13 Powerful Hair Salon Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business (2024)

Marketing is essential to the growth of any business. Because the beauty industry is oversaturated, salon marketing allows you to stand out from your competitors and attract new clients, and is essential to your salon's retail strategy. But if you don’t have experience in marketing, the idea of getting started is intimidating. However, a simple marketing plan doesn’t require extensive training in the field.

By definition, marketing is “the action of promoting and selling products or services…including advertising.” As a salon owner, you already work hard to get clients to purchase your services and products. Now, it’s time to take your beauty business to the next level with 13 salon marketing ideas you can implement to engage existing clients and find new ones. Developing effective salon marketing strategies, such as social media marketing, promotions, and influencer marketing, can significantly boost your online presence, encourage repeat business and attract more clients. Additionally, utilizing salon marketing resources, like guides and sample marketing plans, can support you in implementing these marketing ideas.

1. Set up your Google Business Profile

Have you Googled, “salons near me” and been surprised that your own salon doesn’t appear? To show up as a search result, you need a Google Business Profile. It’s free to have this business profile and increases your visibility on searches regarding local businesses.

With a Business listing, salon owners are able to tap into their local market, respond to online reviews and attract new clients looking to support salon businesses in their area.

2. Have an informative and appealing salon website

Whether a client finds your salon through a Google search, a social media ad or a friend’s recommendation, they’ll most likely end up on your website. Potential clients are not afraid to judge a salon business by its website design. Implementing effective hair salon marketing ideas, such as leveraging social media automation and curating marketing strategies, can make your website visually appealing and informative, ensuring you don't lose out on customers.

You don’t need to be a coding expert to design a visually appealing website. MySite, Vagaro's sleek website builder, really entices new clients to hit that Book Now button. It also offers the added convenience of updating automatically with any changes you make to your Vagaro account.

The MySite website builder is very intuitive and simple to use, though Vagaro's designers work with all businesses in the beauty industry to make sleek websites that encapsulate their brands

If you don’t want a full website, Vagaro also offers a FREE listing page that gives new clients and regulars all the information they need to book services with you. You can add images to show off your salon’s vibe. The best part? Potential clients are able to quickly book from your Vagaro page!

3. Offer online booking

Part of the appeal of the Internet is how accessible everything is. When you give clients the option to book services online, you increase the likelihood that they’ll book with you, helping you attract more clients. They can make an appointment whenever it’s convenient for them. Instead of hopping on the phone and waiting, they can input their desired date and time and let your booking software do the work.

Vagaro has an easy online booking system to streamline the booking experience, which includes booking widgets that you can place on your social media platforms.

Email marketing is an effective way for salon and spa owners to build client relationships and run salon promotions. By curating a newsletter, you can share updates with your loyal clients, offer styling tips & tricks and share exclusive offers with newsletter subscribers.

A newsletter connects you with clients who you may not have seen in a while and will encourage them to return to your salon. At the very least, it will remind them that you’re around and ready to welcome them back.

The major social media platforms are excellent marketing tools because they're free! However, you can choose paid options, such as Facebook Advertising, to increase your reach on social platforms and attract more clients. The best part about social media is how quickly you can connect with existing customers, which will entice potential clients to give you a try.

On social media, you can respond & interact with your loyal customers and highlight the fantastic work of your employees. An active social media presence appeals to new customers because they can get a feel for your business before ever walking through your doors. You’re more likely to attract new clients if you are engaged and have positive interactions on social media.

6. Solidify your branding

Before creating a salon marketing strategy, decide on your brand voice, logo and colors--what makes you different from other salons--among other things. Then, use your brand logo on gift cards, business card and your website. Ensure consistency everywhere your colors and logo are used so that your brand's personality is cohesive and familiar to customers. Integrate email marketing, SMS marketing and social media marketing to tie your promotions, packages, services, and SEO and content marketing campaigns together.

Want to build brand awareness? One great tool is Vagaro's Branded App, created by talented designers who work with you to create an app that best represents your beauty business. With a Branded App, potential customers can book online, buy products from your online store and manage their customer profiles, all while surrounded by your branding.

7. Run salon promotions

Seasonal promotions are a wonderful way to encourage new customers to try out your salon services and bring back familiar faces. It’s a clever idea to run these promotions at certain times in the year when you predict there will be a slump in traffic.

