In The Salon

Discover how this opportunity can blend your skills with your family life, allowing you to run a salon from the comfort of your home, celebrating both your entrepreneurial spirit and your commitment to your family in one beautiful package.

  If you've been following our blog series on how to run a hair extension salon, then you're probably wondering how to convert those all-important leads into paying clients. In this instalment, we'll share some tips and tricks on how to close the sale and how you can automate the process a much as possible to ensure you are not consulting and booking at nights. Keep in mind that every client is different, so there's no one-size-fits-all solution, but these steps will have you speeding in the right direction. Let’s go ahead and jump right in…   The Value of a Good Pricelist When your prices are clearly listed, it shows that you're confident in what you're charging and you can make sure that everyone is on the same page - no haggling over prices or trying to remember what you charge for each service. And when your clients can see exactly how much each service costs, they're more likely to be happy with the final bill. Now I understand a price list may not seem like the most glamorous marketing tool, but it is one of the most important pieces of information you can provide your potential customers. In today's competitive marketplace your price list can be the difference between landing a new client and losing out to the competition. A price list makes it easy for potential customers to compare your services to those of your competitors, and when presented with a clear and simple price list, customers are more likely to choose your salon over one that seems to be hiding its pricing information. A well-designed price list is easy to read and understand, providing potential customers with a clear idea of the services you offer and how much they will cost. This simple piece of marketing property can be a powerful tool in your efforts to attract new business. In the world of hair extensions, there are a few key factors that will affect the price of a service. The first is the type of hair extensions being used. The second is the length of the hair, and the third is the thickness. The most important thing to remember when creating a price list is to keep it simple and focused on value. By doing so, you'll ensure that your salon's brand identity shines through. Here's a couple of simple examples.   Answering Those Frequently Asked Questions… Once   Salon owners and stylists are all too familiar with the unbillable hours that can add up during the day. When you're trying to squeeze in as many clients as possible, the last thing you want is to spend time answering questions from potential clients who may or may not even book an appointment. However, these questions are often essential in helping potential clients decide if your salon is the right fit for them. In addition to questions about pricing and availability, potential clients will often ask about the salon's atmosphere, the experience of the stylists, and the types of services offered. While it can be frustrating to dedicate time to answering these questions, it's important to remember that they can ultimately lead to more business. By taking the time to answer potential client questions, you're more likely to convert them into booked appointments. But why not answer them just once? Displaying answers for common questions on your business social media page can save you a lot of time. By providing answers to frequently asked questions, you can avoid the need for unnecessary back-and-forth communication. Plus, it shows that you're a knowledgeable pro who is ready and able to answer any question that comes your way. So, take a few minutes to post some FAQs on your social media page, and you'll be glad you did when you start saving time (and money) in the long run. So go through your messages and compile a list of the questions you get asked most. You’ll probably want to post FAQs in your Instagram Highlights, while on Facebook you can pin a FAQ’s post to the top of your wall. Automated booking systems   There's no denying that we live in a fast-paced world. We want everything now, and we don't want to have to jump through hoops to get it. When it comes to booking a salon appointment, this is especially true. No one wants to spend 20 minutes on the phone trying to schedule a simple haircut. And yet, so many salon businesses still rely on manual booking systems that create friction for customers. For years, hair extension salons have been relying on traditional booking methods, such as pen and paper or even just a simple spreadsheet. But with the advent of online booking systems, there's now a better way to manage appointments. Automated booking systems offer a number of advantages over traditional methods, they are a gigantic time saver and give you the ability to display service descriptions, the estimated length of time that a service will take, they eliminate the possibility of double booking. Perhaps best of all, automated booking systems can help to eliminate no-shows by sending reminders to customers prior to their appointment time to confirm they are still coming. If you're looking for a better way to run your hair extension salon, I would recommend switching to an automated booking system.   Lock in the Appointment with a Deposit   As any hair extension professional knows, no shows are the bane of our existence. We've all had that one client who cancels at the last minute, or simply doesn't show up at all, leaving us with a hole in our schedule (and our pocket). But what if there was a way to prevent no-shows? Some salons require a deposit to lock in an appointment. For example, you could charge a $50 deposit for all hair extension appointments and you can even automate the process by taking deposits through your online booking system. While this may seem like an inconvenience for clients, it can actually be a huge benefit. It helps to ensure that clients are serious about their appointments. It provides a financial incentive for them to keep their appointments. If the client still doesn’t show, your time is not completely in wasted. So, if you're tired of no-shows, consider taking a deposit to lock in your appointments. It could be the key to a smoother-running business.   What is Upselling and can I Automate that too?   Upsell. It's a word that can strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned sales professional. But upselling doesn't have to be a dirty word. In fact, when done right, upselling can be a great way to increase your profit margin and bring home the bacon. But what is upselling exactly? Upselling is the act of selling a more expensive or upgraded product or service to a customer who is already interested in buying from you. For example, let's say you own a salon that offers hair services. An upsell would be offering your client a bottle of shampoo or conditioner to take home with them after their haircut. Now that we know what upselling is, let's talk about why it's important to do it using an online booking system for your salon. First of all, upselling allows you to increase your average ticket size without having to increase your prices. This means that you can bring in more revenue without turning away price-sensitive customers. Secondly, Upselling via an automated booking system will take away the pressure of having to offer addons yourself. Thirdly, upselling gives you the opportunity to build stronger relationships with your clients by offering them products and services that they need and want. Finally, upselling is just plain good business sense! By offering your clients additional products and services.   There you have it, our top tips for converting leads into paying hair extension clients. By displaying a good price list, answering any questions they may have and making the booking process easy for both you and the potential client, you can increase your chances of landing that new customer! What's next? Next week, in part four of this series, you will learn all about how to conduct a thorough and effective consultation with your client. We'll cover everything from what questions to ask to get a clear understanding of your client's wants and needs, to how to properly assess their hair type and condition. This is critical information for anyone working in the hair extensions field, so don't miss it! Would you like us to elaborate more on any of these lead generation topics? Let me know in the comments below! – I read every one! Join the movement of motivated hair extension enthusiasts and subscribe to Sophia Hair. You'll receive weekly updates on our FREE content as it is released. Just follow the prompts at the bottom of this page. If you have more/better information that could help out our community, or questions that need answers, drop a comment below or email us at support@sophiahair.com.au.   Looking forward to hearing from you,   Lucas Miller Sophia Hair Australia  

Learn how to use strategic digital marketing practices, put together high-quality content that converts, and build trust with your audience.

Interested in learning how to start and run a hair extension salon?This series is packed with information on how to generate leads, convert them into clients, and keep them coming back for more. You’ll learn everything you need to know about consultations, the application process, and creating a maintenance plan. With our help, you can create the perfect hair extension salon that meets the needs of your clients. We’ll provide you with all the tools and resources you need to get started. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

In this addition of The Independent Salon, we carry out a real exercise to show an example of how you can set up a decent home based salon for under $1,500.

Complete independence, working your own hours, not having to commute and maximising your share of the earnings are what could be waiting for you.