Money, Marketing and Soul for Massagepreneurs
Event Marketing
Father’s Day Massage Marketing Video
Jun 2nd
Father’s Day is June 19th this year. Here is a ready made for you marketing video that you can use on your Facebook Page or Website to help you promote your Father’s Day specials and gift certificate sales. (To upload a video to Facebook or your website, check out this video tutorial.)
It is FREE for you to use as is. If you would like to customize the video with your pertinent information that’s cool and I can do that too! You will receive the above video with your logo, address, phone and website URL.
$19.95
Halloween Marketing: Spa or Treat Week
Oct 26th
Halloween is this Sunday! Need a tip to market your practice? Have a Spa or Treat Week! Find out how by watching the video.
Cyber Monday Marketing Ideas
Nov 20th
Yesterday, we talked about different marketing ideas that you could do for Black Friday. Here are some ideas for Cyber Monday.
Ever since the phrase “Cyber Monday” was coined back in 2005, online retailers have realized the sales potential of this first Monday after Thanksgiving.
Well why can’t massage therapists use this idea too? After all, people are back at their office jobs, tired and maybe a little stuffed from the Thanksgiving dinner. What better to do than shop online?
1. Free gift at when you buy 3 (or whatever number you choose) Gift Certificates. Make sure the gift warrants spending that much money.
2. Send 2 Reminder Emails. For whatever promotion you run, your reminder emails will keep your company in your client’s/prospect’s mind after the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be a ton of marketing emails floating around, so you may want to send an initial email right before or after Thanksgiving. Then follow up with another right as the sale begins.
3. Give Gift Certificates, Not Discounts. Consider offering printable $10 gift certificate that can be used towards a future visit/purchase. For example, rather than offering a $25 discount, offer a $50 gift certificate. Incentives like these tend to cost less, and they may actually be more attractive to your repeat clients.
4. Bounce Back Incentives. Capitalize off the huge amount of traffic you’ll be receiving by offering an incentive for the next purchase/visit. While Cyber Monday sales may be great, you really want consistent clients who will buy from you all year long, even when there are no special offers. Try sending out a follow up email with a gift certificate to everyone who makes a purchase.
5. Create Spa Packages. The value of a spa package can be perceived as greater than the sum of its parts because you are conveniently creating a one stop gift.
6. “Blue Light” Specials. I took this name from K-Mart (or is it Wal-mart that has blue light specials?) Well anyway…randomly highlight specials/items throughout the day on your site. Better yet, highlight different items everyday through the holiday season to keep people coming back.
Wishing you the best and happy holiday selling!
Marketing Ideas for Black Friday
Nov 19th
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. It also begins the mad shopping spree from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Thanksgiving is an excellent time to show your customers how much you appreciate their business – and a great time to attract new customers with well-played marketing strategy. Consider the following Black Friday marketing ideas to add plenty of trimmings to your return on investment and get a head start on the Christmas marketing season.
Show your appreciation
1. Many businesses send personalized thank you cards to their customers during the Christmas holiday season, but forego a great opportunity to grab a bigger share of the attention at Thanksgiving. Many people have come to expect Christmas cards from other companies, so a Thanksgiving card of thanks comes as a pleasant surprise and will be remembered as the first card received. You can even begin promoting your big Black Friday sales to gear up for the Christmas season.
2. Host a Open House. In my post on Marketing Ideas for the Holiday Season, I talk more about this idea.
Give back
3. The most endeared businesses give back to the communities that feed them, and Thanksgiving is the best time of year to express your gratitude by leading a food drive. Food drives are not only a worth charity and good PR, they’re also a great way to get customers in your door. To sweeten the deal, offer a coupon to anyone who donates food. Alternatively, you can enter donators into a drawing for a large grand prize. If you don’t have the budget to pull a Thanksgiving food drive off alone, partner with complimenting but noncompeting businesses for your color printing, mailing and prizes.
4. Another great Thanksgiving marketing idea is to distribute free calendars to clients and prospects. Many businesses do this, but if you get an early jump on your calendar printing you can beat your competitors to the wall, so to speak. Calendars are used by most people nearly every day, so calendar printing is one of the most economical ways to put your ad in front of hundreds or even thousands of people every day of the year. When designing your Thanksgiving promotional printed materials, follow the holiday’s theme, develop a great offer and a compelling call to action, and mix the above ideas in for a return on investment you’ll be feasting on for months.
Email marketing
5. Emails are a very low-cost way to reach out to your active customers. If you’re not already collecting email addresses, you should start right away. I encourage you to use an incentive when asking for the address, but rather than saying, “Can I get your email address to notify you of special sales,” I suggest you also offer a special gift.
