A strong online brand presence is imperative to attracting and retaining your client base. How your business is presented online provides your audience with a multi-faceted story about your salon or spa and what you offer in terms of services, expertise, as well as experiences.
There are several areas to nurture to ensure your online presence is truly representing your brand and reaching the right demographic. Here are the five most important:
Optimize Your Website
More than half of all website traffic worldwide occurs through mobile phones. Is your salon or spa website optimized for the mobile user? Studies show that loading speeds and the user-experience affect how long a user stays on your site, as well as how many pages they visit. Almost half of users will abandon a website if it takes more than two seconds to load. Furthermore, Google favors faster-loading sites in its search rankings.
Want to test your site speed? Use Google’s free tool.
Engage on Social Media
Surveys show that 78% of consumers say companies’ social media posts impact their purchases. Imagine a potential customer researches your business and finds that your social media hasn’t been updated or engaged with recently? Your social media accounts often offer the first impression of your business, so nurture them accordingly.
Keep Your Google Business Information Up-to-Date
Are your hours, address, website URL, and telephone number up-to-date on Google? If not, the inconsistencies may cause you to lose potential clients. Google has designed its algorithms to gather the most accurate information possible. If it detects discrepancies, your website’s ranking within its search results may be penalized.
Monitor Online Review Platforms
Businesses must accept that 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Monitoring and engaging in online reviews show potential customers and loyal clients that you value feedback and are making a constant effort to improve the client experience.
Create “Expert” Content
Maximizing content can multiply your audience and put your brand in front of thousands of new viewers. Take advantage of your team, as well as brand ambassadors, to produce content such as blog posts, social media posts, and video. This type of content promotes brand awareness and positions your business as a thought-leader.
How to Crush Your Competition with Marketing and Branding
Making your business stand out from the crowd is the first step when creating a successful brand. Looking for additional branding and marketing ideas? Check out our ultimate guide for salon and spa marketing. Join Nova Salon Owner Bennie Pollard as he joins us for our next Coffee Talk with Colleen Lemos to discuss how to create a strong brand presence online and so much more. Register here and tune in live on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at 1 PM EST.
