Convert Instagram followers to clients
Selecting a social media platform that works for your salon brand begins with having your clients in mind.
Recent reports have shown that Instagram is delivering brands with up to 58 times more engagement than Facebook and 120 times more than Twitter. Instagram is a client magnet too big to ignore.
Being successful on Instagram starts with building trust with your followers. Once they view you as a clear ‘go-to’ industry expert, you can encourage them to try your services. If you feel a little baffled by it all, the following tips will help you find your feet.
1. Make it picture perfect
Being an image-based platform, your images must be excellent quality. If there’s any time to learn about how to take great shots, even for selfies, it’s now! Consider the angle you’re shooting, as well as backgrounds, lighting and zoom.
2. Would you follow you?
Check out your profile page and ask yourself this single question”
“Does my profile effectively communicate who I am as a brand or business?”
This means making sure that your profile picture, bio, and images are all telling the same story. Work on your whole page’s look and feel -do the last 3, 6 & 9 images look cohesive?
3. Start with your why?
Why would someone choose to follow your page?
People are selfish. For someone to follow you there has something in it for them, so be clear on what you’re offering.
Once you have picked your theme, only post within the boundaries you’ve set for yourself. If you’re followers love you for the amazing hair you create, sharing your dinner or dog antics adds no value and deters from your brand.
4. Consistency please
It’s important to be consistent, so your followers know what and when to expect to see your content. Don’t overcommit at first as you can always grow it later. If you can’t post daily, then choose the days you can and conquer that first before committing to more.
5. Use #hashtags, stay #blessed
Using hashtags increases your reach. They can act like a channel for content around one specific topic, and using them well can increase engagement and followers.
They say that the optimal number of hashtags per post is 11, but just use hashtags that are relevant to the audience that you’re trying to attract… what would they search for?
6. Get it on your schedule
The good news is that there is now scheduling software for Instagram! So excited about this one.
I used to plan my week’s posts and save the images into Dropbox or on my mobile phone in advance. Then type up my descriptions for each image into an email and send them to myself.
I’ve just discovered http://grum.co/ where you can upload from your desktop and schedule in advance. It takes all the pain away – Thanks Instagram!
7. Make it rain! Convert followers to clients
The Instagram bio is the only place you can put any type of link to your business, anywhere on your account. Make sure you have thought about this! When the time comes for a follower to decide to take the plunge and touch base with you – make it easy for them to connect and make an appointment with you.
Send people to your salon’s website contact page OR online booking links, you’ll be right there whenever they decide to take action.
8. Have no fear
If you’re worried that online booking will mean losing control of your schedule, you can set it up so that appointments are “pencilled in”. This means that any incoming bookings are not set in stone. You’ll have the opportunity to review the bookings and, if required, contact your clients to set a new time.
If you do today as you did yesterday, you can expect tomorrow to look just the same. Make tomorrow different! Just get started and work it out along the way!
