7 Proven Ways for Hair Stylists to Get More Clients

No matter where you are in your career, there’s a recurring theme among most hair stylists: How do I get more clients in the door?!

Gaining more clients as a hair stylist is the name of the game.

But attracting new clients isn’t easy!

Here at Vagaro, we see a lot of hair stylists getting stuck in marketing ruts, still using the same old marketing techniques they’ve implemented for years.

And while the adage may be true — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — sometimes, trying something new is what you need to spice things up again.

So, if you feel like you’re in a rut and you’ve exhausted all your go-to salon marketing strategies, it may be time to shake things up.

To help give you some ideas, we put together seven fresh ways you can start pulling in more clients as a hair stylist.

Be Unique

You have your flair, your vibe, and it’s all a part of your business’s brand. It’s who you are and what you represent, and it gives clients an idea of your business. So having a unique brand helps you stand out within your community and helps attract new clients.

Revamp Your Website

Your website is likely the first place clients interact with your business, so that means your website has to hook them! Double check your website, online booking page, and any social media platforms to make sure your branding is consistent and that you’re using easy to read fonts and colors.

Show Clients What You Do

Tell clients the specific problems you solve and who benefits from your services. Share examples of your work, such as before and after photos, testimonials, and any stats you have can make all the difference.

By carefully managing your online presence — developing quality content on your website and interacting on social media — you will start to build a reputation, and catch the eye of new clients searching for what you’re offering.

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Social media is an easy way to interact with clients and get your business in front of potential new clients. But not every business gets the most they can out of their social media accounts.

Here at Vagaro, we like to break social media skills down into the “three C’s”: Be consistent, get creative, and give everything a call-to-action!

With the three C’s in mind, let’s take a look at what it takes to get the most out of your Instagram and Facebook profiles.

Instagram

Using Instagram for business is not just about posting what you personally think is good to share, it’s about attracting clients to engage.

1. Show off your work consistently

This depends on your industry, but aim for a post at least once a day to keep clients interested. What’s the reason behind daily posts?

In 2018, 60% of Instagram users used the platform daily, including 55% of young adults who visited several times a day.

2. Add #hashtags and more #hashtags

Hashtags have become a pop culture term, but they really have value in giving more visibility to your posts. It might depend on your local area, but pick hashtags that have a decent amount of keyword volume, at least in the thousands.

Pro Tip: One way to make it easy for new clients to book with you is to add a Book Now button to your Instagram account. This way, clients can book with you right from your Instagram page!

Facebook

When it comes to Facebook, you want to make sure to keep your personal Facebook account separate from your business page.

Since your Facebook business page is where you can boost traffic to your website or booking page and engage with clients, you want to keep that separate from your personal account.

For your posts… keep them fun, informative, and helpful.

Offering tips and tricks for salon clients or massage clients can show your value and how knowledgeable you are in your field.

For example, if you’re a salon owner, you can pass along your best advice for curly hair in the summer.

Or, if you’re a massage therapist, you can let clients know the many benefits of a regular massage.

Yelp and Google Reviews

We know we know. Reviews are tricky and not always fun, but there’s one thing to keep in mind when it comes to your Yelp or Google page: You should respond to EVERY review.

Not just the negative ones (yes, you need to respond to all of those) but also the positive ones.

Responding to reviews — good or bad — is a game changer in terms of building client rapport and showing potential clients how you communicate.

Make Booking Easy

Online booking is all about convenience — for you and your clients. It saves time in your busy day (as well as pen and paper), and clients can book their appointment whenever they like. No more worrying about after-hours calls or late-night emails!

With an online app for scheduling, like Vagaro, clients can simply search for the services they’re looking for in their area, find your booking page, and book right from their phone or computer.

And on your end, you can set up your availability, services offered, and policies, so clients can get all the info they need up front.

It really is a great way to be discovered, and it doesn’t take any extra leg work on your end!

Pro Tip: On the hunt for a scheduling software that has it all? On top of full control of your calendar, services, and policies, Vagaro Unlimited also has everything you need to market your business and accept client payments.

Create Package Deals

Packaging your services into bundles is a fantastic way to market your offerings, incentivizing new and current clients alike to book. You can share deals on social media or send them out in an email marketing blast.

There are plenty of benefits to packaging your services:

You’ll book more appointments
You’ll encourage repeat business
You’ll set yourself apart from the competition

To help hook new clients into booking, you can create a package especially for them, like “New Customer Package of 5” with a little discount built in.

Offer Referral Discounts

This one may seem obvious, but too many businesses wait for referrals to simply walk through the door.

Instead… Why not have some of your current clients do some marketing for you?

Even $10 or $15 dollars off their next appointment for bringing you an additional client goes a long way, and it’s an easy way for you to show your appreciation for them!

Offer Free Education

Rather than trying to “sell” your clients on your business, offer them something that educates them and shows your value. Going this route, new clients can learn about your business and what you offer without the pressure of anything in return.

For example, if you’re an esthetician looking for new clients, you could offer a free online course all about tips and tricks for keeping skin feeling fresh in the winter.

Or if you’re a personal trainer, you could offer a quick nutrition course workshop.

Donate Gift Certificates

This is a fun one, and a great way to mingle with potential clients! Here’s the play…

Say there’s a raffle at a local fundraiser. You can offer to donate gift certificates to raffle off as a prize.

Or, maybe there’s an open house at a community center, and your services would make a great prize to give away.

Either way, you can attend the event, mingle with guests (or, should we say, future clients?!), and let them put a face to your business.

After all, it’s about meeting new people and exposing your brand to as many people as you can!