“Competition in the industry is much tougher than it was ten years ago,” one massage business owner told us. A shopping centre can now have as many as six or seven Chinese massage shops, spreading customer traffic more thinly. Intense competition has limited price increases, reducing margins year after year. The pandemic over the preceding two years also forced many businesses to close or struggle to keep operating.
In contrast to the broader industry’s weakness, businesses using EZ Worksheet continued to show healthy growth. Sunflower Software’s statistics indicated average revenue of A$155,000 per location among businesses using EZ Worksheet in the first three months of 2022, well above the industry average of around A$90,000. More than 80% of those businesses had exceeded their revenue for the same period in 2019, before the pandemic.
Running a successful massage business now involves more than it once did. The traditional approach of renting a shop and waiting for customers to walk in is gradually being displaced. A better customer experience and stronger brand awareness are becoming more important than location alone.
Based on our years of industry observation, successful Chinese massage businesses commonly use the following approaches to improve customer experience and build brand awareness:
1. Build your own website, Google Business profile and social media accounts
A website and Google Business profile let customers find your address through Google Search or Maps and check services and opening hours online. Your business is easier to discover than one without a website. The original article cites statistics that more than 40% of consumers check reviews before making a purchase, and businesses with more positive reviews are easier to trust. Google Business includes customer reviews, so starting to build a record of positive feedback gives customers more reasons to choose you.
2. Accept online bookings
Many customers want to book outside normal business hours, which telephone-only booking cannot readily accommodate. Online booking lets them browse services and make appointments at any time. Customers who have booked online can begin their service on arrival without spending time choosing a treatment, improving efficiency. Advance online payment also reduces staff workload and the possibility of mistakes, leaving more time for customer care. EZ Worksheet integrates online booking and payment, allowing your business to accept bookings around the clock.
3. Use SMS appointment reminders
Customers may book a week or more ahead and then forget. If they do not attend and cannot be contacted, the practitioner’s time is wasted. A reminder SMS the day before helps customers remember, and they can reply to confirm or reschedule. EZ Worksheet can automate reminders so that no customer is overlooked. Replies also let staff see which appointments for the day have been confirmed.
4. Attract customers with smart marketing tools
Gift vouchers are a common present for family and friends around holidays in Australia. Sending promotional SMS campaigns during these periods is a useful form of proactive marketing. EZ Worksheet includes bulk SMS tools to support holiday promotions and sales. Birthday greetings and gift vouchers can also build brand awareness. Its birthday SMS feature can send greetings automatically before a customer’s birthday, helping to leave a positive impression.
5. Use loyalty points and prepaid cards
Traditional loyalty schemes use small stamp cards, offering a free service after five to ten visits. Cards can be lost, and counting visits alone does not always reflect spending fairly. A spending-based points scheme lets the business define redemption rates and thresholds, providing a fairer, more flexible approach that can strengthen loyalty. Discounted prepaid cards can also encourage customers to return: customers receive a better price while the business secures revenue in advance. EZ Worksheet includes loyalty points and prepaid card features; contact customer support for details.
To learn more about the EZ Worksheet massage and beauty management system, you can start a 14-day free trial.
You can also call 07 3349 3214 for assistance in Chinese or English, or scan the support QR code mentioned in the original article to add EZ Worksheet customer support on WeChat.
Related reading:
Understanding Remedial Massage Treatment Records in Australia
Disclaimer: This article is for general reference only and does not provide professional advice. Its original content is protected by the author’s copyright. Neither the author nor Sunflower Software accepts responsibility for the consequences of any action taken or not taken in reliance on any part of this article.