6. Email Marketing Campaign. Send out an email in the next few days with the heading “Gobble up the savings – Look inside” (or something like that) and then in the email, tell them to stay tuned and open the email from you on Thanksgiving day to find out what kind of specials you have going on for Black Friday.
Stay tuned tomorrow as I talk about marketing ideas for Cyber Monday.
Happy Halloween & Marketing Ideas
Oct 31st
Did you know that Halloween is now the United States’ second most popular holiday (Christmas being the first) from a commercial standpoint. Marketing our massage services during this holiday often gets overlooked. I must admit that I have never offered a special for this particular holiday while I had my massage practice. I was prompted to think about it when Kris Kelly, a Facebook Friend asked “Anyone putting together exciting Halloween massage or spa packages?” as a status line on his profile page.
He goes on to post, “Believe it or not, there’s a lot of folks who don’t enjoy Halloween for one reason or another. I’ve put together a “get away from the gremlins” package. 90 min massage of their choice in the comfort and convenience of their own home. Just candles and relaxation! Another one I’ve done is while mom or dad are handing out candy, the other one receives a relaxing massage.”
These are two wonderful ideas, but before I give a few more, I wanted to give you a brief history of Halloween. If you can’t wait, just scroll down to the bottom and find out more bewitching ideas.
Halloween (or Hallowe’en … but also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, and Snap-Apple), is a holiday that’s celebrated annually on the night of October 31.
Happy Halloween
History of Halloween
Halloween is said to be among the world’s oldest holidays. It has origins in Ireland and the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain which is a celebration at the end of the harvest season. The festival marked a time where the ancient pagans took stock of their supplies – slaughtering livestock for the winter.
The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness (plague) or damaged crops. The celebration of Samhain would frequently involve bonfires, upon which the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown; costumes and masks were also worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.
History of Halloween in America
Due to strict Christian traditions and lifestyles, Halloween did not become a holiday in the United States until the 19th century. The arrival of almost 2 million Irish immigrants in the mid-1850s finally brought Halloween to the United States. About 20 years later with the arrival of the Scots, the Scottish version and Halloween became ingrained in our American culture.
As promised, here are a few more Halloween marketing ideas….
Before the Haunt. Get relaxed and refreshed for all those ghoulish creatures with a pumpkin spice scrub and Swedish massage.
Pumpkin Patch Package. Enjoy this package of delicious pumpkin which is a excellent exfoliator. You will begin with a body scrub and the your face will be treated to Pumpkin Enzyme Peel.
Have other ideas for marketing for Halloween, post them in the comments and have a safe holiday!
Sources: www.whatishalloween.com and Wikipedia
Marketing Ideas for the Holiday Season
Oct 22nd
The holidays quickly approaching! Are you ready? You need to have your holiday marketing plan in place in the next week or two in order to take full-advantage of the holiday season to increase your business and income.
There are many businesses (i.e. retailers) that make 50% their yearly revenue from now until Christmas. With the economy still sluggish, competition is bound to be fierce. Businesses will be using a variety of techniques to draw in customers. Don’t get left behind!
You will need to develop your holiday marketing plan. When you develop a holiday marketing plan, you have to consider two things – your business brand (what makes your business unique) and your client demographics. If you keep these things in mind while you are coming up with holiday marketing ideas, you are more likely to choose the strategies that will yield the best success for your massage practice.
Don’t have a huge marketing budget? No problem. With a little know how and a dash of creativity, you will have your recipe for a successful holiday marketing plan.
Let’s take a look at some simple, creative and affordable holiday marketing ideas to increase your revenues during the holiday season:
Market the he** out of your Gift Certificates! A key selling point is that people don’t think to give services as gifts, but they can be very unique (and often much appreciated) gifts. Tell your clients how much the recipient would love your service instead of a fruitcake. Check out my post Gift Certificate Promotions for more ideas.
Do a little revamping. Take what you already offer and create new services such as:
1. Mini-session or samplings. The offer a “Create-Your-Own” package so you clients can have what they want.
2. Create signature services (i.e. take a Reflexology session add an exfoliation and a mask to come up with:
Chocolate Crème Bliss Reflexology
All of the pleasure, none of the guilt! Escape to a state of bliss while the sensory pleasures of chocolate indulgence entice your senses. Your treatment begins with a custom cocoa and honey exfoliation to your feet, followed by a tantalizing, cocoa-laced mud wrap. Next your ultimate journey to relaxation continues with pressure points being stimulated on your feet to pamper your body and mind. An application of deep hydrating, creamy mile and honey lotion completes this chocolate crème fantasy.
3. Offer product with Gift Certificates. You could bundle several products into a basket perhaps with special themes. This is the gift that keeps on giving. The recipient will get the actual gift that they can use until they redeem their Gift Certificate.
