Do people find websites successful?

[emmabeauty]

I set up my own salon a couple of months ago. Im considering making a website but was just wondering if people get many clients from having websites?
or is there any other advertising tips people have?

Thanks

 

[Jenx]

I have a website and have gotten a few clients from it. Most of them are word of mouth, but the ones from the website had googled looking for someone that uses the brand of tan I have.
Also had someone pass my details on, but couldn't find my number so she looked me up online too.
I have a free website, so hasn't really cost me anything except to register the domain name so it has definitely been worth it to me. One of them is now a weekly client and has brought me other clients too x

 

[emmabeauty]

did u design your website yourself? how much did it cost you to register your domain name? thanks xx

 

[angelina221]

I've only had my website up and running for a couple of months and it's been invaluable.
I have a webalizer thingy that gives me all the figures i need to know. It tells me how many people have visited my site etc...
Last month 823 people visited my website. That's a great target audience. If you advertise in the paper then lots of people will see your advert but most of them don't require your services.
You know that people that have visited your site are people that are looking for the service you offer.
If you only get 1% of people that book that would be, in my case, 8 new clients a month!
I have had quite a few new clients from my website and it's relatively new.
You need to have a good SEO though.
Speak to Ruth Mills on here and she can explain all that to you!

 

[fozzyo]

If you use your website then yes they are invaluable!

Just setting it up and expecting clients to find it and book won't work, you need to promote it, keep it updated etc.

Mat

 

[~Jenny~]

websites are fantastic for gaining new clients...also for having info pages that you can direct clients to so that they can read about certain things, for example pre-tan instructions, to save you having hundreds of things printed!

xx

 

[jo1983]

my website is invaluable to me! I had about 300 hits last week and 10 new clients! Pretty good for a website that costs me £6.00 a month! (vistaprint.co.uk)
I advertise on Gumtree.com and I also use google ad words. I do however spend about 1-2 hours a day working on it!

 

[leonnib]

my website is my main advertising.
i get approx 3-5 enquiries a day from my site. but its very well googled which takes time. i also do google ads so i get seen twice as much.
your website can be the best way to advertise as people if you make the most of it.

 

[angeleyes01]

It's definitely worth it but you need to do a few things:

check out what other similar salons / businesses do to make sure you have thought of everything.
make sure you come up high in the rankings on a google search (you will if you have the right meta tags).
promote your website on your paper, receipts etc.
make sure you add regular updates - special offers etc. - give people a reason to keep coming back to it.
you should look at doing Twitter and Facebook - it's another way to contact customers and keep them updated.

 

[Jenx]

did u design your website yourself? how much did it cost you to register your domain name? thanks xx

I used www.weebly.com for my website and bought my domain name from 123-reg. With weebly I can have one domain name point to my free site. Cost me about £6 for 2yrs.
If looking for a professional site then Ruth has done a lot for some of the geeks on here xx

 

[Martin Duffy]

Although it's great for new clients, it's also great for existing clients - I have my newsletter on mine & send clients a streamlined e-mail version with links to the site, thus keeping them up-to-date with new treatments, special offers etc. As others have said above, the secret is in keeping it updated & promoting it.

 

[Martigirl]

My website and word of mouth are the 2 places my clients come from.

well worth the investment

 

[Kim_Office_Team]

@Purple Butterfly -- So glad you're finding Office Live Small Business helpful. You can join the community and share your experience at the Office Live page on Facebook. Check it out at Office Live | Facebook.

@EmmaBeauty -- Like Purple Butterfly, you might consider using Office Live Small Business to host your business website. Here are some other customer stories who have found success using Office Live Small Business: Customer Gallery | Microsoft Office Live Small Business. It might help give you an idea of all the things you can do through Office Live SB.

Cheers,
KIM
MSFT Office Live Outreach Team

 

[Andy_w]

Microsoft Office Live Small Business is a great way to start an online presence. Not only will you pull in clients from a website, this will also give a your business a polished and professional appearance. Small Business sites can cost as little as $15/year so it is a low risk investment.

Check out some success stories here.

Cheers,
Andy
MSFT Office Live Outreach

 

[KristaBurgess]

Website is an absolute no brainer. You can get one for next to no cost, it will last forever, and has the potential to reach thousands of new clients. Potentially you will need no other advertising channel, unless there is competition with other websites in your local area.

Make sure you list the local areas you work in and submit your business to google local business. Take a look at my website for ideas, it was done by a professional.

Bio Sculpture Gel Nails in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

good luck!

 

[emmabeauty]

thanks for all the great advice! looking into getting one on microsoft office live small business and buying a domain name

 

[RachFace]

Website is an absolute no brainer. You can get one for next to no cost, it will last forever, and has the potential to reach thousands of new clients. Potentially you will need no other advertising channel, unless there is competition with other websites in your local area.

Make sure you list the local areas you work in and submit your business to google local business. Take a look at my website for ideas, it was done by a professional.

Bio Sculpture Gel Nails in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

good luck!

Fab website. Do you mind me asking who designed it and how much it costs? thx

 

[KristaBurgess]

Hello,

Thanks very much, my boyfriend made it for me as he is a IT professional. So im very lucky! Gets me lots of work, as its marketed right. Sure he could create you one, but wouldnt be cheap!

 

[xgxexmx]

does anyone know how to get your website high on google? as mine isnt:cry:


xxx

 

[RachFace]

Hello,

Thanks very much, my boyfriend made it for me as he is a IT professional. So im very lucky! Gets me lots of work, as its marketed right. Sure he could create you one, but wouldnt be cheap!

oh how fab!! It does look very professional! I just wondered what a ballpark figure was for getting someone else to do it for you.....i wouldnt know if it was £100, £1000 or £10,000 :lol: