Marketing

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5 Reasons why a Salon should Choose to Partner with PBS

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Here at PBS, we’re committed to providing our salon, spa & clinic partners with the best products, treatments and training – putting them in the best position to deliver the results their clients demand. Beyond that, we’re equally dedicated to offering our salon, spa and clinic owners the essential business support they need to build a profitable, reliable business that provides security for them, their employees and their families.

Here are 5 reasons why a salon should choose to partner with Professional Beauty Solutions…

1) Our World-Class Brands & Aesthetic Devices

At PBS, we only take on brands that we know will exceed the needs of our salon partners. Of every brand we consider, we ask: Will it perform better than its competitors? Will it be a reliable and profitable revenue stream? Is it at the forefront of technological and cosmeceutical advancements? These questions and dozens more need to be answered before we decide whether a brand is a good fit for PBS and the 2,000-plus salon, spa and clinic partners that trust our judgement.

Bringing you 14 world-class professional brands that work in harmony to protect, perfect, nourish and repair any skin, Professional Beauty Solutions offers a 360-degree approach to treating your clients. Enjoy the convenience of having all your business needs met by a single supplier while benefiting from the exceptional service, training, marketing support and business education that we offer.

2) Next Level Education and Training Support

Our online educational platform continues to grow, providing our salon, spa and clinic partners and their employees with 24/7 access to education and training materials. Specifically designed to bridge the gap between where your knowledge and skills are now, and where they need to be, our extensive online training portal is designed to help you grow your sales and increase profitability. Best of all, this invaluable online tool can be accessed anywhere, anytime. We also offer in-class training days across multiple brands all over Australia to ensure our salon, spa & clinic partners are continually staying up-to-date with their product knowledge & training.

“The support is incredible to help us learn and grow. I really value the relationship I have with PBS and it just keeps getting better, with them continuing to offer great products and training. Their educational seminars are all targeted at helping my salon grow, and we are thriving. The staff are great, our orders are at our door the next day and we have marketing ready for us on a platter. PBS ticks all the boxes for me.” – Rebecca Daniel, Angel Touch Beauty

3) Comprehensive Marketing Support

Imagine having access to thousands of dollars-worth of free marketing material for every brand you stock. Our exclusive Marketing on A Platter (MOAP) program offers just that! Our easy-to-use platform gives you access to everything you need to promote PBS brands in-store and online and our marketing materials are designed with one goal in mind — to drive clients through your door and convert visits into sales.

“One of my favourite things about PBS is their Marketing on a Platter (MOAP). They provide social media graphics, e-newsletters, in-salon display posters, plus product images ready to be used. This is completely unique to PBS and a huge resource for my business. It saves me hours of work, lots of dollars and time that I do not have:” – Rebecca Daniel, Angel Touch Beauty

4) Rewards & Buying Power Leverage

Incentive and rewards programs work, but only when the targets are achievable - which is what sets our programs apart. Our loyalty rewards can be accrued across all 14 of our brands, which makes team incentives easier to achieve. It’s pretty simple: The more you spend with PBS, the more you save!

5) Be a Part of a Community of Like-Minded Individuals

PBS Skin Summit, 2019

One of our biggest goals asides from ensuring our salon, spa & clinic partners are the most profitable they can be – is creating a community of like-minded individuals from across the country. PBS is proud to host events such as our annual Skin Summit, Roadshows & Device Days where salon owners & therapists can come together to network.

In addition to these in-person events, we are so proud of the two stockist-only Facebook groups that we have created to become major beauty industry networking hubs! These groups are a great place where we work to empower our partnered salon owners & team members as we share and connect through an online community. Sharing beauty industry knowledge, questions, tips & tricks with fellow like-minded industry professionals in a safe & respectful place.

Click here to enquire about our brand offerings or get in touch with PBS.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Use Before & After Photos in your Salon Marketing

Before & after photos emphasize your credibility as a legitimate, results-driven salon and when done well can attract new customers, increase treatment bookings, boost sales and grow your social media following. 

At Professional Beauty Solutions, we believe in the power of showcasing client transformations because we know that when a salon shares their own authentic before & after photos, the positive flow-on effect for their business is huge!

Why should you be sharing your own Before & After photos?

  1. Help boost your sales by attracting new clients and encouraging repeat business.

  2. Emphasise the power of the services you offer and the efficacy of the products you sell.

  3. Grab attention and encourage engagement on your social media channels, which can lead to an increase in followers/new customers.

  4. Help create an authentic connection with followers because they’re real results that people can relate to and aspire to.

  5. Build your credibility, authority and trustworthiness in the eyes of current and prospective customers, which in turn builds your reputation. 

Your before and after images are a powerful tool to show potential and existing clients that you’re capable of achieving the results they want.

Whether it’s treating a specific skin concern, a makeup look or finding the right spray tan shade, customers can see real life results for themselves and feel confident that you can solve their specific problem.

Are you using SMS marketing? You should be! Here’s why….

