I got rejected by Groupon, Living Social and my local newspaper. They all told me that my salon had to participate and they had to have a website. I don't understand b/c I am my own business inside the salon plus I have my own website and all positive reviews on Yelp. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Are there other deal sites out there that work? I am in Orange County, Ca so maybe there is too much competition? I don't know. I need to get my business going and I have tried a million things including my own groupon type deal through BoomTime. That didn't really work b/c it only goes out to people I already know. 

Thank you!

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That is very strange!  I am also in Orange County and know of a few salons that use this form of marketing....i will see what i can find out for you.  That is very strange.   Have you tried Plum District?

The reason i mention http://www.plumdistrict.com/moms/discount/orange-county/deals is because i recall a salon telling me a few months ago that advertising their salon services through here worked?  Might be worth a try whilst you figure out with Groupon and Living Social what their problem is.  Good luck!

Groupon actually told me that they didn't see a need for my business based on their customer base. Ridiculous!

Claire- I see so many ads from salons in this area so it didn't make sense. I have never heard of Plum District so I will definitely check it out. I am renting and having a difficult time building a steady clientele. Thank you!

You can always do a joint deal with the salon.

I am in a wellness Center (I do have my own stand alone website though) and we each did a "deal" and offered them together.

Otherwise - why don't you do a "yelp" deal? They only take 30% rather than 40-50%.

https://biz.yelp.com/support/deals

I've tried doing a joint deal but since the salon does not have a website, they won't do it. I have a website but that doesn't seem to matter.

Yelp- I have reviews but under the salons name. Will that matter? Will Yelp let me do my own deal even though I am not the owner of the business? I read about it and it seems like it might be good plus I have some really positive reviews.

Thanks everyone! You have helped. :)

Devyn -

When you get a chance, get your own facebook page, website, and other listings (if you have your own business you can make your own yelp listing).

ASCP offers a free website - there is no reason NOT to have one.

I have a business name and am registered with the state - plus I have a business license with the state board (had to be inspected).

If you are a renter then you are a seperate business.

I can't believe even the salon doesn't have a website!!!

You girls would probably get a lot more business with a better web presence.

Devyn, set up your Yelp page with just your business name and have your clients leave comments on your page.  I did the Yelp deal and so far it has brought me 5 new clients since April and they have all returned for other services.  Yes they take 30% but you can do a deal like "$100 for $150 worth of services"

Weeks before I got my esty license, I was turned down for massage as I couldn't offer couples massage. I rent a room inside a salon as well, have website etc. Living Social said I had everything they required, website, FB page etc. but their clients wanted couples massages. A year or so before that I had also been turned down by Groupon because I didn't have enough web presence! I never did hook up with anyone though there was supposed to be a new group deal last Feb., they offered a better deal.

 

 

I like you have my own business within a salon and spa.  I have my own website and great Yelp reviews also. 

Timing is everything!!!  Last year I got declined by Living Social as well.  What they told me is that since I'm a sole practitioner, they were concerned that I wouldn't be able to handle the volume of sales.  It makes sense in my area which is very populated (Bay Area) and your area of Orange County.  There is a lot of competition out there.  They don't want to put a limit on how many you sell, that way they make lots more money. 

Is there anyone else in your salon that would be willing to participate? I advertised on a site called Trubates for one year, but in March they closed their doors.  I think they were bought out by Groupon!!  Keep looking for those smaller collective buying sites and stay away from the big named ones.  I've heard of some horror stories of small business going out of business because they get so bombarded with sales that they cannot keep up with the volume. 

Do you have a Facebook Page?  That may help.   Hope this helps.

I created a Yelp page tonight and asked some people to review me. Hopefully this will help business and getting on a deal. I thought it would create confusion having reviews on both pages and I wasn't sure which I should ask people to review on. You all make sense so I really glad that I asked this question on here. 

Thank you!

Great job Devyn!

Now get to work on your facebook page and website! :)

As far as I'm concerned, the more listings you have the better...better results in the search engines when there are more places to find you.

Thanks Cindy! My website and FB page have been done forever. I used to be a makeup artist so i had those before I got into this. :) Luckily, because it was a lot of work!

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