12 Tips To Improve your Salon Online Reputation

Now, more than ever, potential clients are more likely to surf the internet to research salons, read reviews, and check out social media before booking an appointment.

Studies show that 93% of people read and are influenced by online reviews, and 81% use Google to evaluate local businesses. So, your salon’s online image is just as important as the quality of the services you provide.

A strong online reputation builds trust and increases your salon’s visibility. Here are 11 tips to help you manage and improve your online reputation, attract new clients, and keep current ones coming back.

1. Optimize your website and online profiles

First and foremost, make sure your online information is accurate and consistent. Outdated information can lead to clients’ frustration and even bad reviews.

Your salon’s contact information, salon hours, services, and pricing should be up to date on your website, social media, Google Business profile, or any other listings.

If you don’t have a Google Business listing yet, make sure you sign up and set up your profile.

Then, you should enable Reserve with Google to allow clients to book appointments directly through your listing.

2. Have an online booking page

One of the most convenient ways to book an appointment, both for your clients and your salon, is to have an online booking page where potential clients can see all the available appointment slots.

With a mobile-friendly booking platform like Goldie, clients can easily find available time slots and book appointments on the go. Having this flexibility will let your clients make decisions and schedule appointments at their convenience, without the pressure of phone calls or uncertainty.

Also, with Goldie, you can make your online booking available on your Facebook or Instagram page as well by adding a “Book Now” button.

3. Collect online reviews

Nearly 97% of people read reviews of local businesses, so positive online feedback can strongly impact your salon’s online reputation.

Ask your satisfied clients to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. You can do this in person after their appointment, or you can automatically send a personalized email with Goldie, inviting them to leave a review.

Positive reviews will build up your salon reputation and even improve your search engine ranking. When multiple credible sources have the same accurate information about your business, it signals to search engines that your business is legitimate and will push it to the top results.

4. Respond to all reviews

Take time to respond to all reviews, good or bad, because it will show that you care about their experiences and appreciate their feedback. Thank people for the 5-star reviews and politely deal with any problems mentioned in the negative reviews.

If you receive negative feedback, take it as a chance to send your apologies, acknowledge the issues, and change the online conversation (and your salon reputation) for the better. Potential clients who will read your responses will see your dedication to providing excellent service. By actively engaging with your customers, you’ll build stronger relationships and improve your salon’s reputation.

5. Take advantage of your reviews

Don’t let your reviews go to waste. Publish your reviews on your salon’s website and show potential clients what people are saying about your salon.

Include some of those testimonials at key points in their customer journey on your homepage, service pages, or booking page.

Tip: The Goldie app allows you to publish top reviews on your online booking page, and automatically invite clients who left a 5-star review to publish it on your Google Business Profile as well. 

6. Monitor your online reputation

You should keep an eye on your online presence.

Use tools like Google Alerts to track mentions of your salon across the web and regularly review feedback on platforms such as Google, Yelp, and social media to see what other people, websites, or blogs mention about your salon.

In this way you’ll stay informed about your online reputation and you’ll be able to address any new feedback promptly.

Here’s how to set up a Google Alert

7. Be present on social media

Creating a social media account for your business is an easy way for you to engage with your desired audience. There is a lot of valuable content you can post on your social media, such as before and after photos, styling tutorials, product recommendations, create interactive content like quizzes, or questions and answers post, or even post UGC content.

It’s also important to showcase your expertise by sharing customer feedback or success stories to highlight your salon’s high quality services. These posts will help you create an engaging audience, build your reputation, and you’ll stay on top of your clients’ minds.

8. Encourage your clients to post online about your salon

Sometimes clients may be delighted by your salon services, but unfortunately they rarely show it online through posts or feedback. That’s why you should give them a little motivation to post on their social media about their experience at your salon to boost your visibility and reputation.

One way to do this is to offer them a small discount on the next service, a free product, or an add-on treatment for the clients who will post about their visit and tag your salon. Or if you’re a creative person you can create an Instagrammable area in your salon where clients can take their picture feeling like the star of the salon.

9. Train your staff

To maintain a great online reputation, your stylists and other staff members have a great impact on your salon reputation. They can shape clients’ experiences which can influence the reviews your salon receives, your social media mentions, and the overall perception of your salon.

Besides offering quality service, your staff should maintain a welcoming salon atmosphere because happy clients feel valued and more likely to become loyal customers.

10. Host events

Don’t be afraid to organize events like stylist workshops, product launches, or even free educational courses. These types of events can help you show your expertise and build stronger client relationships which lead to positive word of mouth and online reviews. 

These events are also a great opportunity to collaborate with other local businesses, such as catering or boutique vendors to strengthen your relation with the community.

11. Set up a loyalty program

Loyalty programs are a powerful tool for retaining customers and building a positive reputation because they encourage clients to return to you instead of seeking services elsewhere.

To reward loyal clients, you can offer discounts on services or products, complimentary services after a certain number of visits, birthday offers, exclusive offers, or personalized rewards tailored to individual client preferences.

12. Provide great service every time

This should have been on the top of the list as nothing helps your salon reputation better than providing great services every time. While well-trained staff, top-quality products, and tools are important, consistent, high-quality service is highly important for building a strong reputation. If you’re delivering consistently excellent services, you’re well on your way to building a loyal clientele and a thriving salon.

Constantly improve your salon reputation management

Keep in mind that a positive reputation is your salon’s most valuable asset, so implementing these strategies mentioned above is an ongoing effort.

Every interaction, whether online or in-person, contributes to how your salon is perceived. Prioritize reputation management to ensure that your salon remains a top choice for clients seeking excellent services and overall experiences.