If you have a beauty salon or a hairdresser, you must break the mold and join the latest marketing trends.
Whether you have a hairdresser with only one chair, a beauty salon with 20 employees or anything else, it’s time for you to find new ways to retain and increase your clientele.
A mobile application is a solution to earn more money. It doesn’t matter if you are a new or old business, going to mobile devices will make a big difference.
As I have consulted with some beauty salons and hairdressers in the past, I have found a couple of common answers.
Older companies are resistant to change. They are established in their forms and have the “if not broken, don’t fix it” mentality.
New hairdressers and beauty salons hesitate to create a mobile application because they just spent a lot of money building their startup and do not want to incur more costs.
But there is a problem with both scenarios. Older stores and lounges may be fine at this time, but they will have trouble getting new customers without a mobile application.
Newer companies are also in trouble. Without a stable clientele, it is difficult to keep your agendas full. Therefore, it is worth creating an application.
If you are still not convinced, you are the inspiration behind this guide. I will show you everything you need to know about how a mobile application can work wonders in your cosmetology business.
Scheduling appointments is now easier
How are your customers making appointments right now? If you don’t have a mobile application, I guess appointments are made in two ways.
They are calling by phone or schedule in-person after their appointment ends.
It may work for phone calls to work but think about how easy everyone’s life would be if the phone wasn’t ringing all day.
There are already mobile applications, such as Salon Iris, that allow you to set up your appointments from mobile devices.
At this moment you love it when your phone rings. This is because it is usually the sign of a client calling to schedule an appointment. But take a minute to think of how ineffective it is.
Every time the phone rings, you should get away from what you are doing, answer the phone and approach your computer or phonebook.
Then, you should have a round trip conversation about when it is available. The client asks: “How is your availability on Tuesday?”
Then, list all available schedules so that only they respond: “Actually, I think Wednesday would be better. Do you have anything in the afternoon?
You don’t. Then they ask you to repeat your Tuesday’s schedules. Also, another customer calls while having this conversation. You have to put them on hold and have the same conversation with another person.
If you put someone on hold and hang up, 34% of those people will not call again.
Now you may have missed an appointment and spent time away from your current client. Maybe you think it’s only a few minutes. But those minutes add up.
You end up spending hours every week by phone.
Some larger and busier rooms may have a receptionist who answers the phone and schedules appointments all day. How much does that employee’s salary cost?
You could pay for a mobile application with only a fraction of your salary, in addition to having more benefits in addition to the mobile booking function. Imagine how much time and money you would save if you didn’t answer the phone or pay someone to do that.
Going to mobile devices helps you increase revenue and decrease costs, which ultimately leads to a profitable and timely return on your investment.
Set up your mobile application with a built-in calendar function. Users with the mobile application can view their calendar and book an appointment from their smartphones and tablets.
This also makes it much easier for their customers, since they can visually see their schedule instead of just listening to the hours over the phone.
How often do your customers miss an appointment? Happens. People forget. Every time someone forgets to appear, the money is lost.
When someone books an appointment from your mobile application, you can even set it up to make a deposit to maintain that deadline. That way, you will still be paid, even if they don’t appear.
But now that your customers already have something invested in the appointment, I’m sure they will be much less likely to forget it. Therefore, it is a mutual benefit for both parties.
If you don’t want to charge customers just for booking, that’s fine. You can also send reminders to your customers through push notifications about your appointment to make sure they don’t forget to appear.
Increase customer loyalty
Use your mobile application to create a customer loyalty program. I may already have one of these in place, but I am willing to bet that it is not very efficient.
Without an application, hairdressers and salons have to resort to punching cards or stamping systems.
A customer has to bring a small business card that is punched every time they visit. After so many visits, they will receive a free cut or a discounted service. But those cards are lost and lost.
It is much easier to track this from a mobile application. In addition, you will have many more options with your loyalty program if you use an application. You do not have to set up rewards for visits.
The application can track how much customers spend per visit. You can now offer loyalty rewards based on an expense threshold. This strategy rewards your best customers.
Someone who undergoes a quick haircut should not receive the same rewards as a client who wants a haircut, color, facial and manicure, right?
Clients participate in loyalty programs so they can save money and receive rewards. Stores with loyalty programs are 82% more likely to get more customers.
So give them what they want. In addition, 59% of respondents said that a mobile application makes them more likely to join a loyalty program.
Almost 57% of consumers report that a loyalty program with VIP benefits increases their chances of participating.
Again, although your punch card can count as a loyalty program, it is definitely not as efficient and professional as tracking the program from a mobile application.
Once the customer reaches a certain amount spent, or the required number of appointments is met, he can view and activate his reward directly from the application. So you don’t have to worry about losing your discount.
