Did you know that 16% of local businesses in San Francisco, CA, are personalized services? Of that number, between 800 and 1,000 are Hair and Beauty Services (based on SF New Deal data).
It’s a highly competitive market that requires great expertise and knowledge for you to stand out. But how can you create a local search engine optimization strategy for Hair and Beauty Services in San Francisco the right way?
In this short post, I’ll share some tips to help your salon stand out in different neighborhoods of the city, such as Mission District, Castro, North Beach, and more!
1 – See What Other Beauty Salons Are Doing in the Area
Since it’s such a competitive market, the first thing you should do is investigate what your competitors are doing: walk around some neighborhoods (Mission Bay, for example) and check the logistics of the business, taking note of their names and brands.
Then, search for the salon names on Google and analyze their websites: what they’re mentioning on their pages, what services they offer, if they have any promotions, etc.
Also, look at their Google My Business profiles: see what customers are saying, whether a service needs improvement, or which service stands out.
Check what they’re posting on Google My Business and on other social media as well: the types of photos they share, the kind of content they publish, and so on.
2 – Build an SEO strategy for your salon in San Francisco based on competitor gaps
After collecting data, it’s time to create your strategy. Use the gaps and flaws you identified in your competitors as a base. Do what they’re not doing, and improve what they already do.
For example, a competitor might offer Haircuts and styling, but on their website they don’t mention anything about Precision cuts, layering, or texturing in San Francisco!
That’s an opportunity for you to add this type of content to your website — and not only there, but also in your Google My Business services and posts, as well as on social media.
Always include the service + the region where your salon is located. This will reinforce to both users and Google that you provide that service in that specific area.
3 – Optimize your salon’s title and brand to appear in Google’s Map Pack in San Francisco
One strategy some SEO professionals use to rank clients is inserting the keyword searched by users into the Google My Business title. However, if none of those keywords match the actual business name, Google considers this spam and may penalize your listing. Here’s why:
Imagine a salon that offers Nail art and design in SoMa. The real salon name is “Ruth’s Salon”, but when creating the Google My Business listing, the SEO specialist simply set the title as “Nail art and design on SoMa”. That title doesn’t reflect the real business name, does it?
But think of it another way: what if you create a salon named “Ruth: Specialist in Nail Art and Design”, display a sign with that name, submit it to Google, and request validation? Most likely, they’ll approve it, because it’s the actual name of your business.
So, think carefully about how you’ll set your business title on Google My Business. Maybe it’s time to adjust your brand slightly to increase your chances of ranking.
4 – Optimize the other elements of your Google My Business profile
IIt’s not just the title that matters: you should also pay attention to other elements in Google My Business, such as the primary category, subcategory, services offered, business hours, customer reviews, etc.
Keeping this information updated and accurate will help your listing appear even more in searches.
5 – Create a salon website focused on the San Francisco area
What’s the point of having a beautiful, attractive website if there’s no information that your salon serves a specific San Francisco neighborhood? None at all!
Think of both your Google My Business profile and your website as your local storefront: include all the necessary and relevant details so local users can find you.
A great way to use this strategy is to think about how your customers search for services. For example, someone looking for Hair extensions in Union Square might type “Hair extensions Union Square” or “hair extensions near me.” If your salon is in that area, create a website content with those details.
Not just that — also include your business hours, other areas you serve, the additional services you provide, promotions, etc.
The goal is always to think the way your customer searches, because Google is an expert at understanding that — and delivering the right results.
Final Thoughts
These are basic tips to help you do great Local SEO for your beauty salon in the San Francisco, California area. Of course, there are many other recommended practices (including more technical ones), but by doing the basics, you’ll already see results.
If you’d like to dive deeper into the topic, feel free to reach out to me!