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In the beauty industry, the first impression is everything; the same rule applies to your online presence. This is especially true when it comes to creating a salon website. As a salon owner, your website acts as a digital storefront, offering potential clients a glimpse of your salon’s services and atmosphere. This comprehensive guide aims to help you understand the process of creating an engaging, functional, and aesthetically pleasing salon website that genuinely reflects your brand.

Summary of Key Points

This guide covers essential steps to consider when creating your salon website, from understanding your target audience and researching salon website design trends to choosing a suitable domain, selecting the right website builder, and optimizing your site for search engines and mobile users. We’ll also touch on building your website pages, creating a content plan, promoting your website, tracking your website metrics, understanding the costs, and gathering feedback on your site design.

The first step: Understanding Your Salon Business and Target Audience

Understanding the essence of your salon business and its target audience is crucial in creating a functional and efficient website. Being clear about your salon’s unique selling propositions (USPs), whether it’s your specialized services, your stylists’ expertise, or your salon’s ambience, can influence the design and content of your website.

Furthermore, knowing your target audience allows you to tailor the website’s design, content, and functionality to meet their needs and expectations. As such, it’s essential to consider their age, gender, income, and preferences. For instance, if your salon caters primarily to a younger demographic, integrating features such as online booking, social media links, and a modern, vibrant design can make your website more appealing to them.

Next: Researching Salon Website Design Trends

Just as in the fashion or beauty industry, trends in website design change frequently. Staying up-to-date with the latest design trends can help your website look modern and appealing. However, it’s also essential to balance these trends with the needs of your audience and the essence of your brand. Here are some current website design trends you may want to consider:

• Simplicity: Today, many websites are moving towards a more minimalist design. This focuses on simplicity and functionality, making it easy for visitors to find what they need without unnecessary clutter.
• Bold Colours: Bold and vibrant colours are becoming increasingly popular in website design. These catch the eye and can evoke certain emotions or associations related to your brand.
• Mobile-First Design: A mobile-first design approach has become essential, with more people using their smartphones to browse the internet. This means designing your website for mobile devices and scaling it up for larger screens.

Now, on to how to start a salon website

1. Registering a Domain

Choosing a suitable domain name is essential in establishing your salon’s online presence. Your domain name is your address on the internet – it’s what your customers type into their browser to find your website. As such, it should be short, memorable, and reflective of your salon’s brand.

Try searching below to see if your ideal domain name is available.

Once you’ve chosen a domain name, you must register it through a domain registration company. There are numerous companies to choose from, with prices and services varying. Some website builders also offer domain registration services, which can be convenient.

When brainstorming domain names for your salon website, it’s essential to keep in mind your brand and the services you offer. You want your domain name to be catchy and easily remembered while accurately representing your business.

One idea is to use keywords related to your salon’s services or location. For example, if you specialize in hair colouring, you could use a domain name like “ColorMeBeautifulSalon.com.” If your salon is located in a specific neighbourhood or city, you could also incorporate that into your domain name.

Another option is to use your salon’s name as the domain name. This can help with branding and make it easier for customers to find your website. Make sure to keep the name short and simple to make it easier to remember. I used this tip when choosing mine – Hair by Kissa.

Consider using a play on words or a pun in your domain name. This can make it more memorable and fun for customers to remember. Just ensure it still accurately represents your salon and doesn’t appear cheesy.

Regardless of your chosen option, check that the domain name is available and easy to spell before registering it. We have compiled a list of top places to buy domain names below:

Domain name company/ registrar	What we like about it	Link to site
Domain.com	– Offers various services, including domain registration, web hosting, web design, and email services. – User-friendly interface. – Wide range of domain extensions. – Strong customer support.	Visit Domain.com
Namecheap	– Known for affordable domain registration and transfer services. – Offers a variety of top-level domains. – Provides hosting, email, and security services. – Strong commitment to customer privacy and security.	Visit Namecheap
Hostinger	– Offers a variety of hosting plans to suit different needs. – Provides a free domain registration with some of their plans. – 30-day money-back guarantee. – 24/7 customer support.	Visit Hostinger
Bluehost	– Recommended by WordPress. – Offers a variety of hosting plans. – Their hosting plans provide a free domain name for the first year. – 24/7 support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.	Visit Bluehost

2. Choosing a Website Builder

Now that you’ve registered a domain, the next step is to build your website. While hiring a professional web designer is a choice, using a website builder is a cost-effective and easy way to design your salon website, especially if you lack coding skills. Side note- Contact us if you need some advice on choosing a website designer.

Here are three popular website builders:

WordPress

WordPress offers the most flexibility in terms of design and functionality. However, it requires some coding understanding, making it more suitable for those with web design experience or those willing to learn. In addition to its flexibility, WordPress allows users to install and use a wide range of free themes like Kadence and GeneratePress, which come with free website templates that can help you get started quickly and easily. WordPress is an excellent choice for experienced web designers and beginners looking to create websites. 

Kadence is a good example of a WordPress theme that provides hundreds of starter templates.

