27 SEO steps you can implement this week to attract 27 SEO steps you can implement this week to attract more salon clients

This checklist is built for salon owners and managers who want to handle SEO in-house or understand what an agency should be doing. It works whether you're a single location or multi-unit salon chain, though multi-location salons should prioritize the location-pages section first.

You don't need to be technical. Every task here has a clear goal and tool recommendation. Some tasks take 30 minutes; others take a few hours spread across weeks. The checklist assumes you have a website already. If you don't, build one first using Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress — that's outside this scope.

This is a tactical how-to, not a complete SEO strategy. For deeper guidance on specific topics (like local authority or technical SEO), we've linked relevant support articles at the end.

The 27 tasks are split into three priority tiers:

• Tier 1 (Foundation): 9 tasks that directly impact visibility and bookings. Do these first. Most take 2-4 weeks total if you batch them.
• Tier 2 (Authority): 10 tasks that build credibility and local search authority. Start these once Tier 1 is live.
• Tier 3 (Amplification): 8 tasks that extend reach and drive repeat visits. Add these once the first two tiers are stable.

Within each tier, tasks are listed in recommended order. Some depend on earlier tasks being complete — we've flagged those dependencies.

Implementation speed varies by salon size and complexity. A single-location salon can complete all 27 tasks in 8-12 weeks part-time. Multi-location salons need more time for location-specific content but follow the same sequence.

1. Claim and verify your Google Business Profile

Go to google.com/business and search your salon name. If a GBP listing exists, claim it. If not, create one. Verify ownership via postcard (takes 1-2 weeks). This is the single highest-impact task — GBP drives the majority of phone calls and map pack visibility.

2. Complete all GBP fields

Add photos of your salon interior, services, and team. Write a 150-word description focused on services and neighborhood. Add business hours, phone, website, and service categories. Don't skip this — incomplete profiles rank worse.

3. Audit and fix mobile usability

Open your website on a phone. Test every link, form, and image. Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool (search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly). Fix any broken elements. Salon clients browse on mobile 80%+ of the time — slow or broken sites kill bookings.

4. Create a services page

Build a single page listing all services: haircuts, color, styling, treatments, extensions, etc. Write 100-150 words per service describing what it includes, who it's for, and why clients choose it. Link to this page from your main navigation.

5. Create neighborhood/location pages (one per salon if multi-unit)

For each salon address, create a page with salon name, address, hours, phone, a 200-word paragraph about the neighborhood, and a service menu. Include the salon's address in the page URL and title. This signals to Google where you serve clients.

6. Set up Google Search Console

Add your website to Google Search Console and verify ownership. Submit your sitemap. This lets you see search performance, fix indexing issues, and monitor for errors Google finds.

7. Fix title tags and meta descriptions

Edit every page's title and description (in your site backend or SEO plugin). Keep titles under 60 characters. Meta descriptions should include your city, services, and a call to action. Example: "Hair Salon in [City] | Cuts, Color, Styling | Book Online Today."

8. Gather initial reviews on GBP

Ask your last 10 clients to leave reviews on your GBP listing. Send a text or email with a direct link to the review form. Offer no incentive (Google prohibits it, though "thanks for leaving a review" is fine). Aim for 10 reviews before moving to Tier 2.

9. Create a FAQ or "Before Your Visit" page

Answer questions clients ask: What should I wear? Can I book same-day? Do you do bridal? This builds authority on your salon's specifics and captures conversational search traffic.

10. Claim local directory listings

Go to Yelp, Apple Maps, Facebook, Instagram, and local directories. Complete profiles with consistent name, address, phone, and photos. Consistency across directories improves local search rankings.

11. Build service-specific landing pages

Create dedicated pages for your top 3-5 services: Hair Color Specialist, Balayage, Keratin Treatment, Bridal Hair, etc. Write 300-400 words per page including before/after scenarios, pricing range, and why clients choose this service. Internal-link between related pages.

12. Create team/stylist pages

Add a page for each stylist with a photo, short bio (100-150 words), specialties, and booking link. This builds personal brand authority and helps repeat clients find their preferred stylist. Assign each stylist page a unique service focus (color specialist, men's cuts, etc.).

13. Build a blog calendar for the next 3 months

Plan 4-8 blog posts on topics salon clients search: seasonal hair care, color trends, how to maintain certain styles, DIY treatments to avoid, etc. One post per 1-2 weeks. Quality over frequency — better to publish one strong post per month than weak posts weekly.

