Salon Marketing • Social Media

Salon Social Media: Content That Books Clients

Stop posting randomly and hoping for the best. Here's a strategic approach to social media that actually fills your books.

Why Social Media Matters for Salons

Social media is where discovery happens. Before calling, texting, or visiting your website, potential clients are scrolling through your Instagram looking at your work.

Salon Social Media Stats

67%
discover new salons on social
82%
check Instagram before booking
3x
more bookings with active social

Your social media is your portfolio. It's where you prove you can deliver what clients want.

Platform-by-Platform Strategy

📸
Instagram
Priority: High

Your visual portfolio. Best for showcasing transformations and building brand aesthetic.

  • • Feed: Before/afters, finished looks
  • • Stories: Behind-the-scenes, daily life
  • • Reels: Process videos, transformations
🎵
TikTok
Priority: Medium-High

Discovery engine. Great for reaching new audiences with viral potential.

  • • Transformation reveals
  • • Trending sounds + beauty content
  • • Educational tips
👥
Facebook
Priority: Medium

Local community building. Good for older demographics and local engagement.

  • • Local group participation
  • • Community posts
  • • Event promotions
📌
Pinterest
Priority: Low-Medium

Long-term discovery. Pins have longer lifespan than other content.

  • • Hair inspiration boards
  • • Style tutorials
  • • Seasonal trend content

The 4 Content Pillars for Salons

Every piece of content should fit into one of these categories:

💇

Portfolio (40%)

Showcase your best work. Before/afters, finished styles, transformations.

Purpose: Prove your skills
🎓

Educational (25%)

Tips, tutorials, product recommendations, care advice.

Purpose: Build trust and authority
👋

Personal/BTS (25%)

Team intros, salon life, behind-the-scenes, your story.

Purpose: Humanize your brand
📢

Promotional (10%)

Specials, openings, new services, booking reminders.

Purpose: Drive action

Weekly Content Calendar Template

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
B/A
Edu
Reel
BTS
B/A
Team
Rest

B/A = Before/After | Edu = Educational | BTS = Behind-the-scenes

+ Daily Stories throughout the week

30 Content Ideas for Salons

Portfolio Content

  1. 1. Before/after transformation
  2. 2. Color correction journey
  3. 3. Bridal styling showcase
  4. 4. Men's cut spotlight
  5. 5. Trending style recreation
  6. 6. Client reveal reaction
  7. 7. Same style, different clients
  8. 8. Celebrity-inspired look
  9. 9. Color of the week
  10. 10. Texture transformation

Educational Content

  1. 11. How to maintain your color
  2. 12. Styling tips for your hair type
  3. 13. Product recommendation
  4. 14. Common hair mistakes
  5. 15. When to book your next appointment
  6. 16. Heat styling do's and don'ts
  7. 17. Why olaplex matters
  8. 18. Seasonal hair care tips
  9. 19. Explaining a service (balayage vs highlights)
  10. 20. Quick styling tutorial

Personal/Promotional

  1. 21. Meet the stylist
  2. 22. Day in the life
  3. 23. Salon tour
  4. 24. Team celebration
  5. 25. Before salon opens setup
  6. 26. Last-minute openings
  7. 27. New service announcement
  8. 28. Seasonal special
  9. 29. Client appreciation post
  10. 30. Milestone celebration

Engagement Strategy

Posting is only half the equation. Engagement turns followers into clients.

Daily Engagement Checklist

  • Respond to all comments within 2 hours
  • Reply to DMs within 1 hour (or use AI)
  • Engage with 10-15 local accounts
  • Share client posts to Stories (with permission)
  • Post at least 3 Stories
  • Use interactive Story features (polls, questions)

Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

Inconsistent posting

Posting daily for a week then disappearing for a month. Algorithms and followers punish inconsistency.

Poor photo quality

Blurry, badly lit, or inconsistent photos. Your work looks as good as your photos make it look.

No call to action

Beautiful content but never asking people to book. Always include a path to booking.

Ignoring DMs and comments

Every unanswered DM is a potential booking lost. Speed matters.

Too promotional

"Book now!" on every post is a turn-off. Follow the 90/10 rule — 90% value, 10% promo.

Measuring Social Media Success

Vanity metrics (followers) matter less than engagement and bookings.

Metrics That Matter

  • Engagement rate: Aim for 3-6%
  • DM volume: How many inquiries?
  • DM-to-booking rate: How many convert?
  • Profile visits: Are posts driving traffic?
  • Link clicks: Are they taking action?

Vanity Metrics (Less Important)

  • Follower count: 1K engaged > 10K inactive
  • Likes: Nice, but don't pay bills
  • Reach: Meaningless if not converting

Frequently Asked Questions

Instagram is #1 for salons due to its visual nature. TikTok is growing fast for discovery. Facebook is still valuable for local community and older demographics. Focus on Instagram first, then expand.

Ready to Turn Followers Into Clients?

Let Cora handle your social media inquiries and convert them to bookings.