You are a business owner working hard to keep your clients coming in, but you have noticed that they are starting to dwindle. It’s time for some new ideas on how to stay ahead of the competition and get more people into your salon.
Here are seven tips that will help you retain customers and grow your customer base:
Participate in a hair or skin show
There are plenty of shows all over the world. But you can start small by attending one in your city or state. It normally isn’t a competition but more a fashion show or event that showcases make-up artists and stylists.
Attending is a great way to meet new prospects and show off your skills. You can also catch up with old customers!
Make your own YouTube channel and get more views
Who isn’t on YouTube nowadays? With hairstyle and makeup tutorials it is a great way to get your name out there. It’s also free marketing at its finest!
Make sure you have lighting that brings attention to yourself and makes your videos pop. You need the proper equipment, but once you do, it is well worth the effort. It will instantly make people want to come in for their YouTube-worthy styles and looks!
You can also vlog about your business. This is another great way to spread awareness for your salon, business, and products/services you offer. You can also use it to post testimonials and before and after styling videos too!
Update your Google My Business Listing (GMB)
Ensure that the GMB listing for your salon is up to date and has all relevant information about your business. This includes opening times, addresses, and contact phone numbers.
Post high-quality images of yourself and your staff on the listing so customers can get a feel for the environment you provide. It might seem like a lot of work, but it will be worth it when customers start pouring in.
Google My Business helps you rank higher on search engines for your area to be visible to all the potential customers.
Promote a Lunch Time Package
Give tired personnel and employees a much-needed beauty boost during their lunch hour. Promos on facial treatments and express haircuts are a big crowd-drawer. The employees can book an appointment during lunch or any breaks and enjoy a 20 or 30 percent discount. This is a good way to promote your services and get more walk-ins apart from your regular customers.
Create an Insta-Friendly Space in Your Salon
You can easily draw in more customers when you have a beautiful backdrop or a special area for your Instagram photos. You don’t have to go out and buy a new set of mirrors or furniture—simple improvements will do. You could change the way light falls on one side of the salon. Or put up an interesting backdrop with props if you are really after that perfect shot.
Don’t forget to have your signage or logo in the backdrop. This way, your business name will be visible whenever a client shares a photo on social media.
Ask them to tag you and the stylist or therapist who attended to them. It will be a great way to build rapport with customers and become a trusted brand simultaneously.
Make it a His and Hers Place
If you are looking for that extra push to boost your numbers, you should think about creating a separate zone in the salon just for guys.
Men are usually scared of this environment where ladies are getting their hair done or their nails pampered by professionals. They might be more interested in having a quiet zone where they can enjoy some peace, maybe with some music playing in the background.
You could create a pampering lounge or men’s zone where they can relax while waiting for their treatments to finish, enjoy exclusive discounts on services, purchase products from your salon at discounted prices, etc.
Just make sure that you have enough staff members willing to work exclusively on men’s needs to keep them satisfied.
Ask and Post Customer Reviews
Be as straightforward as possible when you ask people for some reviews. Don’t push them too hard, or else they might feel intimidated.
You can also post a sign in your salon asking customers to give feedback on their experiences. Or, if they are happy with the services, you can ask them to take a photo of themselves in your salon and post it on social media using a specific hashtag.
This is best for small businesses that don’t have too many followers yet or those that aren’t active on social media yet.
You can make it easier for your customers by creating an email list of names, phone numbers, or emails. You can then send them reviews through text message or email, reminding them that you would appreciate their reviews on Google, Facebook, etc.
Running a successful business requires a lot of hard work and dedication. But it becomes very easy when you have the customers coming in every day.
To ensure that they keep on coming back, you must show them how much your business cares for them through excellent service, competitive pricing, extra perks like discounts or special packages, etc. You should also learn how to promote and market your business and secure your online presence.
