How to Get More Clients as a Hairstylist

As a hairstylist, you either fall under the category of a service area provider - meaning you travel to your clients within a designated area - you have your own salon or a mix of both! If you fall under the first category, this article is for you! Let’s dive into all the secrets to building a solid client base and winning new clients whom you can enchant with your styling skills.

If you are interested in learning more about how to get more clients to visit your hair salon, read our article for the best tips and tricks on attracting new clients easily.

What Is Local SEO and Why Does It Help Me as a Hairstylist to Get New Clients?

Local SEO means that you are optimizing your online presence - such as your Google Business Profile, website, and business directory listings - in a way that makes Google recognize you as the best business to show when a potential client searches for local terms like “hairstylist in [city, state, or neighborhood]” or “hairstylist near me.” It’s actually quite simple. There are certain ranking factors - think of them as signals - that Google considers when ranking different businesses in the local map pack (the small snippet of Google Maps with the business listings beneath) or on Google Maps. Local SEO, therefore, consists of various strategies to optimize for these ranking factors, giving Google exactly what it wants to increase your online visibility and, consequently, gain new clients!

What Is a Service Area Provider?

There are two types of businesses that benefit most from local SEO: brick-and-mortar businesses, which have a physical location (such as stores, restaurants, doctors' offices, etc.), and service area providers. The second type consists of businesses that primarily travel to their clients or specific work locations to provide a service. This could include you as a hairstylist, as well as electricians, plumbers, wedding photographers, or makeup artists. The main difference between the two is that, as a service area provider, you’ll optimize for the area(s) you are willing to travel to, not for the area your client would travel to visit a physical location.

The Benefits of Local SEO for Hairstylists

Local SEO is a great way to attract new clients and offers numerous benefits, including:

• A cost-effective marketing strategy
• Generation of organic traffic, which is more likely to convert than ads
• Increased online visibility, both directly and indirectly
• Improved online reputation and overall rating

Great benefits, aren’t they? So, let’s take a look at how we can optimize your online presence for local SEO purposes to make both Google and your potential clients happy!

How to Do Local SEO for Hairstylists?

Let’s take a look at the different local SEO strategies that will enhance your online visibility and reputation, ultimately leading to more clients who will book you as a hairstylist.

• Optimize Your Google Business Profile
• Utilize Google Posts
• Create Listings in Online Directories
• Review Management
• Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Start by optimizing your GBP. This will serve as your digital storefront and is the first impression potential clients get when they begin their search for a hairstylist on Google. So, we need to not only ensure that you appear in the local search results but also make your profile appealing and conversion-focused! Let’s explore how to optimize your GBP, especially if you're a service area provider.

1. Claim and complete your profile by visiting the GBP Manager.
2. Verify Your Profile: Follow the steps to verify your GBP for authenticity.
3. Ensure Accurate Details: Confirm that your business name, address, phone number, working hours, and website link are filled in accurately.
4. Add Business Categories: Select a primary business category and any relevant secondary categories.
5. Upload High-Quality Images: Use appealing images that reflect your brand.
6. Add a Booking Link: Make scheduling easy by adding a booking link for clients.
7. Specify Your Service Area: Define the areas you're willing to travel to (up to 20 cities), keeping them within a 2-hour drive.
8. Handle Address Information Based on Business Type:

• If you're a service-only provider, skip entering an address.
• If you're a hybrid business with a physical salon, include both your address and service areas.

9. Write a Description with Local Keywords: Describe your business, incorporating researched local keywords (use tools like Google Keyword Planner).
10. Add Attributes: Include attributes that make your business stand out.
11. Link your Social Media Accounts to give easy access to your work portfolio

Utilize Google Posts

Google Posts can boost your online visibility by signaling to Google that your business is active and engaged with potential clients, while also serving as a mini social media platform directly on your Google Business Profile. You can post images of your work, tell a short, compelling story behind it, and include a call to action (e.g., a link to your website’s contact form or appointment booking form).

Aim to schedule a post daily and use high-quality images. Since Google Post images are saved in your image gallery, posting regularly also gives you more control over your GBP’s aesthetic by keeping your own images in rotation.

To schedule Google Posts:

1. Sign in to your GBP
2. Click on “Add Update” in the Settings

4. Choose between “Add update”, “Add offer”, “Add event”

6. Fill in the information and add an image

8. Click on “Post”

Tip: Maintaining a consistent posting schedule on your Google Business Profile can be time-consuming. However, with Obenan, you can streamline this process by bulk-scheduling your Google Posts. This feature allows you to set up a month's worth of daily posts in just one session, ensuring your profile remains active and engaging with minimal ongoing effort. Obenan's AI can also assist in creating local SEO-friendly captions that reflect your brand's tone of voice.

