Salon Success Secrets

The Magnetic Method

• Lindsay Lowe & Jen Booth

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Ever had that visceral reaction when someone slides into your DMs with a "hey girl, business opportunity" message? That feeling of wanting to run is exactly what we're unpacking today as we dive into the truth about attraction-based marketing for salon professionals.

What if the secret to filling your books isn't chasing clients but creating experiences so magnetic they're drawn to you naturally? We're exploring the billion-dollar branding strategy behind Starbucks writing names on cups—a simple touch that transforms transactions into personal connections. This isn't just about coffee; it's about understanding that in the salon world, connection equals retention.

We break down four powerful strategies that create instant client loyalty. First, embracing "main character energy" by making clients feel personally seen and valued from the moment they walk in. Second, implementing minor tweaks that yield maximum rewards, like handwritten notes and remembering important life events. Third, creating experiences so special they naturally generate social media magic when clients can't help but share them. Finally, understanding that while technology advances, authentic human connection remains your greatest competitive advantage.

The beauty industry is evolving rapidly with AI booking and virtual consultations, but the salons that thrive are those that go beyond service to create meaning. From personalized style strategies to thoughtful follow-ups, these connections transform one-time visitors into lifelong clients. Ready to discover your salon's version of writing names on cups? Text "MAGNETIC" to 469-283-5590 for our marketing cheat sheets and start creating experiences your clients can't stop talking about.

Do you have a question for Blondes in Business: Luxury Beauty Business Podcast? Send a text or leave a voicemail at 855.650.3445 or send us an email to hello@thephdprogram.com. We would love to hear from you.
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Speaker 1:

Have you ever had someone slide into your DMs with a hey girl, I've got a business opportunity for you and immediately felt the urge to run. Yeah, me too. And, honestly, we've been confused before too, until we learned the truth about attraction-based marketing. So today we're going to show you exactly why chasing clients is repelling to them and what to do instead so people are actually drawn to you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So think about it. Like what if one small intentional touch can make your clients feel so special, so valued, that they couldn't wait to come back? And like? This is the kind of detail that turns first-time clients into those lifelong fans. It keeps your books full, no more white space, it makes your salon unforgettable and the best part, like I feel like big brands like Starbucks have already cracked the code on this.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think you know Starbucks is the is a brilliant example. Yeah, I think you know Starbucks is a brilliant example, jen you know, because statistics show that Starbucks serves 100 million customers per week. Wow, which means at any given moment, at least 17 people are holding a cup with their name spelled. Hilariously wrong, you know, and maybe it's because baristas are in a rush. Maybe it's because no one names their kid Jessica anymore. It's like Jessica, you know, with a little apostrophe in there, but you know that's a conversation for another day. What matters is writing names on cups Isn't just a quirky mistake, it's a billion dollar branding move, and salon owners, you need your version of this.

Speaker 2:

You know I love when we, when I go to Starbucks, and they write, if I say gym because of my Southern accent, especially if I'm in somewhere more Northern, there's like G, I, n. So I love that. I always get that fun name for me too. So you know, cause, when you think about it, you know how does this apply to your salon. And you know Starbucks didn't have to write names on cups. They could have stuck with a basic receipt, you know, but handwriting a name adds that human touch. It's like one that turns a simple transaction to a personalized experience. In the salon world we know that connection equals retention. Let me say that again because it's so powerful Connection equals retention, and so clients might forget what shampoo they bought, but they'll never forget how you made them feel. So let's talk about how we can steal the strategy for your salon. We're going to uncover the four ways to create instant client loyalty.

Speaker 1:

Yes, I love this so exciting. You know, let's kick it off with number one, which is the more personal, the more profitable. That's right. The more personal you are, the more profitable your business will be. Have you ever had a guest walk in and you instantly remembered their name and what they love?