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The average open rate for text message marketing campaigns is 98%, compared to 20% for email marketing campaigns. And with most of us opening a text message up within 90 seconds of hearing that little beep which gets our curiosity soaring, it’s no wonder using text messages as a marketing tool is considered one of the most effective ways to reach clients and promote your services or products.

So, if you haven’t tried SMS marketing for your salon, is it because you are unsure of how you should engage with your clients (what type of information should you be sending?) or perhaps because you simply have no idea where to start?

To help you realise the full potential of SMS marketing, we’ve listed some of its benefits here.

Exclusive Deals
One way to use SMS marketing for your spa or salon is to send out exclusive deals to your clients. People like to feel special, and there is no better way to make your clients feel special than by making them part of an exclusive club. You can do this by promoting exclusive offers, discounts, VIP sales & events through text that you do not promote via any other marketing channel.

Last Minute Specials
On slow days, you can help increase your sales by sending out a limited-time offer available that day only. This incentive will help drive people to your business, turning a slow day into a busy one!

Inform Clients of New Services
When you add new services to your spa or salon, you want to inform your customers about them. You can use SMS marketing to let your clients know about the latest services offered by your salon or spa. You may also want to provide a special reward to your mobile subscribers and offer an exclusive trial of the new service before it becomes available to everyone else. This extra step can make your clients feel special and valued while driving traffic to your salon.

Appointment Reminders
One common problem spas and salons face is loss of business due to clients forgetting about appointments or mistaking the time. It’s natural, we’re all human, but a simple text message is an easy way to send a reminder – and will hopefully cut down on the number of missed visits. This will help you not only maintain a busy schedule, increasing your bottom line, but it also provides an added level of customer service which helps build client loyalty.

It’s Time Efficient
Email marketing is wonderful. It’s free, it’s effective, and it’s easy to do. But sitting down and writing and designing an email takes time, and that’s one thing many of you don’t have. With SMS marketing, your message is to the point, rather than being buried in a 500-word email (which can also get skimmed past in your inbox).

Let’s get down to business.
SMS text messaging can be an effective tool for building your salon, reducing the amount of missed client appointments, and improving your customer service. It can help to strengthen your reputation and increase your profit potential. If you are ready to start on your text messaging campaign journey, here are a few companies you can try.

6 Key Areas that are often not updated on your Business Facebook Page – and they should be!

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When was the last time you gave your Facebook Business Page a spring-clean? Often, we find ourselves words deep in creating great Facebook posts but overlooking the marketing obvious? Is your page letting your salon brand down?

With the constant changes to Facebook’s rules and algorithms, it makes sense to refresh, declutter and update your page regularly.

We like to think of it at a salon social audit! Make sure you dedicate some time and give your page a makeover.

First stop…. your ‘About page’

It is essential for your business that this information is correct and up to date. This is where many clients and potential new customers will go to get in contact with you. Make sure all relevant fields are completed from location, phone number and opening hours to website details and links.

When was the last time you updated the cover photo on your page?

If it’s been more than four months since you updated your latest cover photo or video, it’s probably time for a refresh.

Here are some other reasons or times when you may want to switch up your cover photo:

  • If you’re launching a new campaign, product, or service.

  • To celebrate a new season or upcoming holiday.

  • To promote an upcoming event.

Is you pinned post out of date?

Nothing looks more out of date than a pinned post promoting an event or competition that’s long since passed. Pinned posts need regular changing otherwise they will look stale. Make a calendar note when you pin a post to revisit it in a week.

When was the last time you updated your services tab?  

Did you know that you can add your treatment menu to your page? And it’s super easy to do! Firstly, you will need to add the Services tab to your page.

Here’s how:

  1. Click settings at the top of your page

  2. Click Templates and Tabs in the left column

  3. Scroll to the bottom and click Add a Tab

  4. Next to Services, click Add Tab and then click Close

  5. Now that you’ve added the services tab to your page, you can add your services

To add services:

  1. Go back to the front page of your page and click Services in the left column

  2. Click Add a Service

  3. Enter info about your service, then click Save

  4. To list another service, click Add a Service

Is your call to action current?

Facebook is no different to any other salon marketing channel; you need to lead clients towards your end goal (book an appointment, pick up the phone or visit your website for example) with a call to action. This call to action simply tells them what you’d like them to do next.

To add a call-to-action button to your business age:

  1. Click + Add a Button below your Page’s cover photo

  2. Select a button from the dropdown menu and fill out any required information

  3. Click Add Button.

Once the button has been created, it’s a good idea to test this. Simply hover over your button and select Test Button.

Do you have Facebook reviews?

Social proof showcasing the quality of your salon, spa or clinic is key for converting casual browsers into new clients.

Once they are there, you can’t change or delete Facebook reviews (unfortunately you’re stuck with them). If you notice a handful of average reviews you will need to spring into marketing mode.

Here are 4 tips to encourage clients to leave a Facebook review and boost your star rating:

  • Remind clients while they are in your salon, spa or clinic. Pop strut cards or mirror decals throughout the salon asking for a review. Eg “Loved your salon visit? We’d love your Facebook review.”

