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This question has been closed, and points have been awarded.
Beta Launch Of Site Stylistmatch.com
Posted By: Getamerchantaccount* on 9/28/2006 11:07 PM (CST) 250 Points
I am ready to launch my new site www.stylistmatch.com. Before doing a large marketing campaign geared towards a consumer/client(people searching for hair stylists), we need to build a database of hair stylists. What methods of advertising do you suggest to get hair stylists to come to the site and create a profile? The first 200-300 stylists get free lifetime profiles. I just got a flyer created.

Thanks. Any feedback about the site would be great as well.

Posted by: sowmya Accepted Answer
9/28/2006 11:27 PM (CST)
Hi,
Like the idea & the site look - my only issue with the site is that the photo/flash takes up all the space above the fold, & i have to necessarily scroll down to read. A bit annoying...

On getting stylists to join up, here are couple of ideas:
- start with you area & do a Direct Marketing campaign
- try to participate in national, regional industry meets/exibitions etc. & spread the word there
- An email/web advt campaign across the nation
- Get some PR in industry magzines/websites

the idea is to let the stylists know this exists & ensuring that they appreciate the benefits of joining up.

Hope this helps
Sowmya
 
Posted by: Heather* Accepted Answer
9/29/2006 4:12 AM (CST)
This is an excellent idea! I have had that experience, and had to channel Nancy Drew to find my stylist! Here are some suggestions for your site:

1) Change the color of the yellow sections of the page. The hue is "off" compared to the flash section.

2) The blank section at the bottom of the front page looks empty.

3) Change the font, and increase the font size slightly.

4) Reformat the front page to include indents, bullets, etc to make it easier to read.

5) Consider offering a ratings & comments section for the stylist's customers. This would be a great selling tool for you for the stylists, and nice for potential customers.

3) Down the road, if a stylist doesn't renew, keep them on the site and create a "Do you know where he/she is?" section. Then, as people click on the city where the stylist was last located, contact the stylist and tell them that "x" number of clients are looking for them.

Good Luck!
 
Posted by: KathySmithFilms* Accepted Answer
9/29/2006 5:36 AM (CST)
http://salonchannel.com/stateboards.asp#A
We went through the state boards and got lists of every stylist
and their local magazines. Put ads in those and that, along
with Beauty Schools in each State, Hair Conventions & Hair Magazine Distribution companies such as Aesthetica Magazine.

http://www.haircolordiva.com/hair_cut_hair_style2.htm
gives you a good basic education on hair cuts.

I have created DVD's and photographed all the funky posters & gotten them into salons mainly through conventions (sold out every convention in LA, NY and Puerto Rico. A lot of my sales reps came through Stylist Magazine & small trade papers that I found through calling the State Boards first. The entire data base you need is on the internet by google. I downloaded them by State and really really did well in this market. You will too. I have found that most stylists are there because the like to help, are creative and it's better than just a job that some people get from high school. They have pride. I really enjoyed helping this public as a producer/showbiz person.

Good Luck on your search
 
Posted by: W.M.M.A. Accepted Answer
9/29/2006 7:09 AM (CST)
KathySmithCasting as usual, has some good ideas. What type of a relationship do you have with the various "supply" outlets and retail stores, where stylists shop?

This sounds like something that may be ripe for a co-branding/partnership effort, assisting these outlets with the development of another opportunity to contact their client-base.

Perhaps POP in he outlets that drive stylists to your site/blog to register. If there are door2door sales persons within various product lines, call upon the shops, offer some time of value-added scenario to them.

Best of Success 2U.

Randall
WMMA
 
Posted by: Getamerchantaccount* Author Response
9/29/2006 8:04 AM (CST)
Thanks for the feedback. These are all great ideas. We are making changes to the site based on these comments. I had a question for Heather. You mentioned we should change the font. Can you please tell me which font you are referring to. I have been struggling with picking fonts for the site. Also, the movie is going to load quicker and we are going to make the site tighter so you don't have to scroll.

I just found this site and love it already!
 
Posted by: jaaustin Accepted Answer
9/29/2006 6:23 PM (CST)
I would run an ad in a publication llike "Launchpad" or something similar that has wide distribution among stylists. You need a higher end publication as I don't think those working at a "discount" salon are going to be the ones you want.
Good luck.
 
Posted by: Getamerchantaccount* Author Response
9/29/2006 6:41 PM (CST)
Hi all,
I took your ideas and contacted the head of Sallys Beauty Supply to talk about a partnership. This is what I wrote. She wrote back asking for more info. What type of partnership should I suggest?

"Hello,

My name is Patricia Weber, and I am the co-founder of StylistMatch.com. We have created a website that matches talented hair artists to potential clients.

We are the beta rollout of our website and would like to discuss a possible partnership/co-marketing opportunity with Sally Beauty. We are looking for a way to reach out to hair stylists who shop at your stores.



I am hoping that you can point me in right direction in regards to who I should speak with.



Thank you in advance for your time.

Patricia Weber

StylistMatch.com "
 
Posted by: bryan Accepted Answer
9/29/2006 9:12 PM (CST)
For Sally Beauty Supply -- Offer her advertising space on your Web site, in exchange for distribution of your flyers at her facilities.

