Nail pros: Here’s how to handle clients ghosting you in the digital age

When someone stops replying to your messages without warning, it can feel like a gut punch – especially in business.

You’ve poured time and effort into crafting the perfect message, shared your pricing and then… radio silence. But here’s the thing: ghosting is part and parcel of any business that communicates with clients via message. And guess what? It’s not personal.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve ghosted people. Sometimes I leave my closest friends on unread for days, even weeks. It’s not because I don’t care about them, but because life gets busy. We’ve all been there, right? Drafting a reply in our heads, forgetting to hit send, or being too overwhelmed to deal with another message. 

So when someone doesn’t respond to your DM, it doesn’t mean they’re rejecting you or balking at your price. It just means they’re human.

The myth: it’s all about the price

One of the most common things I hear from fellow techs is ‘they ghosted me after I sent the price. If I charged less, they’d book’. Let me tell you right now: that’s just not true. Ghosting happens for all kinds of reasons, and it’s rarely about pricing alone. Maybe they’re comparing options, maybe they forgot, or maybe they’ve got a million other things going on. Lowering your prices won’t magically stop ghosting; it’ll just hurt your bottom line.

So, what can we do to reduce ghosting and boost bookings? Here are four simple strategies:

1. End every message with a question.

When we send a message, we should always finish with another question. Why? It keeps the conversation flowing and gently nudges the client toward the booking stage. For example, instead of saying ‘let me know if you’d like to book’, try: ‘does Tuesday at 3 PM or Thursday at 11 AM work better for you?’ Giving them a clear next step makes it easier for them to respond.

2. Follow up like a pro.

You’ve heard it before: ‘the fortune is in the follow-up’, and it’s true. Your clients are busy people, just like you and I. Sometimes, they want to book but need a reminder to actually do it. Following up isn’t pushy; it’s good customer service. A friendly check-in shows you care and keeps you top of mind.

3. Market for the clients you want.

If you’re consistently attracting clients who expect bargain prices, it’s time to level up your marketing. Position yourself as the go-to expert in your niche: someone worth investing in. When clients value your expertise, ghosting over price becomes less of an issue. In fact, many of the techs I teach inside the Nail Business Success Club attract clients that don’t even ask about price. It’s just not important to them. 

4. Don’t take it personally.

Here’s the reality: people will ghost you in business. Get used to it. Even the best salespeople in the world only convert a small percentage of leads. If you get 20 enquiries and 10 ghost you, 5 raise objections and 5 book in, you’re doing incredibly well!

At the end of the day, ghosting isn’t about you. It’s not a reflection of your worth, your skill or even your pricing. It’s just a natural part of doing business in the DM age. So, keep showing up, keep following up and don’t let the silence shake your confidence. After all, the clients who do book with you are the ones who truly matter.

Click here to find out more about The Nail Business Success Club.