What many people don’t realise is that everything you do online for your business is connected. Think of your business like a float in the water. It is much stronger when supported by other floats, but what happens if those supports become weights instead? They drag you down.

Google operates the same way. Its goal is to deliver the best possible search results to consumers, which means it wants to recommend businesses that demonstrate credibility and authority. If you want Google to rank your salon higher, you need to prove that you are the best option. That means optimising every part of your online presence, from your Google Business Profile to your website.

Optimise Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, is one of the biggest ranking factors for local searches. If someone types best hair salon near me or lash extensions in your city, Google will pull up business listings before standard website links.

How to Improve Your Google Business Profile

• Claim and verify your profile on Google Business Profile
• Ensure your business name, address, and phone number match exactly across all platforms
• Choose the right categories such as Hair Salon, Beauty Salon, or Nail Salon
• Upload high-quality images of your salon, services, and team
• Write a detailed business description with relevant keywords
• Regularly post updates, promotions, and offers

Your Google Business Profile is not just about listing your business. It is about presenting yourself in the best possible light and using all the tools available.

A well-optimised website is essential for ranking on Google. I have seen it firsthand. If your website is not working properly, it will drag down your Google Maps listing and stop you from appearing in searches.

Website Optimisation Checklist

• Make sure your business name, address, and phone number match your Google profile
• Ensure your contact page is easy to find and includes a click to call button
• Use SEO friendly service pages with clear descriptions of your treatments
  Include a blog with helpful content because Google prioritises sites with regular updates
• Check that your site loads quickly on mobile and desktop

Google does not just look at your Google Business Profile. It checks your entire online presence. If your website is outdated, broken, or slow, it can hurt your ranking even if everything else is optimised.

Use the Right Keywords to Rank Higher

If you want your salon to appear on Google, you need to use the words and phrases that people are actually searching for.

How to Find the Right Keywords

• Think about what clients type into Google when searching for a salon
• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find high-ranking search terms
• Focus on local search terms like, Best hair salon near me, Lash extensions your city, Bridal hairstylist your area
   

Where to Use These Keywords

• Homepage and service pages
• Page titles and meta descriptions
• Blog content and FAQs
• Image alt text and captions
• Headings such as H1, H2, and H3

Every page on your website should naturally include these keywords so that Google knows what your salon offers and who should see your listing.

Google prioritises businesses with lots of positive reviews because it sees them as trusted and popular. If you do not have reviews or you have mostly negative or unresponded reviews, it can push your salon further down the rankings.

How to Get More Reviews

• Ask happy clients to leave a review right after their appointment
• Send a follow up message with a direct review link
• Offer a small incentive such as a discount on their next visit for leaving a review
• Reply to all reviews, thank happy clients, and professionally handle negative feedback

Salons with more than 50 Google reviews typically rank higher than those with fewer reviews, so encourage feedback whenever possible.

Google favours websites that regularly update their content with useful, engaging information. If your site is static and never updated, it will not rank as highly.

Best Types of Content for Salon SEO

• Blog articles like The Best Hairstyles for 2025 or How to Keep Your Gel Nails Looking Fresh
• FAQs that answer common client questions
• Service pages with detailed descriptions and pricing
• Transformation case studies with before and after photos

Google ranks pages that provide value, so focus on creating content that answers client questions and showcases your expertise.

Get Backlinks from Other Trusted Websites

Backlinks, when another website links to yours, show Google that your site is reputable and worth ranking higher.

How to Get Backlinks for Your Salon

• Get listed on beauty directories like The Hair and Beauty Directory
• Collaborate with beauty influencers who can link to your site
• Write guest blogs for beauty industry websites
• Get featured in magazines, blogs, or news articles

Backlinks do not just boost your SEO. They bring in more traffic by making your salon more visible across multiple platforms.

Ensure Your Website is Mobile Friendly and Fast

More than 60 percent of people searching for salons do it from their phones, so your website needs to load quickly and be easy to use on mobile.

How to Improve Your Website’s Mobile Experience

• Make sure your contact details are clickable so people can call you instantly
• Add an online booking system to make appointments easy
• Keep your text easy to read on all screen sizes
• Compress images so they load faster

Google prioritises fast, mobile-friendly websites, so if your site is slow, you are losing potential clients before they even book.

Use Social Media to Drive More Traffic

Google does not rank businesses based on social media, but traffic from Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook can boost your rankings by increasing engagement.

How to Use Social Media for Salon SEO

• Share before and after transformations
• Post client testimonials and reviews
• Promote seasonal offers and discounts
• Use hashtags and location tags like London Hair Salon or BIAB Nails Manchester
• Link your Instagram and Facebook pages to your website

Every time someone clicks from social media to your website, it signals to Google that your site is popular and relevant.

Final Thoughts

Getting your salon to show up on Google is not about quick fixes. It is about building a strong, connected online presence.

• Optimise your Google Business Profile
• Make sure your website is well maintained and SEO friendly
• Use the right keywords in your content
• Encourage and respond to reviews
• Earn backlinks from trusted sites
• Ensure your website loads quickly on mobile
• Use social media to drive traffic to your website

If you take these steps, Google will recognise your salon as a trusted, high-quality business and your rankings will improve.