What does MyBizGrade check?

We analyze your website speed, SEO tags, Google reviews, social media presence, and accessibility. Each area gets its own score and letter grade.

How is the grade calculated?

Each category is scored from 0 to 100 based on real data from your site. The overall grade is a weighted average across all five categories.

Yes, the full audit and grade are completely free. You can upgrade to a Pro report with copy-paste fixes for $39 if you want help improving.

What's in the Pro report?

You get a priority action plan, copy-paste ready fixes for every issue, time estimates, and a downloadable PDF. It tells you exactly what to change and how.

How long does the audit take?

Most audits finish in under 30 seconds. Complex sites with many pages may take up to a minute.

Do you store my data?

We store your audit results so you can revisit your report. We never sell your data or share it with third parties.

How often should I check my grade?

We recommend running a new audit every month. Your online presence changes as you update your site, get new reviews, and post on social media.

MyBizGrade was built by a small team of developers who wanted to make online presence auditing simple and affordable for small businesses.

Salon and Spa Marketing: Build an Online Presence Clients Love

# Salon and Spa Marketing: Build an Online Presence Clients Love A potential client searches "hair salon near me." Google shows three salons with star ratings, photos, and review counts. She opens the top result. The photos show beautiful transformations. The reviews mention a warm atmosphere and talented stylists. She books an appointment in two taps. That entire interaction took 45 seconds. Your salon online marketing determines whether you are the salon she picks or the one she scrolls past. Beauty businesses thrive on visual appeal, personal trust, and convenience. Your online presence needs to deliver all three before a client ever walks through your door. ## The Beauty Industry Runs on Visuals Salon and spa marketing has a built-in advantage over most industries: your work is visual. A stunning balayage, a flawless manicure, or a relaxing spa setup photographs beautifully. This visual nature makes Instagram and Google Photos your most effective marketing tools. But visuals alone are not enough. Clients also check reviews, compare pricing, and look for easy booking options. The salons filling every chair combine strong visuals with a complete online presence. ## Google Business Profile: Your Salon's Front Door 70% of salon clients find new salons through Google search. Your Google Business Profile is the first thing they see. **Set it up for maximum impact:** - Primary category: "Hair Salon," "Beauty Salon," "Nail Salon," "Day Spa," or "Medical Spa" depending on your business - Secondary categories for additional services: "Hair Extensions Service," "Facial Spa," "Waxing Service" - Complete list of services with descriptions and price ranges - Hours accurate for every day, including any days you take walk-ins vs. appointment-only - Your booking link (this is critical for salons) **Photos make or break your profile:** Upload 10-20 photos immediately and add 3-5 new photos every week. Include: - Before-and-after transformations (with client permission) - Your salon interior, showing the atmosphere and cleanliness - Your team in action - Product displays - Close-up shots of finished styles, nails, or treatments Google reports businesses with more than 100 photos receive 520% more calls. For a visual business like a salon, photos are your most persuasive marketing asset. **Post on Google weekly.** Share new styles, seasonal specials, product launches, or staff spotlights. These posts appear on your Google profile and signal to Google your business is active. ## Instagram: Your Portfolio and Community Instagram is the second most important marketing channel for salons and spas. It functions as a living portfolio of your work. **Content strategy for salons:** - **Before-and-after posts.** These are your highest-performing content. A dramatic color transformation or a fresh haircut side-by-side with the "before" stops people mid-scroll. Always get client permission and tag them. - **Reels showing the process.** A 30-second timelapse of a color application or a blowout in progress gets 3-5x more reach than a static photo. The process is mesmerizing to watch. - **Team introductions.** Introduce each stylist with a short bio and examples of their work. Clients want to know who will be in their chair. - **Behind-the-scenes content.** Show your morning setup routine, product unboxing, team training days. These humanize your brand. - **Client testimonials in Stories.** Screenshot positive reviews or reshare client Stories featuring your work. Save these to a "Reviews" highlight. - **Seasonal and trend content.** "Fall color trends for 2026" or "Wedding season hair inspiration" positions your salon as current and knowledgeable. **Posting frequency:** 4-5 times per week for feed posts. Daily Stories when possible. **Use location tags on every post.** This helps local users find your content when browsing posts from your area. **Respond to every comment and DM.** Instagram is a conversation platform. Quick responses to questions about pricing, availability, or services convert followers into booked clients. [Want to see how your salon's online presence scores? Get a free grade at GradeMyBiz](https://grademybiz.vercel.app). ## Reviews: Why Salon Clients Trust Strangers Choosing a new salon feels risky. A bad haircut lasts weeks. A botched color takes months to correct. This is why salon clients read reviews more carefully than almost any other industry. **Volume matters as much as rating.** A salon with 200 reviews at 4.7 stars feels safer than one with 15 reviews at 5.0. More reviews mean more data points and a more trustworthy average. **How to build your review count:** - Ask every happy client at checkout. "If you love your new look, we'd appreciate a Google review. It helps other clients find us." - Include a QR code at each station, on your mirror, or on a small card handed out at checkout - Send a follow-up text after the appointment: "Thanks for visiting [Salon Name]! We'd love to hear about your experience: [Google review link]" - Feature a "Review of the Week" on your Instagram Stories to show clients you value feedback and encourage others to leave reviews **Respond to every review, especially negatives.