The Power of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing has emerged as a cornerstone for businesses. It helps them thrive and stand out. Local businesses like barbershops can transform a neighborhood favorite to a community staple. They can do this by understanding and using digital marketing. Let’s delve into the essence of digital marketing. We'll also explore its historical roots. We'll discuss why it's essential for your barbershop's growth and success.

The Essentials of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing involves promoting products or services through electronic devices or the internet. At its core, this is what digital marketing does. It's a broad term that encompasses various strategies. Digital marketing helps people find things online.

It includes making websites easy to find (SEO). You also write interesting articles (content marketing). You use sites like Facebook (social media marketing) and send emails (email marketing). It started in the 1990s when people began using the internet for business. First, there were simple ads. Now, there are fancy ads designed to make online fun and interesting.

Why is digital marketing important for your barbershop?

Today, most people spend a lot of time online every day. They might be looking at pictures, searching for a haircut, or finding new hair styles. Digital marketing can help your barbershop show up where these people are looking. It grabs their attention and makes them interested in your products or services.

Understanding Social Media

Social media is like a big online hangout. Everyone shares pictures and talks about what they like. For a barbershop, it's a great place to show off their haircuts and styles. When you use social media, you can talk to your potential or exsiting customers. You can show them your work, share tips about hair care, and even tell them about special deals. It's a way to make friends with potential customers. It keeps them thinking about your barbershop when they want a new look.

Social media has become an integral part of daily life around the world. It influences how people connect, share information, and make decisions. Here are some interensting facts that highlight the popularity of social media:

• As of early 2023, over 70% of the U.S. population uses social media platforms. This showcases the critical role these platforms play in Americans' daily routines.
• Facebook remains the most popular social media network in the USA. Other platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok have also seen significant growth. YouTube, for example, around 81% of U.S. adults, making it one of the most used platforms.
• The average American spends about 2 hours and 3 minutes on social media each day. This shows that social media is a primary source of entertainment and information. It also shows its role in fostering connections and community.
• Social media influences consumer behavior. About 54% of social media users research products before making a sale. This highlights the power of social media in shaping purchasing decisions.
• The majority of social media browsing in the USA is done via smartphones. Approximately 91% of social media users access their chosen platforms via mobile devices.
• Platforms like YouTube and TikTok specialize in video content. They have seen explosive growth. TikTok has become a favorite among younger demographics. A significant portion of its users are between the ages of 16 and 24.

These facts underscore the pervasive influence of social media in the USA. They also highlight its potential. They offer valuable insights for businesses, marketers, and content creators.Todays digital landscape continues to evolve. Embracing digital marketing is no longer just an option. It's a necessity for barbershops aiming to stay ahead.

11 Barbershop Digital Marketing Ideas for 2024

In today's digital age, our laptops and mobile phones are our gateways to finding the local businesses we love and depend on. The internet has become our go-to resource for discovering everything local, from the quaint café down the street to the trusted barber around the corner. Within this blog post, we unveil 11 essential and dynamic digital marketing ideas that work in 2024. These tips will help any barbershop grow online, whether you're just starting or you've been around for a while.

To make it easy for you to digest we have divided our ideas into three parts:

• Basic: These are must-haves for all barber shops.
• Intermediate: For barber shops that are already online but want to do even better.
• Advanced Strategies: For barber shops that have been online for a year or more and are ready to

Basic Digital Marketing Ideas

#1 - List your Business on Google

Google Business Profile (GBP) is a free tool from google for local business owners. It helps boost their online presence by showcasing their business on googles searches. Think of GBP as your digital storefront on Google. It makes it super easy for people to find your barbershop when they're searching to get a haircut.

Setting up your Google Business Profile is like telling the world, "We're here and we're ready to give you the best haircut!"". You'll share important details like your location and opening hours. You'll also list the services you offer, such as stylish cuts and beard trims. This way, when someone searches for a "barbershop near me" or "best haircut," your shop pops up right in front of them. It's your chance to make a great first impression!

But there's more to GBP than just showing up in searches. Happy customers can leave postive reviews. These reviews are like gold for attracting new clients. Imagine someone saying, "This is the place for the perfect fade!" right on your profile. Plus, you can chat back and forth with customers, answering questions like, "Do you do walk-ins?" or "What's the best hairstyle for curly hair?" It's a great way to connect and show you care.

