North Carolina Day Spa Uses Social Marketing and Online Gift Certificates to Increase Business

With only two weeks left in 2008, Felicia Brown, owner of Inspire Skin & Body Day Spa is committed to finding new and "inspiring" ways to market her business. For example, Inspire has partnered with SpaBoom, an online gift certificate provider and added online gift certificate sales to their web site for client's convenience and increased holiday sales.

In the last several weeks, Inspire has increased their web presence tremendously by adding a blog to their web site. Be Inspired provides readers with free tips, links, videos, and other resources on health, wellness, skin care, makeup, beauty and of course some "inspiring thoughts" from Brown and her staff. The blog also includes some inexpensive "at-home" spa treatment recipes that were recently featured with Brown on WGHP FOX 8 Morning News.

Brown is vigilant in creating a powerful online presence for her company and has joined a variety of online communities such as Facebook and MySpace to generate awareness and enthusiasm about her company. On these sites as well as a number of others, Brown provides information on company events, sales and specials, new products and even free advice for other business owners, including other spa owners.

"I have always believed in helping others and in embodying the spirit of what I call 'cooperative competition.' I genuinely feel there is plenty of business to go around for everyone, even in challenging times like these, and that we will all be more likely to succeed if we help each other." said Brown. In addition, Brown actively mentors and trains other spa professionals through her consulting company, Spalutions.

In 2009, Inspire plans to add online appointment requests and expand their online store by adding more of their skin and body care products. Clients will also be able to make purchases through Inspire's MySpace and Facebook pages. Brown also plans to add VIP appointment incentives and specials to insure their clients can afford to continue "being Inspired" through massage and other services the spa offers.