I received a call from a potential client yesterday. She told me that her salon wasn’t attracting enough clients, and her beauty salon was down 33% for the year. (Yikes!)
To make a long story short, I asked her what she was doing to acquire clients, she told me that she had an ad running in her local newspaper, a web site, and she relied on referrals.
So I began with some diagnostic questions like…
* How much money did you plan to make this year?
* How many clients do you need each month to reach your goals?
* How much money do you have budgeted for marketing your salon?
* What contact information are you collecting from your current clients?
Fortunately Debbie contacted me before her salon went into an acute comma never to be resuscitated.
First, you have to know your numbers (yearly gross, monthly break evens, number of clients needed, average monthly sales, marketing budget, etc.)
Second, you can’t expect to catch a “net” full of fish with one or two poles. Meaning, you have to have a minimum of 6-8 ways to attract clients depending upon your specific goals, and needs. Ask yourself this question…Where would my potential clients go to look for my services? (newspaper, yellow pages, website, mailbox, internet, etc.)
Then you want to make sure that you have as many marketing strategies that YOU need (poles in the water) that will put you in front of your perfect prospects consistently and cost effectively.
Here are just a few marketing tactics that will help you get your message in front of your perfect prospects.
1. Direct Mail: (Postcards, sales letters, and fliers.)
2. Newspaper: (Make sure it’s your “local” paper.)
3. In Store Fliers: (Promotional programs, etc.)
4. Web Site: (Make sure your web site is optimized for your local area, you should dominate page “one” on Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask.)
5. Social Media: (You can find professionals and potential clients in your local market using Facebook & Twitter.)
6. Text Messaging: (Keep in contact with current clients.)
7. Email Marketing: (Another way to inform your clients about up coming promotions.)
8. Newsletter Marketing: (Position yourself as the “expert,” and offer your tips, products, and services.)
9. Referral/Affiliate Program: (Get your happy clients referring friends, family, and colleagues.)
10. Yellow Pages: (More people are looking on the internet, but still a viable media.)
11. Val-Pak: (This is a good place to do one of your “value added” marketing promotions.)
12. Article Marketing: (Write and submit articles showing the world your expertise.)
13. Networking: (Join a group of like minded individuals. Local Business Assoc, Toast Masters, Marketing Assoc, etc.)
14. Radio/TV: (This is expensive and it’s a “shot gun” method.) If you use this method wait until your small business is thriving, AND test small before you spend thousands of dollars.
If you have several small business marketing poles in the water “simultaneously” I guarantee that you’ll attract more customers. AND the 13 (minus radio/TV) small business marketing strategies mentioned above are all “cost” effective. These are just a few marketing poles that you can implement immediately to attract a consistent flow of new customers.
When you know your numbers you can set up a marketing “system” to attract enough customers so that your small business doesn’t end up in the emergency room.
Remember… “If you don’t take the time to work on your business, the business you once thought was the key to your freedom, could easily become your captor.” Glen Andrews
Contact me if you need further assistance, AND let me know what you thought of this article by leaving me a comment below. Good, bad, or ugly, your feedback is important and welcome.
Helping you increase your sales,
