Tag: small business marketing

So you have opened your Spa doors and you now sit in your beautiful Spa eagerly awaiting customers to come flying through the doors and make you lots of money. For some Spas in very visible, high-traffic locations such as hotels, this does happen. More often than not though, the process takes a bit longer and requires marketing. Even if your Spa does start with a bang, it’s always wise to have a marketing plan in place and to keep up your marketing initiatives. You never know when the next economic dip could arrive unexpectedly or perhaps the competition moves in next door!  Here are seven inexpensive marketing tips for assisting you in making your business a success.

1. Own a website

You must have a website in this day and age and this needn’t cost you a fortune. Don’t be shy to shop around for website quotes. Ask to see previous work and find a web designer who is both a good designer and who has search engine optimisation (SEO) knowledge.  It’s no use just having a pretty picture online that no-one can ever find, so be sure to quiz your potential designer on their SEO knowledge and design your site with content in mind rather than beauty. Of course, your site has to look visually great, but it should also be optimised for the web in terms of content and keywords. For example, when someone types in “Spa” or “Dayspa” into Google, you want your website to pop up on the homepage.

I would also recommend writing the content for your website yourself initially. This will help you to clarify what you want in terms of your navigation and other elements on your site. For example, a booking request form that gets e-mailed to you and a “subscribe to newsletter” box.

2. Market your website through online marketing tools

The next step is to marketing your website online. This is really important as most people go online as their first port of call when researching new information. Rather be found on the web than not! Here are a few inexpensive things you can do to market your business online (You may need an expert in web design to assist you):-

–Submit your website to search engine directories to start getting organically ranked by Google. If your website has been search engine optimised with the right content and keywords, you should start to get ranked quite highly on Google within six months.

–Register with online directories and booking services – they do their own marketing on your behalf and send you clients. Many of these are commission based businesses, so it won’t cost you anything.

–Social Networking – start a Twitter and a Face book profile and update regularly. (go online and research how to do this)

–Google Adwords. If you have a marketing budget, set some money aside for Google Adwords. Again, go online and research this cost per click marketing option.

3. Build your own database as fast as possible

So many spas I have consulted to in the past do not keep a record of their own clients. This is a marketing crime. The quickest and best way to start increasing your revenue is to market to your own customers first. These people are already frequenting your establishment so it should be an easy sell to get them back again.  (Provided they had a positive experience the first time).

So, build your database. Capture their e-mail and cell phone details and then send them regular updates – for instance on your Specials. Which brings us to the next point…

4. Create a Specials/Promotions Calendar to market to your database.

There are twelve months in a year, make sure you have twelve specials lined up, especially for “Special Events” such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day etc. Do not forget these important dates where people are looking to do something extra special with someone they love. And don’t just do whatever everyone else is doing, be creative! Think of your own specials that will set you apart from others. You needn’t always think “Discounts”. You can also think “Added Value”. For instance, purchase a full day spa package and receive a French manicure set for free!

5. E- Mail & SMS your database

Now that you have your database and you have your specials lined up, how do you get the information to your clients? Through e-mail and sms marketing tools. E-Mail and/or sms your own database every week or at least every month with your weekly or monthly specials. Don’t spam them every day as this will become irritating, but once a week is acceptable and once a month is a must.  

There are quite a few mailing and sms’ing tools out there that offer great rates and also have stunning newsletter templates to choose from. I use Graphicmail which is very user friendly and has great support and offers a 3 month trial, so give it a bash. Alternatively, do research on the internet and choose one that best fits your needs.

6. Gift Vouchers

Gift Vouchers are another great way of marketing your Spa so make sure you offer them. Print out Spa Gift Vouchers and keep them in a very visible location, for instance, at reception where people pay. This will remind them to buy their friends or family gifts where they otherwise may not have thought of it.

Selling Gift Vouchers is a great way to “soft market” your business to new customers while at the same time generating revenue. You should also consider selling Gift Vouchers online from your website. Your web designer will be able to assist you with this.

