- 1. Create a competition\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Run a fun contest\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Use guerrilla marketing tactics\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Do something for a good cause<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Spearhead a speaking engagement<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Launch an e-book or video\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Host a webinar\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Start a podcast<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Start a YouTube or TikTok channel\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Create exclusive offers and events\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Bonus tip: Use advanced tools to automate your booking and bookkeeping<\/a><\/li>
- \u2753 FAQs about salon promotion \u2753<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
1. Create a competition <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
People love competitions, so why not create hype for your salon by searching for the next great self-taught nail artist, hair stylist, or makeup artist? Set the stage for an exciting and new competition that your community would love to be a part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To promote this competition, you\u2019ll probably have to use those tried and true promotion methods (such as going on the radio, canvassing non-competing businesses, putting advertisements in your local paper, putting pamphlets in people\u2019s mailboxes, going to your local recreational center, blasting it across social media, and more). However, rather than promote your salon as just a place to do your hair, your nails, or your makeup, you would be promoting your salon as a place for a little healthy competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
People love competitions, so set the stage for an exciting and new competition that your community would love to be a part of.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The prize could be a chance to work at your salon (and hey, if you need any help, then you could use this very example as your chance to find somebody!) or you could offer full salon tools and an internship to the winner. Mixing business with competition is a delightful way of selling your studio to the public as a place for professional advancement on top of stellar service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Run a fun contest <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This suggestion, unlike a competition, is for new and returning customers. It\u2019s for the lovers of beauty who <\/span>don\u2019t <\/span>have a professional background. In this case, the idea is to run a unique contest that would intrigue and attract new customers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Worst picture contests.<\/strong> Try running a contest where people submit photos of the worst haircut they ever had, the worst manicure they ever had, or the worst makeup they\u2019ve ever gotten, and give the prize winner a complete makeover or a service in any area that you specialize in. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Caption contest<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t want to do the worst picture contest, how about involving your staff in a fun contest where you get your potential and current customers to caption the best photo you share on your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
\n![\"Salon](\"\/knowledge-sharing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Unique-Salon-Promotion-nails.jpg\")
Run a picture caption contest to draw attention to your salon!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n Hairstylists, perhaps you might recreate a Great Gatsby party scene, with a unique twist, and see what kind of story your followers come up with. The best caption wins a hairstyle of any genre they choose!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
The idea is to run a unique contest that would intrigue and attract new customers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Makeup artists, why not do a 1920s makeup and ask them to caption the scene? Maybe a well-dressed woman has just been jilted by her lover and has to go back to her cold husband. The possibilities are endless, and the prize is, of course, a full face of gorgeous makeup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For all salons, this is your moment: it\u2019s your chance to grow your social media following and your brand\u2019s reputation. If you participate in this kind of contest, you can demonstrate that your salon is an easy-going place that isn\u2019t afraid to have fun with their staff and be lighthearted with their customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Use guerrilla marketing tactics <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The expected way to gain attention from your local community and beyond would be to put an ad in the newspaper, go on the radio, network, rely on word-of-mouth, and hand out and stick flyers everywhere. Guerrilla marketing means deploying unique, original, or different methods, which perhaps neither you nor anyone in your industry has used, in order to get big results for a small amount of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re not here to be ordinary; we want to leave our mark. So why not do something edgy and unique for the sake of your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some unexpected guerrilla tactics, which are eye-catching, exciting, and unique, are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Write in chalk on the streets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re a hair salon that wants to cater to children, then this would be a wonderful opportunity for you. I would suggest that you draw a hopscotch on the sidewalk in front of your salon. This would signal to parents and children that you\u2019re open for their business, and it would generally say a lot about who you\u2019re targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For adults, who perhaps have outgrown hopscotch, you can certainly use chalk to appeal to them, too. Try drawing a large arrow pointing to your door or to your sign – that lists the current deal and services that you offer. Additionally, if your building allows it, you could write anything you wanted about your services or the special features of your salon there, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Guerrilla marketing is deploying unique, original, or different methods, which perhaps neither you nor anyone in your industry has used, in order to get big results for a small amount of money.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Commission a mural<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can you imagine how epic and fantastic this would be? There are few things more enthralling than public art, and this is one of the biggest and most stunning ways to tell your story. Remember the chalk we talked about earlier? Here’s a brilliant way to get attention. Commission an artist to craft something big, right outside your door!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surprise strangers with a free makeover!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This one might be risky, especially if you pick someone who already likes how they look and doesn\u2019t feel the need to change. But take the opportunity to put your name out there by offering up your services for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Go to your local mall, station yourself towards the center, and stop people as they\u2019re shopping and introduce yourself, your services, and your offer. You might be surprised at how many people would be receptive to it, and they might tell their friends all about the makeover they received from your salon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And with this suggestion, you can totally have fun with it: prepare in advance by getting speakers and microphones (of course, getting permission from the mall) and make it an event – complete with free cupcakes, drinks, and lots of loud music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Do something for a good cause<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There’s nothing that beats making the world a better place, but perhaps second to that is earning a genuinely good reputation for your business. So mix beauty and giving back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a few ways that you can do this effectively:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Have people come into your salon, for one day only, and pay what they think your service is worth, and donate the proceeds of that to the charity of your or their choice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You could also put on an event, where you ask for testimonials about someone that your customers and potential customers feel is the most deserving of a makeover. Perhaps they\u2019re the mom of four kids, and they don\u2019t have time to care for themselves, or maybe they\u2019re someone who works overtime hours with the elderly, and they never take the time to care for themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find a local charity that fits your values with a search aggregator like Charity Navigator<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You could advertise this on the radio, in the newspaper, or on a social media shout-out! You\u2019re doing something to give back, so you have to make the public know that this one is for a good cause!