It might seem like a surprising combination, but beauty and technology go hand in hand. If you happen to be a beauty professional yourself, we have some insider tech-tips that you can benefit from.

As you build your clientele, you’ll notice keeping track of your appointments, progress, and revenue becomes a bit more difficult and overwhelming day after day. Using the traditional pen and paper method is ok when you’re just starting out, but eventually, you’ll want to move to a digital method to keep more accurate records.

Fortunately, there are several tools and resources that you can use to streamline this process, and most of them can be downloaded straight to your phone. Here are five ways technology can help you run a smarter salon business. 

1. Social Media Marketing

There are so many ways to market your business both online and off. Back in the day, the only option businesses had was to pay for traditional print, TV, and radio ads. Today, you can build a strong marketing campaign on a much smaller budget or even for free with social media.

Something as simple as frequently updating your salon’s social pages can help you build your brand image and reach more clients. Posting photos of satisfied clients is a great way to generate buzz for your business.

2. Appointment/Client Management Systems

Having a management application like this solution from GlossGenius that allows clients to book online saves time for both you and your clients. For instance, if an individual goes to your website from their phone, they should be able to schedule an appointment without speaking to you personally. With this technology, your salon can be open 24/7.

An appointment filling program will let them see when you’re free, consequently choosing a date and time that works for the both of you. More importantly, you’ll be able to keep track of all these appointments in one place.

Moreover, it can be difficult to keep track of your clients’ personal details. A lot of people enjoy talking to their stylists about what’s going on in their lives. Client management software can help you keep track of this information, too. Prior to the scheduled appointment with your client, you will receive an alert giving you an overview of their interests, family, or events they may have shared with you in their previous appointment. Having this information on hand allows you to follow up and is a great way to show interest in them.

3. Online Surveys  

The relationships you build with your clients is the heart of your business. A great way to get feedback is to send out an email to your customers inviting them to take a survey in exchange for a 10% discount on their next service (or something similar). Use this feedback to tailor your services to your clients and improve your overall business.

4. Loyalty Programs

It makes sense to create a loyalty program for your clients to use. After all, many restaurants and retailers are doing the same thing. Consider rewarding your customers for any – or all – of the following:

• Pre-booking
• Referring friends
• Booking appointments online
• Trying a new service

5. Email Newsletters

Email marketing is another solution that makes it simple to send out a mass message to your followers. This is great when running promotions or launching a marketing campaign. And by offering clients an incentive to sign up for your email list such as a discount, it’s a win-win for everybody.

Wrap Up

These technologies can really help your salon grow to its full potential as they involve essential elements needed to develop a successful, lasting business. Staying up to date with appointments, payments, client management, and marketing tools has never been made easier innovative tools like the ones above.

We encourage you to use the resources around you to save you time, money, and energy when running your beauty business as they are a great way to keep your clients informed and interested.