Why is Google Business Profile a game-changer?

Google Business Profile (GBP) is a must-have in your digital marketing toolkit if you're running a small business. Here's why it's a game-changer:

1. Free Advertisement: It lets you advertise your barbershop at no cost. Your shop appears in searches for free.
2. Easy to Find: Customers find you with ease. A quick search brings your barbershop to their attention.
3. Connects You: You connect with customers and potential customers. GBP allows for direct communication, building strong relationships.
4. Gives Insights: Google provides insights on how customers find and view your shop. You discover their preferences.
5. Grows Your Business: It highlights your shop on the map and links you with the local community. This drives growth and success.

Choosing Google Business Profile is a wise decision. It boosts your barbershop's popularity and attracts happy customers. Let's turn your barbershop into the most talked-about spot, all thanks to Google Business Profile!

#2 - Create Social Media Profiles

Do you know that 62.3% of the world uses social media? They spend 2 hours and 23 minutes each day on these platforms. This was the case as of January 2024.

Social media websites are like digital playgrounds where people connect, talk, and share with each other. Imagine a place online where you can see what your friends are doing, share your own stories, and find cool videos or pictures about things you like. Customer connect with business on these websites.They do it all through the convenience of computers, laptops, or smartphones.

For barbershops, leveraging popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can be extremely beneficial. The main goal of barbershop social media should be to increase visibility and brand awareness. Posting eye-catching photos and videos allows you to showcase your shop's atmosphere, your talented barbers' skills, new haircut styles, and promotions or events. This gives potential customers a window into what your business is all about.

Here are three key reasons barbershops must embrace social media marketing:

1. Attract New Customers in Your Area: Most people search on social media to discover local businesses and read recent reviews before trying a new place out. Creating social profiles that are optimized for local SEO with your business name, location tags, and contact info makes it easy for nearby customers to find your barbershop.
2. Build Relationships and Loyalty with Current Customers: Many barbershop clients already check platforms like Instagram daily. Engaging with them online and posting content they enjoy seeing facilitates stronger relationships and may encourage repeat visits. Offering exclusive social media coupons and promotions also provides value.
3. Promote Special Events and New Offerings: Use social channels to advertise events, new barbers, expanded service menus, or remodels/relocations. Limited-time discounts tied to social media drives visits during slow periods or generates buzz for a grand reopening.

Best Practices for Barbershop Social Profiles

When creating and updating social accounts for a barbershop's marketing strategy, keep these essential tips in mind:

• Choose profiles that visually represent your brand personality

• Post high-quality, well-lit photos and videos regularly

• Respond promptly to comments, reviews, messages

• Utilize relevant local business hashtags frequently

• Partner with barbers to share content

• Run occasional social media contests/giveaways

• Use analytics to identify best posting times

• Set up paid promotions to reach more users

By taking advantage of popular social platforms, barbershops can expand their digital presence and attract today's constantly connected customers. The key is crafting social profiles that authentically engage your audience and highlight why your shop is their go-to place for excellent haircuts.

#3 - Mobile Friendly Website

Did you know? Over 50% of worldwide web traffic comes from mobile devices, excluding tablets (Statista, 2023). This trend proves the shift towards mobile internet browsing and the necessity for businesses to adapt to this change.

A mobile-friendly website is designed to work just as well on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, as it does on desktop computers. This means that the site's layout, design, and functionality automatically adjust to fit the smaller screen sizes and touch-based navigation of mobile devices, ensuring an optimal user experience for visitors regardless of how they access the site. Here are the key characteristics and benefits of a mobile-friendly website:

Key Things to Remember

• Responsive Design: Explain that a responsive website automatically adjusts its layout and content to fit the screen size of the device it's being viewed on. This ensures that your website is easily navigable and looks great whether it's accessed from a smartphone, tablet, or desktop.
• Fast Loading Times: users expect quick and seamless access to information, especially when browsing on mobile devices. The speed at which a website loads is not just a matter of convenience; it's a critical component of a site's user experience and can significantly impact a business's ability to engage and retain customers.
• Simplified Navigation: Use a simple menu that works well on small screens. Think about adding a "hamburger menu" for mobile sites. It's a button that shows more options when you tap it. This keeps your site looking neat and easy to use.
• Click-to-Call Buttons: It's important for customers to quickly book visits or ask questions. Put "click-to-call" buttons on your site. This way, people can call your shop easily with just one tap.

