Social Media

I can honestly say that it has been months, perhaps a year since I have forwarded an email. I just don’t share that way anymore. According to TechCrunch, I am just following the herd because sharing online via email is going down fast, approximately 7% since the beginning of the year. In stark contrast, social media and in particular Facebook has ramped up its sharing with startling speed. Twitter and Facebook are now responsible for 57% of all shared links. Why? It is just so easy and frankly it is more fun to share that way.

A recent TechCrunch article lays out this share shifting phenomenon in simple pie graph glory, thanks to great data from a new start up called ShareThis. They also point out very astutely that just because someone shares across their social graph doesn’t mean it always gets clicked on, we see that anecdotally every day. Social reach is that magic nugget and 44% of the shared social links are clicked on.

Also check out some of the new social vocabulary that is sprouting up including, but not limited to share velocity, social engagement and social reach index. As long as someone else is performing that statistical analysis I will fascinated by the results and the new insight it will glean.

Right now spas are very effective communicating with customers via email but to actually spread your social influence and extend your reach, Facebook and Twitter are the natural complement. At SpaBoom we believe in a comprehensive online approach to social sharing that integrates fresh content, email, events and automated posts to Facebook and Twitter.

Posted in General, Social Media, Spa Marketing, SpaBoom New Features • Comment »

Have you seen a Facebook post or a Tweet where a friend says, "Hey, I've checked in at Tony's Pizza!"? Perhaps you use these services yourself to make notes about travel or just share the things you love to do with your social circle.

Just yesterday Facebook launched into the location-friendly world with Facebook Places.  We'll save you some time (though their full FAQ is worth reading) and show you how to use Places – and why you should.

Facebook users can only "check in" at your business using their mobile phone once Facebook has a Place page for you, so let's get started!

(Do step "0″ first and make sure Facebook knows about you!)

0. Create your Facebook Page. If you haven't already created a Page for your business – there is no time like the present, and we have lots of reasons why it's a great idea!
1. Create your Place. If someone has not already added your business, you can do so by using the "check in" button on your Facebook iPhone app (or at http://touch.facebook.com), then click on "Add" to get started.
2. Check In! Go ahead and check in and start the ball rolling on your visibility. Encourage your iPhone-wielding clients to do the same, and in short order your Place could have a greatly increased online presence for your city.
3. Formally Claim your Place. Once your Place is listed, you can claim it to have access to it's information like address and other details. Just search for your business name in Facebook and once you see the Place listing, look near the bottom for the "Is this your business?" link and click away to claim your Place. You'll need to verify using a business license or other form of electronic legal document, but once you have the file, uploading it is quick and easy.

Posted in Social Media, Spa Marketing, Spa Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Tutorials • Comment »

Spas and salons that are most prepared online this holiday will win the revenue game.

Join us for a webinar on Monday, August 23rd that is designed to give you actionable tools to maximize holiday sales. Online synergy and success demands that your website, social media and email marketing work smarter 24/7. Learn to streamline online traffic and prepare for the holiday rush so you can be in the best position to help your business.

Presenters are Seth Gardenswartz, VP Business Development, SpaBoom and Brigette Lemos-Norman, Social Media Manager and Program Developer, YG Laboratories.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar Seat NOW!

This webinar is Free. Space is limited so reserve your seat today!

Title: Get Ready for a Billion Dollar Online Day — Free Webinar
Date: Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM EDT

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Product Sales • 2 Comments »

Everyone, including your clients, is involved in monetizing social media for your business. A big picture look can reveal the path to increasing revenue via social media, but it takes microscopic analysis of each interaction with intent to truly take advantage of the revenue potential.

Spas listen and engage with their clients every day. That intimate one-on-one experience, where the client is center means servicing them based on their individual needs in a given moment. Great relationships are built on conversations, which creates the possibility for amazing connections long-term. Understanding the value of these connections and managing the relationships can take on added strength when extend online using social media. Every interaction that occurs with clients fits along a social continuum and if they are managed with intent, they can be monetized to increase revenue and strengthen your spa brand.

