How to improve on spa directories
August 27th, 2006 • Posted by Bill Bice • Permalink
Spa directories are a good resource for your spa. Good exposure that brings in new clients. But there are some problems, things that we think can be done better than traditional spa directories.
For example, it's still your marketing that is bringing the recipient of a traditional spa directory gift certificate to your spa. After all, the recipient has simply gotten a generic GC — they still have to choose at which spa to redeem it. Which means that it is still your marketing that is doing all the work to attract that recipient. And for this privilege, you're paying 15%-20% of the face value of the GC.
What about the purchaser of a traditional spa directory gift certificate? You don't even know who they are. They aren't your customer. They haven't bought anything from you. If they're happy with the experience, if their recipient enjoyed the gift, they'll just go back to the spa directory the next time they need another gift certificate. Not to your spa.
When you redeem a traditional spa directory GC, you're providing the service upfront. And then waiting to be reimbursed later. And, of course, you never see any benefit of unredeemed GCs.
We saw this, and decided there had to be a better way. It's why we created Spa Emergency.
Not just to bring the immediate gratification of Instant Gift Certificates to a spa directory, but improve the whole process for the benefit of your spa. When a gift giver purchases an Instant Gift Certificate via Spa Emergency, they're purchasing it directly from your spa. They're immediately your client. You've already been paid.
When the recipient relates the relaxing, pleasurable experience they had at your spa, the gift giver will go back to your website for future purchases.
The cost for Spa Emergency is similar to traditional spa directories at 15% plus credit card processing. But the value of Spa Emergency to your spa is much greater than a traditional spa directory — it's a real marketing avenue that immediately brings you both the gift giver and recipient as clients.
Posted in Spa Marketing, Spa Gift Certificates • Share • Trackback
August 28th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Do current SpaBoom clients need to complete the full sign up form to sign up for Spa Emergency? Or is there another way for us to sign up.
August 28th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
All you need to do as a current SpaBoomer is login to SpaBoom, where the Welcome page includes a link for opting-in for Spa Emergency. You can also add a description for your listing. You can go back to it at any time in Setup, Basics.