Best way to market without using a deeply discounted coupon. Any Ideas?

Does anyone have any effective marketing ideas aside from social media (already doing that) or deeply discounted coupons such as groupon or living socials and is somewhat affordable? I notice the way of marketing for most is a deeply discounted coupons which have helped many Spas/Esti's gain new clients but I have also seen them become a complete nightmare. My friend did this and went from 5 star to 3.5 star on Yelp and a few people wrote bad reviews. Some of the bad reviews were for not having the hours or schedules that people demanded even though her hours were clearly posted on her website. She is a single Mom and can only work certain hours, which is 40 hours a week, but when she explained this to the demanding customers, they didn't care.  I couldn't believe some of the rude comments people were leaving as she is a wonderful Esti. This worries me as I also only work certain hours, so I would hate to get bad reviews because I can't accommodate a customers hours. My friend said the negative reviews have effected her business, so what was suppose to help has somewhat done the opposite.

What has worked for others? I'm afraid to take the leap of deeply discounting marketing as I don't want to devalue my services.  Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks!

Tags: Advertising, Groupon, Living, Social

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Aundra on April 23, 2015 at 3:20pm
I WISH I would've read this BEFORE investing in YELP. I cancelled my contract. Thank God. This is great information!
Permalink Reply by Jennifer Rosenblum on April 14, 2015 at 7:47am

Try This:
The Skin Games
www.theskingames.com
A national competition open to all skincare professionals who will compete against their field for prizes and the title of THE BEST SKINCARE PROFESSIONAL. Each esty can register * then get a client/model *then have 8 weeks to get a result for your client. You will do weekly video diaries on your progress along with a before and after photo. The Top 25 candidates will go to the LIVE SHOW in California which will be hosted by Bobbie Brown and Athena Kottack (from the show Ex wives of Rock) along with a panel of judges that are ICONS in the industry. (Rebecca Gadberry,Susanne Warfield,Denise Fuller,Denise Gaston,Bella Schnieder,Pearl Dworkin and Kyoko Getz.) Everyone that registers will get HUGE exposure and the TOP 25 will be covered by the media along with the Top 3 being featured in Top Skin Care Magazines.
Don't get too caught up with Yelp because most people look at the reviewer before making any decisions. Your BEST Marketing will be YOU and YOUR REFERALS. Get yourself a client or model and SHOW everyone HOW and WHAT you can do and ENTER THE SKIN GAMES.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

Permalink Reply by Margaret LaPierre on April 23, 2015 at 3:46pm

A word of advice, never discount your services because it sends the wrong message to your existing clientele and to the public.  Your existing clientele would want to know why they are not getting the same discounts.  I know those discount services such as Groupon and even Amazon seem like a good deal, but you end up working your butt off and the people who purchase those coupons are only looking for a cheap deal and will never become a returning client.  I used them once and I actually was on the winning end because the majority of people who purchased my deals never redeemed them so I did not lose money or time.  Also when the purchasers redeemed their coupon, I did not give them prime time slots that I had in place for my existing clientele.

A good advertising option that you should look into is Contant Contact.  I use it for client retention, newsletters, e-Blasts, monthly coupons, birthday coupons and electronic gift certificates.  If you have your client list in Excel that is all your need.  I have retained more clients this way and you can even attach it to your website to pick up new business.  I pay one annual bill (for less than I can place one ad in a magazine) and use it 24/7.

Permalink Reply by Patricia McDow on April 24, 2015 at 2:29am
I totally agree with Margaret, i pride myself as the Constant Contact queen. It is a great way to stay connected with your existing clients. I send out an email newsletter once a month. I keeps your clients informed and label yourself as the expert. Some where in your email marketing, ask your clients to share your email with family members, friends and co-workers. As part of your newsletter invite the reader to join your e-newsletter list so that they too can receive the monthly correspondence.
Permalink Reply by Shelley Birnbaum on April 24, 2015 at 5:59am

Please do not use YELP ever...I had 9 great reviews on Yelp and then they contacted me to advertise, when I told them I could not afford it they removed all my good reviews and a bad one appeared from someone who never came to my studio. I am a one person studio and keep very good records...the person who wrote the bad review used a date that I had no new clients, in fact that whole week were all my regulars.  I came to find out, and you can to by doing a Google search on YELP that this is something they do all the time.  In fact there have been Class action law suits and a movie is being made about this blackmail practice of theirs.

Permalink Reply by Monica Grajales on April 24, 2015 at 7:03am

Face to face networking. I am on linkedin, meetup, and have joined local networking groups to build relationships. I have also connected with "power team collaborators" - people outside of my field who share the same target market and we can refer back and forth. I also hold workshops and have connected with wine reps, personal chefs, etc who support my business. Sometimes they provide me a free of charge service as long as I heavily promote them, which I do. 

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