Having just read this post I feel your pain. Some brilliant advice has been given but I will as ever, just give my two pennith worth!!!:wink2:
The advice youve been given on social media is invaluable so Im not going to bore you by repeating it lol
Another geek has touched upon it already but really, word of mouth is a brilliant cost effective tool.
Firstly, have a think about the clients youd like to attract, who are they (students, women under 30, young mums......) You need to have an idea who your target audience is....... or at least who youd like it to be
Then once youve got this in mind, think about where that target is going to be .......(ie Students will be in Student Union bars, local pubs, on campus etc) once youve got this in mind it makes marketing all a bit easier
Rather than running down the high street shouting "Spray Tans 1/2 price today @mybusiness" and hoping someone will hear and that someone might just want a tan.......you'll be hitting the target audience, in all the right places and because you know your target audience you'll be able to think of appropriate offers for them.
In addition to this sometimes its worth doing a few what I call, high profile freebies as a marketing tool
By high profile I mean people that know lots of other people in your target audience, in the example of students, perhaps tan a girl that works behind the bar, or who runs social groups, the thing to remember is "women talk" and "results talk" a woman saying "I got a great spray tan a few weeks ago I recommend the company highly" well thats brilliant but a woman looking gorgeously sunkissed, non orangey and streak free saying "omg I got this amazing spray tan and it was only £x!!"
thats pretty much going to set off a chain reaction of other girls with their mobiles out going, who did that, whats her number, I want one!!!
It works for sure I know this because I used to have 1 regular girl when I first qualified in tanning (back in 2006 lol) and she came for 3 consecutive weeks, she was my estate agent and she loved my tan and so booked on the spot, on her third appt I got a text asking if she could bring 2 of her work mates as they loved her tan and wanted one, then before I knew it every friday I had 4 of the estate agent girls, and 3 of their friends every friday......then they started booking for waxing, nails etc and as they went out to peoples homes daily and being friendly was a part of the job they gave my business cards out all the time and generated me loads of business!!! It was so worth it, that first girl who booked I did her spray tan for £12 as I was so new, cut price but turned out it was invaluable!!!
Hope this helps, my advice is that youve come this far so hang on in there maybe take a wee break over easter and come back with a clear fresh head on and market effectively!!!
xx