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Ask Your Personal Network to Leave Reviews
How & Why It Works:
Your personal network - friends, family, acquaintances, and social connections - can be one of the most valuable resources when you’re just starting out. Not only do these people already trust and know you, but they also feel invested in your success. Offering them a service at a discounted rate can give them the nudge they need to book an appointment, while also helping you build your portfolio, collect reviews, and generate word-of-mouth referrals.
Starting with people you know can also be a low-risk way to practice your skills and build confidence in your service, all while securing your first paying clients. By charging a small fee, even if it’s just enough to cover your cost, you position yourself as a professional and avoid the trap of offering free services, which can undermine your business in the long run.
Set-Up:
Create a promo code:
Go to Menu >> Marketing Tools
Click Promo codes
Click Create your first code or + Add promo code
Choose your promo code. The code must be between 6 and 12 characters long
Enter the amount of the discount. You can choose between £ or %
Decide which treatments this promo can be used with all treatments or specific treatments
Click Next
Choose who can redeem your promo code. You can choose from: ◦ Anyone ◦ New clients only ◦ Existing clients only ◦ Specific clients - if you select this, you can handpick which clients you want to include from your client book
Click Next
Set if your promo code has an expiry date and click confirm. To edit the expiry date click edit expiry date
Click Next
Set if your promo code has a redemption limit. This is the amount of times your code can be redeemed before it expires
To edit the redemption limit click edit limit and save
Add a label. This is used internally to help you identify your promo codes
Click Finish setup
Offer a Discounted Rate: Reach out to friends and family, offering them a discount in exchange for booking a treatment with you. This allows them to try your service at a lower cost while still giving you the opportunity to practice and gain valuable feedback. Make sure to communicate that while the discount is helpful, you do expect to charge a fee to cover your costs and begin building your business.
Create a Content Strategy: Use this opportunity to gather content. Ask your friends and family for permission to take before-and-after photos, video clips, or testimonials. These can be used on your website, social media pages, or promotional materials. The more authentic and real the content, the better - people love seeing real-life transformations!
Set Up Your Client Referral Scheme: If you’ve set up Solo’s client referral scheme, be sure to explain it to your friends and family. This is a great incentive for them to spread the word about your services, and it helps you extend your reach beyond just your immediate circle.
Tactics
Offer a Discount: Reach out directly to friends and family and offer them a special "founding client" discount. This can be a set percentage off your normal rates or a fixed amount. Just make sure you’re still charging something to cover your costs or even a small profit. You want to establish your value as a professional right from the start. Example: "I’m offering 25% off my services for my first 10 clients, and I’d love for you to be one of them!"
Get Content for Social Proof: Take advantage of these initial bookings to build your portfolio. Ask for permission to take photos or videos during or after treatments. If appropriate, get before-and-after shots, or simply capture happy clients enjoying the results. Use these on your social media and website to show the real-life impact of your services. You can also ask them to tag you in posts or share their experience online, further expanding your visibility.
Encourage Reviews: After your friends or family experience the service, ask them to leave reviews on your Solo website, Google Business profile, or other review platforms. Positive testimonials from people who already know and trust you can go a long way in building credibility with potential clients. A few glowing reviews can also help boost your rankings in search engines.
Leverage the Referral Program: If you've set up Solo's client referral scheme, make sure your friends and family know they have their own unique code that they can share with their friends. This is a simple, effective way to incentivise them to refer others to you. Offer them something in return (e.g., a discount on future treatments or a freebie) when their referral books a service. Not only does this encourage immediate bookings, but it helps create an ongoing stream of new leads.
Follow-Up: After their appointment, check in with your personal network to thank them again for supporting your new business. Encourage them to refer others and remind them about your referral program. A quick message like, "It was so great having you! If you know anyone who might be interested in my services, don’t forget to share your referral code for a special discount!" will keep the momentum going.