7. Public Relations (PR)

Paying for magazine or newspaper advertisements is extremely expensive and needs a great deal of repetition in order to be effective, so a great way of getting into magazines for free is through Public Relations (PR). Invite Beauty Editors of the top 10 female focused magazines to visit your establishment for a spa treatment and to write a review.  This review will effectively endorse your spa, which is worth more than just a general ad!

Make sure your best therapist does their treatment and make sure that their overall experience is five star. Do this regularly with Beauty Editors. Do it whenever you wish to get magazine coverage for free. It works.  Bear in mind that magazines have a 2-3 month lead time so your article will only appear 3 months later.

I hope you have found this article useful. Good luck with your business!

Source by Trish

You’ve seen them on the street or chuckled over a clever placement, but have you taken time to consider the effect that constant brand recognition plays upon you? To be sure, it would require a great deal of objectivity to fully track the subtle influence that promotional products have upon us, but the aggregate effect of this casual, cost-effective advertising is phenomenal.
The use of custom t-shirts as business gifts, promotional items or even as employee gifts is a widespread practice, and for good reason. With minimal cost, these t-shirts are spreading brand recognition and solidifying your company’s presence in consumers’ minds. That these imprinted t-shirts are used as promotional gifts performs a double purpose – not only are you increasing your visual exposure, you’re endearing your brand to the individual consumer who receives the promotional t-shirt. Coupled with the low cost of mass producing printed t-shirts in a modern environment, and there’s virtually no downside to this sort of grassroots viral marketing.
Corporations have a tendency to overlook simple solutions of this sort, but the numbers don’t lie – whether the message is being communicated through pricey television ads or through inexpensive tools like promotional products, an increase in consumer awareness always pays off. In addition, though the more expensive and conventional forms of advertisement reaches a broader audience, it’s amazing the amount of exposure your business can receive from one promotional t-shirt. Through everyday interactions with neighbors, friends and co-workers, any individual wearing your custom t-shirt is growing your business. In fact, any corporation realizes larger return on investment with these t-shirts; as production costs shrink, per item, on larger production runs, value grows as you’re able to distribute more “mobile marketing” to your employees and corporate partners.
The main considerations for this type of marketing is simplicity of design. A t-shirt has limited space and time to catch the eye – it needs to be colorful or memorable enough, yet short and concise enough, to make a favorable impression with passersby. A clever marketing team can create a design snappy enough to turn heads and plant the seeds of your professional image in innumerable minds through the use of these promotional items!

Source by Natasa

Everyone would appreciate the time and energy that event organizers put forth in organizing and marketing an event. Sometimes it happens that after hours of careful planning and painstaking efforts they end up with little return for their investment. Critical analysis of an event that did not succeed may shed light on technical faults and short comings. According to experts, planning and execution of event is not the problem. The real problem lies in the event marketing itself.

Money Matters

More money does not always ensure better marketing. Even the best ads that the company create spending a good deal of money do fail. If the level of marketing would be proportional to its budget every time then no big budget events would have failed ever. There are examples of countless successful events that were based on marketing at the grass root level. Posters and slogans were the only means which organizers used cunningly to achieve their goal.

Tricks and Techniques

For all the techniques and technologies we have today the words used to describe an event still make a big difference in drawing audience. Irrespective of media the trick of good promotion lies in making people thinking the way you want them to. The description of event can be lengthy or short the primary focus should be on capturing readers’ attention. The best way to ensure success of any event is best advertising. Regardless of the quality of the product or service a lack of marketing or poor marketing will cause the business event fail.

Strategic Approach

Business events are most powerful when they follow an integrated market strategy that is based on three analyses:

·         Customer’s buying process

·         Periodic sales objectives

·         Target audience

Events are temporary while experiences are cherished for lifetime. So it does not take much time to forget an event unless it excels into an experience. Marketing an event is like selling a product. In business a strategic approach based on the analysis of customer’s buying process and periodic sales can help you meet your customer’s expectations.