The ability to track this from their mobile devices keeps customers coming back. It also gives them a reason to spend more money on every visit.
If you have a hairdresser, a client who normally only cuts her hair may decide to cut her hair and shave, because spending the extra money brings them closer to a reward.
You can also set up a customer referral program through your application to increase loyalty. If a current customer refers to a friend or relative, both will get some kind of discount.
Customers refer much more often if you give them a direct incentive.
All this will only generate more benefits for you.
You can also use your application as a platform for your loyal customers to show photos of themselves.
Customers can send photos of their hair by email or upload it directly to their profile in the application. This is ideal for creating a database of customer photos. You can use this for testimonial, advertising or simply as a reference.
Let’s say a customer comes in and can’t remember exactly what they did to his hair last summer, but he knows he wants the same. You will have a photo that will tell you exactly what to do.
Customers will not be able to obtain this type of superior service if they do not have a mobile application.
Always remember your customers
How often do you see your customers? I know it varies, but some are probably every two weeks, while others are once a month or every few months.
Some hairdressers may have clients who come once a week, but other beauty salons can only see their clients a few times a year.
This is something I’m trying to achieve. While you can think about hair all day every day, it can be easy for your clients to forget about you. As we have just commented, the use of a mobile application to create a loyalty program can increase the chances of retaining that customer.
But still, they could end up going to one of their competitors. But a mobile application allows you to keep in touch with your customers, even when they are not in the store.
If someone has not been for some time, I doubt that you pick up the phone and make a call to remind you that you exist. While this is definitely not an efficient use of your time, it is also inappropriate.
A mobile application will allow you to contact your customers through push notifications.
Here is a great example of a push notification that also encompasses another strategy we discuss.
This room sent a push notification that also promoted a client referral program.
You can also use your application to show what you are doing. Upload photos of new haircuts, styles or products that you sell in your store.
Your application can also be used as a platform for video demonstrations. Teach your clients to curl or straighten hair properly to achieve a specific style.
Barbers can upload videos explaining how to use different types of razors according to the length of the client’s beard.
These videos can be a great opportunity for you to sell your customers with products such as shampoo, gel, ointments, shavers, lotions and more.
It can even inspire your customers to return earlier than normal to request a new haircut or style based on something they saw in the application.
Set up mobile payments
The days of visiting a barbershop in cash are over.
People no longer carry as much cash as they used to. If you do not accept credit cards and other electronic payment options, you will have difficulty maintaining a sustainable business model.
46% of people say they pay in cashless than eight times a month.
If your hairdresser or beauty salon has a mobile application, people will not have to worry about bringing cash, or even their credit cards. In fact, they can leave all their wallets at home.
With an application, you can configure it to keep your credit card information stored in your personal profiles. After they come to visit us, you can load your card automatically.
They can even pay you a tip from the mobile app too.
Mobile applications also allow you to accept alternative payment options in addition to all major credit cards. Your store can accept PayPal, Apple Pay, and Venmo.
Offering your clients so many options make life easier. They will be more willing to return because they know that you accept any payment you prefer.
Paying from a mobile application also makes it easy to track your purchase history, which is related to the concept we discussed earlier a loyalty program that rewards its biggest spenders.
Combine your application with other mobile marketing tactics
Connect your application with Instagram, Facebook, and your other social media profiles. This will make it easier for your customers to fully enjoy their mobile experience.
Use your application as a way to drive traffic to your website and social pages. You can also use these platforms as a way to increase downloads for your mobile application.
All these mobile marketing tactics will work for hand in hand with each other.
All photos and videos uploaded to your application must also be shared on your website and social sites.
Adding photos and videos to your social profiles every day may seem like a lot of work. You already have a full schedule of customers, so I know it may sound overwhelming.
But now that you don’t have to pay someone to answer the phone all day, you can have them manage their social accounts and the application so everything is always up to date.
You and the other stylists in your beauty salon or hairdresser can access these accounts and take turns alternating responsibility with anyone who has some downtime among clients.
conclusion
Your hairdresser or hairdresser may be working well at this time, but it may definitely be better.
Getting a mobile application makes your process more efficient. You can spend more time working instead of performing tedious tasks that your application can handle, such as scheduling appointments.
While it may cost you some money in advance to build the application, in the long run, it will be amortized with a high return on your investment.
Your application will improve the customer experience. Create loyalty programs and stay in touch with your customers. The application will make your life easier and put more money in your pocket.
If you need help creating an application, consider using a custom mobile application creation service, such as BuildFire.
Follow these guidelines and you will no longer have to worry about having an empty appointment book.
