25 Easy Ways to Increase Instagram Engagement

To build a business on Instagram, it takes time, attention, and consistency.

One of the best ways to build a business and increase engagement on Instagram is to post content that speaks directly to your clients.

But another way, of course, is to engage with potential clients in a way that makes them know, love, and trust you.

The moment you do that is also the moment they will click the “Book Now” button.

That is why your social media strategy should focus on engaging content, not follower count.

Your goal should be to interact with potential clients, so they turn into real clients in your salon.

So many stylists ask me: How do I get more clients from Instagram? How can I build my business using Instagram?

My answer is to create brand-consistent content that speaks directly to your audience.

Let’s dive into how to increase your engagement on Instagram! 👇

Bonus: Don’t miss our guide to getting the best Instagram pictures for your hair or beauty salon.

25 Easy Ways To Increase Instagram Engagement as a Hair Business

1. Understand who you are as a stylist first.

What is your forte/specialty? What services do you provide, and what problems do you solve?

(If you don’t know how to market yourself yet, go back to your salon business plan.)

2. Log on every day.

Show up everyday on IG and share content that’s relative to your target client.

3. Be authentic and show people your personality.

People want to know who they’re spending time with.

4. Share photos of yourself working behind the chair.

A blowout, a haircut — whatever your specialty service is.

5. Show how well you connect to clients.

Share videos of yourself working on a client and having the best time.

Pro Tip: Speaking of connecting with clients… With Schedulicity, you can add a client-friendly Book Now button right to your business Instagram page, so clients can book with you right then and there! Not a Schedulicity business? Sign up today!

6. Post before-and-after photos and videos.

Share transformations of your favorite clients. People love a quick Reel!

7. Share those before-and-afters on IG Stories, too.

Take some selfies with your client after their hair transformation and share them on your IG Story. (Be sure to get your client’s permission to share.)

8. Educate.

Share hair care tips, at-home tricks, and ways to maintain your beautiful hair in-between appointments.

9. Create different videos to show off your knowledge.

Educational videos, retail videos on your fave product, and videos that position you as the expert you are.

10. Create content that people want to save.

Education posts, like hair care tips and tricks, are great for that.

11. Write more in-depth and detailed captions.

The days of writing only “mocha chocolate hair color” in the caption are long gone.

Create interesting captions that make people laugh. Make them clever and original! Really walk them through what it is like to be in your chair.

12. Use an engagement strategy for Instagram #hashtags.

Examples: #blondebalayge #shorthaircuts and be sure to use geotags EX: #nychaircuts #njbalayage. Here are some more Instagram hashtag tips.

13. Host a social media contest.

Something light and fun. It could be a selfie contest or a product giveaway.

14. Track your success to plan more content.

Look at insights for your previous posts. See which content your audience engaged with, and then create more content like that.

15. Always interact with your audience.

When you post and someone writes a comment, respond to it. Respond to all the comments you receive. This is huge for creating engagement and attracting new clients.

16. Be active on Stories.

Again! Stories are a great place to showcase more of your personal side. You should be finding ways to share small insights 24/7.

17. Be consistent!

Show up everyday with great, brand-relevant content.

18. Have fun!

Create content that makes people want to spend time in your chair. Be yourself, and don’t take social media too seriously.

(If you need a reminder, listen to Samantha Harman’s class on de-overwhelming Instagram.)

19. Take advantage of all that IG has to offer.

Go Live. Create IGTV content. Share on Stories. Create Reels. Here are my tips on how to use each type of content.

20. Stay true to you and your salon brand.

As a hair stylist, you’re uniquely you. Your Instagram page should represent that brand you’ve built.

21. Mimic your highest-performing posts.

Look at your top-performing posts. Is there a common theme there? Repeat that same technique for future posts!

22. Promote posts across different social media platforms.

Just because a client follows you on Facebook or TikTok doesn’t mean they follow you on Instagram. Share your posts across all your social media platforms.

23. Try Instagram’s Collab posts.

Instagram has a feature that allows users to “collab” with others. This means the post appears in your Feed, as well as the user you collaborate with. It could be a fellow beauty pro, hair influencer, or industry leader.

24. Always include a Call-to-Action button.

Call-to-Action buttons (or CTAs) — like a Book Now button — is a great way to increase engagement. Ask for advice or recommendations from your users, and encourage them to respond there on the post.