Tanning Salon Websites - tanTALK

TomTastic · 08-02-2009, 10:03 PM

Hi,
My name is Tom. I'm the new IT specialist working at Tanfastinc in Jackson MI. I've been around tanning most of my life, and do tan myself but do have a few questions for you all in regards to web designs!

What do you feel is something a great tanning website needs in order to be the best out there?

What is something you'd love to see a tanning salon do with a website but have yet to seen done?

If you have any other tips or ideas for me, please feel free to post below. I'm always happy to get great advice!

cdbeshore · 08-03-2009, 11:09 AM

I would suggest the following:

Use a clean design. Personally, I would avoid Flash. Very few designers get Flash right, so be careful. Remember that people are going to your site to learn about your salon, not watch 20 seconds of flashy graphics flying around. An uncluttered, well thought out design goes a long way.
Make sure your contact information is easily found. It always amazes me at the number of sites out there that inadvertently make their contact info difficult to find. Some people just want to find out your number to give you a call.
Many tanning salons will put coupons on their web site, with varying success.
Remember, just because you have traffic to your site, doesn't mean it is a good site. myspace.com gets tons of traffic, but just about everything on it looks horrible!
I would consider a blog on the site, updated weekly, and facebook/twitter integration. Considering the recent rash of news regarding tanning, with these things in place, you could address you customers directly and quickly.
To go with 5., keep your site updated. When a potential customer is researching salons are they going to think the stale web site is the "with it" salon? Nope.
Consider a newsletter using something like constant contact. People don't consider it spam if they subscribe and know they can easily cancel the subscription. It's a good way to promote your blog, salon and web site. All things that keep people engaged. I subscribe to Red Box alerts and don't mind getting a text offering me a free rental. Offer customers that sign up a free tan and see what happens.

There are tons of great sites on web design and ideas out there. One with great lists is www.smashingmagazine.com.

TomTastic · 08-03-2009, 07:09 PM

Well, Not to sound cocky by any means, but flash is my design medium of choice. I have award winning designs with it. As for design content, thats not a problem.

What I'm going for with Tan-Fastic Suntanner is a very bright design with easy navigation.
I'll post it here when its finished.

caribbean tan man · 08-03-2009, 07:23 PM

all my regular packages are available for purchase on my website, using paypal.

id like to offer my clients a way to check if there package is active right from my website. chunn has this on his, but i got no clue how to do it....

TomTastic · 08-03-2009, 07:29 PM

Yeah, thats something I'm looking at doing.
Becuase the Sunlync program uses a SQL database, its very possible to parse the info into a feed program. Then allow users to sign in and add money to accounts, check tanning history, ect.

caribbean tan man · 08-03-2009, 07:46 PM

yea can that be done with helios? i wanna do it

TomTastic · 08-03-2009, 07:54 PM

It really depends on the way helios runs.
If its a SQL database, then sure. No reason it couldn't.
You just would need to find a programmer who is familiar with how the system runs.

todaysimagetan · 08-03-2009, 08:20 PM

who waits for flash to stop loading. I move on to the next site.. Flash is a waste

eileen · 08-03-2009, 08:29 PM

Try running flash on your cell phone

TomTastic · 08-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Thats why I am using a moble system API for the IPhone and Blackberry.
It also will allow users to access the entire site through a moble phone without the need for CSS or Java.

(Any time you use flash for business sites its a must!)

08-02-2009, 10:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
TomTastic Join Date: Aug 2 2009 Location: Jackson Michigan Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Tanning Salon Websites Hi, My name is Tom. I'm the new IT specialist working at Tanfastinc in Jackson MI. I've been around tanning most of my life, and do tan myself but do have a few questions for you all in regards to web designs! What do you feel is something a great tanning website needs in order to be the best out there? What is something you'd love to see a tanning salon do with a website but have yet to seen done? If you have any other tips or ideas for me, please feel free to post below. I'm always happy to get great advice!

