“ My rule is to incentivize referrals and show gratitude for testimonials .”
� Set up Google Alerts and monitor social media mentions . Do you know you can participate in and get notifications about conversations pertaining to your spa or brand ? Or how about a question on Facebook such as ,“ can you recommend the best place for a facial in Portland , ME .” These are good places to listen , participate and take good comments to be used as future testimonials ( with permission of course ).
� Simply ask . Your top 50 customers are your raving fans . They support you and your business by being top customers . It is okay to just ask them directly if they would be willing to offer a testimonial .
� Swap testimonials with other local businesses . Remember the concierge at the local hotel without a spa or the florist we talked about earlier ? You can do testimonials for each other as well .
When your clients make referrals and offer testimonials , do not forget to make it simple for them and show genuinely how much you appreciate their efforts . The goal is create a relationship with your customers so that they want to be brand advocates and cannot wait to tell their friends and family about their amazing experiences . It is important to remember that it is okay to offer an incentive for a referral but a testimonial gets a little trickier . My rule is to incentivize referrals and show gratitude for testimonials .
Give your customers the opportunity to become eager , shout-it-from-the-rooftop fans . Give them the opportunity to be more than just customers but brand advocates , which builds trust and credibility as well as an important emotional connection with both existing clientele and your next potential loyal guest . �
JULIE PANKEY is an internationally recognized spa director , consultant and wellness tourism expert . With over 28 years of experience , she has contributed to the development of multiple brands within the health , wellness , spa and tourism sectors . As a thought leader and innovator , Julie created the SpaHive Community to connect spa and wellness professionals through a private online community , education sessions , pop-up boutiques and special events . www . jmpankey . com
44 PULSE � OCTOBER 2021