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Salon](\"\/knowledge-sharing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Unique-Salon-Promotion-mic.jpg\")
Raise your voice for the good of your community and your business!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 5. Spearhead a speaking engagement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you count yourself as an expert on hair, nails, or makeup, you should get out there and share your story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plan a speaking engagement in your community, and invite hair, nails, or makeup experts to speak about the beauty industry and what it takes to open up your own salon. This could also be a chance for you to network with other salon owners and help promote each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
If you count yourself an expert on hair, nails, or makeup, you should get out there and share your story!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You can also teach the next generation by making your speech engaging for young or new beauty experts in your field. Not only will this solidify you as an expert in your field, but it will also put you on the map as a leader who owns a company that cares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Launch an e-book or video <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are always emerging hair, nail, or makeup artists who are interested in making their big break. How do they do that? They study! So why not be one of the ones who are smart enough to promote your brand while helping other people?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Launching a free e-book or a how-to video is no small task: it takes a lot of time, effort, creativity, and determination. But the payoff is too good to sit on the sidelines.<\/a> You never know who might rise the ranks, perhaps a few years after you release your book or your how-to video, and say that they got their start watching your how-to video or reading your e-book!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Host a webinar <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rather than making a one-off kind of video or e-book, consider hosting a web-based seminar <\/a>where you teach people how to do hair, skin, makeup, or nails on a weekly or monthly basis. Not only will this help the next generation, but continuous output of content will do wonders for your salon branding!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Start a podcast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Podcasts are extremely popular today, with people opting to listen to them on their commute or while at the gym. Look into starting a beauty broadcast, where you share your expertise. Maybe you could focus on the difficult sides of running your own salon, the pitfalls you encountered along the way, and any message or advice you would share with up-and-coming salon folks. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try this:<\/strong> to keep it interesting, why not have a different person come on the podcast each week? You could even have salon owners of different disciplines as guest speakers. That would keep things fresh and exciting on your podcast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Start a YouTube or TikTok channel <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While podcasts have a large audience to tap into, salon work is mostly a visual medium. Starting a TikTok or YouTube channel will give you a place to show off the incredible work that your beauty experts create. While both of these platforms host videos, they’re slightly different: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- TikTok<\/strong> tends to have a younger audience, and it prioritizes shopping and merchandise recommendations. They only host short videos. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- YouTube<\/strong> has a wider variety of ages in its audience and has a more straightforward payment structure for its creators. They prioritize long-form video, but you can repurpose TikTok videos in their “Shorts” feature. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Important note: <\/strong>make sure to get permission from any clients that you feature in video or image marketing campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
10. Create exclusive offers and events <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Today, you have to work smarter, rather than harder, to make it. With numerous salons, all within blocks of each other in most major cities and in moderately sized towns, your competition is fierce. To stand out, you have to be different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You need to celebrate your clients with unique events and thank them with exclusive offers. Learn more about how to run unforgettable events in this article.<\/a> You could also start a rewards program<\/a> that keeps them coming back for more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bonus tip: Use advanced tools to automate your booking and bookkeeping <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, there is software on the market that allows you to easily do all this and more! With WellnessLiving\u2019s all-in-one management software solution<\/a>, you can create private events for your valued customers, and you can even sign your customers up for a monthly membership so they can enjoy your services with one monthly fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Ayanna, the owner of Pedicure & Shoes 2 GO Day Spa<\/strong> said: \u201cI tried another software<\/a> and it wasn\u2019t a fit for us and it was more expensive. Starting out, every dollar counts, and WellnessLiving offers the same, if not more than the other software and it was less expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That really helped me out because it was something that I really needed. We just launched our monthly memberships, and everyone loves them. The monthly membership gives them a break for doing something that they already do. One of our memberships is unlimited mani\u2019s and pedi\u2019s, and they can come at least once a week. With the software, we can put our memberships in there, and it bills them every month…we make them feel special.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Wondering what that looks like? Sign up for a free, no-commitment demo today!<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2753 FAQs about salon promotion \u2753<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- YouTube<\/strong> has a wider variety of ages in its audience and has a more straightforward payment structure for its creators. They prioritize long-form video, but you can repurpose TikTok videos in their “Shorts” feature. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- TikTok<\/strong> tends to have a younger audience, and it prioritizes shopping and merchandise recommendations. They only host short videos. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Caption contest<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t want to do the worst picture contest, how about involving your staff in a fun contest where you get your potential and current customers to caption the best photo you share on your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
- 2. Run a fun contest\u00a0<\/a><\/li>