13 Ways To Get More Clients As A Barber
As a barber, you’ve probably had moments where you wish to get more customers in your barber chair. We get it. We’ve been there too with our business.
One day we got fed up with wishing for more business and decided to take action. We researched the best ways to get more clients as a barber.
Through trial and error, we figured out what works best for us. And now, we want to share 13 ways to get more clients for anyone who’s running a barbershop.
1. Create A Website For Your Business As A Barber.
If you’re a barber, you need to have a website — even if it’s just a simple one. Having a web presence is an essential part of any business, but it’s necessary for the service industry. It allows you to introduce your business and connect with potential customers looking for your services.
Your website needs to look professional if you want it to attract new customers. A good design will make people feel confident about visiting your site and potentially making appointments with your team. Designing the site yourself may seem like an overwhelming task. Luckily there are plenty of tools that make creating beautiful websites easy — even if you don’t have any coding experience!
2. Use Online Booking.
You’re a barbershop owner, and you want to get more clients. You know that you can’t just sit back and wait for customers to come in. You need to be proactive and make your business stand out.
One of the easiest ways to attract new clients is using online booking software. An excellent online booking system will help you manage appointments and avoid missing potential customers.
Once you have a website, you should link directly to the booking software to book an appointment without leaving your website. If a new customer finds your website first, they can click on the “Book Now” button to schedule an appointment.
3. Keep Up With Trends.
You can’t make a living as a barber if you don’t have clients, and you can’t get clients if you don’t know what they want. One of the best ways to keep up with the latest trends in hairstyles is to spend some time on Instagram.
First, set up an Instagram account for your business. It doesn’t have to be fancy; include your name and phone number and a link to your website. Next, follow some barbers or beauty schools on Instagram to see their posts. Take note of their style and technique, then ask them questions about what they use or get started.
When you’re ready to post something yourself, post photos of yourself with happy customers — preferably smiling! Use hashtags such as #barberlife, #barberworld, and #barbershoptalk to build your following and get more customers through referrals from other barbers and stylists who share your page.
4. Be Active On Social Media.
If you want to get new clients as a barber, you have to be active on social media. The good news is that barbers can use social media in many different ways to attract new customers. There are many different ways to use social media to get more clients and more business.
Make sure that you stay active on all major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These are the most popular platforms for businesses like yours, so you must ensure that you’re using them effectively.
Posting content regularly is one of the most effective ways to get more exposure for your business. Even if no one comments or likes your posts, some people will see them and know what your business is about. If they like what they see, then there’s a chance that they’ll visit your website or contact you directly through email or phone calls.
Posting pictures of your work is also important because it shows potential customers what kind of work you do. New customers can decide if they’d be interested in getting a haircut from someone like yourself. It also shows them how good your skills are by providing examples of your past work to know what results they can expect if they hire you.
5. Google Business Profile
If you want to build your online presence, you need to set up a Google My Business profile. Most people will search for a local business on Google before visiting their website, which is an essential step in the right direction.
The first step is to set up your business on Google Maps. Once you have this done, you can add more information to your profile, such as hours of operation and contact details. You can also add photos and videos of your shop, which will make it easy for customers to find you on Google Maps.
You should also create a website for your barbershop that includes all of your business profile page information.
6. Ask Happy Clients To Leave Reviews On Facebook Or Google Reviews
As a barber, it is vital to ask happy clients to leave reviews on Facebook or Google. Alternatively, testimonials on your website are powerful too.
If you don’t have many reviews for your business, it’s time to start asking for them. Here are some tips on how to get more client reviews:
- Ask at the end of every haircut if they liked your work and recommend you.
- Invite them to write a review on Google or Facebook.
- Ask them if they have any suggestions for improvements in your service.
- Offer special discounts for people who leave a review for your business on Google or Facebook (or both!)**
Gathering more reviews will build your online reputation. When potential clients look you up online they will see your Facebook page, Google Business Profile and Website filled with great reviews from happy clients. This will go a long way to help you get more clients as a barber.
7. Referrals
In business, referrals are an essential part of getting new clients. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals directly. But be sure to do it in a way that feels good to both of you.
The best way to get a referral is by being excellent at what you do and by offering something that your clients love. If you provide a service that people can’t find elsewhere, they will tell their friends. But if you’re just another guy with scissors, they’ll go where the barber is cheaper or easier to get in touch with.
So how can you make sure your clients want to spread the word about your services?
Here Are Some Ideas For Gaining Referrals As A Barber
Be friendly and welcoming: Everyone loves someone who is happy to see them walk through the door and enthusiastically greets them with a smile. Your enthusiasm for what you do comes through in every interaction, even when things aren’t going perfectly (we’re not all perfect!).
Asking for referrals isn’t about making sales; it’s about building relationships and establishing yourself as a trusted expert.
Ask them what they like about your shop and services. This is a great way to get positive feedback before asking for a referral. If they say something like, “I love how you cut my son’s hair!” then you know that’s something you should focus on when doing haircuts for kids. If they say something like, “You’re always on time!” then make sure you show up early next time and let them know that was important to them.
