When you’re in the beauty business, apart from retaining old customers, your job is to attract new ones as well.
And attracting new customers can be a difficult feat, especially if you feel like you’re constantly repeating the same marketing strategies as your competitors and you’re getting nowhere.
Well, it’s high time that changed. It’s time you do something new and different to attract new clients and retain old ones.
If you’re in the market for new ways to attract people to visit your spa or salon, here are 8 effective tips that will help your business bloom.
- Target the right kind of clientele
This is one of the first steps you have to take if you want to attract new people to your business. It’s also one of the biggest mistakes many salons and spas make. They spend money and recourses, not to mention time, to attract the wrong clientele.
Entrepreneurs think that the right type of client is the one who’ll walk into their shop and spend some money. This is not the case. The ideal client is the one who likes your services and beauty treatments and who will book regularly, the one who is the perfect fit for your location, and facilities amongst many other things. Not to mention that the ideal client is the one who will refer you to their friends!
So, targeting the right kind of clientele is one of the greatest first steps you’ll have to take in order to attract more customers.
- Social media marketing
Finding new ways to promote your business is always a good idea, especially if those promotions are free. Social media can be a great place to do some marketing and promoting of your salon or spa. We live in a time when everyone has some type of social media so connecting with new people and attracting new customers shouldn’t be a problem.
It’s not strange that many beauty businesses such as hair and nail salons, spas, and many others already have their social media presence on different types of platforms from Facebook to LinkedIn. You should also create profiles on different social media platforms.
For example, platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram are excellent for promoting your spa and salon because these are the platforms where people come looking for beauty tips and advice. These are also the platforms where you post photos and videos, so you should include all kinds of photos of your business to attract more guests.
- Being seen on Google
In addition to social media platforms, Google is still one of your best friends. Many people google their closest salons and spas and if you’re not on there, your competitors will get all the new clientele.
Simply put, if you want new customers, you need to be seen and found on Google. Sign up on Google and optimize your business account so that potential clients can see you. You’ll need to list all the treatments and services you offer, your location, opening and closing hours, your phone number and e-mail address as well as your website.
Also, don’t forget to add photos of either your spa or salon and services you offer – anything that will help your potential clients see what to expect from your salon or spa.
All of these things, if you manage to keep them up to date, can help new potential clients find you on Google and then in real life too!
- Make scheduling appointments easy
Clients love being able to book an appointment online any time of the day or night. This is exactly why you should invest in appointment scheduling and booking software – scheduling appointments will make it easy for first-time clients to book their appointments, plus appointments will be coming in at any time of the day.
There are tons of appointment scheduling software out there, you just need to find what suits you and your business best. You’ll see how much easier online booking will be, and above all, it will attract more new clients!
- Provide a memorable service
Many beauty businesses lose clients due to poor or bad service. Everything from a nice outdoor mat that welcomes your clients, to the interior design of the place matters when it comes to convincing customers to return to your spa and salon.
This is why you need to listen to your customers and listen to what they have to say and what they want, also, set standards for your employees. Additionally, going a step or two further is not a bad idea, offer discounts, free products, free add-on services, or whatever comes to your mind.
Do whatever you can to make your clients feel welcome and appreciated at your spa or salon.
- Online reviews will help you get new people
We already mentioned the importance of Google and other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, which can help you advertise your business and get new clients. But there’s another way that these platforms and sites can help you with attracting new customers – client reviews.
Online reviews have become one of the biggest ways to attract new customers, but only if you have strong reviews. And good and strong reviews can happen only if you build trust and social proof.
Advertisements are often fleeting and people lose trust in them very fast. Customer reviews, however, are always pretty trustworthy and it’s something that people will read and what will influence them to try out your services.
Often, even friend recommendations aren’t as strong enough as online reviews. That’s why getting good reviews online is what will ultimately attract new clients.
- Offer a membership program
Once you attract new customers, you’ll need to get them to become regular and loyal ones. This is where membership programs and plans come in handy. They are very useful for almost any kind of business but especially for salons and spas.
Some of the most popular membership plan formats include subscription membership programs, punch-card, points-based, tiered points-based programs.
The monthly subscription program is a fairly recent form of a membership program and it implies charging your customers with a monthly rate for discounted services and products. With this type of program, you’re getting your monthly influx of cash while still rewarding your loyal clients.
The punch card program is the most basic one and it has been used for a long time. All you have to do is give a customer your card and with each appointment or purchase, you’ll punch the card. Once the punches get filled, the card will be exchanged for a reward.
Points-based and tiered points-based programs are much more sophisticated ways of rewarding your customers. For example, different services or purchases will get them a different number of points. You set the total and once the customer reaches that number, you reward them. Tiered points-based has three levels that and are a bit more complex.
- Host giveaways
Another fairly recent way to attract new customers is through giveaways, hashtags, and contests. Apart from attracting new clientele, this is also a way to generate a social buzz.
Hosting a giveaway or a contest is easy, all you have to do is offer a free service or some product on any of your social media platforms. These giveaways usually, require entrants to repost your post, tag friends or use a custom hashtag to enter.
These giveaways are a great way to advertise your business, spread word of how great your spa or salon is, and ultimately of how you take care and cherish your clientele. Talk about killing three birds with one stone!
Hopefully, these 8 tips will help you attract new customers and find ways to advertise your business properly and efficiently. Break the neverending cycle of doing the same things your competitors do to attract potential clients. Be different and unique!
Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet.
https://twitter.com/AndersonJess_AJ