** A calm, professional response to a negative review impresses future clients more than 10 five-star reviews. "We're sorry your experience didn't meet your expectations. Please reach out so we make it right" shows you care. **Platform priority for reviews:** 1. Google (most important for search ranking) 2. Yelp (still significant for beauty businesses) 3. Facebook (good for social proof) ## Online Booking: Remove Every Barrier The easier you make it to book, the more appointments you fill. Modern salon clients expect online booking. Calling to schedule feels inconvenient, especially for younger demographics. **Integrate booking everywhere:** - Google Business Profile: Add your booking link so clients book directly from Google search results - Instagram: Add a "Book" action button on your profile - Your website: Prominent booking button on every page - Facebook: Add a booking button to your page **Use a professional booking platform.** Tools like Vagaro, Fresha, Boulevard, or Square Appointments let clients see available times, choose their stylist, and book in under a minute. They also send automated appointment reminders, reducing no-shows. **Enable service-specific booking.** Let clients select the exact service (and add-ons) when booking. This sets clear expectations for time and price. **Show stylist availability.** Many clients want a specific stylist. Let them see each stylist's calendar and book directly. ## Your Salon Website Your website supports your Google and Instagram presence. It does not need to be elaborate for a salon, but it needs to look polished and function well on mobile. **Essential pages:** - **Homepage:** Your salon's vibe in images and a few sentences. Include a "Book Now" button above the fold. - **Services and pricing:** A clear list of every service with prices or price ranges. Clients hate calling to ask "how much is a balayage." Put it on your website. - **Team page:** Each stylist's photo, specialties, and a booking link - **Gallery:** Your best work. Before-and-afters, styled looks, nail art. Keep it updated. - **Contact and location:** Address, hours, parking info, and a map **Price transparency wins clients.** Some salons hide pricing to avoid "sticker shock." This backfires. Clients who see your prices upfront and still book are pre-qualified. They will not be surprised at checkout. Display your menu with clear pricing. **Fast mobile performance is essential.** Most salon searches happen on phones. If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, potential clients bounce to the next salon. Keep your site lean and fast. ## TikTok: The Growing Opportunity TikTok has become a significant platform for beauty businesses. Hair transformation videos regularly go viral, bringing massive exposure. **Content that works on TikTok:** - Dramatic hair transformations with trending audio - "Watch me work" process videos - Styling tips and tricks - Product reviews and recommendations - Day-in-the-life content from stylists You do not need to go viral to benefit from TikTok. Consistent local content (tagging your city, using local sounds) reaches potential clients in your area. **Time investment:** If you already create Instagram Reels, repurpose them on TikTok. Same content, different platform, double the reach. ## Email and Text Marketing Salon clients are repeat customers. Once they find a stylist they love, they come back for years. Email and text marketing keep them engaged between visits. **Appointment reminders via text.** Reduce no-shows by 50% or more. Most booking platforms include automated reminders. **Re-booking reminders.** If a client's typical appointment cycle is 6 weeks, send a text at week 5: "Time for a touch-up? Book your next appointment: [link]" **Birthday and anniversary messages.** "Happy birthday! Enjoy 15% off your next visit." These personal touches drive loyalty and repeat visits. **New service or product announcements.** When you add a new treatment or carry a new product line, email your clients. They want to know. ## Seasonal Promotions That Work Beauty has natural seasonal peaks. Align your marketing with them: - **January:** New year, new look promotions - **February:** Valentine's Day date-night packages - **Spring:** Wedding season prep packages - **Summer:** Highlights and color refresh specials - **Fall:** Darker tones and deep conditioning treatments - **December:** Holiday party prep, gift card promotions Promote seasonal offers on Google Posts, Instagram, and via email or text to your client list. ## Your Salon Online Marketing Checklist - Google Business Profile complete with booking link - 50+ photos on Google, adding weekly - Weekly Google Posts with specials or new work - Instagram posting 4-5 times per week with before-and-afters - Instagram Reels showing transformations and process - Online booking integrated across all platforms - Review request system (QR codes, follow-up texts) - Respond to all reviews within 24 hours - Website with service menu and pricing displayed - Each stylist has a profile with booking link - Email or text marketing for rebooking reminders - Seasonal promotions planned and scheduled - TikTok presence (if time allows) ## For more on this topic, read [Website Accessibility for Small Business: What You Need to Know](/blog/website-accessibility-small-business). For more on this topic, read [Free vs Paid SEO Tools: What Small Businesses Need](/blog/free-vs-paid-seo-tools).Grade Your Salon's Online Presence Your salon's online presence is either filling chairs or leaving them empty. [GradeMyBiz](https://grademybiz.vercel.app) gives you a free, instant grade on everything: Google profile, reviews, website, social media, and listings. Find out where you stand in 30 seconds. [Get your free grade →](https://grademybiz.vercel.app)