Comments on: The top ten ways to sell over $17,400 in a month online http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online Online marketing for spas, salons and massage therapists Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:50:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Mare http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22458 Mare Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:26:47 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22458 I agree with Sabrina. We were down 20% overall in gift certificate sales and I never hear anyone talking about this. The whole industry is talking as if everyone is going gangbusters, and the truth is, we've had dropping revenues year-over-year since March 2007. I think 2008 will get worse before it gets better, so I'd like to hear if other people have also had the same experience, and if anyone has any ideas on what we can do. That being said, my online gift certificate sales were up year over year, and I do credit that to SpaBoom's excellent functionality and design. I agree with Sabrina. We were down 20% overall in gift certificate sales and I never hear anyone talking about this. The whole industry is talking as if everyone is going gangbusters, and the truth is, we've had dropping revenues year-over-year since March 2007. I think 2008 will get worse before it gets better, so I'd like to hear if other people have also had the same experience, and if anyone has any ideas on what we can do. That being said, my online gift certificate sales were up year over year, and I do credit that to SpaBoom's excellent functionality and design.

]]> By: Timothy Forbes http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22432 Timothy Forbes Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:54:53 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22432 This was our first year with SpaBoom and I would like to say "Thank You" for such a great online gift certificate product. We added the "Purchase Gift Certificate" link on our website on 11/30/07 and our sales boomed! In just first 31 days in the month of December our sales were over 2K. I felt this was exceptional with the limited time we had to advertise and I can't wait until the coming months and year! I also want to note that the majority of the sales came from other states all across the country. People were purchasing and emailing the Gift Certificates for loved ones in my area. I even had a purchase from one of our Military personnel in Iraq whom was not able to be here for the holidays, so she was able to email a Gift Certificate from my website to a loved one in the states. How wonderful is that!!!! Thanks again SpaBoom! This was our first year with SpaBoom and I would like to say "Thank You" for such a
great online gift certificate product. We added the "Purchase Gift Certificate" link
on our website on 11/30/07 and our sales boomed! In just first 31 days in the month of
December our sales were over 2K. I felt this was exceptional with the limited time
we had to advertise and I can't wait until the coming months and year! I also want to
note that the majority of the sales came from other states all across the country. People
were purchasing and emailing the Gift Certificates for loved ones in my area. I even
had a purchase from one of our Military personnel in Iraq whom was not able to be
here for the holidays, so she was able to email a Gift Certificate from my website to
a loved one in the states. How wonderful is that!!!! Thanks again SpaBoom!

]]> By: Seth Gardenswartz http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22417 Seth Gardenswartz Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:27:33 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22417 Jennie: I took a quick look at your site and I think you will get a great deal out of the SEO and SEM posts that will follow over the next few weeks. In the meantime, call your hosting company and ask them for your traffic figures. This will tell you how many people have been visiting your site since you put it up or changed it. Also, check out our <a href="http://www.spaboom.com/spa-website-design" rel="nofollow">Website Design Guide</a>. Jennie: I took a quick look at your site and I think you will get a great deal out of the SEO and SEM posts that will follow over the next few weeks. In the meantime, call your hosting company and ask them for your traffic figures. This will tell you how many people have been visiting your site since you put it up or changed it. Also, check out our Website Design Guide.

]]> By: Sabrina Gallo http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22415 Sabrina Gallo Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:30:46 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22415 Although our spa sold many gift certificates online, our sales were still down by $10,000 in December. I find it interesting that in all the spa trade magazines, there is no mention of how the economy is affecting the spa industry. It's like everyone is pretending it is not happening. Although our spa sold many gift certificates online, our sales were still down by $10,000 in December. I find it interesting that in all the spa trade magazines, there is no mention of how the economy is affecting the spa industry. It's like everyone is pretending it is not happening.