Speaker 1:

So this, right here, this is main character energy and it's totally undeniable. The person walks in and they feel so seen, like more seen than they've ever felt, like they are the main character walking into your salon. So you know, it's just as simple as saying like hey, jen, you know, we're welcome back, we're glad to have you here. We went ahead and got your green tea ready or whatever their you know favorite drink is like. Keeping a note of that on their client file is going to be huge, because what we know is people love feeling seen and when clients feel like they matter, they spend more, they rebook and they tell their friends, you know.

Speaker 1:

So remembering their name, that's free, absolutely free. You know you can look people up on any social media platform before they even come in, so that you know who they are and you can already start to create that main character energy. You know some other ways that you can, you know, kind of keep this playing out. Some are, you know, writing their name on the on the mirror like welcome back, susan, we're. You know simple little things like that. But the more personal you make it truly, the more profitable you'll be and the more they'll feel just super connected to your brand.

Speaker 2:

We were just talking about this at a huddle the other day and one of my teammates said I just went and visited a new dentist and as soon as I walked in they said my name and she's like I will never forget that experience.

Speaker 2:

And so, like I love everything that you just said, lindsay, because, like we don't realize how you know personal, it makes someone feel, and like you know, I tell the story of the Ritz Carlton I'm sure you might've heard it before, but like in the book, the gold standard, you know they, they talk about a project they do where they actually bring in homeless people off the streets to create a new path for them, you know, to show them a, teach them a skill so that they can actually become employees at Ritz Carlton or somewhere else, so they can get off the street and live a life they desire.

Speaker 2:

And when they interview these humans that have the opportunity to take this journey, the greatest thing they said is that I'm not homeless anymore or that, you know, I have a job now. They said the most important factor that stood out to them, which is that main character energy, is that every single person remembered my name. And so, like that's the power of knowing someone's name, and so I just you can, I just love that story because it just it's a great reminder of how creating that personalized experience and really, you know, pull back the curtain and make your salon stand out like never before.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Hmm, so good and absolutely free, you know, and and really does, like you said, make you stand out. Um, so incredible. I love that. Uh, number two is going to be minor tweaks, equal maximum rewards. You know, because what we know is Starbucks. They could have stuck with printed labels, but there's something about that handwritten name. It just feels different and, you know, you almost don't even care how they spell your name because it's just so sweet that you know that they're writing it on there and willing to do that.

Speaker 1:

And so how would this translate inside of your salon? You know, this could truly be as simple as a handwritten thank you note. Um, you know, maybe it's like welcoming somebody in with a thank you note as part of your welcome package, or sending them a thank you note afterwards, or doing both, um, you know, just to let them know that you see them, they matter, you know you, you care about them being there. Another thing, um, that could be a minor tweak that would give you maximum rewards would just be making those personalized product recommendations and then even just following up, you know, to see hey, last time you took home X, y, z. How has that been working out for you? Do you have any questions that we can answer today. So just making it personal in that way, you know, I think another thing that's really simple to do is just remembering their last big life update, because you know, they know that you see a lot of people in and out of the salon and so, even if you're just keeping those notes in the client card that you have on file, then you can just simply go back there. The person at the front desk can can check in, because what we know is small things equal big loyalty.

Speaker 1:

You know, when you run into somebody just this weekend ran into an old client of mine that now sees somebody else inside the salon and we happen to be together and you know her husband had just had a health scare, and so I said you know, gosh, I just heard about this, you know we've been meaning to reach out to you, and he was there, which was great, so we knew he was doing well. And she I said you know, gosh, I just heard about this. You know we've been meaning to reach out to you and he was there, which was great, so we knew he was doing well. And she was like it just means so much to me that you guys care so much. You know, and it's like it seems like a simple little thing. But when you do these minor tweaks, when you really truly show people that you care, that equals big loyalty.