Shopify

If you want to create an online store, Shopify is the perfect choice. It is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that makes setting up and managing your online store easy. It offers a wide range of professional themes and customization options, making creating a beautiful and functional store that meets your needs easy.

Square Online

Square Online is an excellent option for businesses that need a simple and easy-to-use website builder. It offers a range of customizable templates and features like online booking, online payments, and more. It also integrates seamlessly with other Square products, making it a great choice for businesses using Square for payment processing.

Hostinger Website Builder 

Hostinger’s website builder is an excellent option for beginners who want to create a website quickly and easily. It offers a range of customizable templates and drag-and-drop features, making it easy to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge. It also offers affordable hosting plans, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.

Squarespace

Squarespace is renowned for its sleek, professionally designed templates. It might take a bit of time to master, but the learning curve is well worth it for the quality of design achievable.

Here is a comparison to help you make a decision:

Website Builder	What We Like About It	Link to Site
Shopify	1. User-friendly interface, perfect for beginners. 2. Wide range of templates specifically designed for various industries. 3. Robust e-commerce capabilities, including inventory management, product variations, and sales channel integrations.	Visit Shopify
Square Online	1. Seamless integration with Square’s suite of business tools. 2. No monthly fee for the basic version. 3. Automatic syncing with the physical Square POS system is perfect for businesses with both online and physical stores.	Visit Square Online
WordPress	1. Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins. 2. Strong community support. 3. Ideal for content-heavy sites like blogs due to their robust content management capabilities.	See some free Templates
Squarespace	1. Beautiful, professional templates that are highly customizable. 2. Integrated e-commerce capabilities. 3. Includes SEO tools for site optimization.	Squarespace
Hostinger Website Builder	1. AI-powered website builder for easy setup. 2. Drag-and-drop interface for customization. 3. Includes SEO tools and e-commerce features.	Hostinger Website Builder

Choose a website builder that aligns with your salon’s needs, budget, and technical skill level.

PRO TIP: Buying a domain name, hosting and setting up WordPress with Bluehost

First, proceed to Bluehost’s website. You’ll see a few hosting plans – the basic plan is a great starting point, and you can always upgrade later if your website gets more visitors and needs more resources (fingers crossed!).

Here is a blog on Bluehost’s website explaining the different types of plans.

Next, you’ll select your domain name, which is essentially your website’s address on the internet. Remember to choose something memorable and relevant to your website’s purpose. Bluehost offers a free domain name when you sign up for hosting.

Once you have your domain name, proceed to create your Bluehost account. Fill out the account information form and choose your desired billing term. Selecting a longer term often comes with a discount.

Before finalizing your purchase, carefully review your selections to ensure everything is correct. Bluehost might offer additional features, but you can always add them later if needed.

Now, proceed to log in to your Bluehost dashboard, which serves as the control centre for your website. Thankfully, setting up WordPress with Bluehost is a straightforward process. Locate the button in your dashboard to log in to WordPress. This platform will act as your website management tool.

Adding Website Information: WordPress will require some basic information about your website. Fill out this information to complete the setup process.

Accessing Your Website: After setting up WordPress, you can access your website through the “websites” section of your Bluehost dashboard or type ‘yourwebsite.com/wp-admin‘ or ‘Yourwebsite.co.uk/wp-admin,’ depending on the domain name you bought. This is where your website comes to life, ready for you to add your content.

3. Building Out Your Website Pages

Your salon website should provide a smooth navigation experience for your users. Here are some essential pages you should include:

1. Home: This is the first page your visitors will see. It should capture your salon’s brand essence and unique offerings.
2. About Us: Use this page to tell your salon’s story. Highlight what makes your salon unique, its mission, and its core values.
3. Services: List all the services you provide, along with their prices. The more detailed, the better. This allows potential clients to know exactly what to expect.
4. Staff: Introduce your team. Highlight their skills, experience, and specializations. This can build trust and connect with potential customers.
5. Portfolio: Showcase before and after photos of your work. This can demonstrate your expertise and give potential clients an idea of the results they can expect.
6. Testimonials: Feature reviews and testimonials from happy clients. This can help build credibility and reassure potential clients of your quality of service.
7. Blog: Regularly updated blogs can provide value to your clients, position you as an industry expert, and improve your SEO.
8. Contact Us: Provide your salon’s address, contact information, and working hours. An embedded map for directions is a good addition.

4. Implementing SEO Best Practices

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial aspect of your salon website design. It involves optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine result pages, increasing your visibility and attracting more traffic. Here are a few SEO best practices:

• Keywords: Identify keywords relevant to your salon services and use them in your website content, meta descriptions, and alt tags. A good Keyword research tool you can use is Keysearch.
• Quality Content: Regularly update your website with high-quality, original content. This can improve your website’s search engine ranking and engage your visitors.
• Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Google’s search algorithm favours mobile-optimized websites.
• Page Loading Speed: Slow-loading pages can deter visitors and negatively impact your SEO. Optimize your website’s loading speed by compressing images and using a simple website design.

