Marketing help
I am in a small alternative wellness studio and need help with getting my name out. When I opened I went around to all of the businesses close by and gave out cards. I have a Facebook and Twitter account. My budget for marketing is very small. I have considered doing a Groupon type deal to get my name out there. What have others found that works for them?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by debra wagner on
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Groupon will give u $ up front but they are just shoppers and most will not come back, they just want a deal. When they expire they get annoyed that you won't except them. They can use the groupon for the amount they paid for it after it expires . i had so many I couldn't keep up with my regular client. I won't do that again.
Bni is a good organization. Be ready to work and be at all meetings. I find client referrals work the best. I send a $10. Off card to clients that refer me as a thank you. Keep networking and do community fairs. Donate whenever you can.
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Permalink Reply by Tracy Watson on
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:Love these ideas. Did you have your $10 off coupons printed from Vista Print? Would you care to share what your cards looked like. I'm new to and oh my word..............to get customers in quite something.
I'm going to take some of these ideas for sure.
Thank you
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Hi Leigh,
I did a groupon my first week of opening my salong to get a cash flow which worked very nicely for me and I kept 70% of them as my regular clients. The following year I did an ad in the paper, an internet ad for a local news paper and a TV ad in our local YMCA. I have to say the most business I got from was the groupon. I won't say that I will not do another one, I might if I expand to introduce some of my new services but to me it is the most inexpensive way to get business. I also dropped off fliers at all the local hotels and I do get quite a bit of business from that, especially in the summer and during holiday season. Good luck on your new venture.
Bhavani
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Permalink Reply by Katayoun Hokmollahi on
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Permalink Reply by Natalie on
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I also used Gr-pon and/or Living Social when I first opened and at the two places I worked in past. Although one used for solely yoga other did for skincare.
A few tips :
Be sure if you use them to negotiate and not let them tell you what to charge, what service to offer or how many to sell, etc.
Ex:
Using most expensive treatment for 50% off. Don't do that- do a middle area or a faster service ( less product) and allow for add on or upgrades. Say you charge $55 for a body wrap- then Groupon basically tells you to charge $75 to get your money back. We all know we have to spend $ to make money...so make it count where and how you do so. I would also recommend to type up a receipt with the total and have a courtesy tip calculation below. Showing the price of service before discount- what they paid- then below 15% , 18% and 20% at bottom with correct tip amounts next to each. If you choose to add tax etc and have them sign so they see this. I started to do that half way through and think it helped- the ones that won't tip well or come back still can refer or write a good recommendation online! Have an a la cart or add on menu there o ask when making appt.
$6 add on parrafin dip, lip scrub or mask,
etc. $ 15 add on enzyme, $20 add on LED light or whatever..
I agree with others on mailings- sending post cards and using vista print- you can also go around to local hotels, gyms, etc. Give employees a first time discount and members or guest a monthly "special". Say facial of the month ( mention name of hotel gym etc when booking) Contact local press, magazines, newspapers, bloggers and really network your business.
Speaking of which has anyone used local Chamber of Commerce for networking with good results?
Have a referral program in place. Refer one person get a free sample, Refer two and take $10 off next service- Three people and ( fill in blank). Have clients check in one facebook, foursquare, etc. Once you build an email you can send out your own newsletter ( can get articles and build through ASCP) or on own. Give tips and mention the latest and greatest product or promotion you have.
Have options for all - ( men, woman in 20's-90's, teens, Doing your own packages and deals through constant contact, giftcard cafe, or schedulicity has worked well in past for me. Being organized an sure to get all clients info- address and email, phone etc. Follow up with everyone.
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Someone mentioned using a virtual admin to do their social media. What is that?
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Permalink Reply by Monica Grajales on
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I did :-)
When you don't have enough budget to hire a FT or even a PT person to do your daily admin work or even more so pay hundreds of $$ to a SEO (search engine optimization) company to do all your social media, you can hire a virtual administrative assistant. They're virtual so you only communicate with them via email and Skype. You pay per project or you can have them work on a monthly basis. They invoice you through PayPal and they do all the work that doesn't make you money but that you won't be able to make money if you don't do it - they do it for you.
