10 tips to make 2023 your best year yet

It’s the perfect time to take a step back and plan how you’ll boss your business in 2023. 

We’ve put together a list of the top 10 tips you can use to win more clients, hit your goals and grow your salon, barbershop, or spa this year.

1. Take bookings online 24/7

Nearly 70% of clients would rather book online than go through the hassle of calling. And no wonder – it means they can move or cancel appointments themselves, on the go, at any time. Offering online bookings is the most convenient option for clients, and it frees you up. Less time answering the phone, and more time serving clients. 

Not to mention it’s easy to set up. Simply use an online booking calendar that lets your clients book straight from your website, Google, and social media profiles.

2. List your business online

What’s the first thing people do when they have a question? Google it! That’s why 83% of new clients use Google to find and book local beauty and wellness services.  

So make sure you’ve got a strong online profile on a booking platform with millions of clients looking for appointments, like the Fresha marketplace. An online shopfront is the best way to get eyes on your business and get new clients, who’ll turn into regulars once they see how good you are at what you do.

3. Take bookings through social media 

Social media is the perfect place for you to win over new clients and inspire regulars to rebook. Take Instagram, for example: 44% of users shop while scrolling every week. 

Add a ‘Book Now’ button to your social media pages and make it as easy as possible for your followers to shop your services. That way, next time you post before and after pictures or a glowing review from a delighted client, your followers can book instantly; and you’ll get even more value out of your online profile.

4. Delight clients with your customer service

Make each of your clients feel like the most important person in the room. Learn their names so you can give them a warm welcome, and be ready with refreshments – especially if they need to wait for their service. 

Also, keeping notes from your client appointments helps you personalise their service next time. And when special occasions come around, like the holiday season or a client’s birthday, a thoughtful text message will go a long way (especially if it includes a discount). 

5. Nail your branding

What is it that makes your business stand out from the competition? How do you win your clients’ attention? Maybe you have the biggest range of treatments in town. Perhaps your staff are the most skilled, or you treat your clients like royalty while they’re being served.

Whatever it is, find your unique selling point and double down on it. Then work your marketing magic to make sure it’s reflected on your online profile, with great quality photos and a strong visual identity. Your tone is important, too – make sure your texts, emails, and interactions with clients all match who you are as a brand. 

6. Grab clients’ attention with unmissable promotions  

Special offers, limited-time deals, seasonal sales; these are like gold dust to your clients. And they’re quick and easy promotions to run. Create a discount code and customise the services it applies to, who the discount is for, and how much it's worth.

You could send a loyalty discount to your regulars to keep them coming back, or use a limited time discount to get all your clients excited about a new service.

7. Reach clients anywhere, anytime with blast campaigns

The best way to instantly get an unmissable offer or last-minute deal in front of clients (and drive those sales) is with blast campaigns. Businesses that use Fresha to send blast campaigns tend to make about 3x the cost back in bookings.

Start by sending a blast text message. Texts have an average open rate of 98% and are the best way to make sure clients get the message right away. Make sure to always follow up with a blast email to guarantee clients don’t miss your best promotions.

8. Connect with your clients using thank you messages

It’s much easier to keep clients coming back than to get new ones – you’ve already won their trust. You can let clients know how much you appreciate them by sending automatic thank you texts that land right after their appointments. 

Thank you messages are also a great way to ask happy clients to leave an online review. You can also reply to your reviews to make clients feel extra valued. 

9. Enjoy peace of mind with custom cancellation policies 

Nothing throws a spanner in the works like a no-show. A last-minute cancellation can also leave you with gaps in your calendar – costing you valuable time that could have been spent on clients.

To prevent this, set up a cancellation policy that lets you take an upfront fee. Your no-shows will go down by an average of 89%; and if clients don’t show up, you’ll have covered part of the cost.

Want another reason to set up a cancellation policy? Clients who spread out the cost of their booking tend to treat themselves to added services on the day.

10. Keep track of your business performance with sales reports

If you’re planning on growing your business, you need to pinpoint exactly what works best, so you can do more of it. That’s where sales reports come in. They’ll tell you exactly which clients bought what treatments, discover your best-selling services, and spot trends across different parts of the year. 

Best of all? You can use sales reports to handle your monthly accounting in minutes. No more hours staring at spreadsheets.

Ready to boss 2023?

Join 80,000 beauty and wellness businesses using Fresha to save time, cut stress and get more clients. It’s easy to set up and completely subscription-free. 

Got a question about setting up any of the features we mentioned above? Send us a message anytime.