Creating Your Barbershop's First Website: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide

For any barbershop first making the jump into the digital world, building your very first website can seem like a daunting task. However, by following this simple step-by-step beginner’s guide, you’ll have an incredible-looking and functional website up and running for your barbershop in no time!

1. Choose a Web Host and Domain Name: The first step is finding a company to host your website and buying your ideal domain name address. Popular web hosts include Bluehost and HostGator, which allow you to register a domain for a fairly low cost. Pick out an easy-to-remember .com domain name relevant to your barbershop.
2. Select a Visual Website Builder: Next, use a visual website builder like Wix or Squarespace to build out the structure and design of your website through drag-and-drop tools and premade templates. They’re very intuitive for first-time users. Select a modern template and color scheme that align with your barbershop’s branding.
3. Create Your Homepage: Now design your homepage to feature your barbershop name, logo, photos of your shop, and basic business info front and center. The goal is welcoming potential new clients with an overview of your offerings, vibe, and talent. Add some descriptive text talking up your services, barbers’ experience levels, and what sets your shop apart.
4. Build Out “About Us”, “Services”, and “Contact” Pages: Add a few key pages like “About Us”, “Services”, and “Contact” that dive deeper into useful barbershop details. Share your business’s story, highlight your haircut and grooming offerings, and clearly list ways clients can get in touch to set appointments or ask questions. Consider adding a staff page that puts faces to your barbers’ names too.
5. Select Useful Website Add-Ons: Make use of built-in add-ons through your website builder for added functionality like booking systems allowing online appointments, blogs to publish hair tips and trends content, photo galleries to showcase your barbers’ skills, and Google Maps embed so clients can easily find your shop location.
6. Preview and Publish Your Website: Do one final preview across desktop and mobile to confirm your barbershop website looks fully polished and professional before officially publishing it live online for the public to visit! Adding a website is an invaluable asset for establishing credibility and visibility for any modern barbershop.

There are no difficult coding or design skills required to create an incredible website with today’s intuitive website builders catered to first-timers. Just take it step-by-step.

Hiring a Professional Web Design Company

When creating a website for your barbershop, you have a few options on the table: hiring a professional web design company, working with a freelance website builder, or being a do-it-yourselfer.

Here's an overview of the pros and cons of each route:

Pros: An established web design firm has the expertise to strategically plan, design, and develop a high-quality custom website for your barbershop tailored to your brand and goals. They handle all the technical aspects and guide you through the process.

Cons: Hiring a professional company costs more than other options, usually thousands of dollars depending on features. You also have less control compared to owning the website build yourself.

Working with a Freelance Website Builder

Pros: Freelance web developers can create and customize websites at a more affordable rate than traditional agencies. Many are talented at working directly with clients like barbershops.

Cons: Lone freelancer availability can be less reliable. Also tough evaluating their skill level and previous work upfront compared to an established company.

Building a Website Yourself

Pros: By leveraging user-friendly DIY website builders like Wix or Squarespace that don't require coding, you can own the website creation process without high development costs.

Cons: With no web experience, the learning curve and troubleshooting technical hurdles can be demanding. Producing a polished high-converting website takes significant time and effort.

The choice ultimately depends on your budget, goals, and commitment level. For most basic barbershop sites, a DIY website builder provides an affordable way to establish an online presence and get your digital footing before investing further down the line. Reach out to discuss best next steps for your barbershop's unique needs.

Intermediate Digital Marketing Ideas

#4 - Get an Online Booking System

Implementing an online booking system provides convenience for clients, cuts down administrative tasks, and most importantly, dramatically grows your client base and revenue. Here are some compelling stats:

• A Resurva study found that 77% of customers are more likely to book appointments online if given the option.
• Online booking platforms allow clients to find open slots and schedule appointments 24/7. This leads to 2-3x higher booking rates compared to phone-only.
• When the gentlemen's salon Hairstory implemented online booking, their average monthly bookings shot up by 152 appointments just three months in.

