Marketing Your Salon Website- Part 2

Whether you are just launching your website or have been online for years, here are some ways you can easily take your business to the next level. Continued from part 1: Search Engine Marketing and Optimization Search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo are the most convenient way for Internet users to find salons in their area. The goal is to position your website to come up near the top of the list in an Internet search based on your site’s key words, as well as other factors. To do so, the title metatag on your site should say something like “best salon in (insert your town or area),” as this is likely how someone will search for a salon in your area. If you have specialties that set you and your salon part, such as color expert, color correction specialist, wedding hair, etc., make sure this information is also mentioned. Pay-Per-Click Ads Search engine optimization takes time so in the mean time consider a sponsored ad on a search engine. Google’s AdWords and AdSense programs are a good place to start and can be effective for a boost of web traffic. Email Marketing Email blasts through a service like Constant Contact or Mail Chimp are other great online option for getting the word out about your salon services. This can also be a touchy method, especially if you plan to send mass amounts of unsolicited emails or spam to potential customers. You do need to be aware that spam marketing is restricted by law and will generally result in annoying your market and causing much grief. A much better approach is to build your email list by soliciting email addresses from existing customers, referrals, and voluntary sign ups. This not only keeps it legal, but also ensures that your emails will end up in front of the right market. Blogs Blogging and or Vlogging can be very effective tools for stirring up business online. These online journals or video journals / posts can contain a variety of information ranging from opinions, ideas, DIY hair styling, hair care tips, and links to other relevant sites, etc. The advantage of a blog is that it gives you the opportunity to communicate with your customers on a regular basis and can even help establish you as a respected authority in the beauty industry. Another benefit is that as your blog or vlog grows, your search engine ranking will increase and you’ll have more opportunity to gather email addresses for your salon’s eblasts. Stand Out from the Crowd In marketing, it’s important to stand out from your competitors. The same thing is true of websites. If your site looks like every other one out there, you’re missing the opportunity to do something special that can grab someone’s attention and inspire them to try your services. Through Different Eyes It’s hard to be objective about how well your website looks and how effective it is in reaching your market. In addition to measuring the success of the site through Analytics, and documenting the reach and success of your ads and eblasts, be sure to ask for feedback so you can make the site and your online marketing really work for you! Have some website marketing ideas that have worked for you? Please share below!