Spa Technology

Janell showed her fantastic skills as a presenter yet again on the 18th, bringing you up to speed on trends in the market for 2012 that will help boost your bottom line, create new customers, and generally get everyone on YOUR bandwagon.  How can you not love that?

If you couldn't make the webinar, we're sorry to have missed you! But, you can download the presentation and watch the video streaming at your convenience right here. Just block out some time for our next webinar – we always have great Q & A sessions at the end, and a limited-time special that you'll want to know about.

Watch the Video: 3 Trends in 2012 You Can't Afford to Miss

Download and follow along with our presentation [PDF]

Posted in Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, SpaBoom Dynamic Websites, SpaBoom New Features, SpaBoom Webinars • 1 Comment »

Everything you need to know in 2 ½ minutes

SpaBoom's Client Services group enjoys nothing more than walking our clients through various features so they can get the absolute most out of SpaBoom. A great call is one that ends in a client saying, "Thanks! I've got it! I'm all set and ready to promote that new service. Appreciate your help!"

We also work hard on our Help files, so you can find what you need there, too. We want you to have not only access to tools that help you effectively market your business online, but also guidance to use those tools to their fullest.

Now we're creating Video Tutorials for those of us who like being walked through a feature, regardless of whether we're at our desk at work or at home late at night in our 'jammies preparing for the next day!

Our first video, Sweepstakes on Facebook for Spas, takes you through the super straightforward steps in setting up a Sweepstakes for your spa, salon or massage therapy practice in just 2 ½ minutes.

We've also added a complete description of Spa Sweepstakes for Facebook on the SpaBoom website, complete with this video, for your reference.

Give the video a watch, and tell us what you think! We're producing more as we speak, and will let you know as they're ready for prime time.

Posted in Social Media, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, SpaBoom New Features • 7 Comments »

We've added a series of Events, beginning with Graduation and spanning through Summer; plus five email marketing campaigns, so please take a peek and tailor them to your exact preferences. If you use Events and don't make changes, the Events will automatically appear on your website for the range of dates listed.

As a reminder, the email campaigns are now segmented by spa and salon type to include: Day Spa, Salon and Spa, Massage Therapist, Medical Spa and Aesthetician. It means the emails are now tailored for your business with more exacting language, allowing you to utilize default emails that are specific to your target client type. In addition, we have created both relational and transactional emails for you to send to your client list.

Please go and review – and test – the new event campaigns, making sure they look great and have your own look and feel. You can still tailor the message to fit your specific needs. If you have a special promotion that you would like to add, now is the time to do it!

Events and Email Campaigns:

• Graduates Prefer Spa (transactional email) 5/15/11
• Celebrate Graduation with an Instant Spa Gift Event: 5/15/11 – 5/30/11
• Wedding Stress Demands a Spa Intervention (relational email) 5/31/11
• Wedding Stress Demands a Spa Intervention Event: 5/31/11 – 6/11/11
• Give Dad Spa Instantly (transactional email) 6/12/11
• Give Dad Spa Instantly Event: 6/12/11 – 6/19/11
• Give the Couple an Instant Gift of Spa (transactional email) 6/20/11
• Wedding Bliss Starts with Spa Event: 6/20/11 – 7/10/11
• Enhance Your Healthy Summer Glow with Spa (Relational email) 7/11/11
• Maintain Your Healthy Summer Glow Event: 7/11/11 – 8/01/11

Posted in Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology • Comment »

Thanks to all who attended our really cool and experimental Roundtable Virtual Marketing Discussion webinar on Wednesday the 2nd by the vivacious Janell Loving and Seth Gardenswartz.

Tons of our clients took advantage of the unique opportunity to ask your burning questions to SpaBoom's online marketing experts. There was a fantastic virtual marketing discussion complete with a full 30 minutes of post-webinar Q&A – if you missed it, just enjoy the video and slideshow below!