The more you understand the requirements and demand of the prospects the more you will be able to hold an event successfully. Business events play a key role in generating sales. Appropriate marketing programs and promotional events can help you meet sales targets in any given period.

The last but not the least is the target audience analysis. Selecting key audience and planning trade shows and events accordingly will make it easier in marketing them.  

Marketing Medium

There was a time when there was no radio, electronics media or Internet to reach out to people all across the globe. Some of the successful business entrepreneurs still succeeded in creating experience for their customers. Today World Wide Web provides you with the most cost effective platform for online advertising. And with that print and electronics media also have grown more powerful with the implementation of cutting edge technology. Hence, today’s event managers have several options that can reach them to millions of people within few seconds.

In order to publicize an event successfully there is no better alternative than prior research and analysis. Spending some time on understanding and assessing what marketing gurus have said will definitely help in creating magic.

Source by Steve

i troop near is abundantly of money yto be made contained by the advitising industry.?
What kind of job would this be call.where can i get one?

Im looking for a salaried internship or a position within the marketing enclosed space
I’m a senior in college and would like to know if anyone have any suggestions on where i can find one of the two?, i checked job flush engines and still haven’t found anything.

Is here a track to settlement next to this?
I am a recruiter and I often have difficulties finding the right candidate for high-profile jobs. Most people who touch the requirements are passive. So, it’s very difficult to find someone who would best suit the profile at mitt. Is there a way to settlement with this?

Wanted Jobs contained by Hotels or edge,30 Years+ experience, pl. suggest some livelihood..?
I`m having 30years+ experience as a Bank-officer and in 5 stars hotels, suggest some appropriate job for me..

$$What U.S. Jobs hold the upmost earn potential(s)?
Im trying to decide on a career footsteps for myself, im on my way to college and to put it simply my ultimate dream is to be incredibly wealthy. I would like to formulate over 200,000 a year minimum. What jobs/careers have the highest earn potentials or the highest average annual salary?

$75 Online Discussion Bulletin?
i qualified for an online discussion that pays $75. All I have to do is send a picture of me and contribute in 2 45 min. discussions for 3 days and then they transport me a check for $75. or $70 i cant remember. its a market research company it says that its extraordinarily reputable and stuff like that. Should I do it?

•what would be the character of the work who have worked contained by marketing division as a squad ringleader.?
respected all I’d like to know what would be the career responsibilities of a person who is selling computer as well as he is a troop leader ? core responsibility of a person. Thankyou

“Apply to Box No 465A” What does it close-fisted? (Job advertisement) ?
What does it mean when in a errand advertisement it says “Apply to Box No 465A”? (for example, I guess every classified ad has a different number). Here’s a real example from advertiser.ie : “PART TIME staff required for busy arcade within Salthill. Apply to Box No 465A.” Thanks.

“Interview” beside vector marketing?
ok so i have a “interview” with vector marketting, and im seeing so tons mixed things, does any one currently work with them, or worked with hem within the past year? (all the stuff im finding is a year or 2 old)

“Marketing” sound out?
As an insurance agent, you have just met near a prospective buyer and discussed a particular health insurance plan. Write a brief, decisive follow-up note

“Network Marketing” entail some warning…?
I have applied to a job beside company “X” reading in their ABOUT US web page, I can see that it is a Network Marketing company that put up for sale foreign products.. Apparently all over the world.. My question is the position applied for is of “Marketing Support Administrator” does that be going to I will be going door to door trying to sell the stuff? or working in the bureau trying to make people want to walk door to door selling the stuff? There was little on the actual job description so I would resembling to go the interview prepared (as I want to work in an office)! Thanks so much for your comfort.

“New” marketing companies contained by Cleveland nouns. Are these existing job?
I am looking to get a marketing job, within the Cleveland area, and I was wondering if anyone have heard of JNL Marketing, Inc or Kinetic Solutions? I came across both companies contained by my recent job search and when I applied to these companies, I be almost immediately offered a job interview. I did seize a personal call, not a stock email. Anyways, if anyone has any insight going on for these two companies, I would appreciate it.

