Why Boosting Posts Fails & What to Do Instead

🚫 Why Boosting Posts Makes Me Cringe

Boosting posts might feel like marketing, but it’s really a shortcut disguised as strategy. It burns through your budget without delivering the results your beauty business deserves. And the worst part? It trains salon owners to expect too little from their marketing.

You know the drill: You post a cute before-and-after or a seasonal promo, and Instagram flashes that tempting little “Boost Post” button. It’s so easy to click—just a few dollars, a few days, and maybe your ad will take off, right? But then… crickets. A couple likes, maybe a heart emoji, but no calls, no clicks, and definitely no new clients. Sound familiar?

Let’s get clear on why boosting posts is not the vibe—and what to do instead if you want to grow your salon or spa with real bookings and real results.

📸 Example: A Real-Life Boosting Fail

A few days ago, as I was scrolling through Facebook, my eyes landed on an ad for a salon I had never heard of before. There was no image, no description of the service or offer, and no indication of who it might be for.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I clicked on those three little dots in the top right corner and selected “Why am I seeing this ad?”
As it turns out, the ad was targeting everyone in the state of California over the age of 18.
What the…???!!! There are over 38.9 million residents in the state of California and it takes 14 hours or more to drive from north to south.
The vast majority of people seeing this ad are not going to be interested in an eyelash offer (48.9% being male) and don’t even live anywhere near this small business. I’m guessing the salon owner running this ad didn’t know this.
This was clearly a Boosted Post of a regular “status update” from their Facebook Business Page and they have absolutely no clue who is seeing this ad or where it’s being shown.

This is exactly why the boost button makes me cringe. It’s not precision marketing—it’s a money pit.

🚫 Non-Targeted Boosted Posts Will Not Get Bookings

Boosting sounds enticing—after all, who doesn’t want their post seen by 100,000 people? But visibility means nothing without relevance.

Non-targeted boosted posts might inflate your views, but they won’t bring in bookings. Why? Because your money is reaching the wrong audience—people who will scroll past your offer without a second thought.

If your boosted posts aren’t reaching:

• Your ideal demographic (the people most likely to book)
• People actively interested in your service (lashes, color, skincare, etc.)
• Clients who live within 10–20 miles of your salon

…then they’re not going to convert.

Your salon marketing shouldn’t just be seen—it should spark curiosity, connection, and clicks. The only way to do that? Target smarter.

📉 What Boosting Posts Really Does

Boosting might get you more eyeballs, but it doesn’t guarantee the right ones. Here’s what usually happens:

• You get vanity metrics (likes, views) without action (clicks, bookings)
• Your money goes to a broad audience who may never visit your salon
• You’re not tracking performance or return on ad spend

Facebook and Instagram are happy to take your dollars—but boosting is just their lowest-effort option. You can do better.

🧠 What You Should Do Instead

Use Meta Ads Manager for targeted, strategic campaigns. It’s not as intimidating as it seems, and the results are night and day. With Ads Manager, you can:

• Build custom audiences from your actual client list
• Retarget website visitors or engaged users
• Test multiple versions of your ads with A/B testing

This kind of smart salon marketing builds real visibility—and real client connections.

🎯 Strategic Ads Work Harder Than Boosted Posts

Strategic ad campaigns allow you to:

• Set clear goals like appointment bookings or product sales
• Use engaging formats like carousels, Reels, or video
• Optimize for clicks and conversions, not just impressions

Boosting is like throwing glitter in the wind—pretty, but scattered. Real ad strategy is like rolling out a red carpet for your dream clients.

💸 The Hidden Cost of Boosting Posts

Every time you hit “boost,” you might be losing more than money. You’re losing:

• Time you could spend building smarter campaigns
• Data that helps refine your future strategy
• Trust—because lazy marketing feels off-brand

In a visual, style-driven industry, that’s a big deal.

✅ When It’s Okay to Boost (Kind Of)

If you’re short on time or testing a small promo, boosting can work—if you follow these rules:

• Always set a custom audience
• Define a clear objective (e.g. clicks or messages—not just likes)
• Only boost posts that are already organically performing well

Still, think of this as a Band-Aid, not your go-to strategy.

💗 Conclusion: Your Beauty Business Deserves Better

You don’t cut corners with your work—why do it with your marketing? Boosting posts might feel easy, but it’s not effective. Your salon deserves a thoughtful, ROI-driven marketing plan that books appointments, builds buzz, and shows off your brand.

Need Help?

Ready to stop wasting money on meh marketing? Let’s replace that boost button with a strategy that actually gets results. Schedule a Chat with me here and we’ll map out a better plan, together.

Need help with Facebook Ads? We specialize in running ads for beauty businesses and how to create an offer that converts to bookings learn more BeautyMark Digital Marketing Services or and follow our blog HERE for weekly tips on salon marketing tips