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One of the things we need to watch ourselves with is doing exactly the same thing year after year and expecting different results. Think of your business like an airplane ... if it ain't moving forward it's falling. You can't let it coast, and you must continue to put forth the effort to continue to develop it; and it's not difficult and won't take much of your time.

And now with a slow economy people will still be getting their hair cut and colored and more of the less experienced hairstylists will be leaving the industry from lack of customers. And that will mean there's more customers that'll be looking for a new stylist, so shouldn't that be you?

Have you established the goals for your hair salon business this year? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Or, are you actively having prospects visit you on a regular basis? If you are ... congratulations, and if not then let's get to work and design a working plan to bring in some new folks to your salon.

One of the most important things that you need to realize right away is that it doesn't cost a lot of money to introduce some exceptional salon marketing ideas. I'm certainly not opposed to using the yellow pages except for the fact that 90% of businesses don't have any idea how to use that advertising medium to their advantage.

But that isn't one of the low cost ways to bring folks in, so let's just talk about those that would be easy to perform so you can build your hair salon business.

So, what are some cost effective ways to bring more people into your shop?

1. Referrals: This is absolutely the best way to attrack new prospects to come in and most self-employed professionals don't understand how to utilize it to their potential. Let me ask you, who do you referral your friends to? Those that blurt out something like “I'd like a referral” or those that really impress you with their products and services? Did you realize that there are proper ways to ask for referrals and get them? Did you know that the very best businesses always ask for referrals and get them? Did you realize that movers and shakers will operate a referral only business?

So let me give you a easy method of develop for yourself right now. Ask for referrals when you've just finished giving one of your clients a great session. When they're oooing and aaahing is exactly the right time to ask.

2. Networking: This ought to be incredibly easy for you because you have your customers coming to you regularily, and with just a little bit of effort on your part you can categorize your clientèle by industry and begin to network with them to help their business and yours. Here's the big secret tip that you need to know, help them first. That impresses them and shows them just how much you actually care about them and then you can procede to let them know that your business is referral only and that you are continually looking for new clients just like them. And if you have incentives for new customers then by all means let them know about it.

3. Public relations: Can you write an article about your trade for the local newspaper in your town? Do you realize that with very minimal effort you could begin to write articles for the local paper on some kind of a schedule and get free PR for your hair salon business? And that my friends means others will be talking about you over and over again.

Now, don't fret, you don't have to be a college professor to write something, you only have to write like you talk to someone that comes in your shop. The thing to remember is that you can write your draft one day, and then wait a day or two and read what you wrote and then make the necessary corrections before you send it to the newspaper. And if you have a blog about your business then of course mention it in your article along with your name, phone number and business address.

These are not difficult and economical and just need someone to start implementing them in their hair salon business on a regular basis ... are you the one? Never forget that we're all interested in the same thing - what's in it for me. This is why it's imperative that you perform well for them first, and then they'll be glad to help you.

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Writer, Teacher, Small Business Owner

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Real Secrets to Success in the Hair Salon Business