For instance, your website is an extension of your spa or salon and reflects the unique differences that set you apart from the competition. It is a place to engage, connect and hopefully make your clients lives easier by allowing them to book appointments online, learn about the latest treatments and in-spa promotional offers and to purchase an Instant Gift Certificate for someone special.

Giving clients easy access to Facebook and Twitter from your website allows them to be part of your community and creates the opportunity for social referrals. Events and in-spa promotions that are disseminated via social media have the possibility of traveling to new social networks. This creates the opportunity for new clients, increased revenue and widening connections.

Take a look at the social piece of your spa business. Each component, from the front desk, therapist and product purchases to your spa website, email campaigns, events and social outreach on Facebook and Twitter plays a part in monetizing social for your spa.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing, Spa Website Design, SpaBoom System Events • Comment »

Don’t let the social media wave pass you by!

Join us for a webinar on August 11th. In one hour, Neil Ducoff of Strategies will join Seth Gardenswartz of SpaBoom and teach you how to leverage the most powerful force in media to drive more business into your salon or spa.

We will demystify the social media phenomenon, outline a straightforward strategy for using Facebook and Twitter, while highlighting powerful tips and common mistakes you can easily avoid. This webinar will help you spread your online influence quickly with fresh and timely advice you won’t find anywhere else.

This webinar is Free. Space is limited so reserve your seat today!

Click to Reserve your Webinar Seat NOW!

Space is limited.

Title: Social Media Crash Course – A Free Webinar to Ignite Sales
Date: Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Time: 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm EDT

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Marketing, Spa Product Sales, Spa Technology, SpaBoom Webinars, Strategies • 2 Comments »

GiGi’s Elite Spa is a serene and tranquil retreat in Chicago, Illinois. The spa has launched their new website packed with SpaBoom’s fully integrated online marketing capability including easy management of their website content and graphics, online booking, email marketing, social media, SEO, online menus, branded Instant Gift Certificates, and special events, all within a single login.

There is a warmth to Gi Gi's Elite Spa; it serves as a place to reconnect mind, body and spirit. Clients come to relax, meditate, find peace and receive nothing shy of pure pampering. There is a focus on tailoring each client’s treatments to meet their specific needs, to revitalize their mind using the best natural products from GiGi’s own Creations product line.

Owner Gloria Gholston has her own product line made exclusively for her day spa clients. Gloria knows her customers. “Today customers are on a quest to have healthier and softer skin, so I created products equipped with the finest natural ingredients like Emu Oil, Aloe Butter, Olive Oil, Grape Seed, Shea Butter and Vitamin E. It nourishes the skin and the chamomile, sandalwood and lavender scents provide aromatherapy for the soul,” says Gloria.

Because the spa website is now fully integrated, it has streamlined the entire marketing process, which means Gloria can put even more focus and attention on clients, developing her product line and running her business.

Gloria’s serene day spa offers a cozy, comfortable and holistic environment with three elegant treatment rooms, one meditation area and a party room for special occasions. Her staff of trained estheticians and therapists prides themselves on providing the ultimate spa experience for each client. The spa offers a wide range of services including facials, massage therapy, body treatments, waxing, manicures and pedicures and a variety of special packages.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Spa Technology, SpaBoom Online Booking • Comment »

SpaBoom received great feedback from our last webinar, How To Compete with Massage Envy, some participants wanted examples of how they can use online marketing tools to gain a local competitive edge over large spa concepts like Massage Envy. I just happen to have a personal example.

Joie De Vivre is a company that operates 33 boutique hotels in California. In a recent TechCrunch article they outline how they have used social media very successfully to compete with larger hotels.

