Last Updated on April 23, 2026
Most hairdressers and barbers are brilliant at what they do. The problem is not the haircuts. It is the empty chairs. If your diary has gaps and you are relying on walk-ins or word of mouth, you are leaving money on the table every single day.
This guide covers every practical way to get more clients through your door, from the free stuff you can do today to the paid channels worth investing in once your foundations are solid.
1. Set Up and Optimise Your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing you can do. When someone searches “hairdresser near me” or “barber in [your town]”, Google shows a map pack of local businesses. If you are not in it, you do not exist to those people.
86% of all Google Business Profile views come from category searches like “hairdresser near me”, not from people searching your salon name. That means most of your potential clients are finding you (or not finding you) through Google before they ever hear about you from a friend.
Google Business Profile checklist:
- Claim and verify your listing
- Add 15+ high-quality photos of your work, your space, and your team
- List every service you offer with descriptions and prices
- Set accurate opening hours (update for bank holidays)
- Add a direct booking link
- Write a clear business description with your location and specialisms
- Post weekly updates (offers, availability, new styles)
Businesses with at least 15 photos receive 35% more clicks than those without. Profiles with complete descriptions rank significantly higher in local search. This is not optional, it is your most important marketing asset.
Read more: How to Set Up Google Business Profile
2. Build a Review Machine
83% of consumers read reviews on Google before choosing a business. The average local business ranking in positions 1-3 has 47 Google reviews. If you have fewer than 20, you are at a disadvantage.
The good news is that 68% of people will leave a review if you simply ask them. Most hairdressers never ask.
How to get more reviews:
- Ask at the end of every appointment when the client is happiest
- Send a follow-up text or email with a direct Google review link
- Print a QR code for your review page and put it at the till
- Respond to every review, positive and negative
- Never offer incentives for reviews (Google bans this)
3. Add Online Booking
A majority of salon appointments in the UK are now made outside of opening hours. If someone thinks about booking a haircut at 10pm on Sunday and you only take phone bookings during the day, you have lost them to the salon that lets them book online.
| Platform | Price | Marketplace | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresha | Free (commission on new clients) | Yes | Solo stylists starting out |
| Booksy | From £40/mo | Yes | Barbers and male grooming |
| Timely | From £15/user/mo | No | Salons wanting automation |
| Treatwell | £195/yr + commission | Yes | Discovery and new clients |
| Phorest | Custom pricing | No | Multi-staff salons |
Read more: Best Booking Systems for UK Businesses
4. Use Instagram Properly
Static portfolio photos are no longer enough. In 2026, video content drives discovery. Transformation reels, the “hero moment” where a client sees their new look, get the most saves and shares.
Instagram content that gets bookings:
- Transformation reels (before and after)
- POV shots from the chair
- Styling tutorials and tips
- Stories showing same-day availability
- Booking link in bio (not “DM to book”)
- Location tags on every post
Read more: Social Media Marketing for UK Businesses
5. Set Up Email and SMS Rebooking
Most clients do not leave because they are unhappy. They leave because they forget. A simple automated message 5-6 weeks after their last visit brings them back before they find someone else.
This costs almost nothing to set up with any decent booking system or email platform, and it fills chairs consistently without you having to do anything after the initial setup.
Read more: Best Email Marketing Platforms
6. Invest in Local SEO
Beyond Google Business Profile, your website needs to rank for searches like “hairdresser [your town]” and “barber [your area]”. This is high-intent traffic, people actively looking for a haircut right now.
Key actions: make sure your website mentions your location on every page, create a services page for each treatment, get listed on local directories (Yell, Treatwell, Hair Council register), and build local citations with consistent name, address, and phone number.
Read more: Local SEO for UK Businesses
7. Know What to Spend
| Salon Size | Revenue | Marketing Budget (5-10%) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo stylist / mobile | £30-50k | £1,500-5,000/yr |
| Small salon (2-4 chairs) | £80-150k | £4,000-15,000/yr |
| Multi-chair salon | £200k+ | £10,000-20,000/yr |
Start with the free channels (Google Business Profile, reviews, Instagram) before spending on ads or SEO services.
Read more: How Much Should Marketing Cost?
Not sure where to start?
Get a free personalised report on your salon’s marketing in 48 hours.
Salon Marketing Readiness Checklist
Tick off what you have done. See your score update live.
Your marketing readiness score
0%
Complete the checklist above
Related reading
