Salon Marketing • Instagram

Instagram for Salons: Turn Followers Into Clients

Your work is visual. Instagram is visual. It's a perfect match — if you know how to use it. Here's the complete playbook.

Why Instagram Matters for Salons

Instagram is the #1 social platform for salons. Your work is inherently visual — transformations, colors, styles — and Instagram is built to showcase visual content.

Instagram Stats for Salons

72%
of users made purchase decisions based on Instagram
83%
discover new products/services on Instagram
130M
tap on shopping posts monthly

Optimizing Your Instagram Profile

Profile Essentials

  • • Business account (not personal)
  • • Clear profile photo (logo or storefront)
  • • Location in name or bio
  • • Specialty/niche mentioned
  • • Booking link in bio
  • • Contact button enabled

Bio Formula

Line 1: What you do + specialty

Line 2: Location

Line 3: Unique value/offer

Line 4: CTA (Book below!)

Content Types That Work

📸

Before/After

Your highest-performing content type. Show the transformation clearly with good lighting.

Engagement: Very High
🎬

Reels/Process Videos

Show the artistry. Sped-up transformations, technique highlights, satisfying reveals.

Reach: Very High
💬

Client Testimonials

Video reactions, written quotes, tagged reposts. Social proof in action.

Trust: Very High
👋

Behind the Scenes

Team introductions, salon life, setup/prep. Humanizes your brand.

Connection: High

Posting Schedule

Weekly Content Calendar

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Feed Post
Stories
Reel
Stories
Feed Post
Stories
Rest

Minimum: 3 feed posts + 1 Reel + daily Stories

Hashtag Strategy

Use 5-15 hashtags per post, mixing these categories:

Popular (1M+)

High competition, broad reach

#hair #hairstylist #beauty

Niche (10K-500K)

Targeted, better engagement

#balayagespecialist #blondeexpert

Local

Geographic targeting

#dallashairstylist #nychairsalon

Converting Followers to Clients

Followers are nice, but bookings pay the bills. Here's how to convert:

  • Clear booking link in bio — Make it one tap to book
  • CTAs in captions — "DM to book" or "Link in bio"
  • Respond to DMs instantly — Speed = conversions
  • Share availability in Stories — "Openings this week!"
  • Showcase pricing — Remove uncertainty

Frequently Asked Questions

Aim for 3-5 feed posts per week, plus daily Stories. Consistency matters more than volume — posting 3x weekly for a year beats posting daily for a month then stopping.

Ready to Convert DMs Into Bookings?

Let Cora handle your Instagram messages and book appointments automatically.