Valentine’s Day just passed, and if your salon was busy with blowouts, manicures, and last-minute appointments…great. But here’s a question worth asking: how did those clients find you?
For most beauty businesses in San Antonio, the answer is Google. And that means your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is doing more heavy lifting than you might realize.
Claim It, Verify It, Own It
If you haven’t claimed your Google Business Profile yet, stop reading this and go do it right now. Seriously. Go to business.google.com and follow the steps.
An unclaimed profile means Google is pulling information from random sources…and it’s probably wrong. Wrong hours, old photos, missing services. Every incorrect detail is a potential client who goes somewhere else.
If you claimed it a year ago and haven’t touched it since, that’s almost as bad. Google rewards active, updated profiles with better visibility in local search results.
Add Every Service You Offer
Google lets you list individual services with descriptions and prices. Most salons skip this or add only a few. Don’t be most salons.
List everything: haircuts, color, highlights, balayage, blowouts, extensions, keratin treatments, waxing, facials, lash extensions, microblading…whatever you offer. For each one, add a brief description and a price or price range.
When someone in Stone Oak searches “balayage near me,” Google matches their search to the services listed in your profile. If balayage isn’t listed, you’re invisible for that search. For Rodeo season specifically, our guide to getting your Google Business Profile Rodeo-ready has additional tips for capturing that seasonal demand.
Photos Are Non-Negotiable
Beauty is a visual industry. Your Google profile needs to reflect that.
Upload at least 10 high-quality photos. Include:
- Your salon interior (clean, well-lit, inviting)
- Your team (smiling, professional)
- Before-and-after shots of real client work
- Your products and retail area
- The exterior of your building (helps people find you)
Update your photos monthly. Profiles with recent photos get significantly more clicks than those with outdated or no images. After a great transformation, ask your client if you can snap a photo for your Google page. Most will say yes…they want to show off too.
Respond to Every Single Review
This is the one that separates great salons from forgettable ones. Respond to every review within 48 hours.
For five-star reviews: thank the client by name, mention what service they had if possible, and invite them back. “Thank you, Maria! We loved doing your highlights…you looked amazing walking out. See you in six weeks!”
For negative reviews: stay calm, apologize for their experience, and offer to make it right offline. “We’re sorry to hear this, Jessica. We’d love the chance to make it right…please call us at [number] and ask for [manager name].”
Potential clients read reviews before booking. Your responses show them the kind of experience they can expect. And when graduation season arrives, those great reviews will help you turn one-time graduation clients into regular customers.
Post Weekly Updates
Google Business Profile has a built-in posting feature that most businesses ignore. Use it. Post once a week with:
- A photo from the salon that week
- A seasonal promotion or special
- A tip (like “how to maintain your color between appointments”)
- An event or announcement
Each post stays visible for seven days. It keeps your profile fresh and signals to Google that your business is active. As the holidays approach, pair this with local SEO strategies to fill your salon’s chair during the holiday glam season to stay visible during the busiest time of year.
Your Google Business Profile is working 24/7…make sure it’s working well. If you need help building a website that matches the quality of your salon’s Google presence, Grow My Small Business is here for you. Grab free marketing tools at https://gift.growmysmallbusiness.com/.