Every Tuesday, Joie De Vivre’s Twitter account will Tweet an exclusive deal to its nearly 10,000 followers. Followers have only hours to book the steeply discounted room rate. For example, this past Tuesday, it offered $79 rooms at the group’s Galleria Park Hotel in San Francisco in November and December. The company also operates similar deals for its 5,000-plus Facebook fans on Fridays. –Lena Rao

I am just back from holiday; I stayed at Shorebreak Hotel, a Joie De Vivre hotel in Huntington Beach, California. I checked their Facebook and Twitter accounts every day leading up to my trip. I found relevant information about what was happening in town and at Shorebreak Hotel and obsessively checked for the deals to post on Tuesday and Friday. My family had a fantastic stay and I let the hotel know via Facebook when I returned. The entire family loves Joie de Vivre, we will stay at one of their hotels in California next summer.

This is exactly why SpaBoom has created a powerful, integrated online marketing platform for spas that allows them to enter an event on their website and have it automatically post to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. It works, it encourages your clients to LIKE your spa via social media and take the step to get your posts regularly.

With SpaBoom's online marketing suite, a spa menu is updated, website content is added, special events are activated, email campaigns are created, Facebook and Twitter messages are generated all from a single login. It can handle a spas important online marketing functions simply, saving considerable time and effort for their business.

Just as clients leave your spa, after experiencing a fantastic set of treatments, let them know you offer deals every week on Facebook and Twitter. I guarantee it is the fastest and best way to build your community of avid followers. I am still dreaming of the sun, surf and fun I had at Shorebreak Hotel, I'll check out their weekly deals and consider a tempting opportunity for a quick dash to California and catch the wave.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, Spa Website Design • Comment »

Estrellas Moroccan Spa is a luxury day spa in the heart of historic downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. The beautiful high desert landscape goes hand in hand with this elegant spa, a true oasis of luxury and harmony. The spa has mastered the art of detail; every element is considered, setting a high standard for each individual spa experience from start to finish. Estrellas Moroccan Spa’s fabulous atmosphere is exotic and peaceful, setting the tone for magical spa treatments.

Estrellas Moroccan Spa challenged SpaBoom with building a website that would help their business generate more traffic and deliver more sales. The spa’s old website was difficult to find online, a challenge to navigate and was not generating the traffic the spa intuitively knew they should be getting.

The new Estrellas Moroccan Spa website establishes a heightened presence and it’s online marketing capability will continue to generate more traffic and revenue over time. The spa’s new website includes easy management of their website content and graphics, online booking, email marketing, social media, SEO, online menus, branded Instant Gift Certificates, and special events, all within a single login.

SpaBoom’s events feature allows Estrellas to consistently add new, rich web content that can instantly post to Facebook and Twitter. Each new event the spa regularly adds to the homepage is relevant information for visitors, optimized for search to enhance their search rank and increases the spa’s visibility and sales online. SpaBoom’s booking with confirmations has increased the spa’s appointments and the increased traffic has substantially increased instant gift certificate sales since going live in March.

Because this website is now integrated, it has streamlined the spas entire marketing process, which means they can put even more energy and focus on creating a unique spa experience for their clients. Their passion for the healing work of massage and their tailored approach make them a special destination spa.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Spa Technology, Spa Website Design, SpaBoom Online Booking • Comment »

Artesia Day Spa and Salon, a luxurious and relaxing retreat in the heart of San Diego’s historic Gas Lamp District, offers clients the perfect setting to unwind and relax in a beautiful spa environment. “The long-term connection we have with our clients and community are critical to Artesia's success. Our goal is to provide clients with the highest quality service and we accomplish that by having a staff that strives to be their best each day. We want clients to have a great spa experience and keep coming back,” says spa director Brittany Brown.

What is amazing about Artesia Day Spa and Salon is the deep loyalty clients feel for the salon, spa and the staff. Reviews consistently focus on their exceptional service, beautiful location, the quality of the cut and style, and the fact that their devoted clients look forward to their appointment as an opportunity to unwind and enjoy their salon and spa experiences.

Artesia Day Spa and Salon has launched their new website using SpaBooms integrated online marketing platform, it is packed with online marketing capability that generates revenue instantly. The salon and spa’s new website includes easy management of their website content and graphics, online booking, email marketing, social media, SEO, online menus, branded Instant Gift Certificates, and special events, all within a single login.

