Even though starting a salon business doesn’t need a lot of money upfront and the ongoing costs are low, attracting new customers daily can be quite challenging. First, there’s a lot of competition from other nearby hair and beauty salons. Second, potential customers might not be able to find your salon online. Nowadays, people often search the internet first to find local businesses. They usually read a few reviews before deciding to visit a salon. According to a survey by BrightLocal, between 21% and 34% of people use the internet every day to find information about local businesses, and 98% of them read online reviews.
Whether you only offer hair makeovers or also do nails and other beauty services, it’s important to have an online presence that brings you a steady stream of customers. To keep this stream going, optimizing your hair and beauty salon for local SEO is crucial.
Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a way to boost your website’s ranking by following a local SEO checklist and using a smart SEO strategy. This process involves meeting complex search engine guidelines that help signal to Google to rank your business listing higher. Using SEO correctly will increase your business’s visibility in local searches and attract more visitors. Plus, it helps you offer a great user experience through your business listing or website. Optimizing for local SEO can be a long and complicated process. It might feel overwhelming, especially when you also have to focus on running your salon.
What do people do when they’re unsure about what to order or where to go on vacation? They just Google it. In the same way, when people look for the services your hair and beauty salon offers, having a strong online presence can boost your business’s visibility. Your salon will start showing up in the right searches, helping you attract new customers regularly and increase your earnings.
Here are a few more reasons why local SEO is important:
1) Keep Your Google Business Profile Up-to-Date
Google Business Profiles is the top tool for local businesses to attract customers in your area or city. If your hair & beauty salon doesn’t have a listing yet, claim or create one. After that, verify your listing and make sure all the information is up-to-date. Here are some tips to optimize your Google Business listing:
Guidelines for Refreshing Your Google Business Profile
Having a branded website is crucial because it helps 85% of people find local businesses. If you want customers to find and engage with your salon, create a custom website for your business and optimize it to show up in local searches.
Not all salon owners may have the resources for a custom website, but if you can manage it, it will give you an advantage.
2) Here are some tips to help optimize your website:
3) Research & Find Keywords for Your Niche
To rank higher on Google search results, you need to focus on keyword optimization. Google uses keywords to match search results with what people are looking for, so knowing the right keywords is crucial for your salon’s website.
Here’s how to research and find the best keywords for your hair/beauty salon:
Next, find keywords that link your salon to a specific location, such as [keyword] + [location]. Here are a few examples:
To discover more relevant keywords or long-tail phrases, you can use these tools:
Even top brands use content marketing to boost their SEO, and you should too. Creating unique, high-quality content that fits your salon’s brand can make a big difference.
Here’s how to approach content marketing:
Once you have great content, focus on building backlinks. Backlinks are links from other relevant websites to your salon’s website. They act as endorsements from other sites.
Here’s how to start building links:
Social media is crucial for local brands because it helps share social proof and connect with a large audience. Being active on social platforms can offer many benefits. For example, Instagram can be a great tool for showcasing your salon’s work and engaging with your community.
Building citations is a free and important part of your local SEO strategy. Citations are business listings on trusted platforms that help people find your salon.
In addition to Google, list your business on platforms like Yelp, Citysearch, Facebook, Apple Maps, Bing Places, and Yellow Pages. Here are some tips for building citations:
Implementing these local SEO strategies can significantly enhance your salon’s online presence and attract more customers in your area. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, researching and using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and building strong backlinks and citations, you’ll position your salon for success.
For more personalized assistance with these strategies, Omatics Digital is here to help. Our team specializes in crafting tailored digital marketing solutions to boost your local visibility and drive growth for your salon business. Reach out to us to get started on elevating your online presence today!