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Hairdressing Salon Online Advertising - Your comments appreciated
Internet marketing has become the most dynamic advertising medium available to salons today, Second only to TV advertising. To miss out on the benefits of an online strategy would be remiss of any salon owner and could have serious consequences for the salon. The truth of the matter is that a salon which doesn't have an online presence is practically undetectable.
The biggest factors preventing salon owners from employing search engine marketing experts to optimise their websites include distrust and cost. When you think about it, this does make sense in a way - how much money would you be willing to fork out for an internet marketing campaign if you were told that the results could take up to three months to be noticeable? It would take some convincing to get your chequebook out, wouldn't it? The following facts might change your mind. Let's explain what it by means of an example. Say for instance XYZ Salon has a website lacking optimisation for key phrases consumers would type in to get hold of their services i.e. 'wedding hair'. This will mean their target audience will be unable to find them online when researching the kind of service XYZ salon provides. Being invisible to search engines will mean that XYZ salon will have to spend a lot of money doing outbound marketing, pouring their valuable marketing resources into traditional advertisements. Although tried and tested, all of these traditional modes of advertising have one thing in common - they are intrusive. When you use this kind of ‘push' marketing you are forcing your message on your target audience, a tactic that is fast becoming redundant as consumers wise up to traditional advertising strategies.
In contrast, when you spend your time and money making your website more search engine friendly you will be able to communicate directly to users who are already looking for the kinds of products and/or services you provide. This is great because you'll no longer have to influence your target audience's way of reasoning, you merely have to merge with their current way of thinking. Essentially you are reaching the very people that are looking for the information you have. What could be better than that? Furthermore, SEO represents a long-lasting approach to marketing that employs an actively evolving medium. An online marketing strategy is also a far more affordable option for small to medium salons than traditional advertising mediums usually are.
The costs for a direct mail campaign, for example, can really add up over time; while a single TV ad can consume a small salon owner's marketing budget for the entire year. On the other hand, if a small salon starts off by optimising their website early on in their developmental phase they could run a good SEO campaign, a salon blog and a PPC program for the same amount of money it would cost to run a single medium-size print ad for 20 days a month. That said, traditional advertising media still has, and will probably always have, a firm foothold in the market place. The point is to be open to alternatives. If your current marketing campaign is not working, optimising your site could make a world of difference. If it is, a good internet marketing strategy could ensure you get an ever bigger slice of the pie.
Why not give it a try?
Kind regards
Your salon prayers may now be answered with the imminent launch of www.salonboo.com.
salonboo is a marketing tool connecting salons with consumers on a local level. It lists salons and provides on-line price lists, up-to-date offers and member reviews that will increase revenue for the salon industry. Consumers can search by key variants (price, location, star rating, trade product) and read and compare information. salonboo ultimately aspires to create a unique on-line salon community and be the inspiration and authority on when and where to beautify yourself.
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