ForumsAdvertising, Sales and Marketing

Congratulations!

You are going to need a Web Presence.

Businesses without a Web Presence are seen as "incapable".

Brochure Pages start at $25 dollars up to the implementation of a complete website for $39 a page.

Please let me know if I can assist you in developing a Strong Web Presence.
A strong Web Presence assists you in reaching clients online, who are searching for your product or service, easily.

Michael Stratton
President, Integrity Technology Specialists
http://www.intechspecial.com

Hi Hair One,

My husband and I have an auto repair business and like you, we're short on advertising funds. We recently joined the Chamber which helped alot. Once we joined the Chamber, I went to the address list of all the other Chamber members and emailed them about our "fleet services" and also an "employee bonus" that didn't cost them a thing. I had alot of response on that. I mailed out 600+ flyers and business cards (on the back of the cards we offered a free oil change after 5 oil changes). I have to say the biggest item that helped us was our listing on Yellow Pages.com. We originally had just a standard ad but then upgraded to a talking ad. Because of our more expensive advertising, it moved us to the top of the listing for auto repair in our area. We've have gained about 40% of our new customers just from that ad. New people moving into the area will look at the online listings to figure out where they want to go.

Also, we just purchased a building and I took the flyers that I mailed to my Chamber members and the business cards and went to visit the business in the area. This was a big hit too! Any time that you can get people talking about you and your business that is great and it's FREE!!!!

Good Luck!!!

Congrats on your new business venture.

In a word, what you need to do is NETWORK. Be a mover and a shaker, meet as many people as possible--you never know where your next referral will come from.

Best place to start are chambers of commerce oranizations in your area (note the plural). . They have leads groups, mixers, luncheons, events, and so on. Not free, but probably much more cost effective than mass media marketing. Bring plenty of cards and shake hands until you can't lift your arm anymore. Maybe even pass out ad specialties (cards, pens, whatever) with your name and location imprinted, and maybe even a grand opening 'special offer' promo of some kind. As a chamber member, your chamber would probably be willing to send over some reps for a 'grand opening' ceremony with photos to be published in their chamber publication, which is always great. A barber shop in our community did just that with our local chamber late last year and I understand it went over very well.

Hope this helps. Best of luck.

Barry G
amspcs@juno.com
www.MerchantServices-help.com

Mothers Day Special: Bring in Mom for a cut 50% off!

Good Dead Buzz Cut Day: Get a buzz cut and your hair goes to the making of wigs for a non profit organization, 30% of all proceeds are dontated to the same organization.

Hair Cut for Your Teen: Teenagers are Known to Have there hair grow a little wild or strange from the norm. Make a deal with a local business(movie theatre) that allows the kids a 50% off to the movies if they get a haircut. In return the movie theatre advertises your barber shop.

The marketing ideas stretch as far as the imagination.

Why would I go to your barber shop? What do you have that other barbers do not?

I hear the Ball Game is on today, and joes barber has it on big screen. I really do need a hair cut.

Never sale your product. Only sale the benefits of your product.

Why would I want to buy a watch when I can buy a water proof watch that has an alarm, and neon night light?

Both are the same product, one is listed with its benefits.

Joes Barber shop is the talk of the town! He sure is a nice guy, heck he would give you the shirt of his back.

I hope this helps.

Good luck in your venture, and I hope you have good health insurance. You are going to need good insurance to cover the costs of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by over use of scissors.

Its all about the scissors!

Hello Salon owner, having several clients in the salon/service industry, I could give you some pointers of things I've done. One priority one is to have a board with your services and prices, this way, right off the bat, they know all you are able to do, and it's cost. If you would like to treat a certain client with a special price, this will let them know they are special when they see the board and see the true cost.

Other items that have helped have been, doing mini cards - like postcards of 4x5 or 4x9 of your services and promotions - and leaving them at local business around your area, if anything - put a label where you left them, and if you get some clients from their store, offer the owner a free cut or service (like nails - maybe you'll gain them too as a client).
Those always seem to work, and latest... try a spot on the web called, "Merchant Circle" - it list local businesses in your area. Try, it has worked for me! Cristina in Miami, Amazon printers....wwww.amazonprinters.com. Good luck!

Congratulations!

I see that you know who your clients are and that's fantastic - now you need to know where they shop, eat and play.

Neighborhood marketing would be great for you. Essentially you'll "co-market" with other non-competing businesss.

For example:

• With every video rental (with your marketing partner) client receives FREE _______ from you. The thing is, the offer has to be compelling. 10% off isn't going to compel me to come into your shop. A free goodie or service might.

Your current clients are your best advertising method. Give them a reason to help you bring in new business.

For example:

• Give every client ten discount cards with the instruction that when they hand them out and they are returned, they earn the same discount on their next service. Be sure their is a place on your cards for your client to write their name on them so you can track them. {Mary writes her name on 10 cards. Five people to whom Mary has given a card comes into your store to receive their discount. You store five credits on Mary's account so that she is earning services or goods for helping you.}

What makes you unique? I see that another poster mentioned this point and they're absolutely right. If you can't think of anything that sets you apart, create something.

For example:

• You're a children's barber. When children come into your salon, they get their hair cut sitting on a plastic pony and your staff photographs the child. Upload the digital to a photo printing service and for a buck or two you can order a 5x7. Stamp it with your salon info, call the client and tell them their photo is in. You get them back in the store AND they have received something from you that has a tremendous perceived value AND you've set yourself apart from the pack.

I wish you success!

Give me a call. I will show you how to have customers lined up at your door!!! No joke.

Mike
828-682-3693
mfurbay@gmail.com

Use the power of simple internet marketing. Create a blog on wordpress.com or blogger.com sharing some tips on hair management and introduce the opening of your salon. Locals to your area will hear about it through word of mouth. Non-locals will share your link with others they know who live in your area. You can also offer a small discount for anyone who mentions the fact that they read your blog. There are many many free avenues of promoting external services using the internal process of online marketing. Feel free to contact me for more suggestions via Skype or Yahoo IM with my user name of kenatra721. I hope this has been helpful to you.

Ken Allan Phillips