To cosmetologist>
How do I get more clients?

I know word of mouth is the best, but I feel like I sit around all day waiting for walkins. I work at a salon and its down town. I just got started in this in may when I graduated so.. .

Tack up flyers on grocery store bulletin boards. Talk up your styling work with people you know at church, yoga class, the Y, the place where you volunteer. (If you don't do any of those things, get involved and get to know people! ) Offer a coupon for a half-price something-or-other cut or style or manicure with your flyer. Take out an ad for a month in the local weekly newspaper. In other words, ADVERTISE! (And make sure all words are spelled correctly and the grammar is perfect in the flyers!)

Do you have a specialty thing you do, like with perms or styling, or you like to work with teens or old ladies? Are you great at giving relaxing shampoo massages? (There are entire books on how to do this. It might be something that will bring in the customers... )

Give your business card to each customer you have with the request that she gives the card to a friend. If the friend makes an appointment with you and keeps it, the referring customer will get X gift from you (Starbucks or grocery or bakery or Blockbuster gift certificate for $X, of course depending if you want to spend any money to make money). And make sure you follow through with this if you do it!

Tack up flyers on grocery store bulletin boards. Talk up your styling work with people you know at church, yoga class, the Y, the place where you volunteer. (If you don't do any of those things, get involved and get to know people!!) Offer a coupon for a half-price something-or-other cut or style or manicure with your flyer. Take out an ad for a month in the local weekly newspaper. In other words, ADVERTISE!! (And make sure all words are spelled correctly and the grammar is perfect in the flyers!)

Do you have a specialty thing you do, like with perms or styling, or you like to work with teens or old ladies? Are you great at giving relaxing shampoo massages? (There are entire books on how to do this. It might be something that will bring in the customers....)

Give your business card to each customer you have with the request that she gives the card to a friend. If the friend makes an appointment with you and keeps it, the referring customer will get X gift from you (Starbucks or grocery or bakery or Blockbuster gift certificate for $X, of course depending if you want to spend any money to make money). And make sure you follow through with this if you do it!

I do talk to all of my family and friends, at church, and where ever I start talking to someone. I do right now give 20% off there frist visit with me. I love to work with teens more then older people because I am still a teen, but I don't mind the olders. I have one book and my owner has one too. We are going to start where if a costmer refers you 5 people then they get a giftcerificate to comeback with $100. The other stylist and I do specials every Saturday almost. So I feel like we are running out of ideas. We could do the newspaper and the grocery store thing.. . whats that again? I know its hard though for the first 3 years everyone tells me, but thank you for your info.

I don't know how you feel about speaking in front of a group, but how about a free seminar on keeping yourself gorgeous between appointments? Or beauty tips for pregnant moms? Or keeping up your appearance as you age (lots of Baby Boomers out there)? You could offer them at local health spas, the YWCA, through park districts, etc. You'd give out your advertising materials at the seminar.

Vasily

I don't know how you feel about speaking in front of a group, but how about a free seminar on keeping yourself gorgeous between appointments? Or beauty tips for pregnant moms? Or keeping up your appearance as you age (lots of Baby Boomers out there)? You could offer them at local health spas, the YWCA, through park districts, etc. You'd give out your advertising materials at the seminar.

Vasily

I'm not good at all in talking in front of groups. I get too nervous. But thanks for your info.