With a quarter of the world’s population using social media on a regular basis, representing some 2.3 billion people logging on for an average of two hours every day, spa operators have a massive pool of potential customers at their fingertips. But today’s spa guests have high expectations of speed, convenience and usability, not to mention the power of their user-generated content in making or breaking a reputation. So how can spa software companies help harness the potential and navigate the complexities of this evolving field?

Authentic conversations
Matthew Mahoney, SVP of product at software company Booker, says it’s all about understanding the customer, remembering that it’s not solely about the technology and never forgetting that it’s about having authentic conversations.

“It’s you as an owner speaking to a customer, just as you would if they were visiting in person,” he explains. “Of course, the difference is that everyone who follows you can follow that conversation too.”

And therein lies the real promise of social media for spa operators: “One of the central tenets of marketing is to go where the customers are, and for more than a decade they’ve been on social media,” he says.

Booker offers booking plugins that allow customers to book appointments on social platforms, including Facebook and Yelp. “Our customers take advantage of their time on social media by sharing good news stories about their businesses: providing tips or relaying a glowing customer comment. You can make it easy for spa clients to act when they’re ready. Make sure they know how to get to your menu, where to book online and when there’s a special offer or it’s time to buy a gift certificate,” Mahoney says.

Devon Branam, director of marketing and PR at Skin Laundry, uses Booker’s social media plugins for a variety of different functions. “We use them for promotions, brand awareness, customer service, community-building, new client acquisition and as a tool to educate our clients and fans on our products and our signature Laser & Light facial,” Branam says. “It also plays a key role in our relationship with retail partners.”

Social media allows spa operators to deliver a more direct, personal marketing approach, right where people are actively looking to connect with businesses that they’re interested in, thereby initiating the customer experience before they’ve even walked through the door.

“For a marketer, social media is an amazing tool offering an infinite number of possibilities,” says Stefan Drummond, founder and MD of software solution provider EZ Runner. “It gives you tangible data to report on, can bring your brand to life and it allows your spa to connect with customers in a personalised way, such as using Facebook to target customers with back pain rather than those who are interested in massages, for example.”

Targeted content
Guenther Poellabauer, managing director of software company The Assistant Company (TAC), says that one of the biggest mistakes a spa can make is in failing to offer a diversity of content on different channels. “Posting the same content on all platforms is not about killing two birds with one stone, and you risk fans missing the added-value of following a brand or company on all platforms,” he says. “Spas should use Instagram for posting visual content, beauty products and stories; and Snapchat can be used for background insights into the daily business of the spa manager.”

For Frank Pitsikalis, founder and CEO of software company ResortSuite, it’s all about staying relevant, offering its clients access to the company’s embedded booking engines. ResortSuite’s spa clients have access to ResortSuite Social, an online booking engine that’s embedded in a spa’s Facebook page, together with ResortSuite Web, a customisable online booking engine available through a spa’s main website. ResortSuite Web provides guests with the opportunity to book spa treatments, accommodations, lessons, activities and more in a single transaction.

“Above all, stay relevant,” says Pitsikalis. “Ensure that all your posts are in line with current events and fall within the interests of your target market. In addition, concentrate on the social media channels that are most effective in reaching your clientele: Facebook for boomers, Instagram for millennials.”

Get the balance right, and social media allows spas to get closer to their guests, enhancing new customer experiences through word-of-mouth and a personal approach. In getting to know your followers, you can post content that’s appealing for a particular target group, encouraging interaction with potential guests and developing a fan-base.

For example, publishing large numbers of images builds your brand identity, and featuring more personal material, such as employee biographies or expert information, adds depth to the relationship.

Branam explains: “We’ve found Instagram to be most effective from a brand awareness and community-building standpoint. We’ve also seen the most significant follower growth there too.”

“We’ve had tremendous success with the implementation of video – in particular, the behind-the-scenes view of our Laser & Light facial treatments. In addition to producing high engagement, it’s helped with new client acquisition; and we’ve also seen a significant spike in following after posting these,” she adds.

Easy booking
Social media is shaping both operators’ and clients’ demands, and with the rise of the expectation of 24/7 access to booking options, managing a successful online function is imperative for spas. According to ISPA’s latest Industry Study (see pages 48-50), more than four in five US spas (83 per cent) offered social media promotions in 2016, with over three in five (62 per cent) offering online booking options. People want instantaneous results, and if they’re using social media to look for spa treatments, they’ll likely want to search, book and pay for the service in one exercise – right then and there.

TAC offers its Facebook Booking App, which allows users to book and purchase directly from a spa’s Facebook company profile and, as such, provides an additional sales channel. It provides customers with booking opportunities directly over the largest social network, as well as the easy promotion and booking of special offers. All reservations and sales completed over Facebook are automatically synced with TAC’s spa software, without any media disruption. “By using TAC’s Facebook Booking App, users can book and purchase directly within a spa’s Facebook profile. Promotion codes and last-minute hot deals can easily be created and offered across platforms,” says Poellabauer. “Spa managers benefit from these tools without having to put in any additional effort.”

The power of sharing
However, a spa’s online presence isn’t just about booking – it’s about client loyalty and recommendations. Social media has the power to shape opinions, and spa operators know that brand reputation and identity can be built or damaged online.

“Spa bloggers and their user-generated content have become a powerful influencing factor when it comes to booking inspiration and online bookings,” explains Poellabauer. “Decisions on what to buy are no longer based on one-way information from companies, but on recommendations on social media.”

Spas need to be innovative in order to maximise their presence across social media platforms. Software is helping operators meet these demands and react to new trends. “Through different social media software tools, it’s much easier for spas to be able to address different target groups, match and time content and receive reports,” says Poellabauer.

This speed and ease of use is key.

“Social media is fast becoming the go-to place to learn about last-minute promotions and offers,” says Leonie Wileman, Premier Software’s COO. “Previously, spas relied on emails or SMS messaging, but social media is quicker and engages larger audiences. It’s also easy to track, so you can monitor click-throughs, shares, likes and bookings. Twitter tends to be picked up quicker and is easy to link directly with the online portal, so if a spa has same-day availability these can be posted regularly for maximum uptake.”

So as the personal goes virtual, spas need to be where their audience is and work hard to make the virtual personal, creating the ultimate experience to be shared and distributed. Social media is constantly evolving and spas need to be ever-more creative in the ways they interact with clients, using software systems that pre-empt their customers’ next moves and integrate seamlessly with the latest social media platforms.

In a community where word-of-mouth endorsement equals repeat business, spas need to be able to adapt and keep pace, and keep the chatter circulating.