How to attract dream clients with optimized hashtags. Hashtags are not just for Instagram anymore, use them across all your salon or spa social media channels. Hashtags help your social media channels act as traffic funnels to build your hair or beauty brand and increase engagement.
What are hashtags? Quite simply, the hashtag symbol (or pound #) will turn any word or group of words following it into a searchable link.
Are hashtags a part of your salon marketing repertoire? If not, they should be. Hashtags provide salon owners the opportunity to acquire dream clients via keywords. A hashtag allows you to post content and follow topics based on keywords.
When done right, hashtags can help potential guests and salon “groupies” find your salon or chair. The right hashtags can translate to more guests coming to your business and more dream client appointments on the books.
How-To Optimize Salon Hashtags
№ 1 Be sure your main comment is legible.
Don’t load it with hashtags, too many #s make text difficult to read and generally turns people off. Instead, add your hashtags to the end of your comment or put them in a new comment just below.
Tip: Best Pick: 6-11 hashtags per image in the 1st comment section
№ 2. Double-check that your hashtags do not include a space.
Hashtags only work when keywords are linked together e.g. #santamonicahairdresser. A space in your hashtag is essentially a break in your link e.g #santamonica hairdresser – this frequent mistake loses the search-ability factor of your link. Hashtags are the like “clickable content links”, the perfect way for dream clients to find you.
№ 3. Make sure you DO leave a space BETWEEN hashtags.
Spaces between hashtags act as commas, so eliminate the use of commas in-between hashtags and use a simple space between hashtags e.g. #santamonicahairdresser #oribe #oribesantamonica
№ 4. Always use location hashtags.
What is a location hashtag? It is where your beauty business is located. As a brick-and-mortar business, location hashtags help clients find you. State, city, and regional hashtags connect you with potential clients searching for a salon, spa, or service in your area. It also connects you with other businesses in your region e.g. #yourstatesalon #yourstatehairstylist #yourcitysalon #yourcityhairstylist #yourcityhair #yourregionsalon #yourregionhairstylist #santamonicasalon
№ 5. Service and relevant hashtags.
What do you do? What are your specialties? Use hashtags that describe your services e.g. #dermabrasion #haircolor. Your hashtags should include relevant keywords that are associated with your service and the content post e.g. #longbob #lob #blonde #balayage
№ 6. Personality is a plus.
Cultivate a few unique hashtags to show off the personality and charm of your salon or spa. Keep them short and sweet and easy to read. e.g. #bluebirdsalon #hellobeautiful #bluebirdonmyshoulder
№ 7. Use inspirational hashtags.
Think of what your dream clients are looking at and searching for. Create aspirational or inspirational hair hashtags. Promoting an aspirational lifestyle is a great way for salons to showcase their work or hairstyle and color trends. e.g. #hairinspo #hairtrends #balayage or #balayagespecialist #ombre or #ombrespecialist #blonde or #blondespecialist
№ 8. Brand name products.
What products do you use in the salon? Clients love to search for salons and spas that use their favorite products, so promote the brands you love and use brand names in your hashtags. The added benefit of using brands in your hashtags is that the brands themselves are using them, so you will have a far greater reach e.g. #oribe #randcohair #davines #bumblebumble#kerastase #shuuemura #aveda #smithandcult #dermalogica
№ 9. Research and cultivate connections.
Research, research, research. Spending time on social media platforms helps to cultivate related hashtags and connections. As you search, focus on ones that have under 300k posts. Hashtags with less than 300k will give your post more exposure and increase the chance of getting top posts for that hashtag.
№ 10. Be consistent.
Develop a set of hashtags for your salon brand and use it consistently, use your #s everywhere!
Need help? Tired Of Running Your Own Social Media Strategy?
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