Spa Boom & Feedback

[White Devil]

I use SpaBoom and am very happy with them. I know several of you use them as well. I emailed them earlier today with a request and would like you to do the same if you agree.

I would like a page available where clients can offer their feedback (of any kind) without having to be known who they are. That way they are free to offer any negative comments without leaving their name. I like ALL feedback I can get and think this would be a great way to get it. It wouldn't have to be published on the web, just sent to you personally.

If you agree, please let SpaBoom know. Maybe if they get enough requests for this they will deliver!!!

Thanks!

 

[Diana!!!]

Interesting idea. However, I think there are other services that do what you want and could be put right on your website.

I believe what you want is a guest book. Here is a link, http://www.smartgb.com . It is free.

 

[jimmyjfox]

I think Mende is looking for Spaboom to have a guestbook...

 

[estrella]

I think that's a great idea mende!

I also have a suggestion for spaboom that if you agree, I would appreciate you also letting them know. I don't like that on my contact page the only way for me to put my email address is to have it written right there. I wish I could create a "link" to my email address, or have a contact form for people to fill out. I find that having an address clearly stated on your site increases the amount of spam X 10. it's just putting it right out there for all those spammers to pick up.

 

[dynollis]

SpaBoom feature requests ...

Hi, everyone! Larry from SpaBoom here!

We really, really appreciate and LOVE all the feedback and suggestions on improving our platform!

Mendee, that's a GREAT suggestion! Let's see how many SpaBoomers want it!

StoneGirl, we hate spam as much as anyone. We "scramble" the email addresses in JavaScript so automated "scrapers" cannot figure it out. Spammers can't pick up your email address as listed on your contact page.

If you have any questions about this, please let us know!

As an aside, we're about to release some new features that customers have been asking for, including an email-based newsletter feature!

Take care! Larry.

 

[Sharon]

Hi Larry,

thanks for the response... I'm not sure I explained in full though - I don't mean the email link at the top of the page with my contact info, but that the content inside each page- if I want to put my email address, I am not able to make it a "mailto:" link, but rather I have to physically list my email address. For example, on my contact us page the only way for me to put my email address is to have it in plain view. I had tried to make it a "mailto:" link, but it didn't work :?

EDIT:
sorry guys, I had to edit my site out of there, as I don't want all of my posts coming up when someone googles my business name 8)

 

[Lebanese Dolly]

mailto: links can still get picked up by spammers. You could put it up as a .jpg or other image. It wouldn't be clicky, but it would be easy to find. I don't worry too much about spam. It's a small price to pay for easy clicky access for anyone who surfs to my site.

 

[Pompal 09.]

good idea about the image - however, on the contact us page thru spaboom, there are only certain things you can edit, and it doesn't allow you to put a button in there either. I suppose I could put it on another page, but the email link is at the top of every page anyway... I just really wanted one on the contact us page, since it says "call or email us" but then the only way to put my email address on there is in plain text.

 

[Frank T]

Hi StoneGirl,

This is Bill at SpaBoom. There is an easy change -- just switch the email eforum.xxx on your Contact page from {email_address} to {email} (I've already done it on your site). This will create an email link that doesn't include your email address in the text, which is definitely better for avoiding spammers.

Any other place on your site that you'd like a link to your email address, just put "{email}" where you'd like it to appear. This is a great question, so I just wrote up a new topic in SpaBoom Help on Website eforum.xxxs, which explains the email options. All of the email eforum.xxxs use JavaScript to write out your email address in the link so that spammers can't grab your email from the HTML.

Btw, we pay a lot of attention to spam protection on your incoming email, too, since no matter how careful you are, spam is always a problem.

 

[landscaper07]

thanks so much Bill!

Now that's what I call customer service - you already fixed it for me even! This is why I love spaboom

 

[xtiffaaany]

I would like it if NOTHING is automatically added to a spaboom account. I don't want to have to "opt-out" of services I didn't sign up for, such as Spa Emergency, or the latest "email campaigning" and newsletters.

