Whether you have just begun your spa/salon business or have been an owner for a few years or even a few decades, you are likely looking forward to growing it for years to come. However, deciding on what to focus on and what is the most effective growth strategy is a big part of a successful expansion plan. To help you have a smoother growth experience and get the best results possible quickly, here are great ways to expand your spa biz without breaking the bank.

Carry Business Cards with You

The opportunity to network with important stakeholders could happen today, tomorrow, or another time. The reality is that you never know when you might meet someone who could help you with the business. You could be shopping at the mall, picking up a few items at the grocery store, or even dining at a restaurant when you meet potential vendors or suppliers. Thus, it’s important to keep business cards in your purse or briefcase to hand out when you get the opportunity. In addition to meeting professional contacts to help you with the expansion, you might also make a few new customers this way. I like to carry a dozen in a business card case or my wallet to be prepared.

Get on Social Media, such as Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook

In addition to the in-person networking tip above, you’ll also want to create profiles on the leading social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Rather than randomly posting now and then on Twitter, develop a posting schedule and make an effort to post and comment regularly on Facebook and Instagram to reach wider audiences. To simplify the Instagram planning process, I like to use the Instagram theme planner Planoly so I can see the entire Instagram grid for the week as well as schedule posts in advance.

A strong social media strategy and presence can help more people get to know your brand, and the more people who know about you, the higher the annual revenue you can have as a spa/salon business. You can use automation tools such as Hootsuite or Buffer to set up your social media posts on Facebook and Twitter for the week so you’re not at the mercy of posting every day. These automation tools help simplify your social media strategy execution. While it takes time and energy, these investments in social media can help your organization grow and prosper.

Make Booking Easier

When you look at your website, does the process of making an appointment at your salon or spa seem intuitive? Is the website easy to navigate? Or does the visitor have to press a lot of buttons to get to that particular page?

Make online booking simple to do so that you don’t lose out on potential clients who have found your website. Often, people will prefer to fill out a small form rather than making a phone call to book an appointment, so now is the time to add that booking form, if you haven’t already. Make the booking form prominent on your website. You may even want to add it to the navigation bar to eliminate useless clicks and increase the overall click-through rate.

Provide a Referral Program

A great way to keep customers and get them buying from you again, which increases sales, is to offer a referral program. Doing so can turn someone into a loyal customer and bring new business your way. The idea of getting a discount excites a lot of people, so this makes sense. You might, for example, offer your existing client treatment for half price when they bring someone new in with them.

Improve the Spa Experience

Make the spa or salon more inviting for your customers or create custom touches to increase their level of comfort while they are an appointment. For example, you might offer them a cup of tea or a glass of cold water with fresh lime in it when they are sitting in the waiting area. Have a variety of reading materials there too. You may also want to offer free wifi so customers can use their smartphones or tablets while waiting for their appointments. The more relaxing you can make the environment, the more customers will enjoy frequenting your business.

Growing Your Spa Business

The tips above can help your organization to expand and enjoy more sales, as well as grow a loyal customer base. When you have a spa that makes people happy and has regular clients, that makes for a win-win situation.