14 Barbershop Marketing Ideas To Get More Clients

If your barbershop schedule isn’t as full as you’d like, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing anything wrong. Sometimes, it’s simply because not enough people know about your shop.

Fortunately, we’ve compiled the best barbershop marketing ideas to help you bring in new clients consistently, stand out from nearby shops, and even keep your profit margins healthy. 

Barbershop Marketing Ideas To Help Your Business Grow & Succeed

Below are the most effective barbershop marketing ideas: some you can start as early as this week with no big budget needed, others are longer-term strategies you’ll need to put in more effort and budget into. 

1. Make your Google Business Profile do the selling for you

When someone searches for “barber near me” or “fade [your city or neighborhood]”, you want your shop to be part of the top results that people would see. 

This is why you need to optimize your Google Business Profile, since it’s where most potential clients would decide whether or not to book with you, based on the photos, service menu, ratings, distance, and hours. Below are the steps for how to go about this:

• Add new, high-quality photos every other week (a mix of before/after shots, shop interiors, team photos). It helps reassure people that your shop is very much active. 
• Use Google Business Profile Posts to promote offers, announcements, and events (e.g., “Back-to-school cuts this weekend” or “Walk-ins open Sunday from 12:00 to 3:00 PM”).
• Make sure that your services, prices, and shop hours are always up to date. 
• Put a link to your booking page, so people can reserve a slot in just a few taps or clicks. 
• Use the Questions & Answers feature to proactively answer common questions, such as “Do you take walk-ins?”, “Do you do beards?”, and “Do you accept card/Apple Pay?”. 

2. Encourage clients to leave you a review on online directories

It’s important that you get a good amount of positive reviews constantly on third-party platforms like Google and Yelp. After all, reviews are one of the fastest ways to build your shop’s credibility. 

Ask happy clients (especially new ones) after their appointment, and hand them a small card with a QR code leading to the link where they can post their review. Alternatively, you can send them a thank-you text containing that link. 

Don’t forget to respond to reviews, whether they’re good or bad. That way, other people will see that you’re professional and your shop is very much active. 

Lastly, a small but important warning: Don’t offer discounts or freebies in exchange for reviews. Most platforms (Google included) strongly forbid incentives for reviews and may even restrict profiles that do such a thing. 

3. Set up a barbershop website that includes a 24/7 booking page

Think of your website as your shop’s online storefront: It’s where many people would go when they want to know what you offer, why they should choose you over other barbershops, whether you’re legit, and how to book an appointment with you. 

That said, your barbershop website should be super easy to navigate and mobile-friendly, so a first-time visitor can quickly find your services, pricing, location, hours, and even photos of your work. 

Your website should also include a built-in booking page or widget that makes it easy for visitors to pick a service, choose a time, and reserve their slot — without having to switch to a different tab just to contact you. 

Tip: If you’re using Bookedin, you can add a Bookedin button on your site instead of just a booking page link! You can also embed your appointment calendar so people immediately see which dates are available.  

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4. Post social media content that shows results

Your social media page should also feel like a portfolio, not just a bulletin board where you post announcements and photos of the space. That said, make it a point to regularly post the kind of content that would make someone think, “Yes, I’m choosing this shop.” 

Here are some ideas for useful and proof-based social media content you should try out (if you haven’t yet): 

• Before-and-after transformations using the same angle and good lighting
• 10-20 second Reels showcasing your precision work (i.e., edges sharp, fade smooth)
• “What to ask for” videos that help people explain what they want (e.g., “Low taper vs. mid fade”)
• Introductions of yourself and/or your team of barbers 
• Client reaction videos when they see the results they’ve gotten

Lastly, make sure to geotag your city and neighborhood and use a couple of local hashtags, so people nearby are more likely to find you on their social media feed. 

5. Run local ads that will actually reach people in your area

Once you’ve got a few strong portfolio-style posts on your page, ads are how you put that content in front of more people, especially those who don’t follow you yet.

