Places to advertise for free

laura16_2

Thanks for all those ideas everyone. With the website though, I do have one but its a free one off webs.com can that be done so that it will apear on google if someone puts nail technician, rotherham. x

Ste_C

moneymabel wrote: »

That's genius! Will have to try that.
I can recommend a free advert on hotfrog-my google ranking for my actual website is on page 7 but my hotfrog listing is on page 2. Not bad for nothing.

Except that 99.99% of people will use google over a directory like hotfrog.

Google is the first port of call when people are looking for something.

HappySad

great ideas here. gumtree.com is also low in price or free.

Mudbath

Hiya
Some great ideas so far. I'm in a similar line of business and set my website up about four weeks ago. It's definitely worth doing as i've already had four clients through it. I did a website myself and I'm not technical so it's basic but it's doing the job.

Also, I went to a local coffee shop and in return for handing her cards out to each client she took some of my advertising postcards. I've had a couple of new clients through this.

My only other advice is - keep at it. It's taken me a while to build up clients but it has happened.

Good luck!

moneymabel

Ste_C wrote: »

Except that 99.99% of people will use google over a directory like hotfrog.

Google is the first port of call when people are looking for something.

Sorry I didnt explain that very well-I meant that my hotfrog listing is on page 2 of the google search ,wihle my actual website is on page 7.

paulwf

Lots of good advice so far, especially the advice from savemoney of getting people to recruit friends for a discount...it's not just about plastering your name everywhere (though that is good) it is about using your clients and contacts as well.

So far no one has mentioned to target your marketing around times of the year or events when people get their nails done. I'm a bloke so I don't really know about these things but for instance do people get their nails done for weddings? In that case link up with bridal boutiques and wedding fairs. Do they get them done for Christmas? In which case put more marketing time/money in around Christmas. It would be good to have a marketing plan laid out for the year so you can see where to concentrate resources.

Look out for local community magazines, you could probably get an article in there for free. Local schools are always looking for prizes to be donated for their various events and in exchange you'll get a mention in the programme...might be worth getting some vouchers printed to donate as prizes. Yummy mummys would be a good target audience

Savvy_Sue

Not entirely free, but some years ago a semi-mobile tyre business started to be based in the little garage we usually went to.

We were given one of their promotional pens.

that pen is still in my car, used to record petrol purchases and write notes.

which means I think of that chap first when I have a tyre problem!

hunnie

Put yourself on google maps.
Good Luck with your business!

cjj_2

Yellow pages and Thomson local. Totally free if you just want 1 line ie name and number under heading of your choice:beer:

laura16_2

wow thanks you have all given me some brilliant ideas I just need to think where to start now, I love the library idea although that will take a bit of bottle because ill look a right numpty if the library person asks wot im doing