Another thought for promotion is to make a deal with one of the major chains (I know, ugh, chains), to get all of their listings nationwide in one fell swoop...

- Stafford
 
Posted by: Heather* Member Response
9/29/2006 9:34 PM (CST)
Hi Patricia,
I'm not a graphic designer, but my sister is, so I showed her your page. Here's what we suggest:

1) Consider widening your leading. This will make the text seem less cramped.

2) Pare down the text on your home page and save the description for a tab called "what we do".

3) Keep the font's point size at 12, but don't hesitate to use bold for subtitles.

4) Consider subtitles and bullets for some of the most important features of your site when revamping the home page.

5) Consider a mix of sans serif and serif fonts, with sans serif for the headings, tabs, etc and the serif fonts for the text body. This will create a clear delineation between what is a title and what is text.

6) We'd like to suggest Garamond as a serif font for your page.

7) My sister agrees strongly with me that the yellow should be changed, and the white space at the bottom of the could be put to better use - I think you already plan on doing these things.

Congratulations again on a great idea!
- Heather
 
Posted by: KathySmithFilms* Member Response
9/30/2006 12:08 PM (CST)
What methods of advertising do you suggest to get hair stylists to come to the site and create a profile?

To add more suggestions. email to stylists staff has worked with and tell them to check it out & sign up. You site is going to be an easier way to help not only the stylist but the consumers and people that want to link or place an ad with you.

Sally's Beauty Supply is great to position with and for the high end:
http://www.cosmoprofnorthamerica.com/ They could get a similar letter.
You may have the beauty school directories but I linked it for you. Could this be copied to your site to start the build with names they already have? Positioning just to start as bait for more reach...
http://www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com/cosmetologyschoolsindex.php
and
http://www.stylecareer.com/hair_salon.shtml
would be good to coordinate exchanges for those more experienced than newbies.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/08/181544.php good blog on Bravo TV hair show - interesting take for another position.

Have a write up in "W" or "Elle" or any of the Stylist Trades. The editors are looking for stories & you have one that helps their public. Sometimes the "Elle" ad that looks like an article costs a little over a grand but you can then place on your site "As seen in_____" and put an icon of the magazine.

Your site will do great. It puts an impression you are ready to deliver stellar products for helping people & stylists.
Kathy
 
Posted by: Getamerchantaccount* Author Response
10/2/2006 5:23 PM (CST)
Hi,
We are making the changes recommended. We started with getting rid of the yellow. Does the green look better? We are also taking out the burgundy and replacing it with the orange color in our logo.

Also, I would like someone to rewrite the content and really try to maximize the benefit of the site for the both the stylist and client. DO i just post the project and you all can reply if interested?
 
Posted by: jpoyer Accepted Answer
10/5/2006 3:30 PM (CST)
Patricia -
I totally dig the look and the idea. I think you will do very well. I just have a few notes concerning website feedback ...

1. Check your pages in Netscape/Firefox. You have something going on that wraps the "news" tab to the next line. ... There are also a couple of other design issues that can be adjusted to look better in these browsers. Of course this will probably only be about 12-18 percent of your audience, but a web professional can make these adjustments with little or no heartburn, then you'll have 100% ... When you get everything working, also check to make sure your payment stuff works in both browsers as well. As a Firefox user, there is nothing more frustrating for me than to go through the ordering process, picking out items then go to check out and it doesn't work (grrr.).

2. Stick with a sans serif text for body copy, verdana is most readable, but what you have is fine also. (For print, it is the opposite, but serif fonts on screen in large chunks tend to be hard to read.) Whatever you choose, though, be consistent - like right now, you have a different font for the body copy on the about us page (helvetica?) than you do for the body copy on the front page (arial).

3. Also text related, it looks like there is a TD width tag prohibiting your main text from filling in the space available. This happens to various degrees on different pages.

4. Picky but easy fix! :) On the contact us page, Message is misspelled ... you're missing an S.

5. You might consider lightening up the background - it's a bit heavy.

6. What are you planning for the News - under the states' listing? If you will be using press releases, or relevant news, this might need to be relocated to be more accessible.

Overall, you have a great idea, and a great site. I hope you are very successful because it does seem to have wonderful potential.

Best Regards,

Jennifer
XPRT Creative
 
Posted by: KathySmithFilms* Member Response
10/12/2006 1:25 AM (CST)
The colors and fonts, stylists and clients understanding coordinate and all match. Your site is so professional. I will refer my list via a mass e mail for you.
Kathy
p.s. I would love to send you a copy of my color dvd if that's ok.
 
Posted by: carrie77 Moderator Response
10/13/2006 7:15 AM (CST)
Hello Everyone,

I am closing this question since it's more than 2 weeks old. We do this to reward the contributions of participants in a timely manner + to give increased visibility to the newer questions.

Thanks for participating!
Carrie (Production Editor)
 
Posted by: Getamerchantaccount* Author Response
10/18/2006 12:31 PM (CST)
Hi,
Thanks everyone for all the help. We made some changes. Kathy, how do I contact you?
 


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