Using Meta ads (Instagram and Facebook) is ideal if you want to build awareness nearby. You can target by location so your video shows up for people within a few miles of your shop, not random viewers from the opposite side of the country. 

Keep the ad simple and direct: one clean visual, one short message or offer, and one clear next step like “Book now” or “Walk-ins welcome today.” That way, viewers won’t have to guess how to proceed. 

6. Hand out your business cards that include a QR code for booking

Sure, most barbershop marketing ideas are done online, but sometimes nothing beats good ol’ traditional marketing. 

This is especially true when it comes to business cards for your barbershop, because you can hand them out in seconds — whether it’s at checkout, while someone’s waiting, or even when you’re outside your shop networking. 

Beyond the usual relevant information like your barbershop name, address, phone number, and email, your business cards should also include a QR code leading to your booking page. That way, when someone scans it, they can immediately lock in an appointment. 

If you want to be extra proactive, add a shortlink to your booking page on the card as well. This can be a backup for people who can’t be bothered to scan the QR code.

Learn how to set up your own Bookedin page

7. Organize a promo event that’ll give people a reason to book now

Seasonal promo events give potential clients a clear reason to finally try your barbershop soon. It also gives you a reason to post something fun on social media, promote your brand, and start conversations with locals who might eventually become regulars.

You might also want to tie the event to an occasion people already care about, where they’ll be more likely to need your services since they want to look their best. Here are some ideas: 

• Back-to-school cut day for kids and teens
• “Groomsmen day” packages during wedding season
• Holiday “photo-ready” week (for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or New Year’s)
• Prom + graduation week (bundle for cut, beard, and hair styling)

Also read: 12 Best Ideas for a Client Appreciation Event

8. Collaborate with local content creators or micro-influencers

This doesn’t have to be someone with over 20,000 followers. It just has to be someone with real local engagement, not inflated followers; meaning, you can see their posts regularly get interactions from people who live in the area. 

You want someone who can actually help your barbershop get discovered by more locals from your target demographic. That said, choose reliable content creators who post mainly about local lifestyle, fashion, and/or fitness content.

Have them run the content as a collab post so their followers see it, and your page gets the post (and the social proof) as well. You can even give them a unique promo code to share with their followers to see if their content is actually making a difference.

As for compensation, you can offer either a paid collaboration or a clear value swap (i.e., a set of services/products in exchange for a certain number of posts). Also, it’s best to work with multiple micro-influencers, instead of betting everything on one bigger creator.

9. Run time-boxed offers that target first-timers and low-traffic hours

Offering deals or discounts is good, but you have to use these sparingly to protect your revenue and avoid “cheapening” your brand. So, aim these promos at two specific goals: attracting new clients and filling slow time slots. 

A one-time introductory promo for first-timers is great because it can motivate potential clients to give your barbershop a try. You can offer something like $5 off the first cut or a free add-on on the first visit. 

Meanwhile, slow-day deals work because they help boost bookings for parts of your week that typically lag. Make sure to limit it to specific services (not your full menu) and off-peak hours (like Tuesdays 12:30–2:30 PM), and cap the number of promo slots. 

Also read: A Beginner’s Guide to Upselling in Barbershops

10. Partner with local businesses that can introduce you to new regulars

You want to work with nearby establishments whose clientele is similar (though not necessarily the exact same) to yours. This can include tattoo shops, gyms, fitness studios, breweries, coffee shops, and even streetwear stores. 

Such businesses can help market your barbershop to locals who are already buying from spots nearby, which typically makes these people easier to convert into regular clients. 

It’s also a strong way to stand out when there are, say, five other barbershops in the same neighborhood, because you become the default recommendation from a trusted local business locals already love. So, follow the steps below to put this into action:

• Pick three to five nearby businesses that cater to a similar demographic as your barbershop.
• Walk into their store and/or contact the owner to introduce yourself and pitch a simple, specific idea. 
• Suggest something that’s easy to execute and mutually beneficial. You can do a joint event or, alternatively, give small perks to customers who show proof they bought from the other business.
• Agree on the exact details of the partnership deal, such as what the offer is, what the mechanics are, how long it runs, and how you’ll track it. 
• Both sides should post about the partnership at the same time, keep the promo materials visible in-store, and check in after a couple of weeks to see if it’s sending real clients.

