Instagram Versus Salon Website. Which is Better?

Using Instagram for a salon business can feel much more convenient and easier to run than building a website. But are you missing out on specific salon website benefits by not having a dedicated website?

Maintaining a social media presence for your salon on Instagram and elsewhere is a great idea, but there are many advantages to having your own homepage too. The trick is finding a stress-free way to build and run your salon website! Let’s break down the pros and cons of both approaches to help you decide on the best option for your salon. We also recommend an easy way to build your salon website that you won’t want to miss.

Where People Searching For Salons

People search for salons in their local area using Google, not Instagram.

‍A dedicated website linked with a Google Business Profile is much easier to find than an Instagram page. If you only have an Instagram page, customers may see your competitors’ websites before they find you.

You may pay to promote posts and ads on Instagram, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll reach an appropriate audience. The return on investment is, therefore, difficult to predict.

The latest stats say :

• 90% of people visit a website before making appointments because they want to know what to expect.
• They also want to be able to book directly on the website instead of calling or texting to try and get an appointment.
• And lastly, they want to be able to buy their products online and have them delivered to their home.

All of this data points to the fact that an Instagram page isn’t enough to grow your business. You’ll want to have a dedicated website for your salon too.

What is an Instagram Business Page

An Instagram business page is a page that you create for your salon by toggling the business account setting in the account profile. You get added benefits such as analytics, demographics, and more by setting your salon account as a business account.

Do you have to have an Instagram business account? No, you don’t have to, but we recommend you create one. 90% of people on Instagram follow their favorite businesses, and considering there are over 143 million Instagram users, that’s a lot of new client potential for your salon.

What is a Salon Website

A salon website is an online presence for any beauty business type. It’s where customers go to learn about the services offered, view photos of the salon and staff’s work, book appointments online, purchase gift cards or retail products, read reviews, and get directions and contact info. A salon website acts as a 24/7 marketing tool to attract new clients from local search engines or Google Maps. It also provides a way to communicate with existing clients about specials and events. An effective salon website should showcase the salon’s brand and strengths while being easy for visitors to navigate and book services.

Instagram Business Page Pros

There are most definitely pros and cons to having an Instagram business account, so let’s break them down here.

• Instagram is the #1 most popular social media. (You can follow us here!)
• Instagram provides some analytics and data options.
• It’s free to set up a page with Instagram for Business.
• Add contact info and links for followers to reach you.
• Seamlessly integrate your posts with a Facebook Business page.
• It’s great to post content like before and after photos. 

Running your own website, however, offers many more advantages.

Salon Website Pros

• You have total control over your website and its content.
• Online booking saves you hours of back and forth in your Instagram DMs making appointments.
• Your website can grow with you as your business grows.
• You have control over customer reviews and what gets posted about your company online.
• A branded and inviting website builds trust with visitors and gives off a professional image.
• You are free to be your unique self and showcase what sets you apart from your competitors.
• You can claim your Google Business Profile and link it to your website to show up in local searches on Google Maps.
• You can link to third-party companies to offer online booking, e-commerce, gift cards, and more.
• You can link all your social channels, building your Instagram or Instagram feed into your home page.

Instagram Business Page Cons

• You don’t own your Instagram salon business page.
• Your content and actions must follow Instagram’s guidelines.
• Competition is fierce with other salon businesses, influencers, and ads.
• Many of your Instagram followers will be clients already aware of your salon.
• You have no control over reviews posted on your page.
• You don’t get any say over the design or functionality of your page.
• Instagram’s analytics won’t provide as much data as you can get from your own site.
• Instagram is less of a home base for your salon and more of a one-dimensional marketing tool.

Ultimately, Instagram for Business can be a great tool for sharing information, reviews, and photos from your salon. People will follow your salon page for the pretty pictures and cool esthetics, but when someone is looking to book a service, they don’t go to Instagram to find a salon.

Salon Website Cons

• Choosing the best option to build a website can feel overwhelming.
• It takes time to build a good website.
• It is often costly if you use an agency.
• It requires maintenance to keep up-to-date.
• It can feel complicated.

A website might seem daunting to set up, especially if you are not tech-savvy or have a huge budget to spend. But don’t let your website dream die just yet. Instead, we will share how to make your website easy to set up and affordable. 

How To Get A Salon-Specific Website

There are two options for getting a website on a budget. The first way is to use a website builder template like Wix or Squarespace. While they are cheaper than using an agency, the time it will take to build your website will be lengthy, especially if you don’t have some technical and design skills.

The other option is to use an automated website builder, like Glammatic. 

• This option requires no coding skills.
• You can get a branded website in as little as one business day. 
• All you need to do is give your business name and address.
• You get a secure website with all your business details.
• Customer support is available to help you edit and maintain the site. 
• There is a simple, user-friendly dashboard for quick edits or updates.

Your brand is not just about your logo, colors, and fonts. It’s about your values and mission, your target audience, the emotions you want your brand to evoke, and the visual look of your brand. Figuring out who you are as a salon business is critical to the foundation of your website design.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having both an Instagram page and a website for your salon is vital, but a website doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. So if you want to continue to grow your salon business and get found online, I recommend you get started today.