Social media for a new decade

2020, wow, it doesn’t seem like 20 years ago since the new millennium was ushered in. So much has changed in the last two decades, especially in how we communicate with each other. Social media has taken over everything, from the way we chat to each other to the way…

3rd January 2020

2020, wow, it doesn’t seem like 20 years ago since the new millennium was ushered in. So much has changed in the last two decades, especially in how we communicate with each other.

Social media has taken over everything, from the way we chat to each other to the way we market our businesses and it’s all become just a little too formulaic and stilted.

Sending someone a thumbs up emoji instead of calling to say ‘well done’ is now the norm. Showcasing the back of a clients’ head after having a balayage has become the staple posting I see on lots of salons social platforms and it’s becoming a little bit boring.

We are communicating much more than we ever did but we actually talk less. We are taking more photographs of hair than ever before but they’re all much the same.

So I’m taking my lead from Gen Z, who live equally in the digital world and the real one. Gen Zers have never known a life without devices, it’s the absolute norm to them, but, and it’s a big but, they are striving for more reality in their day to day existence. They want real life as much as they want filtered app images and that, I believe, is the key to your success with social media in the new decade.

STOP posting the back of clients new balayage every day, don’t overlay filters on the images to alter the real colour result. Talk about what you have created , don’t just put a few # and emojis in your text.

  1. Share real hair, real everyday hair that everyone can relate to.
  2. Share images of your team, after all, even in a digital age, people buy people.
  3. Share the products you have available to purchase.
  4. Share the services you provide, from basic root coverage to extensions and everything in-between.
  5. Share the environment you work in and its surrounding area, the street your business is situated on.

Creating a social world that is real and engaging for all age groups will make your Facebook and Instagram pages more appealing to a wider range of consumers that will satisfy your existing and potential new clients’ interest in your salon.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of repetitive posts just because you feel the need to post something. My advice is don’t repeat, and look at your sites with fresh eyes. Forbes.com suggest your Instagram page should look like a patchwork quilt and each post should have a different feel to it. Does yours?

Learn from the Zers, they are creating a new ‘vibe’ one that mixes the old with the new in equal parts, digital and real life, you can do the same with your platforms, showcasing what makes your business what it is whilst still embracing the trends for overlays and filters that can enhance, without altering too much the work you create.

But please, do one thing, stop posting the back of people’s heads, it just isn’t inspiring.

Emil McMahon offers social media training and management. For more details call 07885 985843 or email emil_mcm@hotmail.com

Drawing on personal experiences, salon business and the challenges sales people face in their daily life,
I’ve created a story that can be used in salons and on sales calls that will help overcome the challenges faced in the world of retailing.


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