How To Create A Salon Website That Stands Out From The Rest
A great-looking website can help you attract more clients to your business and give them the confidence to book an appointment with you. But creating a salon website that looks good and meets your needs can seem like an overwhelming task, especially if you’re not experienced in web design or coding. To make it easier, keep these tips in mind when building your salon website.
Do Your Homework
The first step in building a website that helps you stand out from other salons is doing your homework. One place to start is by browsing web design trends or sites of salons that have a similar focus as yours. What design trends are other salons using right now? Which sites are doing a good job of representing their brand? Do they make it easy to make an appointment or do you have to search to make an appointment? Do they provide enough basic information, such as the prices and time spent on services, so you can make an informed decision? What about these sites stands out to you? Your list of dos and don'ts will be great for when you're designing your own site.
It’s crucial that you take your time and really learn what’s out there before diving into anything too complex.With some time and effort, you can figure out exactly what direction you want to go with a site of your own—and then get it designed accordingly. Another tip: don’t copy anything!
Choosing The Right Platform For Your Website
Choosing a website platform for your salon business can be overwhelming. Especially when you are not familiar with web design and development. However, not all platforms are made equal, which is why you should research each before choosing one. To help you understand them better, we’ve created a quick comparison of three common website platforms: Wix, Squarespace & ShowIt. The choice is ultimately yours!
I often recommend Squarespace to my salon clients since it offers all the necessary tools and is easy for owners to use. It’s also affordable, starting at $14 per month.
Choose A Domain Name And Secure It Immediately
When thinking about what your domain (URL) should be, keep in mind you want something that is easy for people to remember, but also descriptive of your business. Your domain name should match your business name and brand. If you plan on using social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter, make sure the name, or something very similar, is available there as well.
Putting off buying the domain name you want could be problematic! You will want to buy it as soon as possible because if you don't, someone else might do it instead. Check to see if your business name is available before purchasing a website template or hosting services. Some hosts won't let you register domains separately.
Choose an exquisite website template.
The right template will come down to the design, ease of use and features offered. Most of the builders mentioned above will have some pre-designed templates for you to choose from. Some templates are better than others when it comes to mobile devices so make sure you view the template on mobile before purchasing.
To create something more uniquely yours, other options that you might want to look into are custom coded pre-desiged templates. These templates typically add a bit more fluff and features the free templates lack. You can get the high-end look of a custom website design without the hefty price tag of hiring a designer/developer to do it for you.
On the other hand, if free or pre-designed templates are not offering all of your must-haves from your homework you may want to consider hiring a designer. Costs of a designer can vary anywhere from $1000 to $10,000 so before starting your search, you would have in mind how much you are able to spend.
Designing Your Website
You are going to have so much fun with this! Not only will selecting your color scheme and fonts probably be lots of fun for you, but it’s also a chance to send a message to your clients that you take style seriously.
Choosing a color palette: If you already have a logo, you can mix in some of these colors, or use some complimentary colors for your website. Try a color palette that's going to match the vibe of your salon and isn't so loud/flashy that it takes away from what you want people focusing on - like what services are available or what you specialize in.
Choosing the right font: Look for fonts that communicate what you want people coming into contact with at your salon—and keep it simple! Remember: never use more than three different typefaces. Adding too many fonts can look tacky and more importantly, can be hard to read for some visitors. Make sure your font selection Fonts should be easy-to read and should reflect your brand's image and vibe.
Invest in a Brand Photoshoot: Your imagery can make or break your website to new visitors so hiring a professional to capture your brand magic perfectly will speak volumes when it comes to the look and feel of your website. You should have photos taken of your staff and space. Be sure that your photographer includes some lifestyle shots of you with customers, but also focus on getting images of products and services in progress so people know what they're going to get when they come into contact with you. It's all about providing as much information as possible without being overwhelming! For some great examples of salon photoshoot ideas, check out my pinterest board here for some ideas to show your photographer.
Accept Online Bookings And Payments
Online booking is extremely important for salons. With online booking, salons are able to serve more clients and increase their revenue. How does online booking help in doing so? Simply put, it’s easier for consumers to make appointments with your salon when they can do so from home or work! No need to wait until they’re near your salon location anymore or call and tie up your or your front desk staff.
Most booking systems will allow you to embed their software directly onto your website. This is another reason I choose Squarespace for my salon clients; it has features like Aquity scheduling, which makes managing appointments that much easier!
Nail Your SEO
First and foremost, submit your website to Google Search Console and check to make sure it is getting indexed. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a method of making sure that search engines rank your website for search terms related to your salon therefore getting you found by potential clients. A proper SEO strategy can ensure that your beauty business attracts more potential customers.
Put yourself in customers’ shoes: think about what they’re searching for when they're looking for options like yours. Think about keywords and phrases that people might use to find your services online. Then make sure those words are sprinkled throughout your site—including headlines, descriptions and page titles—and incorporate them into any backlinks (which are essentially links from other sites). For example, if you offer hair styling services, include words like hair, styling and haircuts on your site as well as in any backlinks pointing toward it. If possible, optimize images on your site with relevant keywords so Google knows what's inside them. When choosing an image file name, be sure to include a keyword or phrase along with something descriptive so it's clear what's inside once someone clicks on it.
Spread The Word On Social
Once you’ve got your website up and running, it’s time to promote it. This is where social media comes in handy, as you can communicate news and special offers quickly on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. We suggest using visual content when advertising your launch—post image mockups of your website, run a promotion around the new launch, or simply shout to your customers that online booking is now available. Not only will this get the word out about your new, beautiful website but it will also drive traffic, which in turn boosts your SEO. Win-Win.
So, what do you need to consider when creating your salon website? First and foremost, it’s important to choose the right platform. You want something that is easy to use and customize, with a wide range of templates and themes to choose from. The domain name is also important - make sure it accurately reflects your business and is easy to remember. Once you have these basics in place, focus on the design elements: color palette, typography, images, and keywords. Keep things simple yet stylish, using high-quality images that reflect your brand and target audience. And finally, don’t forget the all-important keywords! Use them throughout your website copy to help potential customers find you online.
What are you waiting for? Start planning your dream salon website today! And if you need a little help getting started, we’re here to lend a hand. Just shoot us an email.
Thanks for reading!