Get online
- If you can afford it get an online website, if you are not computer-savvy, get a web presence. Think about it this way, how can someone find you online because when people land on my site, you have their undivided attention to tell them why they should choose you over other people.
- Set up an e-mail marketing. Ask clients for their e-mail addresses so you can send them announcements and coupons.
- Make a business page on Facebook, load pictures of your work every day, and tag the client and the tech in the picture so it shows up on their walls for all friends to see.
- Announce last-minute specials to fill holes in your appointment book. “We have an unexpected opening on Thursday 2-4 and Friday from 1-3”.
- Run ads on Facebook. Control what you spend with Facebook’s pay-per-click. We set our ad to target females in a certain age group and within specific zip codes. The ad is a catchy photo, the ad copy, and our phone number, so people know we are local.
- Always think about social media because of social distancing.
- Ask clients to write reviews through Google and Yelp (if you have it). Google analytics is a great tool that can show your “local online footprint” to determine your position in search results. You increase your position through the number of reviews you have, along with hits to your website and the amount people are talking about you online.
- Master the press release. A press release gets your local exposure in the local community.
“Hyper local” – Think local, be local and shop local
- Take opportunities to promote myself learn from realtors. Talk to all your customers (remember social distancing), make they feel comfortable and safe.
- Rebuild your relationships with people so they have a salon to recommend to their friends and family in the area.
- Offer a discount to people in your immediate social circles.
- Market with neighboring businesses because we need to work together.
- Think about marketing in terms of pictures – “ A picture is worth a thousand words”.
- Now is the time to take part in community activities. Contact city hall, chamber of commerce, or community groups and organizations.
- Think about “We First” — give of your time, your skills, and your experience — does two things. First, it feels good to help people and second, you get your name out there by doing it. When people hear about what you are doing, they will want to support your business. Take a look at this book by Simon Mainwaring because it is a good introduction the “we first” thinking.
To be continued – In house resources