Because this website is now integrated, it has streamlined their entire marketing process, which means they can put more focus and attention on their clients and running the spa and salon. The new website also empowers online visitors with valuable, relevant information about the spa and previews the exceptional experience Artesia Day Spa and Salon offers to clients. Artesia Day Spa and Salon has an extensive menu of services including hair styling, color, airbrush tanning, massage therapies, facials, body treatments, pedicures and manicures.

Artesia supports many local community events and uses Spaboom’s automatic social media integration to encourage their clients to participate via Facebook and Twitter. “It is their consistent commitment to the local community that make these events a win-win for all, downtown San Diego and their growing set of loyal clients,” says Kelly Stone, Strategic Implementation Specialist at SpaBoom. The new website takes the Artesia Day Spa and Salon to a new level and extends their relationship with customers online.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, Spa Website Design • Comment »

When Bob Maconi approached SpaBoom to build and launch a new website we were all a little excited. Bob is a creative force at HARMS Software and also happens to own the cutting edge and well established Elysium Salon and Spa in New Jersey. We respect Bob’s innate business sense and appreciate that he has always been a loyal champion of SpaBoom.

Elysium’s previous website was beautiful and Flash intensive which made it difficult to update and a challenge from an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) perspective. With Elysium’s salon and spa businesses growing they needed an online marketing suite that could handle their significant and real-time needs and live up to their sophisticated brand presence.

Elysium’s new, integrated website streamlines online traffic generation, shares their brand message locally, nationally and virally, sells instantly and online, builds repeat clientele, and captures more bookings via Harms Software integration.

SpaBoom built Elysium’s online marketing suite to include easy management of the salon and spa’s website content and graphics, email marketing, social media, SEO, online spa menus, branded Instant Gift Certificates, and special events, all within a single login.

With one entry Elysium’s spa menu is updated, website content is added, special events are activated, email campaigns are created, Facebook and Twitter messages are generated. It can handle all of Elysium’s important online marketing functions simply, saving considerable time and effort for their business.

Now Elysium Salon and Spa is using their new website’s integrated capability to leverage their traditional marketing efforts to drive revenue, connect with clients and facilitate Instant Gift Certificate sales 24/7.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Spa Technology • Comment »

Oceans Massage and Spa is a family owned business with two spa locations in Lubbock, Texas. They have launched their new website packed with SpaBoom’s fully integrated online marketing capability including easy management of their website content and graphics, email marketing, Social Media, SEO, online menus, Online Booking, branded Instant Gift Certificates, and special events, all within a single login.

Oceans Massage and Spa offers their clientele a tranquil atmosphere, exceptional service and the highest quality of spa amenities. “We believe massage therapy is an integral part of health care and wellness. Our goal is to provide clients the highest quality service, by offering them some of the best trained therapists with a variety of specializations.” says Oceans owner Bev Byers. Additionally, Oceans Massage and spa has an extensive menu of services including massage therapies, facials, body treatments, pedicures and manicures.

In addition to the Oceans Massage and Spa business the Byer’s family also run the highly regarded Oceans Massage Therapy School and Oceans Travel. “They really needed a series of websites (3) that could connect and grow together and we were happy to accommodate their request. They are a tremendous family with a passionate focus on massage therapy and spa.” says Kelly Stone, a SpaBoom Implementation Specialist. The family visits New Mexico often, so it was also a treat to occasionally have them in the SpaBoom office to discuss their online business plans.

The new website takes the Oceans Massage and Spa, Oceans Massage Therapy School and Oceans Travel website to a new level and extends their relationship with customers online. Clients can follow Oceans Massage on Facebook and Twitter where the staff will share valuable spa information, post upcoming events and limited-time promotions. Because these websites are now fully integrated, it has streamlined their entire marketing process, which means they can put even more focus and attention on their clients and running their businesses.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Spa Technology, Spa Website Design, SpaBoom Online Booking • 1 Comment »

It's not uncommon for us to be talking with a spa director about social media marketing and get the response that Facebook is just full of kids. Why spend the time creating a presence on Facebook, if it's going to be another 5 or 10 years before they'll realistically be your clients?

