Marketing Ideas to Boost Your Hair Styling Business
Operating any kind of business is a daily challenge, and while the main goal is to turn a profit and make a good living, a healthy bottom line depends on so many different and ever-changing factors. When running a hair salon, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day details of appointments, product orders and clean-ups and stop paying attention to the bigger picture.
Have you taken any time lately to re-evaluate your marketing efforts and re-examine how your salon is selling itself? A little bit of strategy can go a long way toward avoiding stagnation, which is the enemy of success.
Ramping up your marketing efforts doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or even very time-consuming. At Zuka, we’ve helped salon owners and independent stylists around the world inject some innovation into their operations with our silicone cutting collar, a simple and affordable product that’s a complete game-changer!
Here are a few ideas for getting the word out, so you can bring more business in.
REVAMP YOUR WEBSITE
Your website is your window to the world. It’s just as important, and in some cases maybe moreso, than your storefront signage and salon decor. You most likely know this already, but if you haven’t invested in updating your website in more than a year, it doesn’t hurt to take another look.
Is all the information on the site correct — address, phone number, business hours, etc.? How user-friendly is your online booking system? Are your photos updated? Do you have a section devoted to stylist bios? Testimonials and reviews? How about a blog section?
A bland, inaccurate, unengaging website will turn people away from your business, and they won’t come back. Make your virtual salon as inviting as you make your physical salon. Customer service is no longer just a face-to-face concept.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE
You’re most likely using social media to promote your business in some way, but could you do more?
How often are you taking ‘before and after’ pictures to show off your stylists’ work and posting them on your Instagram account? Make it a policy to ask clients if they’d consent to being your “Instagram Model of the Week,” so you can both promote the salon and keep clients engaged. Consider asking your stylists to post on the account at least once a week to add a touch of personality to all the promotion — of course, remind them that they’re representing your brand and they must keep it clean!
While posting on social media is important, it’s equally vital to engage with the community. That means responding to every message and comment you receive and taking appropriate action to make it right if someone complains.
And make sure all of your information is correct and up to date here as well! Some people will find you on Facebook and Instagram without bothering to visit your site.
REWARDS FOR REVIEWS
Online reviews are a huge factor in how people shop for goods and services, and they can make or break a business’ ability to attract new customers. Offer your clients incentives — such as coupons, discounts, free products or even gift cards — to post reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook. You can also offer incentives to stylists who are able to solicit positive reviews from clients.
VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY
We’ve been talking a lot about the virtual world, but your business still needs to be visible in the real world. Think about partnering with other area businesses and cross-promote your services, maybe even organizing seasonal events like family-friendly community block parties that bring together several local businesses for live demonstrations, food, music, etc. You could even organize your own Open House event, welcoming the community to the salon to experience what you’re all about.
We wish you nothing but success in your business-building endeavors. Keep coming back and checking our blog on a regular basis, as we continue to post salon tips, discuss hair industry trends and, of course, sing the praises of Zuka, our cutting-edge salon cutting collar!
While you’re here, feel free to browse through our online shop and contact us if you have any questions or require assistance.