4. Offer a “Something of the Month” club: People are always looking for unique gifts to give. Why not help them out and create ongoing cash flow for your massage practice? You can do this type of gift series with almost anything. Seriously. Did you know there is a Bacon of the Month club? Well why not a “Massage of the Month” club.
Free Gift with Purchase. Give your client a gift. Giving a free gift with a purchase is one of the oldest holiday marketing ideas on the planet. However, you need to really consider your client base when you choose what that gift will be.
Send Out Cards. This is an nice way to remember your clients at the Holidays (depending on your target audience, it can be for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply “Seasons Greetings”) and also to say thank them for their business. I used to put in a coupon that they could use next year – this idea is fully explained in my ebook Creating a Prosperous Practice with the sample card). You can also send a Happy New Year card. But don’t stop there. Don’t forget about your vast referral base. Be sure to send business holiday cards to your friends, family, associates, and vendors.
Give a coupon or discount. As both a gift to your customers and a way to boost your seasonal revenue, why not offer a discount or send out a coupon that promotes one or more of your services or products. Don’t send your coupons out so early that your customers forget about them, but send them out so they have an adequate amount of time to redeem them. Black Friday (the day after the Thanksgiving) is a good ear mark for sending out coupons.
Offer a holiday special. Encourage larger purchases with this marketing idea. Try offering “Buy Two Gift Certificates and Get a Third Free”. Or here is a variation on this same idea: Tell your customers when they purchase a certain amount, the will get something for free. For instance, “Buy $100 worth of products and get a free CD”. These are just a few ways that you can both thank your customers and offer them something special for the holidays.
Hold a Holiday Open House. This could be for your clients or for the general public (or both or have two separate ones). Offer mini-sessions (see above), products and Gift Certificates for sale. You may even want to have a holiday special for that event (see above).
Take a few minutes to which holiday ideas resonate with you and your business. You don’t have to do them all – one could be enough. Then, put it on your calendar and spread some holiday happiness to your clients!
Best of success to your business this holiday season!
Have a marketing idea not mentioned here that you would like to share? Post them in the comments.
Father’s Day Promotions
May 14th
Photo credit: Sarah Swatosh
Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, and this year it will be on June 19. That is a few weeks away – plenty of time to create and market your Father’s Day Promotions.
Since men are still relatively new to the world of pampering, when creating your Father’s Day treatments/packages you will want to stay away from froufrou terms in your treatments – which tend to turn them off. Strong, masculine words make them more comfortable.
Here are a few ideas for Father’s Day Promotions:
Seated Massage Event
Set up massage chairs (either at your location or perhaps a local park, hotel or other venue) and offer 10 minute seated massages for $10, which also includes a $10 Gift Certificate for their next massage.
Spa Packages
Sample intro for your spa packages…
Father’s Day is a perfect occasion to express your deepest feelings for dear ol’ dad! Neck ties and wallets are nice but don’t you think that dad gets bored receiving the same formal and cliched gifts every year. So try something a little different this year and present a gift that pampers dad and leaves a lasting impression and creates sweet memories for a lifetime.
Sample Spa Package Names and treatments they include…
Toe-Ta-Le Mister – 30-minute Reflexology session followed by 30-minute deep tissue massage focusing on the back, neck and shoulders.
Health Maintenance – A traditional style massage designed specifically for men. It includes a deep tissue massage with an application of Tiger Balm to those sore, aching muscles, a hot towel to the face and an energizing scalp massage.
Virginia Gentleman – a one hour massage, Gentlemen’s facial designed exclusively for the road-weary skin, mini-manicure and mini-pedicure
Refuel Body Treatment – This 2-in-1 exfoliating and hydrating body treatment is suited perfectly for men. The full body polish gently sloughs off dry skin followed by a relaxing Swedish massage with a signature oil blend designed for you in mind.
Gift Certificates
Make sure that your clients know that they can buy Gift Certificates for Dad for any of the above Spa Packages, individual or multi-pack massages (or any other treatments that you offer) or for a specific dollar amount.
Father’s Day Contest
And borrowing from our contest idea from Mother’s Day Promotions – Hold a Father’s Day Contest. The winner could receive a massage, series of massage or one of the spa packages listed above.
Couples Massage
For those men who don’t like to go it alone, couples massage can be a great way to get them introduced to massage while having their significant other right by their side.
Gift Baskets
Offer Gift Baskets full of products for Dad either by itself on in combination with one of your Spa Packages. Ideas for Gift Baskets would be retail that you already offer – oils, lotions, body brushes, etc. or you could purchase specialty baskets (golf basket, pizza-making basket, etc.) from another company and include them in your package (make sure you add the cost of these baskets to the price of your Spa Package.