08-03-2009, 11:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
cdbeshore Join Date: Mar 26 2002 Location: Rich Hill, MO Age: 49 Posts: 53 Rep Power: 0	Re: Tanning Salon Websites I would suggest the following: Use a clean design. Personally, I would avoid Flash. Very few designers get Flash right, so be careful. Remember that people are going to your site to learn about your salon, not watch 20 seconds of flashy graphics flying around. An uncluttered, well thought out design goes a long way. Make sure your contact information is easily found. It always amazes me at the number of sites out there that inadvertently make their contact info difficult to find. Some people just want to find out your number to give you a call. Many tanning salons will put coupons on their web site, with varying success. Remember, just because you have traffic to your site, doesn't mean it is a good site. myspace.com gets tons of traffic, but just about everything on it looks horrible! I would consider a blog on the site, updated weekly, and facebook/twitter integration. Considering the recent rash of news regarding tanning, with these things in place, you could address you customers directly and quickly. To go with 5., keep your site updated. When a potential customer is researching salons are they going to think the stale web site is the "with it" salon? Nope. Consider a newsletter using something like constant contact. People don't consider it spam if they subscribe and know they can easily cancel the subscription. It's a good way to promote your blog, salon and web site. All things that keep people engaged. I subscribe to Red Box alerts and don't mind getting a text offering me a free rental. Offer customers that sign up a free tan and see what happens. There are tons of great sites on web design and ideas out there. One with great lists is www.smashingmagazine.com. __________________ Chris Insurtec Tanning Insurance www.insurtecinc.com www.walkforgrace.com Fight Cystic Fibrosis!

08-03-2009, 07:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
TomTastic Join Date: Aug 2 2009 Location: Jackson Michigan Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Re: Tanning Salon Websites Well, Not to sound cocky by any means, but flash is my design medium of choice. I have award winning designs with it. As for design content, thats not a problem. What I'm going for with Tan-Fastic Suntanner is a very bright design with easy navigation. I'll post it here when its finished.

08-03-2009, 07:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 48 Posts: 3,632 Rep Power: 46	Re: Tanning Salon Websites all my regular packages are available for purchase on my website, using paypal. id like to offer my clients a way to check if there package is active right from my website. chunn has this on his, but i got no clue how to do it.... __________________ someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

08-03-2009, 07:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
TomTastic Join Date: Aug 2 2009 Location: Jackson Michigan Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Re: Tanning Salon Websites Yeah, thats something I'm looking at doing. Becuase the Sunlync program uses a SQL database, its very possible to parse the info into a feed program. Then allow users to sign in and add money to accounts, check tanning history, ect.

08-03-2009, 07:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 48 Posts: 3,632 Rep Power: 46	Re: Tanning Salon Websites yea can that be done with helios? i wanna do it __________________ someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

08-03-2009, 07:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
TomTastic Join Date: Aug 2 2009 Location: Jackson Michigan Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Re: Tanning Salon Websites It really depends on the way helios runs. If its a SQL database, then sure. No reason it couldn't. You just would need to find a programmer who is familiar with how the system runs.

08-03-2009, 08:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
todaysimagetan Join Date: Dec 18 2000 Location: Maryland Posts: 81 Rep Power: 0	Re: Tanning Salon Websites who waits for flash to stop loading. I move on to the next site.. Flash is a waste

08-03-2009, 08:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
eileen Join Date: Feb 10 2005 Posts: 8,304 Rep Power: 35	Re: Tanning Salon Websites Try running flash on your cell phone __________________ "under exposure to UV rays is as dangerous as overexposure....this is D life" eileen

08-03-2009, 09:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
TomTastic Join Date: Aug 2 2009 Location: Jackson Michigan Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Re: Tanning Salon Websites Thats why I am using a moble system API for the IPhone and Blackberry. It also will allow users to access the entire site through a moble phone without the need for CSS or Java. (Any time you use flash for business sites its a must!)

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