*This article was repurposed with permission from Vagaro.
Whether you’re a stylist running your own salon or a new business owner navigating your first year, having a thoughtful marketing plan can make all the difference. Done right, marketing helps attract clients, boost loyalty, and smooth out those slower seasons.
Marketing is like your best set of shears—when sharp, it works beautifully. But when dull or forgotten, it slows everything down. With so many platforms and strategies to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news? You don’t need a full-time marketing team to see the results. Even small, consistent efforts can have a major impact.
Let’s walk though some proven ways to market your salon effectively, backed by data and easy to implement. This easy-to-follow checklist covers every step of a salon marketing plan, from getting discovered online to boosting client loyalty. Whether you’re promoting seasonal treatments, launching a new service, or just want more consistent bookings, these tips will help you create a marketing strategy that gets results.
Build a Strong Online Presence
Before someone books with you, they’re likely checking you out online. Make sure your digital first impression is polished and represents your brand. A clean, professional website with mobile-friendly booking, current pricing, and visuals that reflect your brand can make or break that first impression.
According to a study done by BizcaBoom, 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphones visit a business within a day [1]. If you’re not visible online, you might be missing out on potential revenue!
Optimize Your Website
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, up to date, and easy to navigate. Include key information like services, prices, booking options, photos, and contact details.
Millions of clients search for salons, spas, and fitness professionals directly on Vagaro.com. Listing your services here isn’t just smart—it’s a powerful way to increase visibility.
Claim Your Google Business Profile
Make sure you show up on Google Maps in local search results when people look for salons in your area by claiming your business. Add your hours, address, website link, photos, and client reviews. This guarantees you appear in local search results and clients can see reviews, hours, and directions at a glance.
Streamline Your Online Store
Sell more than just appointments by creating bundles or product packages tailored to current client needs. Consider options like bridal prep kits, frizz-fighter sets, or skin & hair refresh combinations. You can also offer:
- Free samples with purchase
- BOGO promos
- Free shipping or pickup
- Loyalty-based discounts
Your online store can become a passive revenue stream, especially when paired with marketing around holidays or events.
Social Media as a Sales Tool
Your social media is great for showing off transformations and team culture, but social media also plays a huge role in bookings.
A recent survey by Sprout Social found that 68% of consumers follow brands to stay informed about new services and promotions, while 43% are more likely to buy from a business they follow [2].
Simple, yet consistent content ideas can be free marketing that can drive revenue for your salon. Here’s a few high-impact ways to use it:
- Before-and-after photos
- Mini styling tutorials
- Client spotlights
- Polls or “this or that” games in Stories
- Reels showing behind-the-scenes action
Remember, you don’t have to go viral, you just have to stay visible to your client base to build loyalty!
Maximize Email & Text Campaigns
In the rush to master social media, it’s easy to overlook one of the most reliable tools in the marketing toolbox: direct messaging. In beauty and wellness, what time you send your email or texts can heavily impact results.
According to the Vagaro Vantage Report, data shows that the most successful campaigns were sent in November, when salons leaned into holiday promotions. But the quietest month? June. Meaning there’s less noise and a lot more opportunity!
You don’t need to send flashy, graphic-heavy messages to make an impact. The most effective campaigns are often the simplest:
- Seasonal promotions (“Get Summer-Ready” or “Fall Refresh”)
- Birthday and client anniversaries
- Appointment reminders
- Product restock announcements
- Rebooking nudges
Over the past year, businesses using Vagaro sent over 69 million emails and 32 million text messages—and on average, every campaign brought in about six additional appointments. That’s serious ROI.
Here’s some key elements to determine before you start email & text marketing:
Segment Your Audience
Try not to send overly generalized emails to avoid sounding like spam. What you send to your first-time clients shouldn’t be the same as what you send to your loyal VIPs. Instead, send different messages to new clients, loyal VIPs, or those who haven’t booked lately.
Balance Sales with Value
Alternate your promotions with beauty tips, seasonal service guides, and appreciation messages. Text marketing typically has higher open rates than email or social media. With automation and AI tools, it doesn’t have to take much of your time, either. Make your clients feel cared for, not just sold to.
Build Loyalty with Personal Touches
Getting a new client in the chair is just the beginning. The long-term value is in repeat visits, word-of-mouth referrals, and cross-selling services. Returning clients spend more and refer faster. Build a marketing system that keeps them coming back.
Create a Loyalty Program
Reward repeating visitors with perks. Think points, exclusive promos, or early access to new services.
Offer Packages or Memberships
Bundles and memberships encourage regular bookings and simplify your schedule. Clients love the “set it and forget it” practicality around their schedule.
Short-Term Offers
Flash sales, add-on discounts, or Daily Deals can boost urgency and fill slow days. Promote them via SMS and social media for instant traction. Daily Deals are a fast, effective way to get booked 4x more often by new clients.
Run Service-Themed Promos
When clients need a little push to try something new, try campaigns like:
- “Summer Blonde Refresh”
- “Pre-Vacation Glow-Up”
- “Back-to-School Beauty”
- “Skin Detox Season”
Sell Gift Cards Year-Round
Birthdays, graduations, Mother’s Day, client appreciation—you don’t need a holiday to offer gift cards. Promote themed gift card bundles or “buy $100, get $10” deals to increase average spend.
Make Data Your Co-Stylist
Marketing isn’t just about creatively messaging promotions to your clients. It’s heavily driven by tracking what works and then doing more of it. Whether you’re sending texts, emails, or running digital ads, always check your metrics.
Monitor Your Campaign Performance
So how do you really know what’s performing “well” and what isn’t? The key metrics are open rates, click through rates, bookings generated, and time of day/week that gets the most responses.
Your goal is to get some sort of action through each of your marketing approaches. Depending on which software is used to send the campaign, they may have reporting features that automatically calculate this information for you.
Ask What Worked Best
Which offer brought in the most appointments? Which email subject lines had the highest opens? This determines what kind of subject line hooks your audience. What content within the email led to more bookings? This tells you what language inspired your audience to click-through to bookings. Use these answers to guide your next campaign.
Reinvest in Winners
Once you’ve found a strategy that works, double down. If a campaign brought in five new appointments, tweak the copy and run it again in a future season. The key is to automate it, repurpose it, or build new promotions around the same idea so you don’t spend endless hours working on a campaign.
Consistency Beats Perfection
Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. Whether you’re sending one email a month or launching a full campaign calendar, the most successful salons are the ones staying consistent and keeping their clients in the loop.
You don’t need to be a marketing guru to see results right away. Start small. Pick one area to focus on this month—maybe it’s sending your first text blast or scheduling a week’s worth of Instagram posts. Use slow seasons to test ideas and use busy ones to scale what’s working.
Even a simple text reminder or quick email can have a measurable impact. So, look at your calendar, pick a campaign idea, and start sending. Your future bookings (and bottom line) will be thankful.
Resources:
- https://bizcaboom.com/blog/76-percent-of-local-searchers-on-mobile-visit-physical-place-within-24-hours/#:~:text=They%20certainly%20aren’t%20searching,in%20the%20next%2024%20hours.
- https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-interaction/#:~:text=Many%20consumers%20follow%20brands%20specifically,don’t%20see%20enough%20of:
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Originally posted on Salon Today