Gone are the days where businesses weren't required to be tech savvy. In today's society, salons must keep up with the latest technological advancements if they want to stay relevant. Most clients rely heavily upon technology in their day to day tasks, and these clients expect your business to operate in the same manner as many other businesses that have adapted to this new tech age. Here are three ways that new salon owners can keep up with competition using technology upgrades:
POS System:
The point of sale systems for different industries has evolved throughout the years. The POS systems for salons should be evolving at the same rate as those in these other industries. If the average consumer prefers to make payments in a specific way, it would be wise to incorporate this payment method into your POS system. With the rise of smart phones comes the need to offer mobile friendly payment methods. NFC (near field communication) capabilities should be a feature to consider including in your POS because of convenience for the customers, the ease of use, and it's very secure.
Create an App:
Despite the seemingly overuse of apps throughout the past few years, there's still an opportunity to capitalize on app development. Currently, there seems to be a slight trend where consumers are trying to minimize app usage by only opening apps when needed or necessary. Consolidating all information from your social media and websites into a single app might be worth looking into. Giving clients the ability to use a multi-functional app with all essential information regarding your salon could be beneficial in helping your salon stand out against competitors who don't utilize the use of apps. Other benefits of app usage can include, but aren't limited to:
Immediate notifications
Ease of communication
Use of loyalty points
Sale information
Appointment reminders
Targeted Social Media Ads:
In a previous blog post, we mentioned the use of social media. Depending upon which social media platform you choose, targeted ad campaigns can be VERY beneficial for a new salon to gain exposure locally and outside of the immediate area. These ad campaigns can be extremely cost effective because you can buy in at whatever amount works for your budget. Once an ad is started, you are given access to a vast array of analytics to examine potential customer insights. The more money that's invested into the ad campaign, the greater the reach will. be. An example of search criteria for an ad campaign could be:
" men and women between the ages of 25-30 who live in the Huntsville area and are interested in eyebrow shaping"
You may also just use keywords (ex- brow bar, Huntsville, Alabama, brow shaping). Other benefits of using targeted ad campaigns include, but aren't limited to:
Great ROI (return on investment)
Enhanced customer engagement
Heightened brand awareness
There are a plethora of additional ways to incorporate tech into your business model. Be sure to explore everything that's out there, and use whichever methods complement your salon the best. Until next time, stay blessed and be productive!
Comments