Unfortunately, people are more likely to write an online review after a negative experience than a positive experience. This means that although you may have mostly satisfied customers, review sites such as Yelp!, CitySearch, YP, Google, Facebook, etc. may tell a different story. But don’t be discouraged! Review sites are not only for customers, they’re […]
If you haven’t heard of Pokémon Go, you’re probably living under a rock. The new smartphone app has taken the country by storm and currently has more active users than Twitter! Pokémon Go encourages people to get out and walk around local businesses to catch little digital creatures. (You’ve probably seen some of these people […]
(This is the second of a three part series from Stephen Wiggins, about the struggles of beauty business marketing) In my last post, I spoke about my online marketing conundrum and the importance of branding. When our company began marketing online, we consulted with marketing experts. These experts told us we needed a clear and […]
(This is the first of a three part series from our Head of Product, Stephen Wiggins, about the struggles of beauty business marketing) Like most business owners, I wear many hats: some by choice, some by necessity. One hat I was required to wear after the 2008 recession was to act as lead marketer for […]
California salons and spas that pay employees on a commission basis take note. On October 10, 2015, California passed Assembly Bill 1513 which requires employers who pay their employees on a “piece-rate” basis (think commissions for salon/spa services) to pay those same employees a separate hourly minimum wage for time spent recovering or on other […]
Gift cards (and gift certificates) are extremely important for generating revenue, yet few salons and spas focus on this aspect of their business. A recent study shows that almost 70 percent of beauty related businesses are selling an incredibly low number of gift cards/certificates, between 0-50 each quarter! This blog addresses why gift cards are […]
Just because a major spa has decided to do something a certain way does NOT make it a trend. To be a trend, the entire industry must be moving, if slowly, in that direction. An excellent example is the surfing “trend” where some spas are incorporating surf lessons into their wellness programs. Sure, a few […]
Customers have a tendency to dictate how and when their services are performed, but who is the professional at your salon or spa? You or your customers? The old adage “the customer is always right” certainly works well in client relations, but is not necessarily the best way to run a business. You and your […]
Motivate Your Staff With Transcend’s Fortune Teller! Your employees may love your work environment and have a passion for the beauty or wellness industry, but they’ll be gone in a heartbeat if you don’t pay them well. No matter how great your salon or spa is, your employees will only be motivated to work hard […]
In a previous blog, we discussed ten different ways to increase referrals to your business. This blog will address Referral Programs and how to establish a successful program using your salon or spa software. What Are “Referral Programs”? Referral Programs encourage current customers to talk as much as possible about your salon or spa. They […]
10 Tips To Increase Referred Clients Referrals are an effective form of advertising and incredibly important to most small businesses. By having your customers advertise for you to their friends, relatives, and coworkers, you are creating another marketing avenue that costs little or anything at all. So what’s the biggest impediment to getting referrals? Being […]
FIRE THEM! That’s the first bit of advice most owners or managers are given when they share stories about “toxic” employees at their salons or spas, but this isn’t always the best advice. It may be better to engage with a difficult employee, especially one that you want to keep for any number of reasons […]
Salon and Spa Marketing Part IV: Compelling Content! Our last two blog posts stressed the importance of compelling content for your salon or spa’s social media accounts, but what exactly do we mean by “compelling content”? Let’s dig deeper. Today’s social media strategies are less focused on accumulating likes and followers and more about engaging customers […]
Salon and Spa Marketing Part III: Twitter! Engaging with customers on Twitter helps boost brand awareness and may result in higher sales. With Twitter tools steadily gaining traction in sales, marketing and prospecting for salons and spas of all sizes, it’s important to understand how to get the most value out of your tweets – […]
Salon and Spa Marketing Part II: Facebook Is Not Dead! With over 1 billion active users and an increasing focus on advertising and marketing, Facebook is the largest social media site and provides unparalleled access to customers. Facebook can help drive online sales, increase local sales, and raise brand awareness for your salon or spa. […]
What Is A “Third Place?” A third place is a social environment (separate from home and work) that is a center of community life. When a business is considered a “third place,” it becomes a highly-profitable cornerstone of the community. By providing an environment that encourages your clients to spend time in your salon or […]
If you want to increase retail sales, stop “selling” retail. Have you ever been asked “would you like to buy some product today?” by a staff member at a salon or spa? If you answered yes, then you know this question is an enormous turn-off. It is also a quick and easy “Yes-No” question that […]
Salon and Spa Digital Marketing Part I: Yelp! With over 20 million reviews and 60 million regular users, Yelp! is important for small businesses. Studies show several positive Yelp! reviews can increase new client visits by as much as 40%, while negative reviews can cripple or even shutter your salon or spa. Why Should […]
As I stood in our tradeshow booth at the end of the Premiere show, Orlando, a tired looking woman approached and said “You all suck! I’ve been to every software company in this place and you’re all the same.” I was taken aback as I was certainly not expecting that introduction! So I laughed and […]
Who Are You? Not who do you want to be, but who are you right now? What’s your identity? What’s your brand? Countless salons and spas haven’t given these simple questions any thought, resulting in poor sales and even shuttered doors. Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what […]
