Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1483267
N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 19 mart production/unsplash THE DETAILS Marketing your work on social media is about so much more than the picture. To get the most of your post, use the right hashtags, locations, mentions, and tags. Don't forget to take advantage of different types of posts too. Experiment with videos, stories, and carousels. Getting a good "before and after" shot requires some forethought. Have a client who's coming in looking for a major hair change, whether it be style or color? Plan ahead and ask to take a before photo of them, with the hopes you'll have a client who feels transformed at the end of the service. You're not committed to use this client in a social media post, but planning ahead will make sure you don't lose a really great opportunity to showcase your work. Have the client sign a consent form before they check out, in case you do choose to highlight them. You may want to consult a lawyer for advice on creating this consent form. QUICK TIPS Do • Do have high-quality photos and graphics. • Do start with followers you know in real life. Ask friends for shoutouts on their own social media. • Do have separate accounts—one for your personal prole and one for your professional prole. • Do use the statistics tools regarding your posts and their performance. • Do dene your social media audience and get specic. This can be based on who you want to work with, what you specialize in, or your most popular treatments. • Do perform hashtag research. Find out which hashtags are most used and perused by the audiences you're trying to reach. • Do give customers the option to contact you and book services easily from your social media page. Don't • Don't go on following sprees. Most social media platforms read this as spam and will harshly punish a page for acting like a spam account. • Don't leave the same comments over and over to farm engagement. • Don't use the same hashtags repeatedly. Vary your hashtags by the content of the post. • Don't go overboard on hashtags; 20–25 per post is best. • Don't neglect the algorithm. Research what each platform is prioritizing at the moment. • Don't be inconsistent. If you can't commit to posting daily, post once or twice per week on the same days and around the same time. Using social media is a great way to build your business and gain more clients. With a few adjustments to your already stellar posts, you'll be pulling in more likes in no time. What's the Big Deal About a Check Mark? Blue check marks mean a social media platform has verifi ed your account. This can help attract users who are seeking out credible, authentic accounts to follow. It will also set you apart from competitors (and impostor accounts).