“restricted access status” of my PayPal tale,HELP PLS?
PayPal has recently screen my account and said my credit card has some unusual issue and kept it within “limited access status”,.But they have appologised to me truism that it’s for my additional security and also appologized for the inconvenience .The inconvenience is that i can’t neither adopt nor send any monetory payment thru my pp acctt . To resolve the suitcase they had asked me to add another credit card excluding the earlier and upload the documents of my utility bills to verify my address,which is totally impossible for me as i have not plenty money to get another credit card,utility bills are not given by my resident owner….

“Step Down – Resign.”?
What do those words mean when the board asks you to do just that? Are they firing you or demoting you?

“The Peoples Program” Phil Miranda ?
The Peoples Program “Phil Miranda” emailed a video this weekend about a new gifting program and I’m looking to team up. My question is has anyone have Phil Miranda as a mentor? http://philmiranda.com

(ReL. Q) In Your Profession?
let’s say whether it’s sales (CEO) or Insurance sale, or car parts– we all know that inhabitants in these caliber of jobs cheats the public by overpricing, or anyone conned into just having to hold it–basically lies. Now, if one is truly Catholic and has this profession as listed above, and have to do this, how does the conscience sleep at night, or is confession 1X a week a good remedy?

***Does anyone know of a brief within sale, marketing, or selling available in their company?
I have a lot of experience contained by event sponsorship sales and event marketing. I’d really love to work with a performing arts mechanism (ballet, opera, etc), media company (like Turner Broadcasting), or an ad/PR agency surrounded by some capacity. I am available to relocate anywhere in the U.S. Any lead? Please, don’t tell me to go to Careerbuilder and Monster. I am network to find an actual person within an union that may be able to guide me in the right direction. I shall appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

**at&t appointment center test**?
**at&t call center test**? ok, so i have to purloin the call center test for at.t on friday. im pretty like a cat on a hot tin roof because i dont know whats going to be on the test, and i pretty much dont know if i qualify for position. can someone give me some insight on exactly the procedure to getting hired to work contained by the call center for at.t , if you work there or previously worked in that, whats some positive and negative things about the opportunity. Thanks Alot Everyone !

**What art could i do that involves media hype and nutrition?! Please back!?
I am majoring in Advertising and PR(public relations) but am fascinated with nutrition. Since it is too delayed for me to switch majors, what are some jobs that would allow me to ecorporate both!?!? THANKS!

*10 POINTS, REPOST* Details almost a tabloid sale representative?
Got a job interview on Wednesday that seems really promising, for a company that manage 17 newspapers. The role is entitled “Sales Representative”, and I get a fuel card, platform rate and mobile phone. Just checking if anyone has had this position or anything similar? 10 points for a worthy answer! Additional Details I should add I’ve been working within sales (telemarketing) for about the closing year, so I do know how to work the business. Sorry, I should have stated that. What I’m asking is what does the job usually entail, because I’ve been told nought. Also, does it have a career causeway? Thanks for your answers so far!

.. Plz give support to!…To increase the sale a company decide to donate its sale force a 20% commission of network sale?
so the expect the net sales to increase by 15%. as a result they estimate the gross profit will increase by $39,105 and the operating expenses will increase by $75595. compute the expected different net income!also compute the new profit edge ratio and the gross profit rate. Can u plz help me do this. I tried it but culdnt find an answer here r the formulas if u need sales-(sales returns and allowances)= network sales net public sale – cost of goods sold= gross profit gross profit- operating expenses = income from operations gross profit rate= gross profit/net sale profit margin ratio = net income/net sale

More Marketing Sales Job questions please visit : JobQnA.com

Source by jobfaq

ial Media Marketing is a powerful tool, but also is hard to control. This article features a couple recent cases in which social marketing has failed or gone wrong.

