A salon social media calendar that fills the diary

Key takeaways

A salon social media calendar should be built around the diary: real results from this week, posts from each stylist or therapist, booking posts aimed at quiet days, and seasonal peaks such as prom, weddings and Christmas planned weeks ahead. Results must be unfiltered, and every post needs a booking link or a 'message us' next step.

• Aim booking posts at quiet days and gaps in the diary.
• Before-and-afters must not be filtered to exaggerate results.
• Each stylist or therapist gets a regular slot.
• Christmas, prom and wedding bookings need posts weeks ahead.

What should a salon post each week?

Four slots suit most salons: a real result from this week (with the client's consent), a stylist or therapist slot so clients get to know the team, a tip or aftercare post, and a booking post with a reason to book on a quiet day. Stories carry last-minute availability.

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How do you fill quiet days?

Look at the diary a week ahead and post the gaps: 'two colour slots free on Tuesday afternoon' in Stories, with a booking link. A short series on a quieter service, such as treatments people do not know you offer, helps too. Do not discount the busy days that sell themselves.

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Which rules apply to salon results?

The ASA has ruled that beauty filters which exaggerate a product's or treatment's effect make an ad misleading, so do not filter before-and-afters. Get the client's consent before posting their photo, and keep a record. Be clear about what each service includes and costs.

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Which dates matter for salons?

Prom season in early summer, wedding season from spring, holidays and festivals, Valentine's Day, Mothering Sunday and Christmas, which books up from October. Post four to six weeks ahead for prom and Christmas, and use January for quieter-period offers and new-year looks.

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When should a salon post less?

When the diary is full for weeks, switch from booking posts to results and team posts, and start a waiting list. Booking posts that cannot be fulfilled frustrate followers.

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What does this look like in practice?

A pattern with salons: heavily edited results on the grid and quiet Tuesdays nobody mentions. Posting real, unfiltered work and the week's free slots in Stories usually fills more gaps and builds more trust.

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Salon calendar checklist

• Plan results, team, tips and booking slots.
• Post diary gaps in Stories a few days ahead.
• Never filter before-and-afters.
• Get and record client consent.
• Start Christmas and prom posts early.

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Next step

Look at next week's diary, find the two biggest gaps and plan a Story for each, with a booking link, two days before.