Owning a small spa can be extremely rewarding. But, it can also be a challenge to market your business if you’re struggling to keep up with larger competitors with bigger budgets.
[Text Wrapping Break]Small spas have to face many uphill battles just to stay afloat. You might feel limited in one location without the opportunity for expansion. Even if your building is small, renting a retail space can be expensive, and if you have a brick-and-mortar building, your customer base might only include people from your community and surrounding areas. Additionally, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s easy to assume there isn’t much you can do to change your path to success.
But, that doesn’t mean your marketing efforts have to suffer.
No matter your size, there are things you can do to market your spa and attract your target audience.
Let’s take a look at a few effective ways to keep your brick-and-mortar business in the black, even when you’re dealing with a limited marketing budget and limited space.
Work With Others
If you own a small spa, you’re likely a part of either a small town or in a small but bustling city neighborhood. You can use either of those surroundings to your advantage. The benefits of a small-town business include:
- Lower costs
- Less competition
- Slower pace
- Reliable workers
Having a business in a close community also means you can work with others easily. Team up with other area businesses to cross-promote your goods and services. As a spa, think about other area businesses that would fit well with what you’re offering. Is there a local establishment that sells coffee or tea? Partner with them to sell bags at your front desk.
City environments can be just as beneficial since there are more businesses to work with. Offer to exchange coupons or gift certificates so you’re catering to each other’s target audiences. It’s a great way to benefit everyone and attract new people.
Go Digital
Even though spas are in-person businesses, there’s no denying we live in a digital world. You can take the tip from above and go online with it by working with influencers. Influencer marketing is becoming a huge industry, expected to reach nearly $14 billion this year. People take word-of-mouth recommendations very seriously, even online. Spas and influencers can go hand-in-hand if you provide a product or service they can share with their audience.
If you do decide to work with an influencer, make sure you do your research and look out for people with “fake followers,” fake engagement, or other red flags. Influencer fraud has unfortunately become quite common, which could end up hurting your business.
You can go digital in other ways with your brick-and-mortar business, too. Simply creating a digital presence with a website and social media will attract more people to your business. Interacting online by answering questions, hosting live streams, and staying up-to-date with industry trends will make it easier for people to find your location and become loyal customers.
Understanding the challenges you might face as a small spa will allow you to tackle them more readily. Keep these tips in mind to overcome those challenges and to find success – no matter your size!