  • Encourage Facebook reviews via your e-newsletter. And don’t forget to include the link to your Facebook Page.

  • Always reply to every review quickly and thank them for taking the time and trouble (even if it’s not as glowing as you’d hoped). We all like to feel appreciated. 

Banned hashtags that could be damaging your salons Instagram account

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Did you know that Instagram has banned a bunch of commonly used hashtag? And by using these hashtags, you could be potentially damaging your salon brand across social media?!

Here are some innocent-sounding hashtags you may be currently using on your salon social posts that are banned - #tanlines #newyears #valentinesday #ig #beautyblogger #beautydirectory #sunbathing #instamood #humpday #likeback #besties #followforfolllow #goddness. Some of these hashtags are banned temporarily, while others are permanently prohibited. But either way, using them on your posts could shadowban or penalise your Instagram account.

Using hashtags on your salon Instagram marketing

Hashtags are valuable for your Instagram marketing as they can increase your reach and get your salon seen by a new, relevant audience. Which in turn leads to more new clients for your salon business. So rather than dropping them all together as they are such an important part of your salon social marketing, we suggest you read on to discover how you can avoid these banned hashtags.

Why Instagram bans certain hashtags

Instagram is on a mission to reduce spam, fake accounts and scammers. It was revealed that spammers were jumping onto popular hashtags and abusing them, so now their bots look for Instagram accounts that use certain hashtags and flag them as spam.

What is a shadowban?

Using banned hashtags on Instagram could results in your account receiving a shadwoban from Instagram. This means your posts don’t show up in general Instagram searches, which means you become invisible to potential new followers and clients. This is not good news for those salons looking to grow their business!

How do I know if an Instagram hashtag is banned?

The bad news is that Instagram doesn’t make it easy for you, and their list on banned hashtags change on a daily basis. To check if a hashtag is currently banned by Instagram:

  • Go to the explore tab.

  • Type the hashtag in the search bar.

  • Click on it.

  • If you see a message along the lines of ‘recent posts from #sunbathing are currently hidden because the community has reported some content that may not meet Instagram’s community guidelines’ then it’s banned.

  • Don’t use it.

Avoid these hashtags on your salon social

Take a look through this list below and see if you’ve used any of these recently. If you have a post that didn’t perform well and it used one or more of these hashtags, you might have found your answer.

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If you are desperate to use one of these hashtags then make sure you check it out first as some hashtags are only prohibited temporarily, so listings are never totally accurate.

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Why a salon photoshoot is a great investment?

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In today’s day and age – the first point of research into your business for your client is taking a look at your social media and your website. Having good-quality photos across your marketing platforms is vital as it works as a digital display of your portfolio; demonstrating your brand and visual identity.

📸 WHY YOU NEED A PHOTOSHOOT 📸

Often when salon owners start their business they use stock-standard photos on their website. Whilst this is great for kick-starting your business, stock photos can be a little bit cold, distant and lacking authenticity. On the flip side, a salon photoshoot captures you and your business at your most warm, intimate and transparent state.

When existing and prospective clients get this insider look, they instantly take a virtual step into your salon space & treatment rooms and learn the faces behind the business.  

We would suggest hiring a local photographer, take half a day for you and all your staff to come in and get shooting! Schedule this on a day that your business is closed, or blackout a few hours one day from all bookings to get the photo shoot done.

Anna, from Anna’s Skin and Beauty is a business owner and beauty therapist that truly see’s the power of a professional photoshoot..

“I have always felt that professional photoshoots are important for my business as they show case my work and the parts of my business that I want to promote. I am more of a skin focused salon and that is predominantly what my photo shoots involve. As such, I also like to create a lot of brand awareness for Image Skincare as I am devoted to the brand and I really believe in the results I achieve with my clients, so my photoshoots show this!

I also like to promote myself as my brand and show a little of my personality in my photos, that way clients feel like they “know” me, even before they haven’t met me in person. I also like to promote the fact that the salon is owned and operated by me; I do all of the treatments and the clients know that when they come to my salon, they will see me and my 23 years’ experience every time. This is one of the reasons that I feel that my business is so successful. I feel that it is important to always portray a professional and friendly image.

I also like to promote that my husband John is also part of the business, he doesn’t actually work “in” the business but he definitely works on the business.

Over the years, I have had 3 different locations for my business and each location change marked a significant chapter in my business journey as well as a business owner and a person. I have felt that I have needed to update my photos as the location has changed. It’s really important for me to move forward with a positive attitude and mindset.

Anna, Anna’s Skin and Beauty

📸 WHERE TO USE THE PHOTOS 📸

Here are the three places you should be using your photography from your salon photoshoot;

-          Social Media

-          Website

-          Treatment Menu

📸 WHAT TO SHOOT 📸

-          Treatment photos

-          Team photos

-          Around your salon

-          Retail display

-          Reception counter

-          Waiting area

If you want to check out a great example of how amazing your own salon photoshoot can look, head to @annasskinandbody