Does my salon or barbershop need a website?
In a world where hair salons and barbershops have social media at their disposal, and most are active social media users, the question is “Does my salon or barbershop need a website?” You could add to that by asking, for example, “If it does need one, then why?” and/or, “Can my salon or barbershop business exist successfully without one?”
Of course these questions are relevant to just about every business, but specifically where hair salons, barbershops and beauty businesses are concerned, they’re fair questions to pose. After all, many salon businesses depend on re-bookings, walk-ins and the loyalty of existing clients, while also relying on social media and booking software to build their profile and generate appointments. So why is it necessary to have a website? Looking at the website landscape in the salon and men’s grooming industry, it’s a mixed picture and some general observations can be made regarding the approach to websites.
First you have salons and barbershops that see their website as an essential part of their communications mix. They invest appropriately and get their website absolutely right. At the other end of the spectrum you get those that have no website at all and don’t see why it’s even necessary, and in the middle, there are those that have one but it fails to do justice to their business while it could even be doing it harm.
Like everything in life, if you’re going to do it, do it well, and this sentiment is no different when it comes to websites. For those businesses that have a great website and invest time and effort in the image it portrays, how it positions your brand and expertise, and how it functions to deliver a return on investment in the form of reputation, bookings and sales, you can probably stop reading now. That is unless you feel there’s room for improvement! For those that don’t fully utilise their website, and for those that have yet to even get one, you might want to spare this article a moment of your time.
Why your business should have a great website
In short, while your salon or barbershop business can conceivably function without a website, or with a bad one, let’s look at why you should have one, and why it’s important to get it right when you do.
A website for your salon or barbershop performs multiple functions. It’s your showcase, presentation, brochure, sales pitch and business asset. With increasing numbers of potential clients searching for salons and barbershops online they will make a distinction based on what they see online. In an image-based industry, a website should showcase your brand, expertise, services, team and products in the best possible light. Your website should make you stand out from the crowd, inspire, reassure and inform visitors, and serve as a true reflection of the quality your salon or barbershop offers by positioning its values and projecting what you promise to clients in term of care, service and experience. It should also shine a spotlight on your latest promotions and news, and act to stimulate bookings, and even online sales, especially when linked to booking software. Plus, it can encourage clients to check out your socials to experience your salon in the moment, so they get a full picture of what your businesses is all about!
Take Two By Simon Smith. As a relatively new luxury salon in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, they opened without a website initially but sought to get online as soon as possible. After launching their new website in March, which you can see by clicking here, salon manager Cheryl Hooper says. “We absolutely love our new website, and so do our clients. We’ve already got lots of online bookings and new clients - we’re so happy!”
While social media is great for posting everyday content, your website houses everything about your business in one place and, unlike social media, you own it. When clients’ visit your site, they can discover who you are, what you do, learn about your services, expertise and team, see your prices and discover what differentiates you. This doesn’t happen in the same way with social media. The two are complementary, of course, but while social media changes frequently and demands constant attention, your content only reaches a fraction of your fans and followers, many of whom won’t even be clients or potential clients.
On the other hand, your website attracts relevant people and potential clients by becoming visible to people who are searching precisely for what you do on Google and other search engines. Social media is not a search engine, so it’s not where people will going looking for you, and it should be part of your mix by delivering an entirely different experience. Plus, as more people search for salons and barbershops outside of conventional business hours, your website works for you 24 hours a day to attract bookings, especially when integrated with appointment booking software, and, if you use E-commerce, generate online sales. Additionally, if you add enquiry forms, your website can harvest opt-in data that you can use for re-marketing which, again, is not something you can achieve with social media.
Back to the top - your questions answered
So, to answer the questions posed at the start of this piece. Yes, your salon or barbershop does need a website as part of your communications and marketing mix. It can exist without one, but having one that does justice to your business will only strengthen your brand, build confidence in your expertise and work hard to grow your business success, as those that have one will surely testify.
Need help?
We hope you find this article of interest and it helps you appreciate why a website matters. If you need advice or help launching a website, or improving what you already have, please contact us by CLICKING HERE, or complete and submit the form below. Alternatively, visit our salon design brand, My Salon Website, to see what packages are available.