We know that we’re living in a digital world and we have been for many years, but as Covid hit last year, it became apparent that enhancing our digital presence needed to take centre stage.  

Not only does your online appearance keep your regular clients informed and entertained, but it also has the potential to draw in new faces to be treated!  Running a successful beauty business takes a tremendous amount of effort, time, money and dedication on many levels.  So, it comes as no surprise, that prioritising your digital presence, from your website to your social media standing, can get pushed to the bottom of the list.

We believe that to truly succeed in today’s world, you need to re-ignite the flame of your digital know-how and invest some attention into making your salon visible for all to see.

There are so many thought-provoking, insightful and information-filled articles available on the web about this topic, and we will provide links to some of our favourites at the end of this blog.  For now, we want to give you a summary of what we believe to be, the top ways to improve your digital presence.

 

1. Get social – Social Media is here to stay.

 

As a beauty salon, Facebook and Instagram, need to be your priority. 

Instagram’s simple layout puts the focus on visual quality and is a great way to increase brand awareness.  Before and After shots, images of your salon, beauty and hair tips, all go a long way to building trust with potential clients.  

Be sure to include your salon’s website in your Instagram bio – it is the only place on your insta site where a link is clickable, and you need to be sure potential new clients can find you. 

Facebook is still by far the most significant social platform with over 2.7 billion monthly active users compared to Instagram’s 1.1 billion.  FB collects a large amount of data which means, as a business owner, you can truly create a precise target audience to advertise to.  

Building and sustaining a strong relationship with clients is vital when using Facebook.  Make an excellent first impression with the visual look and ease of your business page.  Provide testimonials and advice and keep the hard sell to a minimum!  Make short videos too – these are always a hit, and they don’t need to be Hollywood standard!  People want to see you as genuine, trustworthy, caring, passionate about what you do, and client focussed.  Encourage interaction and comments, and be sure to reply as promptly as possible.

Of course, social media advertising can also work well by enabling you to target consumers specifically in your local area and that fall in the right demographic for your salon.  If you pair those ads with a landing page or discount, the chances of bringing in more clients is even higher. But remember, social media is not about the hard sell –  keep it to the minimum and focus on engaging with your audience. 

 

2. Reviews? Yes, please!

 

Hopefully, your clients leave your salon feeling AMAZING!!  Well, you need to hear about it!  This can often get left in the too hard basket, but did you know that the majority of people would try a new salon based on positive online reviews?  A positive review on Google or Facebook can go a long way, and it’s not as hard as you might think.  Focus on your top clients and ask if they’d mind helping your business out by providing a quick online review.  Encourage your staff to ask their clients for online reviews by giving monthly or quarterly incentives.  Be sure to include your reviews on your website and social media sites – don’t be shy!  Google reviews are the perfect step to local advertising as it improves your local Google ranking – what’s not to love about that?!

 

3. Be seen – think SEO and amazing website.

 

Is your website as good as it can be?  Your loyal and potential clients are browsing the web to find what they need, and with the ever-growing competition, you need to be seen big time!!  A visually enticing, fresh, easy to navigate website is a must and  ensure that it is optimised for smartphones as the majority of your clients are searching on the go, not from a desktop.  Keep all the information up to date – your opening hours, price lists etc., so clients don’t get frustrated!  Oh, and it goes without saying to make online bookings super easy to access!!  A fast, mobile-friendly, secure website is critical!

Chances are you’ve heard the term SEO, but what exactly does it mean and why is it important?  SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and simply put; it is the way to get your page at the top of the search engine.  So, when people search for specific keywords, such as beauty salon or skincare treatments, search engines, such as Google, send them to your site.  SEO is a long-term strategy that can have a significant impact on your business. 

• Focus on creating relevant content on your website that includes salon keyword phrases that people use when looking for a salon like yours in your area.  In order to align with SEO standards, include 300-500 words on each page.  The content should comprise of a good balance of keywords, headers and internal links.
• Also, be sure to register your salon with the biggest search engines and provide up to date details so people can find you easily.

 

4. To email or not to email?  

 

Yes, absolutely Email!  Email marketing can get overlooked sometimes, too technical, digital world!  But it’s a cheap and a powerful salon communication tool that you need to be utilising!

An E-newsletter campaign that is simple but enticing will reach the majority of your database.  Compare that to FB posts only reaching 4-10% of your Page Likes, and you can see why email marketing is still king!  

Of course, spamming is not cool, but well spaced out emails that provide some great content are the perfect way to keep talking to your clients. We really do have a valuable marketing tool at our fingertips.

 

Further Information

Fiona Tuck, one of the most well-respected skincare and nutrition experts in Australia, gave an insightful presentation to Vital Plus clients in 2020 just as Covid hit the industry was forced to shut its doors.  She stated categorically that the digital space is the future.  It was absolutely needed to keep businesses alive through the challenge of 2020, but it needs to be a part of the every day.

If you’d like to watch this video, please click on the link.  Discussing topics from online consultations to E-blasts and social media, Fiona’s smart, savvy and intuitive approach to business shines through.

 

Fiona Tuck’s Presentation

 

To read some of the articles used to research this blog, follow these links:

• https://www.revlocal.com/resources/library/blog/7-digital-marketing-ideas-that-will-give-your-salon-a-boost
• https://www.myob.com/au/blog/beauty-salon-marketing-techniques/
• https://arnoldokleider.medium.com/top-10-digital-marketing-strategies-for-your-beauty-salon-c8e54f60a20a
• https://www.natulique.com/4-simple-ways-to-improve-your-salons-web-presence/

 

We love sharing our passion for the beauty industry with our clients and love seeing them succeed. And when you’re struggling, or you feel challenged, then we are always ready to help you up and propel you towards solutions, ideas and motivation. That’s what inspires us.

Supporting you in running a successful beauty business is our purpose.

Call us for more information: 1300 437 638