You can also run ongoing promotions. For example, you can offer discounts for students or educators to attract new clientele from specific groups to frequent your salon.

Loyalty programs

Establishing loyalty programs encourages customers to return to your business to earn points or rewards. For example, you could have a loyalty program that rewards customers who come back five times with a discounted product purchase of their choice.

A little research can go a long way. When you’re creating social media posts, do some research to see which hashtags are most relevant to your salon services (and target audience). Promote your gift cards, video testimonials, ad campaigns, visually engaging content, virtual beauty classes, beauty tips, hair care hacks, promotions, client success stories, makeover contests, salon events, and partnerships with local leaders on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Go for relevant hashtags.

Salon SEO

If you want to try and rank for SEO keywords for blogs or your website, research which keywords will drive the most traffic to your site. This is an ongoing process, so continually create high-quality social media content to appeal to the algorithms that search engines use to index said content. This will determine whether you will be successful in your SEO efforts.

9. Boost online reviews

Think about the last time you decided to try a new pizza place or a new yoga studio. Did you read the reviews before making your decision? More than likely, you took some reviews into account. Potential clients are more likely to book with your salon if they see positive online reviews from existing clients. Effective salon marketing strategies, including encouraging online reviews, are essential for developing a strong brand presence for salon owners, which helps them stand out among other local businesses.

Wondering how to get more customers to write a review? Just ask! A happy client is likely to leave a positive review. You may also consider incentivizing by offering a token of appreciation, like a small discount on a service.

If you do receive negative reviews, respond professionally and with grace. Potential clients will be more likely to trust you if you can admit your faults and work with an unhappy customer to find a solution instead of becoming accusatory or defensive.

10. Make your salon aesthetically pleasing

While you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, potential clients will judge your salon based on its outward appearance. Your storefront is the first thing your clients will see. It can also attract new clients who are walking by your location.

Effective hair salon advertising, including promotions, can further enhance your visibility and attract more clients. The shop’s window should be clean. Remember: This is the face of your salon business.

11. Offer an Instagram-friendly space in your salon

Use your clients as marketing! Set up a space in your salon where clients can take pictures of their new haircut or nail art. Ask them to post on social media and tag your salon in the post. Once they tag you, respond and thank them for coming in.

In addition to social media, consider using Google ads to target local markets effectively. Work with experienced ads managers to create, identify, and manage ads for the best returns. This method can attract specific local audiences and enhance your online visibility.

12. Get feedback from clients

Curious if your customers are happy with the services they receive in your salon? Salon owners, wondering if your salon is as welcoming & inviting as you think it is? Ask your clients to provide feedback!

Following an appointment, send them a feedback form to provide their opinion on the service, price, space and overall experience of being in your salon. Vagaro makes it easy to create and send forms.

Your staff members can be your best brand ambassadors. Do you want them to focus on creating engaging social media posts? Decide how your employees can help and then train them on how to best represent the salon.

13. Train your staff on how to promote the salon

Incentivize your employees to promote your salon by offering small prizes to the employee who books the greatest number of new clients or sells the most product. Encourage them to write bios for your website so a potential client can get to know their stylist before meeting face-to-face. This helps promote themselves as a stylist and increases your credibility as a salon business.

Attract New Clients with Innovative Marketing

After reading this article, you now know 13 salon marketing ideas to promote your salon. Don’t try to tackle every single point on this list at once; take your time and focus on building quality marketing materials that will generate leads and produce more revenue. If you want to learn how to create a marketing plan, download our DIY marketing guide. With social media being one of the most effective marketing tools, you may also consider our guide on how to create effective & engaging social media posts for your salon business.

Some of the most effective marketing tools on this list are available through Vagaro, the all-in-one software solution for salons. Whether you just opened a new salon, spa or nail salon, or have been in business for several years, having an attractive storefront is crucial for drawing in customers. With a FREE Marketplace where new customers can find you, and marketing tools to help you get seen & get paid, Vagaro has what you need to kickstart your strategy and boos appointment bookings. Sign up for a FREE 30-day trial and discover how Vagaro makes business better!

13 Hair Salon Marketing Ideas to Increase Your Business