What was/is your best summer massage special you offer to your clients?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Vivian on June 1, 2010 at 9:10am

This has been my marketing plan that has worked for me.

First of all, before anything else, start working on a mailing list, seperate from your client files. This is your most important marketing strategy, put a priority on it.
I offer 50% off the first massage.
I send a card to my clients for a free massage during the month of their birthday.
I send cards out before Mothers day and before christmas advertising gift certificates.
Gift certificates are a great marketing strategy, I have found that only about 75% of GC are redeemed, so you can afford to sell the GCs at a discount and still make your full fee. I will sell them in packages for 20% off. They are a huge success on these two holidays, and you do the math, I end up making about 5% above my usual fee, which can easily pay for some really nice looking GCs. Do not skimp on cheap looking GC's, buy the most attractive ones you can find, people want to give them a gifts so presentation is everything.
So that means my clients get a card from me three times a year.
This is what has worked for me. Paying for an ad in the local paper or ad shopper is a waste of money in my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Wilson on June 11, 2010 at 6:53am

Vivian Murray said:

This has been my marketing plan that has worked for me.

First of all, before anything else, start working on a mailing list, seperate from your client files. This is your most important marketing strategy, put a priority on it.
I offer 50% off the first massage.
I send a card to my clients for a free massage during the month of their birthday.
I send cards out before Mothers day and before christmas advertising gift certificates.
Gift certificates are a great marketing strategy, I have found that only about 75% of GC are redeemed, so you can afford to sell the GCs at a discount and still make your full fee. I will sell them in packages for 20% off. They are a huge success on these two holidays, and you do the math, I end up making about 5% above my usual fee, which can easily pay for some really nice looking GCs. Do not skimp on cheap looking GC's, buy the most attractive ones you can find, people want to give them a gifts so presentation is everything.
So that means my clients get a card from me three times a year.
This is what has worked for me. Paying for an ad in the local paper or ad shopper is a waste of money in my opinion.

Vivan- I think you are just doing the best for your clients as they will surely get better benefits and I actually like your idea of sending them cards and offering 50% off on massage that is no doubt a smart marketing plan that will worth a big deal to have.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on June 11, 2010 at 10:33am

Hey Vivian,

I'm curious if you get your client's approval for marketing to them before you send out stuff. It is my understanding (albeit it may just be for internet marketing) that you need your clients to "sign up" for direct marketing pieces.

Vivian Murray said:

This has been my marketing plan that has worked for me.

First of all, before anything else, start working on a mailing list, seperate from your client files. This is your most important marketing strategy, put a priority on it.
I offer 50% off the first massage.
I send a card to my clients for a free massage during the month of their birthday.
I send cards out before Mothers day and before christmas advertising gift certificates.
Gift certificates are a great marketing strategy, I have found that only about 75% of GC are redeemed, so you can afford to sell the GCs at a discount and still make your full fee. I will sell them in packages for 20% off. They are a huge success on these two holidays, and you do the math, I end up making about 5% above my usual fee, which can easily pay for some really nice looking GCs. Do not skimp on cheap looking GC's, buy the most attractive ones you can find, people want to give them a gifts so presentation is everything.
So that means my clients get a card from me three times a year.
This is what has worked for me. Paying for an ad in the local paper or ad shopper is a waste of money in my opinion.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Molly Dose on June 11, 2010 at 12:58pm

Vivian,

Do you use a particular computer file program for your client database? I'm looking for some streamlined ways to do mailings and birthday postcards.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Wilson on June 15, 2010 at 5:36am

Hi Molly,

Well the program that you are asking can be created in php by giving a functionality that helps you to import your contacts and accordingly you can send mails or postcards to them.

Thanks

massage equipment

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Permalink Reply by Mieka Davis atc,cmt on June 15, 2010 at 8:56am

I offered vacation packages as a 5 star program, and offered 5 specific types of massages. Gave them a fancy card and they get to pick which type of vacation they want each week. I Sold 3 packages in a week with my new brocure. Vista print rocks.

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Permalink Reply by Vivian on June 15, 2010 at 9:29am

I get my GC's through mail order, they end up being almost a dollar a piece but I would pay more if I found some I liked better. I have even considered having them custom made if i was just a little better at designing them.

Samantha J. Bennett said:

Hey Vivian- where do you get your cards / GC's from? an online company or local store? I've been trying to compare.

Hey Melissa- just and fyi for ya since you haven't got much response from this forum question- go to the groups and directly ask some of the marketing groups for their input. Might get more from them there. :)
Also and just my opinion (take it or leave it)- but if you offer a 50% off deal- do a buy one and then get 50% off. That way they're not just going to come to you once because of the offer and then not be able to afford your reg. priced services.

Vivian Murray said:

This has been my marketing plan that has worked for me.