Getting the word out there about your promotions…
- Website
- Newsletter
- Blog
- Flyers
- Social Networking (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
- Create a video marketing campaign
If you like this post, you may also like:
Gift Certificate Promotions
Mother’s Day Promotions
Father’s Day Massage Marketing Video
Mother’s Day Promotions
Apr 23rd
Mother’s Day is May 10th this year. With less than three weeks to go, it is not too late to promote Mother’s Day.
Here are some ideas:
1. Hold a Mother’s Day Contest. Celebrate Mother’s Day by holding a Mother’s Day Contest. You can design it however you wish giving away whatever prize you wish as well. Once you have decided, publicize your contest via in-office poster, email to client base, Newsletters (print and digital), Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools that you happen to use. If there is time, you can also send a Press Release to the local media – both print and television.
At MassageWorks, Inc., we held a Mother’s Day contest in 2002. We put the announcement in our e-Newsletter.
Mother’s Day Contest
Enter your mother or the mother of your children in
MassageWorks Mother’s Day Contest. Simply write in
500 words or less why your mom (or mother of your
children) is the best and deserves to be pampered.
She will be treated to the “My Pick Me Up” package
which includes a one-hour massage, a corrective facial
and a pedicure on the morning of Saturday, May 11th.
Also in your entry, please include the following information:
Your mother’s name, your name, your age, your address
(also your mom’s address if different from yours) and your
telephone number. Entries must be received by May 1st.
Winner will be notified week of May 6th. Mail your entry to
Mother’s Day Contest, MassageWorks, 450 W. Broad Street,
Suite 412, Falls Church, VA 22046 or E-mail
to linda@massageworksinc.com
All entries become the property of MassageWorks, Inc. and
can not be returned.
We had 30 entries – which at a time when social networking was unheard of I think it was a pretty good turn out.
All of the entries were beautifully written and it was hard to choose which one to pick. So I put all of the entries into a bowl and drew the winner’s name that way. Since I didn’t specifically state how judging would be conducted, I felt that this was reasonable to do.
Here is how I announced the winner to the MassageWorks community in the next month’s e-Newsletter.
Mother’s Day Contest
The results are in…
We had so many wonderful letters telling us why their
mom was the best and deserved to be pampered. It was
hard to pick, but the mother winning the “My Pick Me Up”
package is Sarah Riley of Manassas.
2. Packages. You can create packages for this special occasion or take one of your existing packages and spruce it up with special pricing. A 10-15% discount is usually the standard.
Here are sample packages and copy.
“Show Mom just how much you love her and appreciate all she’s done for you and her family is by giving her the gift of massage (or spa).”
Just for Mom:
Mom’s Delight Package (4 hours) includes Facial, Massage, Siddha Body Detox, Spa Lunch and to take home to keep your skin soft and emollient is our Rooibos Soap and Dry Brush.
Mama Mia – It’s a Hottie Package (3 hours) Hot Lava Buff, HotStone Massage, and Steaming Oxygen Facial
Lavish Thy Mother (2 hours) Champagne, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, 10% off all products purchased that day, Spa Gift, $25 gift card toward any future Spa Treatment, Choice of one Spa Treatment.
Mother/Daughter Packages:
A Double Delight for Two (2 hours) includes Mother/Daughter Massages and Facials
Tea For Two & Pampering Too! (2 1/2 hours) Hot Lava Stone Massage, Revitalizing Facial with Green Tea, Tea for Two.
3. Gift Certificates. Don’t forget those Gift Certificates. In Decemeber, I wrote a post about Gift Certificate Promotions, you can read it here.
Valentine’s Day Promotions
Jan 7th
Valentine’s Days is about five weeks away. Valentine’s Day is the second highest gift certificate purchasing occasion behind Christmas. Are you ready? Do you have your Valentine’s promotions in place yet? Have you reminded your clients you have Valentine’s gift certificates available?
If not, here are some ideas to get you thinking:
- Offer a special on couples massage. Make it extra special by adding a box of chocolates and/or Champagne. This was always a big money maker for me at MassageWorks. We usually had the special for about 4 days. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday so you could start the special on Friday and have it run through Sunday or Monday.
- Create Valentine’s Day Packages and sell Gift Certificates for the various packages. You can do this by taking one of the packages you already have and adding something to the package. For example, if you do a package with a body scrub and a massage change it by adding chocolate and peppermint and it becomes Be Mine Valentine consists of a Chocolate Decadence Body Scrub followed by our Aromatherapy massage with Peppermint oil. You can also create totally new packages. The sky is the limit. Let your imagination run wile when creating these packages.
- Another idea is to sell Gift Certificates that include Gift Baskets that way the Gift Certificate purchaser has something besides a piece of paper to give to the recipient. Gift Baskets can be large or small. They can include lotions, Music CDs, books, body brushes, etc.
What are some of the other ideas you have for Valentine’s Day promotions? If you would like to share, please post a comment.
