Client discount schemes ...

[Tess Warwick]

Do any hair geeks offer a 'refer a friend' scheme? Does it work (as in is it worth having material printed)?
And if you do, what percentage discount do you offer to the a) the client and b) the friend?

 

[-sophisticutz-]

I do but it is not really effective. I offer 10% to the client and 10% to the new client. I have pretty much abandoned it.
I do, though, a loyalty card scheme, and that is very popular and has drawn new clients.

 

[LindaHR]

Yes I agree. I find my loyalty card encourages referals but just a referral discount offer does not. You can create your own loyalty card on Vistaprint for a very low cost. Work out your own offer and requirements.
In fact referal marketing is a skill and it is not as simple as offering a discount. this is why it doesn't work. There are books written on the subject. Look on Amazon and you'll see plenty to choose from if you want to increase your referrals.

Linda

 

[Sammi74]

i have been doing a 20% discount when a client recommends me, 20% for existing client and 20% for new client. So far, 3 clients have recommended me to friends through this and as a result i now have 8 more regular clients

 

[Tess Warwick]

I've done the free business cards from vistaprint and just changed the wording to something like 'Refer a friend and you will both receive a mini man and polish (min. spend £20). It will cost me a whole lot less to give away a freebie than to offer a discount.

And loyalty cards ... I just see it as giving away something that the client will buy anyway? How do you reckon it draw new clients in?

Thanks Linda for the nod on the books ... I may well just do that

 

[-sophisticutz-]

I've done the free business cards from vistaprint and just changed the wording to something like 'Refer a friend and you will both receive a mini man and polish (min. spend £20). It will cost me a whole lot less to give away a freebie than to offer a discount.

And loyalty cards ... I just see it as giving away something that the client will buy anyway? How do you reckon it draw new clients in?

Thanks Linda for the nod on the books ... I may well just do that

I did the loyalty cards because of the recession. I had clients who were not keeping up to appointments. Since the loyalty cards, my clients have become more regular again. It's only 10%, which most clients on average get £2.00 discount. I found it was better to have some, than none.
I am, though, talking from the point of living in a seaside town, with high unemployment.