Welcome and thank you for being here.

The Hair & Beauty Directory has been carefully designed to help professionals improve visibility, build trust, and be understood clearly by both clients and search engines. This page explains how the platform works, what each part of your dashboard is for, and how to use it in a way that supports long-term visibility and authority.

Some members use the platform at a very simple level, while others use it as a professional hub to support growth, expertise, and recognition. There is no single “right” way to use the directory. This guide is here to help you understand what’s available, so you can decide what level suits you.

Your dashboard is the control centre for everything you do on the platform. It’s where you manage your details, create and edit profiles, publish content, and access member support.

Within the dashboard, you’ll see a section labelled Personal. This is where your user profile lives. Your user profile represents you as the professional behind the business. It is not a business listing, and it does not replace a business profile.

Some members only complete the basics here, using it quietly in the background. Others use it more actively as a professional CV or digital business card, allowing them to be recognised and searched as an individual expert, similar to how LinkedIn profiles work. Both approaches are valid, and you stay in control of how visible and detailed this profile is.

Your user profile also connects your activity across the platform. It links your listings, content, and engagement together behind the scenes.

Your dashboard is the control centre for everything you do on the platform. It’s where you manage your details, create and edit profiles, publish content, and access member support.

Within the dashboard, you’ll see a section labelled Personal. This is where your user profile lives. Your user profile represents you as the professional behind the business. It is not a business listing, and it does not replace a business profile.

Some members only complete the basics here, using it quietly in the background. Others use it more actively as a professional CV or digital business card, allowing them to be recognised and searched as an individual expert, similar to how LinkedIn profiles work. Both approaches are valid, and you stay in control of how visible and detailed this profile is.

Your user profile also connects your activity across the platform. It links your listings, content, and engagement together behind the scenes.

Business profiles and how they differ

Business profiles are the public-facing parts of the platform that clients and search engines see. These profiles are structured specifically to match consumer search intent and to help Google and AI understand what you offer.

If your membership includes a business profile, you can add one by using the top tabs in your dashboard and selecting the profile type that best matches what you do.

Treatment Provider profiles are for salons, clinics, therapists, and service-based professionals.
Training Provider profiles are for educators, academies, and course providers.
Supplier profiles cover everything else, including product brands, business support, coaching, software, and industry services.

Each profile type looks slightly different because each one needs to communicate different information clearly and accurately.

All business profiles can be edited at any time. Many members build them gradually, adding detail as they become more familiar with the platform.

Under your user profile, you’ll see a Services section. This is where the platform lists any profiles or listings you’ve created. From here, you can quickly access and edit them.

In the same top navigation area, you’ll also find options to add events, jobs, classifieds, and room rentals. These features are currently available to members without additional fees.

These listings don’t just advertise opportunities. They also help demonstrate activity and relevance, which supports visibility and authority across the platform.

Common setup issues and how to avoid them

If something doesn’t save when you’re editing a profile, it’s usually because a required field has been missed. This often happens with dropdown options that need to be selected before a profile can publish correctly.

Saving regularly as you work is the best way to avoid losing progress, especially when you’re completing longer sections.

Why certificates, insurance, and verification matter

The platform places a strong emphasis on trust and credibility. Adding certificates, qualifications, insurance, and awards helps clients feel confident and helps search engines understand your professionalism.

Verification and Gold Tick status are designed to highlight members who have taken additional steps to demonstrate credibility. These features can help profiles stand out more clearly and are explained in more detail within the members’ guidance sections.

Blogs and additional pages are optional, but they are powerful tools.

Search engines and AI systems favour profiles that show depth, clarity, and expertise. Adding content helps strengthen your online authority and gives more context about what you do and who you’re best suited for.

Search engines also tend to favour active websites and accounts. Even small updates over time can support visibility and help your profile stay relevant.

Some profiles gain visibility quickly, while others build more gradually as trust develops. Both patterns are normal. As an example, my own salon profile currently sits in a strong position on Google for “salon near me” in a large city centre, which shows the potential for profiles on the platform to stand out when they’re built clearly and consistently.

Alongside the directory itself, members have access to visibility and business support resources, including structured courses that explain how search, Google, and AI work in practice.

I also run regular live Zoom sessions for members, focusing on visibility, optimisation, and wider business questions. Some sessions are practical walkthroughs, while others are open discussions. Replays and additional learning materials can be found in the members’ portal.

The directory can also be used as a professional resource. Members can search the platform to find other services such as coaching, training, suppliers, and specialist support. This makes the platform useful not only for visibility, but also for connection and growth within the industry.

You don’t need to use every feature at once. The platform is designed to support you whether you want a simple presence or a fully built-out professional profile.

Completing as much information as you can, keeping details up to date, and returning to refine your profile over time all help strengthen clarity, trust, and visibility. If clients can quickly understand what you do, search engines and AI systems usually can too.

This page is here to help you understand how everything fits together, so you can move forward with confidence and use the platform in a way that works for you.