11. Send email newsletters regularly to keep clients coming back

Email marketing is an efficient way to stay in touch with clients who already like your work, therefore boosting your client retention and loyalty. Plus, it’s way less “noisy” than social media.

Also, did you know that most people are often more open to promotional emails than some business owners might think? A recent study shows that 59% of consumers prefer email (over social media and other channels) for receiving marketing messages. 

So, when it comes to email newsletters for your barbershop, your goal is to send occasional, useful updates that give clients a reason to book with you again. 

These can be announcements about limited-time promos, events, partnerships, and policy changes. Alternatively, you can occasionally share testimonials from other clients, share grooming-related tips, and spotlight some of your premium services worth trying. 

Note: Every email should have one obvious next step. Add a Book Now button near the top and at the bottom of the email, so clients can find it easily even if they’re just skimming through. 

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12. Offer referral rewards to your loyal clients

A handful of your regulars are probably already referring you to their friends and family. So, you might as well set up some actual perks that’ll motivate more of your regulars to do it consistently. 

Referrals are one of the most reliable barbershop marketing ideas for bringing in new clients because people trust a friend’s recommendation more than an ad. Also, compared to paid marketing, these often bring in better-fit clients who are more likely to become regulars.

Keep the referral perk simple, something like “Bring a friend, you both get $5 off.” If you don’t want to discount any of your main services, you can give out upgrades or add-ons instead, like a free beard line-up or grooming product samples. 

Also read: How To Raise Barbershop Prices Without Losing Your Regulars

13. Publish helpful blog content on your barbershop website

For your barbershop website, you should also consider blog posts that provide consumers with helpful information relevant to the services your business offers. It’s an effective way to position your site as a local resource, while boosting your brand credibility and SEO.

Your blog should regularly cover barbershop-related topics that match what many people are already searching for online, such as “how often should you get a haircut,” “which beard style suits me,” and “best haircut for thinning hair.” 

That way, your site has more chances to appear on top search results when people (especially those near you) look up such phrases or queries. Lastly, make sure to connect the topic back to your services and add a quick call-to-action at the end. 

14. Invest in community sponsorships to build steady visibility

Sponsoring something local (like sports teams, charity drives, and school events) helps give your barbershop consistent exposure in the exact community you want to cater to. 

Even if someone doesn’t book an appointment the first time they see your logo, seeing your shop name over and over tends to build recognition and trust, which makes them more likely to choose you later.

Here are some ideas to get your barbershop involved as part of the community, not just another business trying to sell something:

• Set up a monthly “team cut night,” where members of a youth sports team and their families get some perks at your barbershop.
• Sponsor a school fundraiser by donating a raffle prize, like a gift card or a service voucher for your shop.
• Host a fundraiser day where you’ll give out a portion of your barbershop sales to a local cause.
• Organize a seasonal holiday toy drive or school supply drive at your barbershop.

Also read: 8 Smart Ways To Boost Your Barbershop Revenue

Make Your Barbershop Marketing Pay Off With Bookedin

Now that you have a handful of barbershop marketing ideas to choose from, it’s time to choose and then put them into action. 

We don’t recommend trying everything at once; pick two or three strategies that make sense for your shop and commit to them for the next few weeks. After all, you want to be able to stick with the ideas you’ve planned out for your business. 

And as you start getting more clients, make sure you’ve got an easy way for them to book an appointment with you right away — no matter what time of the day. 

Fortunately, there’s Bookedin: an online scheduling app for barbershops and other service businesses. It’s designed to help you level up both your marketing and the client experience. 

Not using it yet? Go ahead and set up your free Bookedin account, which even comes with a 14-day trial. From there, you can share your booking link and let clients lock in their next appointment in less than a minute!