Make your salon Instagram sparkle this Christmas

There will be more eyeballs than usual on your salon social over the coming weeks as people hunt for Christmas gift ideas and festive party inspo says Alice Kirby, founder of the Salon Social Club. 

With Instagram reels and carousels central to your salon’s social marketing, ensuring yours stand out and get seen is key for a profitable December and a strong start to 2024. 

Try these eight easy-to-implement tips:

Simply the best

Instagram's algorithm is like Santa - it knows if you've been lazy or good! It doesn’t like content that's clearly lifted from other apps (especially TikTok) or that doesn't meet quality standards. So keep your reels fresh and top-notch quality advises Alice.

Do this now

Want your posts to pop with quality? Go to your Instagram settings, find ‘Data usage and media quality’ and flip on the ‘Upload at highest quality’ option. It's typically off by default to save your mobile data. But as quality is key, make that switch.

First impressions count

On your ‘before & after’ carousels lead with your stunning 'after' photo ensuring everyone stops, stares and swipes.  You've worked your magic, now let it do the selling. 

Craft captivating captions

 Don’t treat the caption as an afterthought. Use it to add value and context to your festive reels and carousels. Every word counts.

Christmas praises

Let your clients do the talking this December. Spice up your carousel with a client testimonial. Nothing spreads holiday cheer and says 'Book now' like glowing words from a delighted client.

Mix it up

Obviously, you want to showcase your team’s work but don't overdo it as it can soon feel repetitive. Mix it up to keep your salon social interesting, relevant and engaging says Alice. 

Ready. Set. Go.

Reel them in from the get-go. You've a 3-second window to grab attention. So, place an attention-grabbing 'hook' at the start of your reel and on the first slide of your carousel.  

Local love

Use local hashtags on every post to help your salon get found by a local audience. After all, locally is where 99% of your potential new clients live. #BrightonChristmas #BrightonBeauty #BrightonHairdresser #BrightonSalon.

Use these eight tips on your festive reels and carousels and watch your Instagram marketing sparkle this Christmas. 

Hair & beauty marketing specialist Alice Kirby can be found at Lockhart Meyer Salon Marketing and the Salon Social Club.