Getting more customers and building a loyal clientele as a barber is the simplest way to grow your business. After getting licensed, most barbers focus on attracting new customers to fill their schedules and increase their earnings, but sustainable growth can only happen by retaining existing clients. Ambitious professional barbers who want to successfully start their own barbershop must be able to keep their customers coming back while nurturing fresh ones, building a loyal client base over time.

Here are ten powerful tips for building your barber business and attracting high-value, loyal clients who will support your career's growth.

Getting Loyal Customers As A Barber

Barbershop marketing is about much more than simply bringing customers through the door. It also involves building a business structure that encourages loyalty and repeat business.

Loyal customers are worth up to 10x more than first-timers, and it costs up to five times less to keep current customers than it does to acquire new ones. Fortunately, building loyal clients to keep your schedule full and your bank account happy comes down to a few simple tips.

Provide Great Haircuts

When customers come to your barbershop, they don't expect each cut you provide to be better than the last. Your clientele wants consistency – in his haircut and your customer service. Listen to what your customers want, make sure you deliver it, and treat them like a member of the family every single time you see them.

Customers always want excellent results, and most don't care about your techniques. They want to come into your shop with an expectation and walk away from your shop satisfied with the result.

Listen To Your Customers

Actively and attentively listening to your barbershop customers allows you better to understand their preferences, worries, and needs. When listening, maintain eye contact in the mirror whenever you can and actively participate by expressing your understanding through nods or responses whenever appropriate. Laugh at their jokes and express empathy when they're having bad days. Remaining engaged with customers throughout their visits helps them feel valued.

Ask Questions To Address Customer Needs

While listening or at any time during the visit, you may find the need to ask questions. Asking your customers about the haircuts they want, how they usually style their hair, and whether they are open to trying something new to achieve the desired results can go a long way toward building a working relationship.

Open-ended questions are always best because they require your customers to think their answers through, facilitating authenticity and giving you a better understanding of their thought processes.

Remember Their Names and Preferred Cuts

Remembering each of your loyal clients' names and preferred haircuts makes them feel as if they're important and valued, which is the key to securing repeat business. There are a few tips you can use to boost your memory, including the following:

Respect Your Appointment Times

When customers go out of their way to book appointments with you, ensure you are present and available on those dates and at those times. Trying to “squeeze in” a walk-in during a busy day filled with back-to-back appointments can throw things off and lead to disappointed clients later in the day.

If an appointment is late, use your discretion to determine how to proceed. Asking one disgruntled latecomer to reschedule is better than five customers being angry later in the day because they had to wait.

Develop A Friendship

Most customers you'll see daily are quite comfortable developing a friendship with you, but reading the room is essential. Some customers will tell you about their fight with their wives last night, but others will barely say anything.

Treat everyone who walks through your door like an old friend, but keep their preferences in mind. Building a long-term relationship is the goal.

Be Welcoming and Provide A Comfortable Atmosphere

Welcoming your customers as they come through the door is one of the best ways to provide exemplary customer service. Acknowledging their arrival using their name and a short greeting makes them feel valued.

You should also ensure your customers have a comfortable place to wait for their cuts, good lighting, and access to magazines or a television to keep them occupied.

Your décor and the cleanliness of your barbershop also speak volumes about who you are as a brand. Everything about the shop should be inviting and pleasant.

Showcase Your Skills

There are several ways to showcase your talent and skills to existing and potential customers. You can use one or combine all three to maximize your reach.

Network In Your Community

Networking in your community is the simplest and fastest way to create new connections that could become repeat customers. Some examples include joining business associations in your area, volunteering with or donating to charitable organizations, collaborating with stylists and makeup artists, or even setting up a booth at the county fair to offer quick trims. Some barbers even provide a few free monthly cuts to low-income community members.

Every man needs a haircut regularly, and building a network means every person you meet is a potential client.

Use A Booking Service For Convenience

Booking software is essential for your customers and your convenience. When customers book appointments online, you can spend more time at the chair. Your clients will appreciate the ability to choose a date and time without the need for awkward back-and-forth conversations about what you have available versus what they can fit into their schedules. Some software even allows your customers to set up reminders via text or email, vastly reducing no-shows.

Ask For Customer Reviews

Barbershop reviews cover information like the quality of the service your customers receive, their impression of your barbershop's ambiance, and the value-added experiences you provide.

Asking your customers for reviews helps you make better decisions about your business and marketing and helps clients feel their opinions truly matter. When you ask for feedback after every visit, you drive brand loyalty.