KEY TAKEAWAYS: Did you know that your customer reviews can make or break your reputation as a beauty pro? It's true–customer reviews matter for your shop (and your career). This blog explores the 5 main reasons that salon reviews can change the game for your salon, shop, or spa.
*This article was last updated on 09/18/2024
Are reviews important for hair salons? Definitely! In today’s digital world, reviews help attract new clients and build trust.
Positive reviews show off your skills, boost your credibility, and help potential clients feel confident about booking with you.
Ready to see how reviews can grow your salon? Let’s explore how they make a real difference for your business!
It is important to understand how customer reviews contribute to your business’s reputation and patronage.
Many companies underestimate the power of customer reviews for your salon, shop, or spa—or don’t realize at all what these blurbs can do for their business.
Not sure how powerful these customer reviews can be? Consider these five reasons.
The 5 Main Reasons Your Salon's Customer Reviews Matter
1. Reviews Build Credibility
It’s safe to say that the internet and social media have influenced the way we make decisions. Before visiting a business, most people check out online reviews for validation and to determine quality.
Many consumers rely heavily on reading reviews before deciding on a purchase. Setting up business pages on sites such as Yelp or Google Business will help you look professional and legitimate, but most importantly they will help open the door for customers to start leaving reviews for others to see.
It's important to collect those reviews, then optimize those customer reviews them on social media, websites, email newsletters, and so much more!
2. Reviews Help With Search Engine Optimization
Great customer reviews boost your reputation online with potential customers, and having reviews also boosts your page visibility on search engines locally.
When someone in your local area types in “hairstylists near me,” nearby salons that have online reviews are more likely to appear near the top of search results.
Reviews affect the way your business is ranked online, and how likely it is for someone to see it on the top of the list among other businesses. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is essential for organic search engine results, in which clients can quickly find you.
SEO promotes your business, your information, and relevance. Researching and utilizing SEO is one of the best ways you can spend your marketing time.
3. Reviews Let You Connect With Your Customers
Most of your customers use their phone, tablet, or desktop computer daily, which gives them instant ability to read and leave reviews. Replying to customers’ reviews quickly shows your attentiveness to respond and gives you the chance to connect with your clients virtually, outside of the typical social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Leaving feedback on customers’ reviews shows that you care what clients have to say. It validates that customers' reviews are seen, and their opinions are heard.
4. Reviews Give You Constructive Criticism
Although no one likes a horrible—and sometimes unfair—review of their business, there are times when you have to take the bad with the good. No business is perfect, and you should prepare for the inevitable—hopefully only occasional—bad review.
"Leaving feedback on customers’ reviews shows that you care what clients have to say. It validates that customers' reviews are seen, and their opinions are heard."
No matter how unfair a negative review seems, it should still be taken into consideration along with the positive ones.
Often these reviews are a way to realize problems within a business that need to be addressed, or improved upon.
And don’t worry—a few less-than-stellar reviews actually have little influence when it comes to the public perceiving your credibility.
What’s more important than a bad review is how you respond to it. Try to resolve any issues with a customer.
First, understand where they are coming from. Second, plan how you can move forward from the problem.
It is important to resolve issues as soon as you can. If negative reviews start to outweigh the good ones, your business may start to lose patronage.
5. Reviews Build Your Business
Online reviews are helpful in boosting patronage and sales for your business—they can represent an untapped resource for ideas for improvement or expansion.
Embrace your online reviews and take into consideration customer feedback for your business’ continued success.
Building up your online reviews (and optimizing them, too!) can change the game for your business. The best way to start collecting reviews? Incentivize your people to leave kind words for you. Discounts, rewards, and just asking your people directly can all help you build five-star reviews.
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