Traditional offline methods still work for advertising, but more people are beginning to find online sources where they can read reviews and learn about your pricing. In fact, pricing is most of what leads clientele into a retail or nail service shop today.
The Five Ways:
- Phonebook and online phonebook apps
- Nail Forums
- YouTube
- Online Ads
Facebook for Reaching Out
Facebook is inarguably the most powerful online location to find clients no matter what type of business you run. Almost everyone is on Facebook and for those who do not frequent it, but use search engines, they will come across your business if it is in the keyword search your clientele is conducting.
Facebook is the networking option for anyone whether it is finding new friends, old friends, referrals to businesses and much more. It is simple to set up a fan page or business page to ensure you can be found on Facebook. If you have the funds you can advertise on Facebook to establish a larger profile. Plus you can reach out to everyone you already have as friends and help other friends reach out to you and your company. It is the best social media, not that there aren't others like Twitter.
However, for a targeted search and location of new clients, Facebook is the best. LinkedIn can help in terms of locating professionals so that should not be discounted as you plan around the different social media options.
Old School Phonebooks
Phonebooks are still used and many of them have an electronic version ensuring that phonebook apps on mobile phones can be used to locate nearby services. Advertising and listing your phone number in the phonebook is one way to ensure you are found by those who may not head straight to technology like computers and mobile phones.
There are definitely generations that still go to use a phonebook versus their technology because it is a habit and they may not have access to technology. If you want to find clients from all generations this is certainly one way to make certain you are advertising.
Nail Forums
Nail forums, tip sites, and article directories are also online locations that can lead you directly to new clients. The beauty of forums and these other directories is that you can share some of your knowledge while telling the reader who you are.
You cannot simply go on the site to advertise, but you can start to offer value in return for clients in your area finding you. All these sites have profiles which ensures you can talk about your company in the profile and leave the forum and article posting areas to the important talks about nail care, beauty care and all other services you might offer in your beauty shop.
YouTube
This is a little further down the list because it may take time for you to truly establish your YouTube page. Anyone can set up a page, but rarely will a video go viral. It can be amazing what will actually catch another's attention versus what will not. However, you still want to create videos such as How To videos on simple nail decorating and current fashion trends.
These videos give the option for a potential client to do their nails at home, but it also helps them realise there is a professional out there to help them when they don't have the time to do their nails at home. YouTube videos are also a great advertisement of your skills. By showing the different designs and work you do you can convince new clients to come to you. It reminds the person that they may not have the skills it takes to create a beautiful look, no matter how easy you make the video.
Advertising Online
Advertising online might seem more like a marketing discussion, but it is all about how to find clients. Unless people know your shop exists they are not going to be able to find you except for happenstance. Like the introduction, the client might drive by your shop and figure it is a good time to stop in, but that doesn't mean you have the time to help them. With advertising you get the clientele into your shop on appointments ensuring that you can help them every time they stop in.
For advertising you have options like using Google Adwords, which is its own discussion. Rather than focus on how to use the option just know that you have plenty of ways to advertise. There are banner ads, pay per click boxes, cost per click options, and video advertising. What do you notice when you watch a video online? If you have gone to YouTube to see what others are doing for their nail videos, chances are you also saw some commercials or banner ads interrupting the video. You can use videos like this to gain new clientele too, it is a little costly versus setting up a free video tutorial, however, it is more than worth it.
More Ways than Just Five
The above might have focused on Facebook, phonebooks, forums, YouTube, and advertising, but there are still many other options for finding clients. Surveys, visiting nearby stores, advertising with flyers, creating a TV commercial for your local broadcast stations are all other options.
It all depends on your budget. The assumption above is a smaller budget where you need to find your clients quickly. With nail services you already know that there is a huge client base looking for various nail services from just a simple manicure to French tips or elaborate designs. You want to find clients based on their likes, their age, and where they are more likely to hangout.