I think I did it right, but I am concerned if I checked the wrong box, or didn't check all the boxes my clients will still receive unsolicited email.

New services should be on an "opt-in" basis.

 

[steve J]

I agree with you, Breathe. Don't add things to my account - especially if they could potentially increase my bill.

 

[Smelly Cat]

Hi,

I appreciate the feedback.

Sometimes it's a fine line, and we don't always get it right. When we introduced Spa Emergency, it was opt-in after the free period, and would add to your bill. We had a lot of discussions about email marketing -- which doesn't have any additional cost -- and whether it should be opt-in or opt-out. I have a lot of belief in the benefit of permission-based marketing and the results that it will have for our clients, and that swayed my outlook. We choose opt-out, and may simply have been wrong.

Breathe, I've made sure that email marketing is turned off for your account.

 

[homer00j]

Huh??? Spa boom sends emails to our clients?? I didnt know that!!

 

[random.nagger]

GL, it's a brand-new feature. They will send out event reminders from your account, (such as for Xmas, V-day, etc) to your clients who have purchased online GCs, and checked the "send me mail" box. You can set up your own "events" or "newsletters" too, and schedule them to be sent... a bit like Constant Contact, but I would imagine, more brief and of course it looks to be free. ( A VERY good price. t045 )

It's a sound idea, but speaking from the viewpoint of someone who has an email box inundated with "special offers" from everyone on the planet, from Office Depot to my health insurance plan, I would rather not use this method right now. (personal aversion.)

Bill, thank you. As usual, you guys are THE BEST for responsiveness, and good customer relations.

 

[Kittysue]

I didn't like the idea of having the email feature automatically enabled because the last thing I need is clients commenting about the email I sent and me saying, "Huh, what email?" or having to fake it and go, "How'd you like that? Nice, huh?" :shock:

I could just see me having to ask one of my clients, "Could you forward that to me?" so I can figure out where in the heck it came from.

I love the fast customer service and most of the features Spa Boom offers, but prefer to opt in rather than opt out when it comes to features.

 

[Frank T]

Our clients will have to opt in to the email marketing, so it isn't like they are getting unsolicited email from us.

As a general rule, I agree that I'd rather opt in to a service than opt out, but with this being free AND it being an opt-in-only letter to my clients, I'm fine with it this way. I'm sure the fact that I don't want to opt out has something to do with my satisfaction, though. Effortless is good! Which is why I can see the other point, and wanting to always opt in, when the tendency is to not want to do that.

If I keep going, I'll REALLY make no sense....... :roll: Anyway, I like it. lol.

 

[RuralLiving]

Cloaking Your Email Address

This is a script to put in your website code so that the spam robots can't follow it.

It changes an email address like [email protected] to email (which would be a clickable link).

Just substitute your email address in the script below.

You could also change the word "email" below to anything else you want such as Click Here to email Me.

 

[Intan S.]

I have a question about Spa Boom, and now that I've seen how quickly their reps respond, I'm definitely considering using the service!

Anyway, an elementary question:

As a solo practitioner, I'm interested in the Dynamic Website and instant GC's package. Do I already have to have an existing website, or is web hosting included in the fee?

Namaste,
Carolehands

 

[Jessamina]

Hi Carolehands~

I used to have my own website and had the instant gift certificates from spaboom. I was only charged the % of gift certificates sold.
I then got a new website thru spaboom and also sold gift certificates. I pay $20/month for hosting (because I'm a solo practitioner) and same % for gift cert sales.
There was no fee for initial setup of the site, just the hosting and % of sales.
So to answer your question, you can do either one. if you already have a website, it's really quick and easy to add the instant GC. or if you want an entire site from spaboom, it takes a little bit of time on your end to add all your info, but it is still relatively quick and easy. Hope this helps!
I have been very happy with Spaboom, their customer service is TOP NOTCH.