Ask them if they know anyone who might want your services (and why). This will allow clients to tell you more about their friends or family members regarding what kind of hairstyle they have. Then you can tailor your pitch accordingly when reaching out to these people! For example, if someone says their friend has been wanting to start growing their hair out but doesn’t know where to start, ask if they could contact your friend to offer advice.
8. Make Your Clients Comfortable.
Make your clients feel comfortable while they are at your barbershop. If they have a great experience, they are more likely to come back and recommend you to their friends.
You can do this by making sure that everything about the barbershop is clean and organized. Ensure that there is enough space for people to sit comfortably with their friends or family members. Also, it’s a good idea to have plenty of magazines and newspapers available for them to read while they wait.
Provide free coffee and snacks in the waiting area so that people don’t get hungry while they wait. You could also provide free Wi-Fi to check their email while they wait if there isn’t anything else interesting for them to do.
It would help to let them know what other services you offer, such as grooming and shaving. This will help them understand what else they can get while visiting your barbershop.
9. Cross-Promote With Other Local Businesses
The best way to get new clients as a barber is through word of mouth and cross-promotion with other local businesses.
But, how do you get people talking about your barbershop?
Here are a few tips:
Invite other businesses to cross-promote with you. Offer a discount for customers who come into your barbershop with a receipt from another local company. This will help them bring in more business. It will help you build relationships with other companies in your area.
When you cross-promote with another business, you can get more exposure for your own business while helping someone else get exposure. You don’t have to spend any money on advertising because you’ll be helping another company advertise for free. In addition, they will likely return the favor by helping promote your business.
Cross-Promoting With Other Local Businesses
The first step in cross-promoting with other local businesses is finding out which companies are in your area and what they do. Start by searching on Google or asking around in person at local stores or restaurants. Once you know who these businesses are, reach out to them and ask them if they would like extra exposure through an advertising partnership with your barbershop. Most local business owners will welcome an opportunity like this.
10. Run Brand Awareness Ads On Social Media
If you own a barbershop, you know the importance of word-of-mouth marketing. Word-of-mouth advertising is the most effective way to get more clients as a barber. But it’s hard to get people talking about your business if they don’t know about it in the first place.
That’s where brand awareness comes in.
Brand awareness is getting people familiar with your business and its products or services. Using traditional marketing techniques like print ads or billboards can help you build your brand. Alternatively, you can use social media advertising.
Social media platforms allow you to target specific audiences based on location and demographics — something that would be much more difficult with traditional advertising methods.
If you want to start spreading the word about your barbershop on social media, here are some ways to do it:
Run brand awareness ads in your local area on Facebook and Instagram.
Use geotargeting so that only people within a certain radius of your barbershop see these ads. Geotargeting ensures that only people in your area will see them — not just anyone.
These ads will help more people in your local area know about your business.
11. Host An Event In Or Near Your Store.
Hosting an event at your barbershop can be a great way to get more clients. There are many different types of events you can host, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Client Appreciation Day
Who doesn’t love free food? Host an event where you offer some food and drinks to your existing customers. You could also give them special deals on other products or services that they might need.
Bring In A Special Guest Speaker.
If you have a particular subject or expert that would be interesting for your customers, bring them in! This can help build your credibility and generate interest in what they do.
Host A Contest/Giveaway For Clients Only.
You could host contests for clients only, like a trivia challenge or raffle for prizes like gift cards or barbering supplies.
12. Become A Walking Advertisement. (Stylish Branded Apparel)
Whether you’re a barbershop owner or just an employee, branded apparel is a great way to advertise your barbershop and show off your business logo.
As a barber, you’re always on the go and constantly interacting with people. This makes it easy to wear branded apparel and spread awareness about your business.
Branded clothing provides a fun way to market your business without spending money on traditional advertising mediums like TV or radio ads.
Branded apparel makes you look professional while promoting your business at the same time.
13. Focus On Doing Great Work, And Soon, Everyone Will Be Clamoring For A Cut Or Shave From You!
How can you get more clients as a barber?
The best way is to focus on doing great work for your existing clients.
The best way to get more clients for your barbershop is to do great work for your existing clients.
Doing great work for your existing clients will make it easier for them to recommend you, and referrals are the best form of marketing. It’s also a lot easier than cold calling or cold emailing people to find new customers.
Think of it this way: if you had a bad haircut, would you go back to that barbershop? Probably not! No matter how good their other services might be, they’re not getting any more money from you. But if they did a fantastic job on your hair, they might convince you to try some other services there (for example, maybe they sell great beard products or have a great new line of clothing).
Conclusion
I hope this list helps you find all you need to know to get more clients as a barber. If you have additional tips that can help, please leave them in the comments section below. Enjoy your barber career!
Regardless of your experience and skill set, there are several steps you can take to ensure that more clients find their way into your shop. Customers will always come and go, but these tips and tricks should help you get as many as possible to return time and time again.