So, you’ve finally decided to create a salon website. Good for you…And welcome to the 21
st century, by the way. Having a website for your business is a valuable tool that not only informs existing clients, but is also a draw for potential clients.
Here are some suggestions for getting the project going and marketing it once the site is up and running.
Research
Prior to building your website, check out what your competitors are doing for their online presence. Analyze what does and does not work and then, short of copying the look and feel of what they are doing, draw on the experience to make your site the best it can be. After you’ve launched, revisit competitor websites at least once a month to see if they’ve updated.
Simplicity
Today’s web user wants information quickly but does not want obstacles on the way. Instead of an elaborate site that has many levels and a ton of information, consider a simple structure that’s easy to navigate with visuals that speak to your market. In addition to pretty images of hair and even shots of your salon, be sure and include the following information on your site: Salon contact information including how to book an appointment, a simple “about us” statement, pricing for your services, and access to press pieces, testimonials and reviews.
If you want to include information about the talent within the salon, do individual headshots of your crew and assemble a quick bio or statement for each one. Be sure and list experience and areas of specialty for each one.
Access to social media is also important on your site. Be sure to include a “follow us” or “like us” button and link for each of the various social media platforms in which you have a presence for your salon.
Copy
Although there needs to be enough written information to make your site useful, avoid the temptation of long blocks of copy or a writing style that does not suit your market. Since the wording is how search engines call up information, you want any wording on your site to be readable (versus just in a graphic) and well targeted so your salon can be found. In addition to using a voice that your market will appreciate, make sure you are using terms in the copy that reflect how a client might search for your services.
Market
Your salon website will be useless unless your market knows it exists. To attract visitors, market your site through search engines, on your business cards, in your salon (like at the front desk, on receipts, etc), and on every business listing or form of advertising you do. To reach further, consider setting a budget aside for online advertising and or to consult with a digital marketing professional.
Monitor
To monitor traffic on your site, be sure and use any number of free web analytics tools such as Google Analytics.
Update
There’s nothing worse than building an online presence and then, no matter how beautiful it is, not updating it. Your salon’s website is a valuable tool that needs to be kept up to be truly efficient. Set up reminders on your schedule to revisit and update your site on a regular basis.
Looking for ways to help market your site? Check out part 2 here!
Salon professionals are no strangers to long workdays, and during some seasons, even long workweeks.
The business atmosphere for salons is very competitive and many have to offer more value year after year just to survive. And more value for the customer can translate into longer hours for salon owners, managers and employees alike.
Extended workweeks may be necessary to meet the need and to produce results, but they can also add stress and strain for workers, not to mention cause other issues. This is where management and leadership come into play.
To strike a balance and stay competitive without burning out your salon employees, consider these tactics:
Expectations
Be clear about how much you expect employees to work. As a salon owner or manager you want to make sure that employees realize you don’t expect them to put in the kind of hours you do. Otherwise they may assume that you expect it, which may weigh on their happiness and productivity.
Minimize Stress
Burnout from extended hours may can come from the work itself or even more so from the stressful environment in which employees find themselves working.
Consider holding quick debriefings each week to ask employees what stressful problems came up that could have been avoided, and put systems in place to prevent those problems from reoccurring.
Offer Flexibility
Flexibility in the work environment can be an important asset individual salons can offer over their corporate chain counterparts. Consider allowing flexibility in hours whenever possible for doctors’ appointments, to pick up children at school / daycare and to attend school functions or to run a few errands over an extended lunch break during quieter times. Also, take time off during slower business seasons or whenever possible and urge your employees to do the same. It will help prevent burnout.
Be Fair
If you want to keep talented employees, treat and pay them fairly. Overworked employees can be understandably sensitive to an imbalanced workload where some employees work longer hours or on more complex tasks than others. This is a surefire way to upset your best workers, so be sensitive to the issue.
Be Appreciative
When employees do an exceptional job, such as work extra hours during a busy season, acknowledge it. The appreciation can come in any form but stepping up to give them a verbal acknowledgement in always appreciated.
Regardless of how you handle your salon work schedule, remember that a happy worker (at any level) makes for a happy work environment!
Do you have any suggestions for finding balance? Comment below… 
Communication is a simple concept and in theory should be easily achieved, however in reality it’s one of the most difficult skills to master. More of an art form than a science; communication is about knowing how to express ideas.
