If you run a salon, your website has one job: turn people scrolling on their phone into clients sitting in your chair. Most salon websites fail at this. They look nice, but booking is hard, prices are hidden and the site takes forever to load.
I run a Japanese head spa myself, and I have built websites for salons, spas and clinics since 2016. These are the 9 features I put on every beauty salon website we build.
1. Online booking that takes under a minute
This is the big one. People want to book at 10pm on a Sunday, not call you on Monday. A booking system like Amelia or BookingPress lets clients pick a service, a staff member and a time, all in one place. Put a Book now button at the top of every page, and make sure it works well on a phone.
2. Deposits to stop no shows
No shows cost salons real money every week. Asking for a small deposit when someone books is one of the easiest ways to cut them down. Clients who have paid a little up front are far more likely to turn up, or to give you notice if they can’t.
3. Automatic reminders
Send an email or SMS reminder the day before each visit. It is a small thing that saves you hours of phone calls and fills gaps in your diary. Most booking plugins can do this for you once it is set up.
4. A clear service menu with prices
Hidden prices make people nervous, and nervous people don’t book. List every service with a short description, how long it takes and a starting price. Group them into simple categories like Hair, Skin, Nails and Packages.
5. A gallery that shows off your work
Beauty is visual. Show real before and after photos, your space and your team. Use your own photos where you can, keep them bright and make sure they load fast.
6. Google reviews on your site
New clients trust other clients. Show your best Google reviews on your homepage and booking page. Then ask happy clients for a review after every visit. Your booking system can send that request for you.
7. Local SEO so locals can find you
When someone searches “lash lift near me” or “hair salon Surry Hills”, you want to show up. That means your suburb in your page titles, a page for each main service, your address and hours on every page, and a complete Google Business Profile with a booking link.
“Your website should work as hard as your best receptionist, day and night.”
8. Gift cards and packages
Gift cards bring in cash before the work is done, and they bring new clients through the door. Selling them on your website is simple, and they are a big earner around Christmas and Mother’s Day.
9. A site you can update yourself
Prices change, staff change and specials come and go. Your website should be easy to edit without calling a developer. We build salon websites in Elementor Pro, so you can change text, photos and prices with drag and drop.
The short version
- Online booking on every page
- Deposits and reminders to cut no shows
- Clear prices and a real photo gallery
- Google reviews and local SEO
- Gift cards, and a site you can edit yourself
Get these right and your website stops being a brochure and starts being your best salesperson. If you want a hand, tell us about your salon and we will send you ideas and a clear quote.
Written by SaifFounder of Brandstralia, a Sydney web design studio, and owner of a Japanese head spa. Building websites for small businesses since 2016.More about Saif
