By Joanne Kuipers

Looking for ways to promote your Hair Salon more effectively?

There are many  small business marketing tips   and ideas available to you. Not everything will work for your type of business. The trick is to know which types of promotions will work best for your business without spending and wasting a tonne on advertising that doesn’t work. Any advertising, no matter how cheap it is, is too expensive if it doesn’t work.

Here are some key ingredients for a Strategic Marketing Plan for a Hair Salon

After you’ve done your business plan you should know what type of clientele you are looking to attract to your salon. Always keep that in mind for everything else you do moving forward. It is important to develop a consistent brand. The reason why is that if it is not consistent your customers will get confused and when people are confused they will not make a purchase.

Choose your location, if you haven’t got one yet, with your  target market  in mind. Does it need to be trendy, lots of parking, etc. Most salons do not rely on walk by traffic so it is not necessary to pay high rent for high traffic. It just depends on your clientele.

The atmosphere and appearance of your shop is important. Use music and aromas to convey the mood you want. Good lighting and fixtures are important as well.

Develop a Referral Program and Frequent Member Card Program

You could develop a program where your customers get a free haircut, hair product, or spa treatment if they refer a friend. This is such an inexpensive way to advertise and promote your business, and more importantly you are rewarding the person sitting in your chair!

A frequent member card works really well too because it develop a buying habit. Studies have shown that people need to shop at a business three times and then it becomes a habit. You could reward them the same way as the referral program.

Get involved in Local Charity Events and Fashion Shows

Get out there and introduce your business to people who would not be normally exposed to you or even to remind people that you are still there. This is also a great way to develop relationships with potential customers.

Follow Industry Trends

Stay current and continue to take courses on the latest fashion trends. Display and talk about your recent courses. This gives your clientele the confidence to trust you and they will be willing to pay more for your services. They will also tell their friends.

Keep a mental check list of things to promote when talking with your customer. Try to find a need a fill it. Do they have problem hair, need a special conditioner? Would they be interested in any spa treatments that you may offer? Are they getting married or have another special event coming up that they may want extra services for? Get into the habit of promoting other products and services. It’s hard to get into the habit but will have a big impact on your bottom line. That’s why I suggest developing a mental checklist.

Invest in a Website

A good media mix of  internet advertising and marketing,  as well as traditional methods work. They feed off each other. Get a website and include great graphics, hours of operation, map, all your services and pricing, and customer testimonials. Also boast about any current courses you and your staff have taken. Maybe even talk about the latest trends.

This is such a service industry and that’s why it is so important to treat your customers like gold. Make them feel special and they will always come back!