Well, the demographic data for our Joy of Spa Facebook fans tells a very different story: they're 79% female and 80% between the ages of 25 and 54, an excellent demographic for spa marketing. Only 8% are "kids", none of them younger than 18.

Your clients are on Facebook, and you need to be, too.

If your spa has a good following on Facebook, take a look at your Facebook Insights and share what your demographics look like.

Posted in Social Media, Spa Marketing • Comment »

UPDATE: We now have the video available — sorry for the delay, and enjoy the show!

We enjoyed putting on the Social Media Webinar for everyone last week.

If you missed out on our great tips and insider scoop on how Facebook and Twitter can bolster your already fantastic brand, you can still tap into our knowledge — view the video and download the presentation notes in PDF format and then contact us if you have any questions.

Download and follow along with our presentation [PDF]

Posted in Social Media, SpaBoom Webinars • 2 Comments »

Since we've rolled out the ability to post to Facebook from within SpaBoom, both automatically and any other time you'd like, we're thrilled with the feedback.

So, we're making it even better — now you can post a photo with your entries.  Feature your newly decorated massage room, your gorgeous flower arrangements, even your smiling staff — every little bit of personalization will bring the spa experience closer to your clients, both the regulars and the future devotees.

It's simple to use — there is a new checkbox available when you create a Social Media post.

All it says is "Include Photo" and is the same functionality as attaching photos to blog posts, events and email campaigns.

Simply enable it and then select a photo from your gallery.  If you have new photos to upload, add those first before you create your post, and they'll be ready for you in the gallery selection.

Once your Facebook post is published, you'll see the photo included:

Simple and lovely while building  your brand — that's what we like to do.

Posted in Social Media, SpaBoom New Features, Tutorials • 1 Comment »

We all think differently. One person can gain great insight through visual experiences while another thrives using a systematic process. With that in mind, I have included a video How to Create a Facebook Business Page from Hubspot. In 7 minutes Lily Zhu of Hubspot demonstrates the ends and outs of setting up your own business page.

I have created this written overview, 6 Steps to Set Up a Facebook Business Page. The process should not take too long but make sure you set aside a chunk of time so you don’t feel pressured to finish quickly.

Step 1: Make sure you have a personal profile in Facebook before you create a business page.

A personal Facebook account is called a “profile” and and business identity is called a “page.” Even if you don't plan on using your personal Facebook account now, in most cases you should set up a profile before you set up your business page.

Go to Facebook and fill out the form to set up your personal profile.

• The personal profile setup requires that you include your name, email address and date of birth.
• If you are worried about entering your personal email you can set up a separate Gmail account specifically for your social media.
• Facebook will require that you confirm your email. You will need to log into your email, retrieve the verification email from Facebook and click on the link in order to proceed and fill out the entire profile.

Now that you have a personal profile on Facebook you can proceed and set up a business page for your spa.

Step 2: Register your spa business page on Facebook.

• Choose your business category, local or brand (product).
• Most spas should choose local business. The difference between local and brand will be apparent later when you fill out the spa information in the page layout.
• The name of your business should be the exact name of your spa; the name people use to search for it online. Stay away from abbreviations and nicknames.
• Category and Name can’t be changed once they are completed. If you need to edit this information you must delete it and start over.

Step 3: Upload your logo and fill out the page tabs.

• Once you have registered your spa in Facebook you will be encouraged to upload your profile picture. This will most likely be your spa logo and it will appear in the upper left corner of your business page.

Step 4: Fill out the page tabs: Wall, Info, Photos, Discussion and Video.

• Click on the Info tab and fill out information about your spa. Don’t forget to hit save before you move on to the next tab.
• You can upload photos in the photo tab but keep it professional. Showing consumers professional pictures of your spa could give them the incentive to take action and book an appointment.
• The discussion tab allows you to have discussions and communicate with your fans.
• Add video if you have created a webinar or have spoken professionally on behalf of your spa.