When done verbally, as we usually do in salons, communication is more about how to listen, understand, encourage, and influence. Here are several techniques to help improve your communication skills.
Always Be Positive
Communication can be positive or negative through both verbal communication and body language. Listeners can sense negative thoughts and feelings and will tend to react accordingly, so think before you speak. Also, be conscious of your body language, as it’s more obvious than you think.
Be Enthusiastic
Passion comes through when a person is really excited about whatever they are talking about. It’s not really possible to win favor with someone when you are not excited about the topic yourself. Engage and enthuse your listener with your own excitement.
Side Step Being Condescending
Make every effort to avoid talking down to anyone, no matter your position or rank. Remember that employees are your greatest assets and for them to be enthusiastic for you and your business, they need to feel appreciated and part of the daily operations. Unhappy employees move on or become negative in the work environment, which in turn affects your daily operations and eventually your customers.
Listen, Listen, Listen
In order to communicate effectively, listening must be a big part of the equation, even if you disagree with the other person or persons. If you are not truly listening to the other side, you’ll miss opportunities to consider another perspective, but also to allow employees to contribute to the business and feel appreciated.
Keep an Open Mind
There is usually more than one opinion on any subject or way of doing any task. Being open-minded during the communication process means that you are considering the best option to whatever you are discussing. Effective communication also allows others to be heard and their ideas to be considered.
Be Thoughtful & Say the Right Thing
In business, people often forget the feelings of others. We all like to be treated in a certain way and employees and customers are no different. In addition to listening to contributions that others may have, also take the time to say; “please, thank you, and you’re welcome” at every possible opportunity (and mean it). A little appreciation really does go a long way!
In a nutshell, effective communication can improve your employee relations, your salon’s daily operations and your bottom line. It does not always come easy, but the end result is well worth the effort: Happier employees, happier work environment, happy clients, and eventually a better bottom line. Simple stuff! 
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
Ever wonder why your employees are not as motivated or dedicated to your business as you are? As a salon owner, you want your enthusiasm to carry over but your employees simply see things differently. Not being the owner or having a stake in the business, there’s just not as much in it for them as there is for you.
It is, however, possible to motivate your employees without giving them a share in the company. Here are some suggestions:
Teambuilding
Employees want to feel like they’re part of a team, as it gives them a sense of worth that goes far beyond the paycheck. Make sure they know that you understand that every contribution counts and that it takes all members of the team for the salon to function effectively.
As the salon owner, you also take on the role as a coach. It’s your responsibility to clarify each team members’ role and to help them understand how they fit into the overall team.
Also, involve employees in the decision-making process and truly listen to their input. This sort of teamwork mentality encourages everyone to reach for the salon goals together.
Reaching Goals
Just as you have goals for your business, your employees have their own goals for their careers. Encourage them to develop a career plan and do your best to help them accomplish their goals. Usually their goals can be incorporated into the company’s goals, which present a winning situation for everybody.
Props and Perks
Although you don’t want the financial side to be the only form of motivation, do consider some sort of a reward to employees for hitting a personal or salon goal. If nothing else, be sure you acknowledge each of them for their contributions and successes. Gratitude really does go a long way.
Leading by Example
The best way to motivate your staff is to be enthusiastic and a positive role model. A positive team-oriented attitude becomes infectious in a nurturing environment, especially when everybody is working toward the same goals.
What would help motivate you (as an employee) or your team? 
In today’s market, having a successful business has less to do with basic marketing and positioning (although you do need those things) and more to do with building a lasting impression so that others want to share the experience.
Chances are that at least once in your life you’ve had such a great experience at a local business that you felt the need to tell others about it. Why not position your salon to be so share-worthy that clients can’t resist telling others about your service?
Word of Mouth Influence
The great thing about word of mouth influence and people talking about your salon positively is that it the most influential form of marketing available to you. It’s easy for you to talk about your business being great, but when someone else does it, it carries a lot more credibility.
Social Sound Off
With the vast array of social media platforms in use these days, people have the ability to easily talk about what is on their minds. It’s a perfect platform to sound off about how great your salon is, so why not make it easy for them to do so.
