5 Tips to enhance an online presence

MagNet is a big conference held for Canadian magazine professionals and it just happened this past week. I didn’t need to attend the conference to know just how much social media has changed the face of business, but each course further reinforced this idea. All the inspiring projects I heard about made me wonder how this has affected the spa industry and whether or not most spas are keeping up with the trends. It’s definitely time consuming and doesn’t come cheap, but being online is crucial to businesses that partially rely on word-of-mouth for sales. And let’s face it, in this day and age what business isn’t affected by word-of-mouth. Here are some tips to think about when creating/reviewing your online presence.

1. It’s not only important for you to have a website so people can find you online, it’s also essential to have a good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy. Include keywords in your website and blog set-up, so that when people search for a spa in your area, there you are. Make sure your site architecture is working effectively to ensure that spa goers get exactly what they need and then some.
2. The more people can interact with your brand, the more likely they will want to visit your establishment. People want to get an idea of their experience. I am always shocked when a spa doesn’t have a website or their website doesn’t have pictures of their facilities. A picture says a thousand words and will bring business through the door.
3. If you’re on social media, make sure you have a strategy. Start by finding your audience and learning the lay of the land, so to speak. Listen to the tone of the conversations and how your brand is seen, if it is mentioned at all. Check out the competition and the industry in general.
4. Create specific goals for your social media efforts, so you can measure your progress and make adjustments where necessary. And, don’t forget to provide something of value to your audience; social media is not about shameless self-promotion.
5. Be authentic. Be creative, try new things and don’t be afraid to fail.