Being an expert at your craft doesn’t necessarily mean that your business is going to touch new heights. Yes, skills and experience are important but how you market your skills or business is equally important. If it was the late 90s, a few billboards around your salon or nearby areas would have been sufficient to get things going. However, this is the era of digitalization and if you want to stand out, especially in front of Gen Z, digital marketing for beauty salon is mandatory.

If you have not started any digital marketing campaign or don’t know how to start, here is a detailed guide on digital marketing for beauty salon.

Why Digital Marketing for Beauty Salon?

Why is digital marketing for beauty salons important? Here are some top reasons.

• Increased Visibility: A strong digital presence helps salons reach more people through SEO, social media, and online ads.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Digital marketing is usually cheaper than traditional ads and offers flexible budgets.
• Targeted Advertising: Digital marketing lets salons target specific groups and customize ads to reach potential clients interested in their services.
• Showcasing Work: Salons can use digital marketing to display their work and attract clients through testimonials, photos, and videos.
• Engagement: Digital marketing lets salons interact with clients, share content, and build a loyal community.
• Convenience for Clients: Online tools make it easy for clients to book appointments and get information from the comfort of their homes.
• Tracking and Analytics: Digital marketing provides real-time data on client behavior and campaign performance for better strategy adjustments.

6 Key Tools for Effective Digital Marketing for Beauty Salon

Digital marketing is a blend of using different online platforms and tools to reach your potential customers. Here are some important tips for effective digital marketing for beauty salon.

1. Build a website

Twenty years ago, having a website was not important for businesses, but now it is essential as it is a sign of reliability for customers. A well-designed website can be a powerful marketing tool for your beauty salon. Second, it is equally important to optimize your website for search engines.

Key elements for a website include:

• Website’s design,
• The website’s loading speed, and
• The content you post on your website.

For instance, if your salon specializes in hair braiding, having a detailed page on that topic can attract clients searching for “hair braiding salons near me.” Even if your site mostly serves as an online brochure, it is important to keep it updated and optimized. You can do that either by learning SEO yourself or hiring digital marketing experts, such as Marktech. 

2. Build a Blog

Blogging can be a useful tool for digital marketing for beauty salons. That’s mainly because it helps people at the beginning of their buying journey. Blogs help attract visitors who are researching products or services.

While blogging is popular, it should align with your business goals. It is important to understand that blogging does not immediately bring you customers. It helps you reach your audience and slowly turns them into your customers.

For example, a blog post on “half up, half down dos for proms” can attract targeted traffic but might not immediately convert visitors into customers. However, they might follow you on social media or join your email list which leads to potential future sales.

Here are a few things to make blogging effective,

• Set clear goals,
• Create a content schedule,
• Do keyword research,
• Create engaging posts, and regularly review the results to ensure they are working for you.

3. Develop Social Media Profiles

It is needless to say that in the beauty industry, visual appeal is key. Social media tools are perfect for showcasing your work. Social media can also drive business as people spend (on average) around 2.5 hours daily on these platforms and use them to research products and services.

Statistics show that after seeing a product on Instagram, many people

• Visit the brand’s website,
• Make a purchase, or
• Discuss it with others.

Social media marketing is essential for beauty salons while Instagram and Facebook are the most popular choices. Other platforms like Pinterest and TikTok are also valuable and it is important to stay updated on new social media trends to keep your marketing effective.

4. Create a Mobile App

Whether you are running a small salon or a chain, mobile apps are a valuable tool for connecting with customers. They allow clients to book appointments instantly, receive updates on special offers, and get reminders when they are nearby.

You can either hire app developers to create an app for your salon or use a free online app builder. An app can help keep your customer interactions more personal than emails. You may promote your app in your salon and on social media by offering special deals to encourage both current and new clients to download it and book their appointments.

5. Create an Email List

Email marketing is a highly powerful tool for communication, thanks to our reliance on smartphones. It remains effective, with a high return on investment. However, to make email marketing work, focus on providing valuable content and avoid sending spam.

Being transparent about how you use email addresses can help gain customer trust. There are multiple high-end email automation tools like MailChimp or Constant Contact. Also, you should follow best practices such as easy sign-up and unsubscribe options, regular process audits, and customized content.

Lastly, maintain a clean email list by removing inactive addresses and sending relevant, engaging content to keep your audience interested.

6. Run Paid Ads

Last but not least, running paid ads should be in your online marketing campaign. You can set up and run PPC ads on your own, but it is more complex than before. If you choose to DIY, educate yourself with resources like Google Ads certifications, HubSpot free course on paid media, and articles on ad platforms.

On the other hand, you can hire a consultant, but this will involve paying for both the ads and their service fee. However, paid advertising can be very effective if you do it correctly because PPC ads often increase brand awareness and lead to higher purchase rates compared to organic search visitors. Thus, consider it as an investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to promote your beauty business online?

Apart from the above-mentioned key marketing tools, you can do the following things.

• Build a community of customers.
• Add customer reviews to your product pages.
• Highlight what makes you different.
• Micro-influencers can help win over customers.
• Create plenty of high-quality content.
• Explore marketing partnerships.
• Discover customers through social listening.

How can I make my salon unique?

There are different ways to make your beauty salon unique, such as:

• Implement loyalty reward programs.
• Invest in training to expand your service offerings.
• Provide a variety of experience-based services.
• Offer competitive services.
• Offer discounted services on special occasions or for your loyal customers
• Sell gift experience vouchers to promote unique salon services and attract customers.
• Enable online booking options.

Summing it up

Digital marketing for beauty salon is not optional; it is the need of the hour. The market has become super competitive, and having a solid digital marketing strategy is mandatory. There are different ways to establish your brand online, target your audience, and convert them into customers.

Some of the most important digital marketing tools for beauty salon include email marketing, paid advertising, a clean and engaging website, a blog, mobile apps, and strong social media profiles. Want to grow your beauty salon? Click here to get a free consultation and boost your digital marketing strategies.