Beyond impressive growth metrics, online booking systems provide convenience that today's clients expect. Clients can check real-time availability at your barbershop, select the specific services and barber they want, book a time that fits their schedule, and even pre-pay - all on their own time. This means less back-and-forth phone calls for simpler appointment management.

On your business operations end, booking systems like Vagaro, BookSteam, Booksy and Setmore seamlessly integrate with Google Calendar to consolidate appointment data into one interface. Automated confirmations and reminders significantly reduce no-shows too. That means lower costs and staff effort chasing down appointments. More booked spots equal higher potential revenue.

Online booking system for local barbershops pays off tremendously in new clients, lower costs, and more revenue. The modern client journey demands flexible digital booking options upfront. Getting an online booking system in place needs to be priority #1 for any shop looking to grow. Even old-school barbers can't ignore how vital technology adoption is today.

#5 Content Marketing

Now more than ever, hair salons thrive with powerful content marketing strategies — building audiences by posting valuable content on social media, blogs, and beyond. In 2024, here are the pro content tactics barbershops big and small should use to boost brand awareness, engagement, and profits.

Craft an Instagram Content Power Strategy

With over 130 million Instagram users in the United States, regularly posting high-value content that gets engagement needs to be a linchpin of any barbershop’s 2024 digital marketing roadmap.

The Instagram content that converts best for salons includes:

Behind-the-Scenes Photos and Video: Capture and share that edgy barbershop culture through real photos and videos from around your shop. Let customers peek into a day in the stylist life — jokes traded, tattoos honed, fades finessed. This makes your brand more relatable and humanized, sparking Instagram growth.

Battle of the Barbers Showdowns: Feed into that competitive flair your experts have with some friendly "who wore it best?" battles. Have barbers each create unique versions of a popular requested cut or style on mannequins, then have your Instagram followers vote on which they like most.

Client Transformations and Review Content: People love dramatic before and afters. When clients are thrilled with major hair makeovers from your shop, get their permission to post the images/video on Instagram. Add snippets of the glowing reviews they gave too for maximum impact.

Product Features and Promotions: Showcase new product lines you now carry and special deals the shop is offering on must-have brands. Giveaways and contests also drive valuable engagement.

Pro Tip: Consider launching an Instagram Business profile which unlocks key analytics on your followers and posts — invaluable for honing in on high-performing content.

Strategically Engage the TikTok Video Craze

The 60-second video-based app has over 100 million monthly active users in the States. Getting noticed on "TikTok" requires nailing viral-worthy content specifically tailored to that Gen Z and Millennial demographic.

For barbershops, video series possibilities include:

Quick Client Makeover Reveals: Show a client pre-transformation. Cut to them running their hand through their hair post-cut, unveiling a killer modern new look complete with splendid fades and razor work worthy of 1 million views!

Dramatic Hair Experiments on Willing Models: Go wild testing outlandish new dyes, mullet fusions, shaved line art, and diagonal bang chops set to music that get lots of attention. Lean into that experimental barbering spirit.

Leveraging Trendjacking Moments: Capitalize on the latest hot meme or trending song. Barber shops may find viral success jumping into hashtag dances/challenges or dramatizing the latest must-do TikTok beauty hack.

Blog Article Ideas for Barbers:

"The 10 Hottest Men's Hair Trends" - Feature runway looks and hairstyles that clients can request to stay on top of what’s trending. Give breakdowns replicating each modern cut.

"8 Tips to Make Your Color-Treated Hair Last Longer" - For those who invest in bold colors and stylish highlights, provide advice on keeping vivid tones fresh and long-lasting.

"A Beginner's Guide to Beard Care" - Talk proper shampooing, conditioning, brushing, oil use and covering the fundamentals of maintaining a healthy-looking beard with your skilled guidance.

"The Best Hairstyles for Men With Receding Hairlines" - Flaunt techniques on slowing thinning hair progression and cutting/styling to better frame changes in hairlines over time.

"Finding the Right Barber Shop For You" – Break down helpful criteria like specialties, messaging capabilities, average cost ranges, types of cuts, kid-friendliness, availability of beer and more!

Content anchors powerful social media and websites that yield serious growth. Photos, videos, promotions, advice — quality original content shapes positive perceptions highlighting your barbers’ skills and the welcoming shop environment. Use these content marketing tips to drive real business results in 2024!