Create Listings in Online Directories

Collecting citations is another crucial activity for local SEO! Citations are mentions of your name, address, and phone number (NAP details) across the web, commonly found on business directories (essentially online Yellow Pages). Create a listing on each relevant directory and ensure your NAP details, working hours, and website link are consistent across all directories, your website, and your GBP. NAP consistency is a highly influential local SEO ranking factor, as inconsistent details can confuse both potential clients and Google.

You can start by creating a listing on the following directories that are suitable for hairstylists:

1. Yelp
2. Foursquare
3. Bing Places
4. Facebook Business Pages
5. Instagram Business Profile
6. Yellow Pages
7. Nextdoor
8. MapQuest
9. Superpages
10. Angi (formerly Angie’s List)
11. Thumbtack
12. Citysearch
13. Local.com
14. Manta
15. Beautylish

Review Management

Nobody wants to risk a bad hairstyle on their wedding day or a special occasion. That’s why people heavily rely on reviews from previous clients to confirm that you can deliver quality results. Therefore, effective review management - maintaining a steady flow of client reviews and responding to each one promptly - is highly recommended.

Encouraging Client Reviews

Collecting reviews can be challenging for most businesses. Many people are simply too busy or don’t feel motivated to leave a review. However, with the right strategies, you can tap into their motivation and encourage more clients to share their experiences with you as their hairstylist.

1. Claim your review link
2. Sign in to your ****GBP ****
3. Click on “Ask for review”

5. Use the link to create follow-up e-mails
6. Convert the link into a QR code for business cards, flyers, receipts
7. Always ask clients in person after a successful appointment to please leave a review. Let them know you value their feedback and a review would help your business a lot. Appeal to their emotions!

Tip: With the Obenan Review Management Tool, you can create review campaigns that make collecting new client reviews much easier. You can even set up a campaign that redirects negative reviews to a private survey, allowing you to manage your online rating while still receiving constructive feedback internally. This approach gives you greater control over your online reputation while using negative feedback to improve your services.

Responding to Reviews

Once a client leaves a review, your job isn’t over yet! Aim to reply within 24 hours (ideally within the hour). Thank clients for their positive feedback and encourage them to refer you to friends or family. If you receive a negative review, try not to take it personally. Respond politely, thank them for their feedback, and provide your business email address, inviting them to contact you to resolve the issue. This approach can turn negative feedback into an opportunity. In some cases, clients may even update their review to a more positive one once they see your compassion and willingness to resolve their concerns.

Tip: With the Obenan Review Management Tool, you can automate timely responses to incoming reviews in your brand’s unique tone of voice, thanks to our advanced AI. This way, you won’t have to worry about missing or forgetting to reply to a new review, and you’ll ensure that your online visibility continues to grow consistently.

Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

While local SEO mainly focuses on your GBP, your website also plays a crucial role in boosting online visibility and converting potential clients into actual clients. Many interested users will click through to your website to gather more information before contacting you or booking an appointment.

To make your website local SEO-friendly and boost your online presence, consider these key points:

1. Headers: Each page should have a main title (H1) and be structured with subheadings (H2, H3, H4, etc.) for easy readability and SEO benefits.
2. Meta Title & Description: Ensure each page has a meta title and description. These appear in Google search results and should encourage users to click through to your website. Include your primary keyword (one per page), keep titles under 60 characters, and descriptions under 160 characters.
3. Local Pages: For service area providers, create a dedicated page for each service area you’re willing to travel to. Add images from your portfolio specific to that area, and incorporate local keywords. Include contact information on each local page.
4. Blog Page: Writing blog posts targeting specific keywords can increase your visibility in search results and provide valuable information to potential clients. A blog also lets you showcase your work and expertise.
5. User-Friendliness: Your header and footer should link to key pages. Ensure that the contact and booking pages are easily accessible from the homepage. Avoid long navigation paths; if users need to click more than three times to reach a page, you risk losing their attention.
6. Mobile Friendliness: Since most users search on mobile devices, make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Focus on fast loading speeds, easy navigation, responsive text and images, and a simple menu. Avoid pop-ups that are difficult to close.
7. Image Gallery: As a hairstylist, visuals are crucial. Include an image gallery with before-and-after photos of your work to showcase your skills effectively.

