate spa client leads today, but direct

mail remains one of the most powerful lead-generation tools. If you

are not using this for your Day Spa, Salon or Massage Practice…

you should start!

 

Lots of successful businesses within the Spa and Salon industries

are discovering that direct mail is essential for growth, since

newer spa marketing tactics, especially online via internet spa marketing… such as

SEO, social media blogs, and email marketing, often have limitations

because of the rapidly changing rules and technical issues

involved. And a steep learning curve!

 

While a mailer isn’t as sexy as a viral spa video emailed to one

another and it’s not a hot topic at industry conferences &

tradeshows, it’s the most reliable way to reach people at home or

at work. Its reach is wider and deeper than any other medium’s.

Plus, there are few restrictions on format and no message filtering

headaches that plague email marketing.

 

Isn’t direct mail expensive? It can be. But don’t think that you

have to create big, flashy mailers. In fact, when your goal is to

generate new client leads, simpler, cheaper formats often work

better. That’s because the purpose of a lead-generating mailer is

not to tell the whole story but to say just enough to get people to

ask for more information.

 

Here are five basic direct mail tools that you can use to generate

new client leads quickly and inexpensively.

 

1. Sales Letter

The letter is one of the simplest and most effective direct-mail

tools available. It won’t win any design awards, but if written

well it’s one of the few types of advertising that people will

actually read all the way through. And generate a response!

 

To generate new leads with a letter, you generally want to offer

something free, such as a brochure, sample, treatment,

consultation, or information kit. There’s no need to get fancy when

writing your letter. Keep it simple. Identify a problem, present

your solution, and offer to send your freebie. Doing so allows

interested prospects to identify themselves and gives you a “foot

in the door.”

 

The simplest letter mailing includes a one- or two-page letter and

a reply card in an envelope. You can enclose anything else you

like, but remember that your goal is to get people to ask for more

information, not to close the sale immediately. Less is more.

 

2. Postcard

Yes, simple postcards are a terrific way to generate leads. They’re

easy to print and as cheap as mail gets. If you’re a small

business, you can even print postcards through a variety of online

printers and apply stamps and address labels by hand.

 

To get the cheaper postcard rate, the minimum size of any postcard

you can send in the US mail is 3.5″ x 5″, and the maximum size is

4.25″ x 6″. You can certainly create larger postcards, and many day

spas & salons do. You simply have to pay more postage. Larger sizes

give you more room for your message and photos or graphics. Just be

sure to talk to your printer first to determine the most efficient

size for printing so you get the most for your money.

 

Postcards are particularly good for generating a quick phone call

or for driving people to your Website. Since cards are small and

offer little room for copy, your product or service should be

familiar and easy to understand. Your offer should be simple and

direct. People don’t read postcards as much as they glance at them.

 

Your phone number or Web address should be big and bold so people

can’t miss it. If you’re driving people to your facility, make sure

to give clear directions and a simple map if you have room. Telling

people what you want them to do and how to do it is the best way to

maximize response rate.

 

3. Flyer

You want simple and cheap? Print up a flyer on ordinary paper, fold

it, affix a mailing label and a stamp, and throw it in the mail.

This kind of guerrilla tactic is dirt cheap and can produce

fantastic results for day spas, salons and massage clinics alike.

It’s particularly good for small, local businesses (or businesses

that want to appear small). Unless you’re selling Mercedes sedans

or Rolex watches, no one expects you to do fancy mailings anyway.

In fact, in a pile of over-designed ad mail, a simple flyer from a

local business stands out. People are subjected to so many clever

ads, they develop “ad blindness.” To get people to notice you, just

mail them ugly flyers that don’t look like ordinary advertising.

Ugly gets opened!

 

When you’re mailing a flyer, you should fold it in thirds (called a

“roll fold”) and affix a tab to hold it closed so it can survive

the journey. You will put your main message on the inside with

teasers and your mailing information on the outside. And be sure to

design the flyer so that when you read the address, the folded side

is on the bottom and the tab is on the top. Most printers, even

small ones, should know this…

 

4. Invitation

When you see the word “invitation,” you probably think of small

cards with heavy paper and elegant printing asking you to a wedding

or formal dinner. But invitations can take almost any form. They’re

simply a way of presenting an offer that feels personal and

 

important to your prospective client.

You can certainly go the expensive route if you have an expensive

products or treatments. But you can invite people to an event with

any of the formats above: a letter, postcard, or flyer. Just start

the headline with the words “You are invited to…” then tell

people what the event is.

 

You can invite people to an open house, special sale, party for

your best clients, product demonstration, informational

presentation, or anything that requires getting people to a

particular location. The key is to make people feel that they are

special and not everyone is being invited. Once they get there,

your staff can go to work.

 

5. Special Delivery

FedEx, UPS and other quick delivery services are far more expensive

than regular mail, but this is a technique for a special “wish

list” of your best prospects. If you have 100 key people you want

as customers, spending the money to overnight a brochure or product

samples may well be worth the investment.

 

This mailer is guaranteed to get opened. Who can resist opening a

FedEx package? Inside, you should include a personal letter

explaining who you are and what you are offering. You might send a

sample with a note that says, “Here’s a small sample of our skin

care products. If you’d like to see the real thing, call me and

I’ll have a full size product shipped to you.” Or you could enclose

a disk with a video presentation or an info kit with detailed

information about how others have used your products and treatments

and now look 10 years younger!

 

Once again, don’t try to fancy it up. You are sending a message to

a highly select group of people, so it should look like you’ve done

it personally. This isn’t advertising; it’s a personal contact from

you to them.

 

No matter what direct mail tool you use to generate leads, remember

to follow up quickly once you get the lead. Hot leads cool off

quickly. Ideally, you should respond to people within a week, more

than this is tooo long.

 

Give your leads to the receptionist and make sure they understand

what was offered so they can follow up with a phone call.

 

Almost every day a new marketing technology or technique is

developed. But good-old-fashioned direct mail hasn’t lost any of

its power for generating leads.

Full Article

 

 

Spa Finder, Spa Marketing, Spa Professionals, Spa Profits