Here is an excellent SEO introductory video for beginners:

Implementing SEO best practices can seem overwhelming, but it’s a crucial step in ensuring your website is discoverable by potential clients.

Want to try testing your keyword research knowledge? Search your keyword ideas below:

Or, try searching your competitors’ websites below to see the keywords they use:

5. Creating a Content Plan

Regularly publishing high-quality, relevant content on your salon’s website offers value to your clients and can also improve your SEO, positioning your salon as an industry expert. Here are some points to consider when creating a content plan:

• Blog Posts: These can cover various topics, including hair and beauty tips, product reviews, and trends in the beauty industry.
• Client Transformations: Showcasing before and after images of your clients can illustrate your salon’s services and expertise.
• Events and Promotions: Keep your clients up-to-date with any special offers, events, or new services your salon offers.
• Newsletters: Regular newsletters can keep your salon at the forefront of your client’s minds and encourage repeat bookings.

6. Integrating Essential Features

Your salon’s website should be more than just a digital storefront. By integrating additional features, you can improve the user experience, drive engagement, and even streamline your business operations. Here are some key features to consider:

Online Booking: This feature allows your clients to book appointments directly from your website, offering them convenience and saving you time. We have a detailed blog about appointment booking apps that can help you get started.

E-Commerce Store: If you sell products in your salon, consider adding an online store to your website. Some services like Shopify allow you to create a website and integrate all e-commerce options, all included in the package. This will enable clients to browse and purchase products directly. 

Social Media Integration: Integrating your social media accounts can help increase your followers and extend your online presence. It would be best if you thought about creating a stunning link in bio to have all your links in one place. We have written a blog reviewing all popular link in bio tools like Shorby and Later. 

Contact Form: A contact form lets your clients easily contact you for inquiries or feedback.

7. Promoting Your Website

Creating a fantastic salon website is only the first step; promoting it is equally essential to increase your website’s visibility and attract more clients. Here are a few ways to promote your website:

SEO: As mentioned earlier, implementing SEO best practices can improve your website’s ranking on search engine result pages.

Social Media: Use your social media platforms to promote your website. Regularly post updates, promotions, and content that directs your followers to your website.

Google My Business: Registering your salon with Google My Business can increase your online presence and make it easier for clients to find your salon.

Email Marketing: Send regular newsletters and promotions to your email list, with links to your website. Our email marketing section on this blog reviews tools like Getresponse and Convertkit. 

Tracking Your Website Metrics

Keeping track of your website metrics can provide valuable insights into your website’s performance and areas for improvement. Google Analytics is an excellent tool for this. Key metrics to consider include:

• Website Traffic: The number of visitors to your website.
• Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page.
• Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action on your website, such as booking an appointment.
• Page Views: The number of pages viewed by visitors.

Monitoring these metrics can help you understand your audience’s behaviour and make data-driven decisions to improve your website design and content.

Conclusion

Creating a salon website might seem daunting, but it’s more than achievable with careful planning and the right resources. Remember to maintain your brand identity, provide a smooth user experience, and regularly update your content. Monitoring your website’s performance and implementing feedback is key to continuous improvement and online success.

Remember, your website is the online face of your salon, so invest time and effort to make it a true representation of your brand and a tool for business growth.

Summary 

• Understand the importance of a website for your salon business.
• Define your website’s purpose and target audience.
• Choose and register a domain name.
• Select a website builder that fits your needs and skill level.
• Build out your website pages, including Home, About Us, Services, Staff, Portfolio, Testimonials, Blog, and Contact Us.
• Implement SEO best practices.
• Create a content plan and integrate essential features like online booking and an e-commerce store.
• Promote your website through SEO, social media, Google My Business, and email marketing.
• Track your website metrics to understand user behaviour and improve your website performance.

Following these steps, you can create a compelling, effective, and user-friendly salon website that will attract and retain customers, showcase your work, and drive your salon business growth.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

This section includes answers to common questions related to salon website design:

Q: How much does it cost to create a website for a salon? 

A: The cost can vary widely depending on your specific needs and your chosen website builder. Some website builders offer free versions, but for a professional and comprehensive website, expect to pay anywhere from $12 to $40 monthly for a premium plan. Remember also to consider the cost of your domain name and any additional features or plugins.

Q: Should I use an agency to create my salon’s website? 

A: Hiring a professional agency can ensure a high-quality, customized website. However, it’s more expensive compared to using a website builder. An agency could be a good choice if you have a flexible budget, specific design requirements, or lack the time or skills to do it yourself.

Q: What technology will I need to create my salon website? 

A: The basic requirements are a computer with an internet connection. Depending on your chosen website builder, you may also need software for editing images or writing code.

Q: How can I accept online bookings and payments? 

A: Most website builders offer integrations with scheduling tools and payment processors. You can use standalone tools like Square Appointments or Acuity Scheduling and embed them on your website.

Q: How can I optimize my website for mobile devices? 

A: Choose a responsive website template that automatically adjusts to the device’s screen size. Also, regularly test your website on different devices to ensure it’s functioning properly.