This post is brought to you by Pam Moore, CEO of Marketing Nutz. Pam is a Redken business artist, who along with her team helps salons and stylists from small to large learn the path to success with proven methods for social and digital media. Pam has a Redken-endorsed online training academy. If you would like Pam to come train on-site in your salon or utilize her services, click here for more details. You can also use LEVEL Loyalty rewards! While Instagram is no longer the new kid on the block, usage of the platform is growing at a remarkable pace. With the tips and content ideas below, you can set yourself up for success on Instagram!
Video
Video (of the right stuff) wins. Every time. Video is an extremely powerful tool which can lead to exponential success on Instagram. Make short, concise tutorial videos – highlight techniques that seem simple to you but may seem challenging to clients, such as how to do an updo, or how to create beautiful beachy waves. Apps such as Hyperlapse can be used to record a blowout or longer color service for your fans.
Before and After Images
There’s no better place than your salon to capture beautiful before and after imagery. We created a great blog post here that offers some great tips for taking amazing social media photos. When you know a guest is going to receive a transformational cut – take a moment to snap a before pic!
Following the appointment, you know the client is going to go to her car to take a selfie and share with her friends. So why not ask her if she is okay with you taking a before/after which you can later post to your Instagram? Make sure to get her Instagram handle and tag her in the photo for added engagement. I promise you will get very few clients that say no!
Updos and Unique Styles
Bridal styles and braids fill seats. Never go through a bridal party appointment without banking photos of your work. You can make beautiful collages and drive massive business by doing this. Whatever look you are styling, be it an updo for a night out, or a new color transformation or style technique – take pictures and POST!
Deals and Events
Running special promotions and deals each month is a great way to both drive engagement on your page and drive clients to your chair. We encourage you to plan Instagram promotions a few weeks in advance to allow yourself enough time to create assets and images to support the promotion. Redken has an amazing resource library of images that you should be accessing regularly here.
For your own promotions, make sure to embrace the use of a tool like Canva. With Canva, you can easily create beautiful images for all social media platforms at a very low cost.
The Secret Sauce
Do you want to know the type of imagery that our salon clients see the most engagement with on their channels? Are you ready? Images of their salon family! Your followers want to KNOW you and your stylists/professionals. They want to take the journey WITH you. If you can tell a story over time, your engagement will skyrocket. Take pictures and share the daily happenings in your salon. Here are a few great moments and events to consider posting about:
- Work Anniversaries
- Client big wins ("Our client Mary just competed in the Boston Marathon" etc.)
- Local events you participate in (make sure to tag and share event info)
- New employees – welcome them with a picture and share their specialties
- Remodels or additions to salon
- Any other personal event that involves your salon
Tools
Once you take pictures, you’ll want to edit the image and format it to ensure high engagement. There are lots of apps that can help you edit a photo like a pro, but here are some of the most popular tools we find salon owners using:
Canva:Canva is our “go-to” editing tool. It's easy to use and helps you overlay your logo & text. It even has images to use as backgrounds.
Overgram: Use Overgram to add text such as “Before” and “After” to your photos.
PicFrame: Showcase your photos in frames with this handy app.
Layout: This is Instagram's own layout tool. A definite must download.
Aviary: This app offers great photo editing options like cropping and color boost.
Photography: Courtesy of Redken