]]> By: Christine http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22414 Christine Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:52:20 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22414 I sell 75% of my online gift certificates to people who live more than 2 hours away from me. My website shows up on the search engines when people are looking for massage in my area. I use my city's name in my website as well as having it listed in the key words and meta tags. In looking up your city (Milwaukee) with the words skin care or facials on Google or Yahoo!, you are not listed in the results. You do not have Milwaukee or any surrounding communities listed on your website. You do have Milwaukee included in your logo on the bottom of your pages, but it is part of an image, and that is not searchable. BTW, I am two hours north of you in Manitowoc and have been with SpaBoom for for 2 years now with great success. I sell 75% of my online gift certificates to people who live more than 2 hours away from me. My website shows up on the search engines when people are looking for massage in my area. I use my city's name in my website as well as having it listed in the key words and meta tags.

In looking up your city (Milwaukee) with the words skin care or facials on Google or Yahoo!, you are not listed in the results. You do not have Milwaukee or any surrounding communities listed on your website. You do have Milwaukee included in your logo on the bottom of your pages, but it is part of an image, and that is not searchable.

BTW, I am two hours north of you in Manitowoc and have been with SpaBoom for for 2 years now with great success.

]]> By: Jennie http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22410 Jennie Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:42:20 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22410 I have yet to sell an instant GC... I advertise it in newsletters and of course, on my website. Can't figure out how to overcome that... thoughts? I have yet to sell an instant GC… I advertise it in newsletters and of course, on my website. Can't figure out how to overcome that… thoughts?

]]> By: Gerald http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22408 Gerald Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:22:58 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22408 Looks like everyone is doing well, but I guess we need to improve because our sales were about the same as the last few years at 75K. Looking to improve. Looks like everyone is doing well, but I guess we need to improve because our sales were about the same as the last few years at 75K. Looking to improve.

]]> By: Marty Keeley, Marketing Manager http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22403 Marty Keeley, Marketing Manager Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:06:35 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22403 We went out with a total of four newsletters through the holiday period with a themed message centered around Santa coming to town. We also placed our website address and the verbiage "Instant Gift Certificates" on all ads, posters, outdoor signage, and placards in the Salon/Spa. We watched our Reviews very closely as well to see if we could pick up any hints as to what we might improve. We received a lot of positive feedback that the process was fast and painless. Our 2007 December sales were up $7,800 over December 2006. We believe the capability also took pressure off our front desk staff as well allowing us to be more efficient and client focused through a very busy period. Lastly, I conferred with the SpaBoom Staff for thoughts and opinions as well. We went out with a total of four newsletters through the holiday period with a themed message centered around Santa coming to town. We also placed our website address and the verbiage "Instant Gift Certificates" on all ads, posters, outdoor signage, and placards in the Salon/Spa. We watched our Reviews very closely as well to see if we could pick up any hints as to what we might improve. We received a lot of positive feedback that the process was fast and painless. Our 2007 December sales were up $7,800 over December 2006. We believe the capability also took pressure off our front desk staff as well allowing us to be more efficient and client focused through a very busy period. Lastly, I conferred with the SpaBoom Staff for thoughts and opinions as well.

]]> By: afree http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22406 afree Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:03:32 +0000 http://www.spaboomblog.com/2008/the-top-ten-ways-to-sell-over-17400-in-a-month-online#comment-22406 We saw a very nice increase in our Gift Certificate business this Holiday Season. This was our first season with SpaBoom and our secondary method of certificate distribution changed noticeably from past years. Mailed out Gift Certificates were almost non-existent. The majority of those who would have placed a call for Gift Certificates were all given the option of purchasing online. Time and money savings were evident in the spa. In today's age of the Internet, customers expect "convenience". SpaBoom allows us the ability to offer that "convenience" to the purchasing public, 24/7/365. We saw a very nice increase in our Gift Certificate business this Holiday Season. This was our first season with SpaBoom and our secondary method of certificate distribution changed noticeably from past years. Mailed out Gift Certificates were almost non-existent. The majority of those who would have placed a call for Gift Certificates were all given the option of purchasing online. Time and money savings were evident in the spa. In today's age of the Internet, customers expect "convenience". SpaBoom allows us the ability to offer that "convenience" to the purchasing public, 24/7/365.

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