Watch the Video: Roundtable Virtual Marketing

Download and follow along with our presentation [PDF]

Posted in Social Media, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, SpaBoom Webinars • Comment »

Thanks to all who attended our 3 Number Challenge webinar on Wednesday the 5th by the ever-engaging Janell Loving and charming Seth Gardenswartz. Get 2011 started off right with strategies to achieve your best sales growth to date.

Watch them both reveal the secrets to building a valuable list, increasing your fans and followers all while driving traffic to your website and spa. We will give you actionable tools to get the conversation started and increase revenue using the strategies behind these important numbers.

3 Number Challenge 2011: Watch the Video

Download and follow along with our presentation [PDF]

Posted in Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, Spa Website Design, SpaBoom Webinars • 1 Comment »

This holiday represents a huge online opportunity for businesses. SpaBoomers are already way ahead of the game in terms of reaching out and taking advantage of the last-minute, long-distance gift certificate business, but there's always more you can do to really optimize your holiday sales.

Inc.com is all about helping small businesses thrive, and this article, featuring our very own Seth Gardenswartz and several of our awesome clients spells out how to compete and make the most of the holidays and beyond!

Read MORE.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology • Comment »

Thanks to all who attended our tantalizing webinar this Wednesday by Seth Gardenswartz and Janell Loving.

Relive the magic as we show you how to strategize and plan to Roll Your Own Groupon and discuss the four steps to intelligent discounting. Learn how to increase profits, bring in new business and maintain your local brand value.

Roll Your Own Groupon Webinar: Watch the Video

Download and follow along with our presentation [PDF]

Posted in Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, SpaBoom Webinars • 8 Comments »

Strategies has launched a new digital magazine, Salon and Spa Business Strategies, a free bi-monthly e-magazine featuring business articles tailored to salon and spa specific beauty industry entrepreneurs.

Strategies is the foremost provider of business education and coaching for the salon and spa industry. Strategies has worked with countless salons and spas to improve profitability, productivity, staff retention and customer loyalty.

The digital magazine continues Salon Business Strategies (Strategies), which was published in a hard-copy format from 1994-2007.

The September/October issue of Salon and Spa Business Strategies is available now featuring:

• Build revenue with Instant Gift Certificates online.
• Tips for using Facebook to build your business.
• Why Zappos.com CEO, Tony Hsieh, believes in happiness in the workplace.
• How salon and spa owner, Louise MacClain, uses Strategies systems to stay in the black.
• Why your business location affects your cash-flow planning.

Don't have time to read the whole issue online? Print it out and take it on the go! It is easy to download to your computer so you can read it at your convenience.

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Spa Business Management, Spa Gift Certificates, Spa Product Sales, Spa Technology, Strategies • 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 • 1 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 Dynamic Websites, 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, SpaBoom Dynamic Websites • Comment »

Today's economy is tough for local, independent spas and salons.

Join us for a webinar on July 28th as Janell demonstrates how to leverage your online presence to develop the edge necessary to enhance client loyalty, drive more revenue and continue to generate growth for your spa or salon.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar Seat NOW!

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

Title: How to compete with Massage Envy — Free Webinar
Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Time: 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm EDT

Posted in Creating Customers, General, Spa Business Management, Spa Marketing, Spa Technology, SpaBoom Webinars • 7 Comments »

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 »

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 »

The iPad 3G came out at the end of April, and it's a great way to manage your mobile spa or massage therapy practice from anywhere. SpaBoom works great in Safari on the iPad and iPhone, but you need to know a couple of tricks to take full advantage:

• Apple, in their infinite wisdom, has decided that scroll bars often shouldn't show, which is where the two-finger scroll comes in. Just about everything produces a list in SpaBoom, and it just goes off the right-hand edge on an iPad/iPhone, seemingly lost. Use two fingers, horizontally, to tap and drag within the list, and the rest of your data magically appears. You've just done a two-finger horizontal scroll!
• Opening in a new page: On your computer, you can right-click on a link and open it in a new tab or browser window. You can do it on an iPad/iPhone, too: tap and hold a link to open it in a new page.

Posted in Spa Business Management, Spa Technology • Comment »