The success of a hair salon depends on the number of people that keeps your beauty chair filled. Focusing on getting new clients is a good idea but not the most practical. For one, retaining customers costs less. This industry, however, has a high customer churn rate. That is to say, gaining new customers is easier than keeping old ones. Only the best hair salons have mastered the art of customer retention. But that does not mean that you can’t achieve what they have achieved. If you happen to own a small salon, then you need to start thinking about how you can earn loyal customers.
Use a Point System for Giveaways
A lot of businesses offer free stuff to their loyal customers through the use of loyalty cards. You can also do the same. You can give customers points for every service they get from your salon. When they hit a certain number of points, you can give them some rewards or freebies.
Offer Holiday Discounts or Promos
The holidays are a great opportunity for you to practice your marketing skills. For instance, you can a go-back-to-school haircut discount for students. In Valentine’s day, you can offer a couple’s hair treatment promo. During the Christmas season, you can offer a discount to your most loyal customers. It’s up to you to create the promotion, but it’s always good to align it with a particular holiday.
Always Ask For Feedback
The best way to learn how you can improve your business is to get direct feedback from your customers. Engage them in a friendly conversation. When you’re done cutting their hair, ask for their honest opinion. You can also hand out a simple survey form.
Offer Time Limited Promotions
Promotions with a time limit always piques the interest of people. There is something highly persuasive about its urgency. If you offer these kinds of promotions once in awhile, then you will also be able to get a regular set of loyal customers who will go back to your salon time and time again.
Use an Interactive Website
More and more people prefer online transactions. By developing a website that allows them to book, subscribe for discounts, and pay in advance, you’ll be able to target more customers. Pair your website with a good salon software that allows you to manage your schedule, see your client portfolio, analyze sales, and more.
Make Use of Social Media
Social media happens to be one of the best places to get new customers. And because Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are rather personalized, you can connect with your customers better, thus increasing customer loyalty. Social media is also a good platform to announce your latest offers and discounts and get honest feedback.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it is your customers that will keep your business afloat. If you have a solid base of loyal clients, then you don’t have to continually worry about your revenue for the month. Don’t forget to reward those customers who have availed your services more than once. Keep them coming back!
