Salon owners are always in search of ways to attract new clients to their salon.
These marketing tips will help you to increase your salon’s awareness and book more appointments with new clients.
Referral Program
Your current clients are your best advertisers. If they are happy with your service, they will naturally want to share their experience with friends and family. Why not reward these clients and encourage them to refer more people? Start a referral program and offer a free product or a free or discounted service after each referred client books an appointment with you. Not only are you increasing your client list, but you are building loyalty with your current clients.
Social Media
Social Media is a great way to showcase your skills and build awareness for your salon. Make sure your content is interesting and represents your salon in the best way. Add hashtags to each post to reach more people who are interested in hair or beauty. Another way to reach more relevant people on social media is with paid advertising. Boosted Facebook posts allow you to reach a very specific audience with appealing content for a small fee.
Work with Local Influencers
An influencer is someone with a strong social media presence and the ability to influence purchase decisions. Influencer marketing is a great way to get the word out about your company from someone who has credibility with a large group of people. Find influencers that live in your local area and offer them a free service in exchange for either a review on their blog or social media posts. When the influencer’s audience sees them getting their hair or nails done at your salon, they start to recognize your brand and will likely choose your salon over another.
Attend Wedding Trade Shows
Wedding trade shows can be a great place to get new clients. Newly engaged couples attend wedding trade shows in search of vendors who will create their perfect wedding. Find events in your local area to attend and bring plenty of business cards. Also, be prepared to show some of the work you have done in the past and what makes you unique. Try to capture each of the brides’ phone numbers or email addresses so you can follow up with them after the event. To secure the brides as a new client, offer a promotion for people who book with you at the trade show.
Be Easy to Find & Contact
If you don’t have a website or social media, you are missing out on the large sum of people who search for local salons. Make sure your website is easy to use, mobile friendly and has a direct way for users to book appointments or contact you. Feature your best work on your website with professional photography.
Give Each Client a Personal Experience
A huge part of building your client base is giving your current clients a sense of loyalty and making sure they will stick with you no matter what. A great way to do that is to give every client a personal experience. Send handwritten thank you cards, personalized emails, and appointment reminder calls. While it may seem time-consuming, it makes your clients feel like they are appreciated and valued at your salon.
Participate in Charity Programs
Donating your time and services to charity can not only have a positive impact and give you a sense of fulfillment, but it also demonstrates that your salon is not just motivated by money. Find a local charity that would appreciate your services and team up with them! Share your experience on social media and with your clients.
Run Promotions Around Holidays
The holidays are the best time to offer promotions. People are preparing for events and want to look and feel good. The best holidays to run promotions for are Christmas, New Years, Mother’s and Father’s day, and Valentine’s Day. Or, use the holiday as an opportunity to offer a discount to build more referral clients!
Build Positive Reviews
Reviews can make or break your salon. A positive review can make people feel confident when trying out your salon. A negative review can result in someone choosing another salon over yours. Getting more positive reviews requires two things: providing exceptional experiences and simply asking for feedback. Start a Yelp account and email it to clients and share across social media. As long as you are invested in giving your clients a great experience, you should expect positive reviews – but be open to feedback and change.
Add Your Website to Local Online Directories
Another way people find salons and local services is through local online directories. Find the best online directories for your area and ask to have your salon added to the list. Sometimes, these directories cost an annual fee. If it’s within your marketing budget, test it out for a year. Compare how many clients have booked with you from the directory to how much you spent and determine if it’s worth it.
Ready to own your own salon? Get started today with Cosmo Salon Studios!