First of all, before anything else, start working on a mailing list, seperate from your client files. This is your most important marketing strategy, put a priority on it.
I offer 50% off the first massage.
I send a card to my clients for a free massage during the month of their birthday.
I send cards out before Mothers day and before christmas advertising gift certificates.
Gift certificates are a great marketing strategy, I have found that only about 75% of GC are redeemed, so you can afford to sell the GCs at a discount and still make your full fee. I will sell them in packages for 20% off. They are a huge success on these two holidays, and you do the math, I end up making about 5% above my usual fee, which can easily pay for some really nice looking GCs. Do not skimp on cheap looking GC's, buy the most attractive ones you can find, people want to give them a gifts so presentation is everything.
So that means my clients get a card from me three times a year.
This is what has worked for me. Paying for an ad in the local paper or ad shopper is a waste of money in my opinion.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vivian on June 15, 2010 at 9:34am

No I have not, I'm not sure if that is necessary or not.
I do (verbally) tell new clients that I do not share or sell there info but that i do offer those three promotions a year and will be sending them a card. I have always gotten a good response, with no complaints.

Lisa said:

Hey Vivian,

I'm curious if you get your client's approval for marketing to them before you send out stuff. It is my understanding (albeit it may just be for internet marketing) that you need your clients to "sign up" for direct marketing pieces.

Vivian Murray said:

This has been my marketing plan that has worked for me.

First of all, before anything else, start working on a mailing list, seperate from your client files. This is your most important marketing strategy, put a priority on it.
I offer 50% off the first massage.
I send a card to my clients for a free massage during the month of their birthday.
I send cards out before Mothers day and before christmas advertising gift certificates.
Gift certificates are a great marketing strategy, I have found that only about 75% of GC are redeemed, so you can afford to sell the GCs at a discount and still make your full fee. I will sell them in packages for 20% off. They are a huge success on these two holidays, and you do the math, I end up making about 5% above my usual fee, which can easily pay for some really nice looking GCs. Do not skimp on cheap looking GC's, buy the most attractive ones you can find, people want to give them a gifts so presentation is everything.
So that means my clients get a card from me three times a year.
This is what has worked for me. Paying for an ad in the local paper or ad shopper is a waste of money in my opinion.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vivian on June 15, 2010 at 9:39am

For my marketing I just use a simple Excel spreadsheet. Other then the usual info (name, addy, etc.) I also add a column for the date of their first appointment and the date of their most recent appointment and their birthday. At the end of the month it's easy to find all my clients that are having a birthday the following month and send them a card. It's also easy to exclude clients that only came in once years ago if you choose.

Molly Dose said:

Vivian,

Do you use a particular computer file program for your client database? I'm looking for some streamlined ways to do mailings and birthday postcards.

Thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lisa on June 29, 2010 at 2:11pm

Vivian is so right about the 50% deal. Give them a good reason to come back. I worked at a salon for 8 months, my boss kept on doing 50% off for new clients all the time, or sending out email specials for 50% off on slow weeks. I kept noticing that very few were rebooking or they would only come in during the specials. I tried talk to her about abusing the specials and how I noticed these people only coming in for discounts, she didn't see it my way and I eventually quit.

Samantha J. Bennett said:

Hey Vivian- where do you get your cards / GC's from? an online company or local store? I've been trying to compare.

Hey Melissa- just and fyi for ya since you haven't got much response from this forum question- go to the groups and directly ask some of the marketing groups for their input. Might get more from them there. :)
Also and just my opinion (take it or leave it)- but if you offer a 50% off deal- do a buy one and then get 50% off. That way they're not just going to come to you once because of the offer and then not be able to afford your reg. priced services.

Vivian Murray said:

This has been my marketing plan that has worked for me.

First of all, before anything else, start working on a mailing list, seperate from your client files. This is your most important marketing strategy, put a priority on it.
I offer 50% off the first massage.
I send a card to my clients for a free massage during the month of their birthday.
I send cards out before Mothers day and before christmas advertising gift certificates.
Gift certificates are a great marketing strategy, I have found that only about 75% of GC are redeemed, so you can afford to sell the GCs at a discount and still make your full fee. I will sell them in packages for 20% off. They are a huge success on these two holidays, and you do the math, I end up making about 5% above my usual fee, which can easily pay for some really nice looking GCs. Do not skimp on cheap looking GC's, buy the most attractive ones you can find, people want to give them a gifts so presentation is everything.
So that means my clients get a card from me three times a year.
This is what has worked for me. Paying for an ad in the local paper or ad shopper is a waste of money in my opinion.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Relax & Rejuvenate on July 3, 2010 at 10:03am

We have done a free 25 min scrub with any massage or facial and it has been a huge hit.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn Maria Brinza on July 5, 2010 at 11:20pm

90 minutes for $65.00 all year long. I encourage sessions as long as 4 hours long at $50. per hour...

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