Several years ago, American teenagers spent $155 billion on salon services, and they persuaded their parents to spend another $100 billion according to the Chicago Tribune. We can only assume that this number has gone up over time with the cost of living. In such a lucrative market, it's important to know what teenagers expect. Their expectations are simple: good service with simple online communications. Many salons have good service covered, but they need help transitioning communications online.
Why Online?
Let me tell you about a day in the life of my teenagers. Their alarms go off on their smartphones, and they immediately scan Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Perhaps they post a few #IWokeUpLikeThis selfies online.
After showers and breakfast, they text their friends to make plans for the day. They buy movie tickets online using the Fandango app. On the way to the movie, they order lunch using Chick-Fil-A's new #CFAOne app where they walk inside and grab their food, never speaking to anyone.
After the movie, they pick up a free pizza they've earned while using their Domino's app and come back to the house to watch Netflix.
Their days are spent online.
How Do You Start?
Knowing how much time teens spend on their phones, it's important that you are able to communicate with them using mobile apps, social media and texting. When it's time to schedule appointments, teens have no interest in calling. They want to schedule with a click of their phones. When it's time for a reminder call, many teens don't have voicemail configured, or if they do, they don't check it. Reminder texts or push notifications from the salon's mobile app are all they need to confirm. There are guides on how to create social media accounts, and many web hosting companies offer app design as part of their packages. Just don't be afraid to try!
How Can this Help You?
Using a mobile app to communicate with your teenaged clients can also benefit the salon. The best advertising is word of mouth. By engaging with your app, you can make it easy for your customers to "check in", post selfies, and connect with their friends, also potential clients. Your teenaged clients are ready to see you online. Are you ready?