Opportunities for Impressions
Salons are a service-based business, so if you make your service exceptional, people will remember and comment accordingly. The moment they step foot in your salon, they are critiquing everything: The first impression of the facility, the way they were greeted, the coffee that was served, music that was played, the conversation, the cleanliness of the stations, and, yes, even how they liked their hair. It’s not just about the service they came in for, it’s the attention to detail that they remember. It’s all the little things combined that matter…And how welcomed and comfortable they felt while in your salon.
Be Memorable
Make sure that your entire salon is on board with this service-first attitude so that your team can work together towards the common goal….Great comments, reviews and LOTS of shares!
What are some ways your salon works hard to ensure a memorable experience? Do tell!
We asked several salon professionals about what being or having a mentor means to them, how it has helped them and how they and their salons pay back into the system…Let’s listen in:
How do you define mentoring?
Mentoring is that personalize attention and learning opportunity given by one professional to another without expecting anything in return.
Evan C. – Palm Spring, CA
How important is a mentoring culture within a salon?
Having been a salon owner myself, I personally believe that mentoring and the mind-set that goes along with it is essential to the growth of any salon. Having a well-integrated learning and teaching culture based on the teamwork of the salon as a whole always makes for the best possible work environment.
Patrick D. – Oceanside, CA
How does your salon participate in mentoring?
Our salon has a great teaching environment for assistants and new hairdressers. Every established hairdresser is required to step up in some way to help strengthen and grow the next generation, which I think is great.
Micah S. – Seattle, WA
What are ways someone can be a mentor?
Offering regular education in the salon and making sure to personalize some of it just to new stylists is a good place to start.
Kerri C. –Baton Rouge, LA
To take the time to explain a cut or color technique to someone who needs the help. This sort of one-on-one teaching is the best way to pay it forward.
Craig C. – Alexandria, VA
I make it a point to talk at my local high school on career day and sometimes donate my time at job fairs or at local beauty schools and community colleges. It feels great to donate the time and help others who may have an interest in our field.
Ashley M. – Stamford, CT
How do you decide whom to mentor?
I am happy to donate my time and to take someone under my wing, but I need to know that they will respect my time and be thankful for the gesture. To find the right person, I watch new salon professionals and look for that special spark of interest that goes above any beyond the rest.
Sandi C. – Phoenix, AZ
How do you know that your mentoring efforts are working?
We’ve had many salon receptionists go on to beauty school because of the exposure to the business on a daily basis. I’d like to think that some of that decision was prompted by one or more mentors who saw the interest and nurtured it.
Stephanie C. – Silver Springs, MD
How has mentoring helped you personally?
I got into the business because of a salon owner who donated their time to take me to a few hair shows. They even let me come in to their salon after hours to show me some basic cuts in the very beginning. They helped me enroll in beauty school, to pass the state board and even gave me my first assisting job. I am forever grateful to my mentor and have passed the torch to several others in her honor.
Jessica M. – Ogden, UT
Now it’s your turn… What has mentoring meant to you? 
The job of a salon assistant is to make the stylist’s life easier and to do everything in their power to ensure that the client’s experience is a truly positive one. Here are some suggestions to give you a leg up and make your first job in the industry an absolute success.
The golden rule with assisting is to be on time…every time! Simply make it a practice to arrive early, that way you can line things up for the hairdresser and make their day go that much smoother.
Know the basics inside and out, but be ready for other salon professionals give their advice. Listen to and be thankful for all advice that others have to offer. In this industry you never stop learning and humbleness goes a long way!
Be friendly, helpful and always keep a positive attitude, no matter what. Good manners, acute listening skills and a positive attitude will go a long way and can even be a bit infectious.
Work hard. Don’t whine or complain and get the job done… no matter what.
Look and act the part. Be stylish while following your salon’s dress code carefully but don’t overdress to the point that you are uncomfortable. Always have your hair, nails and makeup done, but not overdone and keep everything you wear tasteful.
Think like a hairdresser but be as efficient as you would want your assistant to be for you. Pull the client’s card or call up their information if the salon stores client information online. Have the tray set up and all color ready to dispense. Keep an extra towel in reach, clips at the ready and always know where the stylist’s tools are, even if they tend to misplace things. Be ready with foils without having to be asked and step up to fold towels or smocks, even take out the trash without thinking twice about it.
Take extra time to clean the stylist’s brushes and keep the workstation organized. Keep drawers or cabinets in order and well stocked, remove any cups or trash left over from a previous client and sweep up hair as soon as possible. That way the station is ready for the next guest. Once the station is secured, make sure that all color bowls and brushes have been cleaned and put away and that the information for the next client is ready to go.