Step 5: Publish your Page so others can see it!

Step 6: Next time you log into Facebook…

• Log into your personal account.
• In the search bar, upper right side of your personal page, type the name of your business and select your spa. It will take you directly to your business page.
• If you created your personal profile, become the first fan of your new business page!

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology • Comment »

Facebook is the new Google. Use social media to draw clients to your spa — join us to learn how easy it is!

June 23rd, 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm EDT

Click here to register for the free webinar.

Social Media Revealed is the latest webinar in our online marketing for spas, salons and massage therapists series. Gather tips and tricks to strengthen your social media strategy while you learn the key role social media should play in any modern marketing mix, and how driving revenue should be an expectation, not a pleasant surprise.

This webinar is FREE so be sure to join in and learn.

Title: Social Media Revealed
Date: Wednesday, June 23rd
Time: 1:00 pm -– 2:00 pm EDT

Don't miss this webinar! Space is Limited. Reserve your seat now!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Marketing, SpaBoom Webinars • 1 Comment »

Spas understand how important customer service is to their business, a priority for every employee. It can differentiate your spa from the competition and gives customers a reason to choose your spa over a large spa concept.

Leverage your social media, like Facebook and Twitter, and extend customer service by using it for customer inquiry and a means to respond to client service issues. It will give your spa that extra service edge that larger companies just can’t deliver.

Think about how clients and potential customers currently contact your spa, they use SpaBoom online booking, email or call to speak to someone in person. Facebook and Twitter are an additional contact source but it is also a place to build a dialog and develop a community of avid online spa clients.

Empower your employees to respond to inquiries via social media the same way they would using email. It simply requires that you set attainable expectations and that employees overseeing customer contact monitor social media activity throughout the day.

Great customer service starts with listening to and responding to the needs of your clients consistently. Every opportunity to engage with clients and solve their problems is an investment in your spa and its brand. Using social media to build relationships with your customers is a logical extension of quality service.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing • 2 Comments »

Unless you have a process for managing leads and aligning them with your advertising, relationship marketing and customer service efforts you are most certainly letting some get away. It has never been more important to address every lead available to increase your customer base and reach revenue goals.

Often, relationships with customers start online, long before they enter your spa. Giving online visitors control, speed and multiple routes of communication with your spa will result in more leads and opportunities to make them clients.

Create a structure, template, for handling leads with a goal to make them long-term clients. Capture as much SpaBoom Instant Gift Certificate and online booking statistics about your customers from the beginning. Your contact list is gold, critical to the success of your spa.

SpaBoom’s free online booking allows clients to book when it is convenient for them, 24/7. It records important client information and presents an opportunity for your spa to follow up with them regarding their appointment. Online booking can be an important lead generator for your spa but you must set up employee training and protocol to maximize results.

Instant Gift Certificates are an important solution for gift givers who may never enter your spa, ever. That said, they are extremely important and should be engaged and nurtured as valuable customers.

Make sure you are managing the gift-givers online experience with your spa. Consistently create holiday specials, like BOGO, and promotions that might lead to additional gift purchases. These customers will benefit from email communications, last minute gift ideas and will respond to package offers.

Customers are increasingly using social media, Facebook and Twitter, as vehicles for technical support, search and spa information. These customers use technology to make their lives easier and demand information the way they want it, online.

It is important to use social media to build and manage client interactions. SpaBoom has streamlined the process with automated event posting from your SpaBoom account to both Twitter and Facebook.

Customer interactions with your spa are critical and provide information that can customize their spa experiences, make your spa more responsive and improve your spa’s overall performance.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, SpaBoom Online Booking • 1 Comment »

Nadine is a classic entrepreneur. When I met her at IECSC in New York she was so enthusiastic, she is the driven owner of C.B.N.’s Mobile Day Spa. I only spoke with her briefly, but it took very little time to see that she was insightful, decisive and really good at running her spa business.

