Every salon owner understands that competing in the current market is challenging. Marketing strategies are essential to increasing your business and reaching more customers, especially existing ones. While online marketing is important, integrating real-time, in-person strategies ensures a holistic approach that covers all the bases.
Read on for useful insights into marketing strategies every salon owner should know to boost your business and attract more clients.
Brand elements must be kept consistent to increase credibility and brand awareness. Your logo, website layout, Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) page, business cards, and even posters in the salon should have similar color tones and messages. This approach also unifies the points of contact and thus creates a clear identity that clients can easily associate with.
Make sure that your brand’s tone is well-defined and relatable to the target group. If your salon targets top-end clients, ensure it has classy designs and uses high-profile language. Make some changes to the brand, which would make it more appealing to the young and active target audience. This consistency will help your salon be easily recognizable, and clients will easily remember your salon and choose to patronize you rather than other salons.
Your website is your online storefront. Through it, customers can learn more about your business. It also serves as the first appearance of prospective opportunities, so it must be appealing and easy to navigate. Check that you added high-quality images of your salon, your stylists, and your services to show your customers what sets you apart. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile devices. The mobile experience will also keep visitors on your site longer, meaning they will likely book an appointment next.
Optimize using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques so people can easily find you on Google and Yelp. Use relevant keywords related to your services, location, and specialties to attract local clients. A blog on your website can boost SEO ranking and provide valuable content for your audience as well, such as how to look after their hair or the most popular hairstyles.
Nowadays, social media is extremely important, mainly Instagram, Facebook, and the recently launched YouTube Shorts for salons: it helps to attract new clients and keep in contact with loyal ones. Post before-and-after pictures of your work, create tutorials, and provide tips about modern hair trends. Relevant content showcases to your followers that you know about the subject in question and makes them share the posts.
Engage directly with users to respond to their comments and messages on your page. Host contests or giveaways to gain more followers and participation. It also offers the chance to promote special offers, discounts, or events, creating a sense of urgency and encouraging clients to book appointments.
Email marketing is an effective strategy for keeping in touch with your clients on a regular basis. Create email newsletters with information about the salon, its events, special offers, and occasional tips on caring for your hair. Email campaigns personalized to a client's level, as well as greetings and recommendations based off their last visit, improve their loyalty.
Consider implementing a loyalty program where clients receive rewards for frequent visits. You can use email marketing to remind clients about their points balance or upcoming rewards, encouraging repeat business.
In-person events provide an excellent opportunity to engage with your clients directly and showcase your salon's offerings. Consider hosting activities such as workshops, product opening events, or styling tutorials. These events allow you to establish market knowledge and create community among your clients.
To encourage bookings, offer exclusive discounts or promotions to event attendees. Events also provide opportunities to collaborate with other local businesses, such as makeup artists or fashion boutiques, which can expand your reach and attract new clients.
Referral is very important in the salon business since friends’ and family's recommendations are quite influential. Develop a referral program to encourage clients to bring in other friends and family members. For instance, you can give your clients a small rebate on the next service they provide or a free product for every new client they bring in.
Offer the best customer experience so the clients are willing to recommend them to others to gain more clients for your salon. Pay attention to the clients' needs in the salon, create a conducive environment, and provide frequent updates on trends and techniques in the salon business.
Online reviews play an important role in building your salon's reputation. Ask clients who have had a good experience to write reviews on social media apps such as Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Respond to reviews, both positive and negative, professionally. Accepting compliments is polite, and guessing how to respond to negative comments is useful for improving clients' experiences in the future.
Displaying reviews on your website has the added effect of creating trust, especially since many clients consider reviews before choosing a salon. Positive feedback will increase your reputation among clients and will help increase the number of people coming into your salon.
Collaboration with local influencers can boost your salon's visibility. Influencers with a significant following can recommend your services to a larger audience, generating interest and attracting new clients. Choose influencers based on their affinity for your brand's style of content.
Promote your salon by providing influencers with free service in exchange for a post about their experiences. This can develop credible content for the audience, which increases the chances of turning followers into customers.
Seasonal promotions are useful in reaching clients during certain periods of the year. For example, it will be important to have sales on hair color services or special holiday packages during summer. Promote these specials on your site, social media, and mailing lists.
Use special tags such as “book now” to encourage clients to book their appointments before the offer expires. Regularly updating your promotions will also make the services and products offered at your salon more interesting and appealing to clients.
At Join MYA, we provide your salon with the most efficient marketing and client acquisition tools. We bring clients directly to the appropriate stylist, avoiding no-shows. To learn more about how we can improve your salon's success, contact us today.