Do everything in your power to keep the stylist on schedule just shy of taking away from the client’s experience. Take breaks (off of the floor) when it’s appropriate, grab a bite to eat when you can, but only after the stylist has done so themselves.
When interacting with clients, be friendly and helpful but never try to befriend them or show up the stylist in any way. Don’t bring up your personal life unless the client specifically asks. The stylist you are assisting needs to trust you as well as know that you can handle yourself with their clients without stepping over the line.
When it comes to assisting, days can be long and the work can be very demanding, but if you can master the needed skills to maneuver your way around, you’ll do even better once you go out on the floor on your own. All in good time, future stylist…all in good time! 
What has eLearning got to do with becoming a successful salon professional or running a business I hear you mutter? Well, nothing. . . if you happen to have the money and time to attend every major hair show and private class put on by the Grand Masters of the world every year.
So now can we talk?. . . . . video education is not new, it has been around since the VHS was invented, but eLearning is. . . 
I’ve been in the salon business for almost 13 years, but now realize that I’ve only truly been a “boss” for about 2!
I was working 5-6 (fully booked) days a week behind the chair believing I was successful. I was super busy, but found myself looking around at the empty chairs in my salon and started to wonder – “Why aren’t my stylists experiencing the same success?!?”
Realizing that I was the busiest stylist in my salon… but getting paid the least because I was covering expenses… I decided to take a class from industry business educator, Gail Fulbright, where she asked me the simple question – “Was I working IN my business, or ON my business?” Instantly my eyes were opened and I was inspired to implement change.
In January of 2013, I decided to step away from the chair one day a week to focus on bookwork, payroll, inventory management…etcetera. It was so rewarding!! For the first time I wasn’t having to write checks to vendors between clients, or forced to take the books home at night to keep on top of my finances.
Starting this year (January, 2014), I’ve reduced my time behind the chair to three days a week and can tell you that I am already trending to be more profitable than any other year in my salon’s history!
Originally, when I heard Gail say how she “doesn’t have to be behind the chair anymore,” I thought “yeah, easy for you to say, you’re in California!” Actually, I had to realize that it has nothing to do with where you are, how many employees you have or the size of your salon… It does, however, have everything to do with becoming a good mentor and strong leader for your employees.
Change is one of the scariest things, but when implemented correctly, can be one of the most rewarding. Now, I try to read a new business book at least once a month and have also begun to focus on learning from other people’s mistakes (instead of suffering through my own). I even take the time to work at our reception desk one day a week, and let me tell you, it’s hard to make that transition – but I have learned so much about how important that job is to my salon’s success! The days I reception, our product sales and pre-booking rates are the highest. More importantly, I’m able to learn from my time at the front desk and then work with our receptionist and stylists to give them “tips” on effective customer service. I also have more time now to create email promotions, do Facebook updates, send Instagram messages, update product displays, strategize meeting agendas…etc. Because of my involvement and interest, I am now confident that our clients are being properly checked in, made comfortable in my salon during their visit, and their check-out is easy and efficient.
I have also recently posted a “gratitude chart” in our salon hallway. Every staff member has been asked to write three things they are thankful for every day they work. Two should be general comments of gratitude, and the third should be something positive about another staff member. At the end of the year, we will gather and review what we wrote. The purpose is to demonstrate how focusing on the positive, combined with encouraging each other, can have a huge effect on how we view our work and our clients. Little things like that make for great team building, and now that I actually have the time to do these things, I can see my team’s growth and guide the entire group in the right direction.
I would love to get advice from any other owner/stylists. I find that I get the best advice and ideas from other people in our industry, and would love any feedback or questions. Please post your comments and let’s grow our power together! 
Can you believe there’s less than a month between now and Valentines’ Day?!? Considering we’ve just finished putting away our holiday decorations and started on those pesky New Year resolutions, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth it – this early in the year – to offer any sort of promotion to clients in your salon.
Here’s the reality… CNN recently reported that consumers spent an average of $130 dollars in 2013 on a gift for their Valentine. Collectively there was nearly $2 billion dollars spent on flowers and another $2 billion on chocolates. I personally think we could capture some of those “romantic dollars” with Gifts of Beauty!
While recently reflecting on the success story of industry leader Alli Webb, co-founder of