Nadine takes advantage of every possible SpaBoom marketing tool to make her business more successful. As a result, her business is thriving. She is always willing to try, to see how a tool will improve her business processes and help increase her revenue. She is just not wired to sit back, so there is no hesitation, she brims with confidence about her spa business because she runs it so effectively and intuitively.

Nadine was an early adopter of Facebook and Twitter; she has regularly posted events, specials and inspiring information to benefit her online clients. SpaBoom’s new automated Twitter and Facebook tool allows Nadine to automatically post events quickly and efficiently, it is a huge timesaver because it streamlines the whole social media process for the spa.

C.B.N.’s Mobile Day Spa is a Joy of Spa Member, she is listed in the directory and her Mother’s Day specials are easily accessible because she knows how it can help her business. She has added the Joy of Spa badge to her website so each time a client clicks on it to purchase an Instant Gift Certificate she benefits, even if it is not to her spa!

Nadine inspires immediate trust, an obvious cornerstone for running a successful business but rare to be so apparent in a young entrepreneur. She experiences true satisfaction from being part of her spa clients' lives. To her, it is an opportunity to share in her clients' happiest moments and she derives immense satisfaction from it.

Nadine’s success has evolved from a lifetime of hard work and dedication to a dream, to own her own business. Starting in her early 20s, has owned a series of small businesses, each evolving into something bigger and ultimately it led to opening C.B.N’s Mobile Day Spa.

Nadine’s Business Strategies:

• Use every possible tool to your business’s advantage.
• Always be on the lookout for new opportunities for your spa business. Once you see an opportunity, seize it and let it grow.
• Nadine’s businesses grew by word of mouth. Be willing to get out there and promote your business, one client at a time.
• Use all your resources. SpaBoom Instant Gift Certificates have been a major part of Nadine’s business; it is useful because clients can send a gift when it is convenient for them.
• SpaBoom online booking offers a personal touch, it gives clients the control they want to book online. It is easy and fast for them and streamlines the booking process.

Nadine’s advice: Be creative; do not rest on your laurels. Once your day spa is self-sustaining you must keep going, improving and not become stale. Always be willing to take your business to the next level. Try something new or add something to the business that will differentiate your spa from the competition.

Posted in Blogroll, Creating Customers, General, Joy of Spa, Joy of Spa Gift Certificates, Social Media, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, SpaBoom Online Booking • Comment »

It seems that because I listen to Pandora and have taken the time to refine my personal music play list, by meticulously giving preferred songs a thumb's up, I must now retrieve my musical 'soul' from Facebook. I feel violated, outed and mostly angry.

Instead of appreciating the fact that Pandora can now tell me which Facebook friends like the same song, I find it starkly intrusive and creepy. In addition, new ads on Pandora, designed just for me, feel more like a stalking; it was startling to read, "Febreze sees that you like the song too."

Facebook partners can now use the like button on their websites. I have quietly been using the Pandora "Like" button for years, but now it uses that information to highlight the friends who share my musical taste. Facebook will use this to make ONE BILLION "Likes" available each day to advertisers.

Facebook will store my music preferences along with all my connections between friends in a big, huge data mining storage space. You can all see where this is going, right? Businesses can mine that personal data and use it to mold a creepy but personal online experience for me, and 88 confirmed Facebook friends.

As a confirmed introvert, and amateur conspiracy theorist, I do not want to have my preferences plastered all over, with other friends caught in my web wanderings; I prefer to keep them compartmentalized, and pocketed.

I like to control my humiliations and online exposure; so now when Facebook asks, "What is on your mind?" I will just have to say upfront that "I am doing laundry, spraying Febreze while singing and dancing to Lady Gaga's Telephone."

To disable Facebook's "Instant Personalization" or "Likes", follow these step-by-step instructions.

When will it stop and how much personal online information should be shared, mined and twisted into a balloon shaped advertisement that is designed to precisely meet my likes? Tell me, does this bother you?

Posted in General, Social Media • 3 Comments »