Launching and managing a spa business can be overwhelming. And when budgets are small, marketing efforts can be the first expense kicked to the curb. Fortunately, spa businesses today have access to more cost-effective, trackable marketing resources than ever before. Here are a few easy and cost-effective ways to market your spa business without spending large amounts of money.
First, create a foolproof plan.
No matter the size of your spa, every solid and cost-effective marketing strategy starts with a plan. Invest in at least three-to-four hours to determine brand standards and the right channels to market your business. It can be via social media, e-newsletters, and more. Once a plan is developed and ready for execution, remember to always keep brand standards consistent throughout all marketing outlets.
Create a Yelp listing.
Yelp is a great tool for local marketing and a must-have for local events. The first step is creating or claiming your Yelp Business Page. Once your page is created or claimed, update the contact information listed for your business, view and respond to customer reviews, post content like photos and special offers, and view your visitor activity.
Leverage social media.
Social media is a useful tool for spa and wellness pros if it’s used effectively. Make sure to incorporate plenty of visuals and update trends frequently. Also, remember your target audience. In today’s technological world, 95 percent of adults aged 18-34 are likely to follow a brand on social media, so make sure messaging aligns with this demographic.
If there’s room in your budget, invest in social media automation tools to help save time while working on digital marketing strategy and social media ads to target preferred target audiences. Make sure you’re testing various types of posts – such as product giveaways or discounts – that are guaranteed to spur engagement and garner new followers.
Incorporate email marketing.
Email marketing is the proven digital marketing channel with an average return of $38 for every $1 spent, but make sure you sure implementing email correctly by incorporating the following tips:
- Don’t overload inboxes: Seventy-eight percent of consumers unsubscribe from emails because brands were sending too many emails.
- Make sure emails are mobile-optimized: Thirty percent of subscribers will opt-out if emails are not optimized for mobile, and more than 80 percent of those emails will be deleted.
- Segment email lists: Email list segmentation and personalized emailing are the most effective email strategies and can increase open rates by more than 14 percent and click rates by more than 100 percent.
Develop a client loyalty program.
Many spas or wellness centers offer customer loyalty programs that reward repeat customers. For instance, if they purchase five services, they can have the sixth one for free. Depending on the model of your spa, you also might want to set up a subscriber program. For instance, customers would pay a monthly fee to have access to a specific number of massage service offerings at a discounted rate. This will help retain loyal customers and keep a steady flow of revenue.
Satisfy the client.
Keeping your clients satisfied with your service is non-negotiable. Happy customers remain committed to you while unhappy customers have no problem with leaving you for one of your competitors. Make sure customers have a relaxing experience so they not only come visit again, but ideally, spread the word through referrals or social media.
If this all seems overwhelming, technology can help.
In today’s age of innovation, technology can help automate personalized and targeted digital marketing operations to keep costs down while maximizing profits. So, try leveraging new software that can help systematize and simplify marketing campaigns in ways that attract and retain clients while building brand awareness.
About the Author: Chad Hankinson 
Chad Hankinson is the founder of Stylie, the ultimate tool for independent beauty professionals. With more than two decades in the beauty industry, Chad leveraged his extensive experience with innovation at Australian Gold to become a vice president at its parent company, New Sunshine. In the role, he led the creation for the world’s most popular tanning salon software. Now, Chad fulfills his long-time passion for independent businesses by arming beauty professionals with cutting-edge software as well as educating them on how to run their businesses smoothly. Learn more at gostylie.com.
RELATED STORIES
Seven Tips for Reinvention from Author Paul Krasnow