Have you ever Googled yourself, reviewed your website through the eyes of a consumer, or compared your social media presence with others in your industry? Just like your personal goals, it doesn’t hurt to revisit your personal brand and make sure it portrays you!
Just like hairstyling trends and your services and pricing, your personal brand should be revisited, your goals should be readdressed, and your social presence should be freshened up a bit.
Establishing your logo and business name doesn’t mean you are done. Here are 25 tips to boost your personal brand.
1. NETWORK WITH LIKE-MINDED PEERS
Connect and communicate with people in the hair industry. Share ideas on things you have done to help boost your personal brand and stand out from the rest.
2. BE RECOGNIZABLE
Do you have a logo or color scheme that is unique and stands out from the rest or does it blend in with your surroundings?
3. KNOW YOUR UNIQUE SELLING POSITION (USP)
What makes your product or service better than your competitors? Do you specialize in something? Can you offer a service that no other salon in your area does?
4. MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
First impressions are lasting impressions. If you are building your personal brand, then make every encounter count. Make every consultation and service an amazing experience for your guest.
5. HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND BE RELIABLE
Be a reliable person and a reliable business. If you have hours posted from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., then be open during that time. If you set an appointment at 10:00 a.m., then show up early and ready to take on the day.
6. CREATE AN ELEVATOR PITCH
Consider the following when addressing your guests:
- Who are you?
- How can you help the consumer?
- Why are you the best?
- What value can you bring to your guest?
7. HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ONLINE PRESENCE—NOT JUST SOCIAL MEDIA 
Become an influencer. You can create educational videos to share your knowledge, post the awesome techniques you’ve learned, and show before-and-after shots. Just remember to keep it professional, keep it simple, and stick to your personal brand language.
8. HAVE A LONG-TERM VISION
Where do you want to be in the next 5 years, 10 years, even 20 years? Where can you see yourself and what are you doing? Has your business grown? Have you become well known in your community? If this is a goal of yours, how will you get there and achieve it?
9. DEFINE YOUR STRATEGIC GOALS AND ACTION PLANS
A famous hairstylists did not become famous overnight. They worked hard through trial and error to build themselves and their brand. Make a road map for what you want to achieve and how you will get there.
10. MAKE SURE ALL EMPLOYEES AND COWORKERS KNOW AND LIVE THE BRAND
Do you have merchandise you can give to clients? Do you have your staff, family, and friends wearing a t-shirt or hat with your logo? No? Then get on it! Free advertising is the best advertising!
11. ESTABLISH A MISSION STATEMENT AND UNCOMPROMISING CORE VALUES
This is an important piece to building a brand that I believe many people tend to forget. What you stand for, what you believe in, how you want to operate your business, will stand true to how your culture is built with your brand.
12. REPEAT YOUR MESSAGE AD NAUSEAM
Whether you advertise on social media, the local newspaper, on the radio, on grocery store receipts—however you display who you are, do it and don’t stop doing it. Repetition will bring name recognition.
13. LET PEOPLE KNOW YOUR BACKSTORY
People enjoy it when they get to hear about how a business started, where it came from, and where it is now. Don’t be shy to share your story with your guests.
14. PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE, CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY CLIENT EVERY VISIT
From the moment a guest walks through the door until the moment they leave, what experience did you give them? Greet them with a smile, offer a beverage, a hot towel for their face, a scalp massage, or maybe some essential oil rubbed on their temples after a relaxing shampoo. Give the very best experience you can; after all, you are proving your value.
15. KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
Are you a specialist in color, men’s fades, or love to do it all? Whatever tickles your fancy, know who you are targeting. If you specialize in men’s cuts, then target a male audience.
16. MAKE REGULAR CONTACT WITH CLIENTS
Don’t ever be afraid to pick up the phone, send a text, or email your guests. Your client bought a new shampoo, conditioner, and two styling products two days ago. Check how they are coming along with using them. Send a “we miss you” email for those that haven’t been in the salon for a few months. Take the initiative and reach out to them.
17. CONVEY A CLEAR MESSAGE
Make it clear who you are and what you stand for. If you are a barber shop that specializes in fades, then make that message clear to the public so you can target your audience.
18. CREATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SIMILARLY BRANDED COMPANIES
May sound odd, but this is the best way to help build community. A lot of competing businesses will actually work together on a marketing plan/territory or to even ask for ideas on how to overcome obstacles they may encounter.
19. SPONSOR EVENTS AND CHARITIES THAT FIT YOUR BRAND
Trying to build a male clientele? Reach out to sports bars, offer some of your merchandise and see if they will wear it during a big game with the exchange for free services for the staff that wears it. Volunteer at a local shelter while wearing your merchandise to help support the community while bringing brand recognition.
20. ATTEND LOCAL EVENTS AND GAIN A REPUTATION
Local fair going on or charity event? Attend as many as you can while sporting your brand.
21. BECOME AN AUTHORITY IN YOUR CHOSEN SPECIALTIES 
Are you a master at your craft? Are you the go-to guru in your shop for questions regarding that technique? The let it be known that you have the knowledge and are the go-to person.
22. HAVE A GREAT LOGO AND PLASTER IT EVERYWHERE
Stickers, pens, shirts, hats, canvas bags . . . you name it, you can put your logo on it. Leave a pen with your logo at a doctor’s office. Have raffle baskets of some products with your merchandise to give away. Anything with your logo that can be displayed anywhere is free advertisement.
23. BE THE SAME PERSON ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS YOU ARE IN REAL LIFE
Sure, we can have a professional page and a personal page. But remember that clients will follow both pages. And if you are remarkable and professional in person but on social media you come off as rude and inattentive, you may want to rethink how you market yourself.
24. MAINTAIN CONTINUITY IN MARKETING MATERIALS, SALON DECOR, AND ONLINE PRESENCE
Be consistent in your marketing strategy and materials. If you start marketing to men and are making connections in the community, then suddenly change up your brand logo and start targeting to gear toward makeup application, it will be confusing for the public and those who follow you.
25. CONSISTENCY IS KEY!
Be consistent in what you do and be persistent. If you have a long-term goal to make X amount of dollars, be an influencer, or have a successful business, then be consistent and persistent in making that goal happen with how you build your brand.
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