50 Salon Marketing Ideas to Elevate Your Business

Marketing is a critical component to the success of your salon business, so having a solid strategy and reliable salon software to support your efforts can make all of the difference. Get inspired with these top hair salon marketing ideas that will help you grow your brand, crush your goals, and supercharge your business!

 

Salon Marketing Ideas

Online Salon Marketing Ideas to Boost Visibility & Engagement

Offline Salon Marketing Ideas to Build Brand Awareness

Salon Marketing Ideas Using Salon Software

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50 Salon Marketing Ideas to Boost Business

 Bonus: Learn how to lock in the next visit like a pro with our tried and true Rebooking Scripts to Make Every Client a Repeat Client.

A selfie station is unique salon marketing idea that you need to try. Create an area in your business with great lighting so clients can take selfies to post on their social media. Don’t forget to promote your hashtag and ask them to tag your account.

People come to salons for more than just great hair- they want the experience of luxury and pampering that comes with that. Build a strong experience from the moment a client steps inside to the moment they leave, and beyond. Offer complimentary beverages, provide exceptional customer service and listen to your client’s needs to make them feel taken care of.

A great way to differentiate yourself from the competition is to carry and promote exclusive products other salons don’t. This unique salon marketing idea increases revenue and keeps clients coming back to your business.

Developing a long-term relationship with a client will undeniably help make a connection and win you a ‘lifetime’ guest who will also recommend your services, leave reviews, and engage with your business both on and offline.

Simplify your pricing structure and menu to let your services speak for themselves. Offering too many options can leave clients feeling overwhelmed whereas a simple menu can lead to higher spending.

Your employees are representing your business at all times, so make sure their appearance and behavior are always on-brand for your salon. Host monthly team trainings to keep their customer service skills fresh and be sure to implement team-building activities to keep morale high. Ensure your beauty salon advertisements reflect your branding and who you are! A salon advertisement example can be found below!

Contests and competitions are fun salon marketing ideas that are sure to get your clients excited. Host a contest where you award the client who brings in the most referrals with a great prize! Whether that’s a free blowout or facial or percent off of their next service, the choice is yours!

Coach your staff on how to naturally and effectively offer up-sells during their services for add-ons or retail.

Promote a special sale around the 4th of July or other seasonal events, where you let clients buy products and services at a reduced rate. Consider offers like 20% specific retail collections, a friends and family sale, BOGO gift card incentives—the list goes on!  Running promotions like these can prove to be one of the most effective salon marketing ideas to draw the crowds and boost retail sales.

Referrals will always be your key source of attracting new clients, so make sure you’re asking your clients to leave an online review of your business at the end of each service.

Offer express or mini services for clients on-the-go. You’ll be able to market them as both an add-on to their original service as well as a quick lunch break treatment.

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Coach your stylists on how to capture the best photos of their work on social media as well as how to share to draw new clients with their effort. You’ll help boost their personal profiles as well as your business. Salon marketing ideas on social media could include posting videos, sharing user posts, posting testimonials, sharing a contest link, and offering referral discounts to name a few!

How is your critical business information such as store hours, address, and phone number listed across the internet? Use our Business Listing Scan to instantly check the health of your salon or spa’s online info across dozens of search engines, maps, and directories!

When potential clients search for salons in your area, make sure you’re coming up first in Google! For example, you can run ads for your beauty salon to target and bid on users near your business location! It’s easy to set up campaigns and it’ll help you bring brand new clients into your business.

Facebook advertising allows you to reach new clients through their social media feeds! Customize your target demographic and bring in new quality clients in no time!

Put your best foot forward with a simple and easy to navigate website that conveys your brand’s personality and attracts your ideal client archetype.

Write and publish original material that will not only help your clients but establish your business as a thought leader in the beauty and wellness industry. Share popular industry trends, product reviews, at-home styling or care tutorials, and anything else you think your clientele would engage with. Check out other beauty industry publications for blog inspiration and more salon marketing ideas.

Submit guest posts on popular salon publications to offer your expertise and expand your network. Should they accept your content piece, you’ll enjoy free traffic to your website and coverage for your brand.

Host a contest that incentives guests to engage with your social media, online presence, and services in a way that they normally wouldn’t. Select a winner at random or enter them in a raffle for a chance to win a prize.

Make sure your business information is up-to-date on third party websites such as Google, Yelp, and more to ensure you’re not missing out on potential opportunities.

People love to see and share beauty and creativity, so whether it’s through your social media platforms, your blog, or your website, make sure you’re utilizing beautiful images that showcase the talent of your team.

