If your Instagram feed makes you look more like a baking blog than a kickass hair stylist, you’re so not alone.
We as an industry are in uncharted territory, and we’re all learning how to navigate with grace to the other side. Meaning that some things you thought you had down – like posting and interacting on social media – are a totally new ball game.
Maybe you’re running out of guest pictures and don’t know what to post next? Or maybe you threw your entire social media plan out the window when salons shut down and you feel like you’re just posting randomly.
If you’re running out of ways to show up on social media or just feel totally overwhelmed and social media is the last thing on your mind, stick with us because today, we’re taking you through five things you can post on social media when you’re away from the salon that will help you retain clients and even grow your business.
Show your face
Okay, hold up: this doesn’t have to be video (although video is definitely one of the highest-ranking types of content right now, getting 21.2% more interactions). If the idea of making a video is way too far out of your comfort zone at the moment, that’s okay.
But you still need to show up in person on your social media profiles.
Clients want to see YOU. They want to see old pictures of you in the salon, that crazy blue dye job (especially if you do vivids!) you had when you were sixteen. They want to see what hair stylist you had on your wedding day, and what you look like working in your salon (even if you aren’t yet back behind the chair).
Basically, clients want to know you. They want to know your business, your personality, your vibe, and more.
The best way to show them that? Post photos or videos of yourself in the feed.
Recycle your content
If you’re thinking, “But I don’t have any new photos of me in the salon right now”, we’re gonna let you in on a little secret: recycle old ones.
Seriously. If you scroll back far enough in feeds, you’ll see that everybody, from the biggest platform artist to that brand educator you saw last year recycles their content.
New followers and clients aren’t going to notice that you’re using photos from last year’s photo shoot or a client that you’ve already reposted. And, chances are, if they do scroll back that far in your grid, they won’t mind.
That doesn’t mean post the same picture three times this week; make sure there’s space between recycled content. But if you had some photos that performed super well last year or some images from that photo shoot you haven’t used in a while, don’t be afraid to add them to your grid!
Make video tutorials
You might have noticed there’s a ton of video on social media platforms lately. There’s one big reason for that: platforms have seriously bumped up video in their algorithms. Why? Generally speaking, it helps people stay on the platform longer, which they love.
So making videos has a bonus for you: you know that your video will be ranked higher, meaning more people will see it, meaning more potential guests will fall into your marketing funnel.
The good news is video tutorials don’t need to be complicated. You can always follow the same basic format:
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Introduce yourself
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Do the tutorial
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Close it out
Make sure to give the important info – who you are, where you work, your website, and how they can find more about you – in the beginning and the end of the video. Don’t count of people watching all the way through to get your contact info; make sure they have everything they need to know upfront.
And the even better news? The more you do it, the easier it gets.
Get a little personal
Don’t forget to be social on social media. And that’s more than just interacting on others’ posts; it’s sharing about yourself too.
Share why you started doing hair and what you love about it most. If you’re comfortable with it, introduce your followers to your kids, your husband, your dog. Tell them about the place you grew up and how it shaped you. If it fits into your brand, your vibe, your personality, and your comfort zone, share it with your followers.
Right now, we are all looking for human connection. We want to feel like we are a part of this community, in touch with one another, even when we might not be able to be in the salon as much as we want or to be able to connect through touch to right now.
Make graphics
Feeling like your social media profile is a little image heavy but you still want to share that amazing tip about properly applying deep conditioner? Think graphics!
Graphics are a great way to break up your feed, fully engage your followers, and relay information. (Around here, we love Canva.)
Let’s say you have that amazing how-to tip about deep conditioner that makes hair super moisturized every time. Break that tip down into steps and make a graphic for each tip. Post them as a carousel post and break down your full tip in the caption.
A few notes to keep in mind when creating graphics:
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Less is more. Don’t be afraid to keep it simple.
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It’s easier to read dark words on a light background.
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Your graphics should be branded so use your business’s brand colors and text.
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Keep it consistent. Make it obvious that that graphic came from your business.
Want to see what we mean? Check out the Thriving Stylist Instagram feed!
There is a lot going on in the world right now, and if you need to take a space from social media to process it all, that’s okay. Take what you need and do what’s right for you. And when you’re ready to return, keep these tips in mind to help you keep showing up as a light and inspiration for your clients right now.
In Thrivers Society, we dig into everything you need to know to build an amazing social media plan that can help you stay present and positive for your followers and clients! Want to learn more? Click here to stay in the know and get exclusive perks!