The Wal-Mart case

In August 2007, Wal-Mart started its own Facebook profile, aimed on students. The goal was to stimulate the consumer behavior of students on their student rooms. After a few weeks the original goal of the ‘Wal-Mart Roommate Style Match’ was far forgotten.

Visitors of Wal-Mart’s room decoration page can leave comments; a function intended to receive praise on the decoration tool, or a few suggestions for improvement at worst. Wal-Mart did probably not expect to have their complete Facebook Wall filled with criticism on its low wages, aversion to trade unions and unhealthy competition practices.

Marketers should keep this in mind when offering customers the option to make their opinions public. You could have many satisfied customers, but when you expect a small group of ‘brand terrorists’ to vent their frustrations for the whole world to see, you might want to think twice about opening a brand page on a social network site.

One of the visitors said Wal-Mart’s biggest mistake was putting a ‘Wall’ on their profile.

Wal-Mart – The second attempt

Packed with the experience of their last campaign a new attempt on social marketing was made. Wal-Mart announced the launch of a Social Marketing Campaign by allowing users to review content on their site.

A Social network site was launched for kids on the wal-mart website named ‘The Hub’. What happened was, parents had to be informed of every new registration which isn’t very ‘cool’ for the kids, although it’s great for parents. All content got screened by third a third party, while social networks are joined to express yourself in the way you want to. Next to that there were no options to PM or mail each other. Communication possibilities are a basic requirement for a social network site.

The marketers should’ve realized that just one stage of child-protection is the best they can do to keep kids safe while building a popular social network. People need to be given control and have the ability to allow two-way conversations to flow without you being the only one talking.

The Molson photo contest

In November 2007, Molson pulled the plug on its Facebook photo contest. Molson’s online marketing campaign, in which students were encouraged to post pictures of themselves partying on campus, was “misinterpreted” as promoting irresponsible drinking.

“We need to be communicating with our consumers because that’s where our consumers are communicating among themselves. We need to make sure we’re in that relevant channel”, the company said.

Marketers have to be more subtle than Molson in trying to capture users’ attention. The risk always remains that the marketer can lose control of its brand. Molson is wading into uncharted territory and stepped over the line of acceptability with its Facebook campaign.

The 2008 Ford Focus, unfocussed?

In October 2007, online ads were seen about a man who roars, moves and behaves like a lion. ‘Fake’ news articles were found as well; “The Lion-Man Escapes From High-Security University Research Centre”.

The relation between the ‘The Lion-Man’ and the Ford Focus stayed undiscovered by the big public. The viral failed because it was too hard to figure out what it was about. It also seems to have no purpose – there’s no payoff. There are no clear call-to-action events, no ‘go out and buy this’, nothing.

A lot of wasted money that ended up in an ad that looks more like a practical joke, rather than a viral campaign. Ford’s attempt on putting up a Facebook page featuring the “Lion-Man of Tanzania” ended up having 0 subscribers.

Titleist’s fictional golfer

Titleist is a major golfing product manufacturer that created a website for a fictional golfer and promoted it offline using formats like television advertising during major golf tournaments.

Offline marketing for an online campaign can sometimes work but it’s so much easier and cheaper to get things promoted online. Although the site really isn’t that bad, there’s no call-to-action for people to share the content or any incentives for them to upload music and videos which the site hopes they will do. People seem to forget all too easily that good content just won’t go viral – great content can and sometimes will. The videos on the site are good but aren’t great.

Titleist’s marketers should have looked at ways to promote their product online via social networks where they could have gotten their video more attention and website traffic. Don’t spend big dollars on TV advertising if you don’t have a website to back it up.

sources:

http://lab.77agency.com/social-marketing/social-marketing-gone-wrong-the-wal-mart-case-250/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071125.wmolsonn1125/BNStory/Technology/home

http://namw.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/viral-marketing-gone-wrong/

http://www.viperchill.com/blog/2-social-media-marketing-failures/

Source by LifeCapture Interactive