Speaker 2:

That's a great story. I love that story, lindsay. Yeah, all things equal, big loyalty, so good. So another opportunity to think about too is like the social media magic. You know nobody's going to be posting a receipt once they leave the salon, but if you're like, if your service provider or salon leaves like a sweet note, you know, a fun playlist suggestion or a little like you're going to love this color on you, tag on their bag, like that's going to get shared because it's something they wouldn't get anywhere else, and, you know, make your client experience so good that it markets itself.

Speaker 2:

We've had a client recently that just got diagnosed with cancer. So she is canceling her appointments, of course, because unfortunately she's going to lose her hair. So, like sending her a care package in the mail of we actually sent her like some scalp serum, a little love note, some things like that, just wishing her the best. Like she shared that because it was so important and special to her. And so you just have to think about like how can you, how can you think? How can you think bigger? Like you know, most of the things I notice in our salon that gets shared doesn't have to do with always their hair. It may be the little personalized love note that was left for them, or the we do read there for Lindsay on the mirror. So it's like it's just that's so magical when you think about it is like you know, make your client experiences so good that it markets itself.

Speaker 1:

I love that, jen, because you know when, when they're the ones making those posts, man, that's so much more organic and has such a bigger impact and reach. You know, because when people see that that other person felt special when they were in your space space, they naturally just want to feel special too, and so I love that you talked about looking for those ways to get them to just organically share it, and, honestly, you're not even looking to get them to do that, you're just being amazing and those things are happening because of your efforts, and so that's such an awesome story. I love that you shared that, you know. Number four would be connection creates lasting clients. You know, what we know is the beauty industry is evolving fast. You know there's AI booking, digital consultations, virtual product recommendations, but at the end of the day, people still crave connection, and at the best salons, they don't just serve clients, they make them feel special. You know, one of the things that we have been working um, you know, to to include in our service offerings is going beyond a color analysis and into a style strategy, and so, you know, we started with our VIP guests. We've been offering them some style strategies and man the buzz that it's been creating in the salon is awesome because you know everybody who's around.

Speaker 1:

When one person is getting a style strategy is like I want that. I don't know what's happening over there, but I, I want to know. You know what colors are going to make me glow. I want to know what my face shape is and some flattering cuts and colors for that. I want to know. You know about my body type. You know how to flatter it with the best colors and the best shapes for my personal shape. You know it's all based on people's DNA and so when you create that connection with somebody like they're going to be lifetime guests, lifetime clients at the salon, because they are going to remember who really helped them feel confident when they went shopping the next time and who really made them feel confident, you know when they walked into a wedding and they felt like, wow, my hair looks great, my makeup looks great, my wardrobe is on point. Because that's truly what people are coming to us for is to have more confidence in the world, and when we create that connection with them, that's truly what creates those lasting clients.

Speaker 2:

You know that sounded so good. I mean I can do a style strategy, but you set it up so well. I think I want my own style strategy at your salon. So just like that's like. That is just that's just really incredible. When you think about like really, we are in the relationship business, we're in the hospitality business, but we're truly in the business of making people feel special. So I love that. You said that, and so, when you think about it, here's the question for you is what's your salon's version of writing on cups? You know, handwriting might be a lost art, but creating a business that makes people feel that value, makes them feel connected and excited to come back Like that is timeless and you have to think about like Starbucks truly gets it, do you?

Speaker 1:

I love that. It's such a good question and a good thought to ponder. You know and if you've taken away some incredible things from today's episode, you know we would really love to help you get more strategies to increase your loyalty, your profitability and your growth. So if you want more of those things, go ahead and text the word magnetic that's M-A-G-N-E-T-I-C to 469-283-5590. Don't worry, it's in the show notes. If you're catching this later, um, but, or driving, or something you can, you can catch up with it later, but we'll send you the magnetic marketing cheat sheets, and so this is going to be your shortcut to creating a salon experience that keeps clients coming back, because what we know is when we create more connection, retention and revenue, your salon will flourish and grow. So we are grateful for our time together today and can't wait to see the impact that you create.