Nail technicians nationwide are advertising their skills on Craigslist.org, and for the most part, they’ve benefitted well from the experience. “Since advertising on Craigslist, I get three or four more additional callers/customers a week,” says Sasha Miller, a mobile nail technician with Nails by Sasha in Las Vegas.

Here are some tips to making the most of your free listing on the popular site.

> The first thing technicians need to do when posting an advertisement is read when the ad will expire. Not all locations are the same. For example, if you’re a nail tech based in Los Angeles, New York City, or Chicago, your announcement will only be posted for a week before it is deleted from the site. However, if you’re based in cities like Miami or Las Vegas, your advertisement will be posted for 30 days.

> Regardless of how long the site keeps your advertisement posted, technicians should continually check the site to make sure the announcement is still visible to potential patrons. Says Miller: “I’ll repost my ad if someone has posted ads on top of mine. If my ad is still visible, I won’t repost.” By constantly checking and updating Craigslist, you’ll reach the greatest number of potential clients.

> Similar to an invitation, when creating an announcement, it is extremely important to list where your shop is located (and whether you provide mobile services), where you can be reached, and your hours of operation. Also, provide a list of your services, and if at all possible, post photos to accompany the list of services.

> Providing links to your salon’s website or your Myspace or Facebook page is also a good idea.

> Consider offering discounts to customers who mention they saw the ad on Craigslist.

> Since clients will likely be following up by phone, it’s important to have a professional voicemail message that lets customers know who you are, what services you provide, and that you will get back to them as soon as possible.

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