How to Leverage Social Media to Get New Clients as a Hairstylist?

Where do people go to get inspired for hairstyles, whether for a wedding or a special event? That’s right - Instagram, Pinterest, and similar platforms! So, it’s essential to be present on these channels and build a portfolio that showcases your hairstyling skills. Besides reviews, people look for before-and-after images when choosing a hairstylist. They often have a vision or specific style in mind and want to ensure you can bring it to life.

What Are the Best Social Media Channels for a Hairstylist?

The top platforms for inspiration are Instagram and Pinterest, closely followed by TikTok and Facebook. While you don’t need to be active on every platform, having a presence on multiple channels can be beneficial. Use content recycling to save time - post the same content across platforms. For example, if you create a TikTok video, you can easily share it on Facebook and Instagram as a Reel.

What Should You Post on Social Media as a Hairstylist?

Here are some content ideas to inspire your social media posts. We recommend creating a content calendar and dedicating a theme to each day of the week. This way, you’ll always know what to post. Organize folders on your computer or phone for each category and gather content regularly. With this approach, you’ll never run out of fresh, engaging posts to share.

• Before-and-After Photos: Highlight transformations to show your skill in cutting, coloring, and styling.
• Client Spotlights: With permission, feature happy clients and share their feedback to build trust.
• Tutorials and Tips: Share quick styling tips, hair care routines, and product recommendations.
• Seasonal Styles: Showcase trendy cuts and colors that are popular for the season.
• Behind-the-scenes: Show a glimpse of your workspace, tools, or daily routine to make your page more relatable.
• Product Spotlights: Highlight products you use and recommend, explaining their benefits.
• Promotions and Special Offers: Announce discounts, package deals, or referral incentives.
• FAQs: Answer common questions about hair care, styling, or maintenance.
• Client Reviews and Testimonials: Repost positive reviews to boost your credibility.
• Team Introductions: If you work with others, feature your team members to personalize your brand.
• Events or Workshop Recaps: Share photos from any events, workshops, or trainings to show continuous learning.
• User-Generated Content: Repost photos from clients who tag you, showing real-life results.
• Local Highlights: Collaborate with other local businesses or feature community events to build a local following.

Other Methods to Get More Clients as a Hairstylist

Besides local SEO and social media, here are some more clever ways to attract more clients as a hairstylist! Let’s explore these final tips:

Fairs and Conventions

Participating in fairs and conventions is an excellent way to network and collaborate with other creatives or small businesses in your area. There are B2B (Business 2 business) fairs, as well as B2C (Business 2 consumer) fairs - like bridal expos - where you can meet potential clients on the spot!

Host Events or Styling Workshops

Organize a workshop or “hair party” where attendees can learn styling techniques, giving potential clients a taste of your expertise. These events can be ideal for bachelorette parties, birthdays, or team events. They offer direct contact with potential clients, increase brand awareness, and can lead to future appointments.

Create a Loyalty Program

Loyal clients are often more valuable than new ones! Develop a loyalty program to keep your existing clients coming back when they need a hairstylist. Use newsletters to stay top-of-mind and set up a points system (or a simple stamp card) that rewards them with a discount or free appointment. Loyal clients are also more likely to refer you and leave a positive review on your GBP, so nurturing loyalty is just as important as attracting new clients.

Create a Referral Program

A referral program can complement your loyalty program. Each time a client refers your business to someone, and that person becomes a client, reward the referrer with a discount or free appointment. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful advertising forms; a study by Nielsen found that 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family. So, a referral program can be a highly effective way to attract new clients who are more likely to trust your services from the start.

What We Have Learned Today

Local SEO is essential if you want to attract new clients as a hairstylist. Whether you own a salon or travel to customers, local SEO helps Google rank you higher in local searches, putting you in front of your target audience! Local SEO involves a range of activities that need to be performed consistently to yield results. Key components include optimizing your GBP, managing reviews effectively, collecting citations, and optimizing your website with local keywords. Additionally, hairstylists should leverage social media to showcase their work and build trust through referral and loyalty programs. Once you’ve gained a client, it’s important to ensure they remain a loyal customer.

While local SEO is the most effective way to grow your clientele, it requires ongoing monitoring and optimization. Fortunately, you can stay focused on your client’s hair, as Obenan can handle all local SEO efforts for you! We’ve developed local SEO tools that automate essential tasks, ensuring accuracy and timely actions. With Obenan, there’s no longer any excuse not to implement local SEO and enjoy its rewards - more clients for you!