Videos are the new salon marketing idea that top salon owners are using to reach their audience. Create engaging videos that tell your brand’s story, or shoot mini videos during and after your services to show off new styling and color techniques.

Having a brand story is one of the key elements for helping to make a salon successful. Have a strong understanding of your brand identity and make sure it carries through the client experience both in person and through online interactions.

Don’t forget to tag your clients in your posts so they can re-share your posts! Clients will love to see their new look on your feed.

Make your products available for purchase online through an online shop and be sure to announce any sales or new product drops via social media and email. Don’t forget to showcase your eGift offering on your website as well. When you need salon marketing ideas to help boost sales around the holiday season, gift card campaigns will be your best friend!

Team-up with another local business in your area that can cross-promote and co-host events with you. You’ll build meaningful relationships with your community and make your brand more well-known at the same time.

Attend national educational events and trade shows to network with other business owners and learn from the best as to how to improve your business practices.

Paper advertising is still a profitable salon marketing idea. Ensure that every member of your staff has professionally made business cards they can hand to clients and partners, with a way to contact you and where they can find you online.

Whether they’re universities or big-name high schools, establish strong relationships with local schools to bring in students and teachers alike.

Offer small birthday rewards to your regular clients, as well as offering them a group discount for them and their closest friends to get pampered before their big birthday celebration.

Send out special cards during important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, or other accomplishments. A little goes a long way and it’s easy to add these specialty notes under client preferences within your Meevo salon software.

It’s all about who you know, so make sure to stay well connected. Focus on building relationships with other professionals and businesses to always stay on top of the market.

You have valuable expertise that could inspire the next generation of salon owners. Share educational content or host classes that clients can attend to show them how to maintain their services at home.

Looking for business strategies and inspiration for your salon? Check out our Inspo Hub for quick-read resources including marketing tips, industry trends, and insights from leading educators.

Host a large event once a year where you bring your VIP clients together for a day of fun, relaxation, mini services, giveaways, and more. Salon giveaway ideas could include free services, discount codes, gift cards, free samples, branded products, and coupons. Client appreciation can go a long way for establishing strong relationships. On the flip side, taking time to thank stylists can be a great gesture too! For example, having promotions and marketing events during hair stylist appreciation month can be a great way to market your business and boost engagement.

Did a past client stop coming in? If a clients hasn’t visited your salon for at least 6 months, send them an email, text, or phone call sharing that you miss them and provide an incentive to schedule a new appointment. Check out our client retention guide to discover the best practices that will help you retain more guests.

Follow successful industry leaders and try to procure their skills, accomplishments and successful salon marketing ideas. Between their sales and styling techniques, there are so many opportunities for you and your team to grow!

Never underestimate the power of freebies. Create small promotional items like shirts, retail, and other salon branded items to send your clients home with. Your name will always be around wherever they take your gift.

Re-evaluate your retail strategy and utilize your salon software to establish how you could be most effectively stocking your shelves to encourage sales.

Older clients tend to have more brand loyalty, so make it easier on them to choose your salon by offering senior discounts to your regulars.

Ensure that any communication you send out to your clients is direct in it’s messaging, concise, and helpful. Nobody wants junk mail clouding their inbox.

Sending a confirmation message to your client as a reminder can prevent several missed appointments. Try utilizing Meevo’s integration to text clients live from your salon’s landline.

Set up your salon software to send out a thank you e-mail at the end of the day or the end of the week, or even immediately following a client’s visit to the salon, through Meevo’s Email Marketing Platform.

Is it someone’s birthday? Maybe an anniversary? Use your salon software to automatically send a specialized communication to let them know you’re thinking of them.

Is your Appointment Book not completely full? Companies like Reach by Octopi fill in the gaps by sending out e-mails for discounted appointments.

Is your client due back in to book their next color treatment after 5 weeks? Send them a reminder. What about clients who haven’t been in to your salons in 3 months? Send them a ‘we miss you’ incentive.

Set up simple and accessible Online Booking options for clients to book services even when the business itself is closed, otherwise you’re losing out on scheduling appointments!

Positive reinforcement is a classic salon marketing idea that works. Reward clients for repeatedly coming in as well as for referring new clients. Quality loyalty programs incentivize them to continue doing business with your salon and are a great way to build clientele fast.

Send your clients a reminder about your latest gift card incentive. Here’s a gift card promotion idea for salons; buy a $100 gift card for a friend or family member, get a $20 gift card for yourself!

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You have now taken the first step towards your journey to salon marketing. Put these powerful marketing ideas into action, and watch your hard work turn into solid relationships, paying (and happy) clients, and increased revenue!