There are virtual admin assistant networks and obviously you would need one to come to you highly recommended. Mine came to me highly recommended and I've been working with her for over a year now. If you want more information, this is her website: http://adminsolutionsdirect.com/Home_Page.php. I highly recommend her :-)
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Thank you for your help Monica. I will check out their web site. What do you have them doing for you?
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Right now, she is working on a major project for which I have no time but definitely a MUST to have :-) - my online store. It's not live yet. She's been working on placing pictures, descriptions, price, shipping, tax, categorizing, I mean, it has been a lot of work! She has improved the "back website" of my website - those are the little details that they don't tell you about that makes a world of difference when it comes to SEO (search engine optimization). Example is when they click on a link you provide, should the link open on the same window or a new window? When people Google for your services, she puts "keywords" in the background so that your business shows up on Google. She also puts together my e-newsletter. I give her the content and suggest pictures or my ideas and she makes it happen. She also manages my email list and sends out the newsletter. She knows what day of the week and what time people are more likely to open the newsletter, which is super cool and it works! She used to manage my FB page, but I got tired of it and decided to make it inactive and open a group which is much much better (for me).
I referred her to a friend of mine who just opened a business and she developed their website. She is not a graphic designer or computer tech person, but if you use godaddy or any of those website developing sites, she can do it for you so that you can work your business and make money and not spend the time doing everything yourself when you could be making money. And she's very very affordable compared to all these SEO companies that want to charge you hundreds of dollars to do the same job. Give her a call. She's good!
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Wow! She dos a lot. I was particularly interested in having help with social media. Sounds like she does that.
Thanks
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Hi Leigh,
I also just started my own very small business last October 2012, as an Estetician/ Skin therapist/ Reiki MAster Energy Healer and know how difficult it can be to attract new business. Once you get them in and pamper the heck out of them, they will keep returning, but it is getting them to notice you that is the problem. I have tried Living Social and found it lacking, but then was approached by Groupon to go with them and have had continued success. Once I get clients in and they are happy, they recomend me to there friends, family and co-workers. Sell Gift Certificates too. I have made sure my space rental is low cost just in case I am not very busy for a few weeks at a time and keep at least a month or more rent money in your savings to help so you don't get stressed out about money and can have fun with this great new business. I don't plan on making a fortune for the first few years of my business because I don't count on making a huge profit in the first one or two years and the stress of a huge rent would make me too nervous. I do have all of my equipment payed for and I am told can be written off for up to 3 years which will also help during tax time. I have found even with the 50% that Groupon takes from the business I get from them, I am making enough money to pay my rent buy supplies and stay in business. Offering these new clients a direct good deal afterward will encourage them to stay with me, along with a bonus for them when they bring me new business, I am finding in these hard times clients will come back for the pampering more often when you understand and let them know you are in hard times too. I am also advertising with our local FREE Newspaper, The Independent, for some cash and some trade which makes it very affordable. I can give you the contact person if you are here in the Springs. I also got a great deal advertising in the Military Coupon Leaflet which comes out 4 times a year, and is in a whole bunch of news papers here in town and all over the USAF basesas well as on line with them. It also was very aforadable. Also, you can see about getting together with a massage therapist and offer deals for couples and best friends or sisters for back to back facials and Massage. I know there are many massage therapists looking for work too. I hope some of these sugestions have helped. They are working well for me. The great thing about Groupon is you can UP SELL services and product and come out ahead. I also give out coupons which you can create on your home computer and print out. Be social. Join social groups. Make new friends. My Motto is: The more people you know the better your life is. It's not who dies with the most money and toys, it's who dies with the most friends!! I hope this has helped to give you some ideas. GOOD LUCK!
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