14. Write first blog post: seasonal/timely angle

Publish your first post targeting a seasonal keyword with current relevance (summer hair care, frizz-free humidity tips, post-holiday hair restoration). Aim for 800-1,200 words. Include internal links to your services pages and location pages.

15. Add schema markup (local business and aggregate rating)

Use a plugin like Yoast SEO or add manual schema to tell Google your salon's name, address, phone, reviews, and services. This helps Google display your info correctly in search results.

16. Optimize image alt text and file names

Rename salon photos from "IMG_001.jpg" to descriptive names: "blonde-balayage-highlights-salon.jpg". Add alt text to every image describing what's shown. This improves image search visibility and accessibility.

17. Set up review request email workflow

After each client visit, send an automated email thanking them and asking for a review (link to GBP). Many salon software platforms (Vagaro, Mindbody, etc.) have this built-in. Automate this — it drives consistent review volume without manual effort.

18. Create a content upgrade or lead magnet

Build a simple PDF: "Hair Care Guide for [Your Color Type]" or "5-Step Pre-Appointment Prep." Offer it in exchange for email signup. This builds your mailing list for re-engagement and repeat bookings.

19. Set up Google Analytics 4

Install Google Analytics 4 on your website. Track which pages drive bookings, which traffic sources convert, and how long visitors spend on your site. Use this data to decide what content to expand.

20. Build citations (mentions of your salon name, address, phone in local directories)

Add your salon to 15-20 local directories: Yelp, Apple Maps, Nextdoor, local chamber of commerce, Google My Business, Facebook, Instagram, TripAdvisor, and industry-specific sites. Consistency is critical — use exact name, address, and phone across all.

21. Start email nurture sequence

Send past clients a monthly email: seasonal tips, special offers, new service announcements. Segmenting by service (color clients vs. cut clients) improves relevance. Goal: 20-30% open rates and 5-10% click-through rates.

22. Create monthly resource/guide page

Publish a comprehensive guide every month or quarter: "Complete Guide to Hair Color Maintenance," "Seasonal Hair Care Checklist," etc. These often rank for longer-tail keywords and attract backlinks from related blogs and forums.

23. Encourage and respond to all reviews

Respond to every GBP review (positive and negative) within 48 hours. Thank five-star reviews; address concerns in negative reviews professionally. Active review engagement boosts GBP ranking signals and builds client trust.

24. Build internal linking strategy

Link relevant blog posts to service pages, location pages to service pages, and service pages to each other. Use descriptive anchor text: "balayage specialists" not "click here." This distributes authority across your site and helps Google understand content relationships.

25. Create seasonal content ahead of demand

Plan content 2-3 months early: summer hair damage prevention (May), holiday styling trends (September), spring refresh ideas (February). Publishing before demand hits lets Google rank you when search volume peaks.

26. Explore local backlink opportunities

Reach out to neighborhood blogs, local news sites, and community calendars. Offer to contribute a guest post, announce new services, or sponsor local events that generate mentions. A few high-quality local backlinks outweigh dozens of low-quality links.

27. Audit and refresh top-performing content quarterly

Review your Analytics. Find your top 3-5 pages by traffic. Add new information, update photos, refresh internal links, and re-publish. Google favors updated content. Do this quarterly to stay competitive.

Week 1-2: Tier 1 Foundation (Tasks 1-9)

Block 4-5 hours per week. Claim GBP, fix mobile usability, complete GBP fields, create services and location pages. Ask clients for initial reviews. If you use a salon software platform (Vagaro, Mindbody, Acuity), many of these (GBP integration, online booking, service listings) are built-in — check there first.

Week 3-8: Tier 2 Authority (Tasks 10-19)

Spend 3-4 hours per week. Claim local directories, build service pages, create stylist pages, start blog, set up review automation. Focus on quality over speed. One well-written blog post beats five mediocre ones.

Week 9+: Tier 3 Amplification (Tasks 20-27)

Ongoing maintenance. Add citations, respond to reviews, publish monthly content, nurture email list. By this stage, many tasks run on autopilot (review requests, email workflows). Audit quarterly.

Delegation Tip: If you don't have time, delegate. Hire a freelancer to handle directory claims, blog writing, or email setup. Many agencies specialize in salon SEO and can handle Tier 2-3 while you focus on running the business.

Industry benchmarks suggest salons that complete all 27 tasks see measurable increases in phone calls and online bookings within 4-6 months. Timing varies based on local competition, website age, and review velocity.