Salon owners know that their salon should offer a unique and gratifying experience to clients in order to retain customers. But how do you motivate customers to walk through that front door? Your salon branding is a crucial step in creating that award-winning experience and part of setting your salon apart. You have likely already established some basic branding, but effective branding should incorporate your salon style and brand image into every part of the salon.Create Your Salon StyleTo start- your business name is the essence of your brand. You chose that name with a salon style in mind and it is one of the most gratifying steps when opening your own business. Using the groundwork of your salon name, create a business logo that incorporates the overall style that your salon should exhibit. Whether you are a modern, classic, glamorous, or even children’s salon, your logo can incorporate the character of your salon and will be the building block for your branding. Once you create your logo you will also have the foundation for your color scheme. This should still follow the guideline of your overall salon style-imitate your funky flare, classic posh, or golden flake design concept and logo.If you have trouble finding your style, take a look at the salon chairs you have chosen, the neighborhood where you are established, and your own personal style. After all, you are the inspiration for the business and your style along with your stylists will add to your overall theme.Make a StatementCreating your salon image is also about defining the quality of your services and establishing the expectations for your clients. Incorporate a salon slogan or motto that imitates the quality of your salon and reflects the mission of your stylists, colorists, and receptionists. You can use your slogan to publicly promote your salon with a catchphrase that is rousing and expresses your style and business focus. Use your motto to let customers know your salon is focused on pampering clients, expert knowledge and customer service, or quick and cheap cuts. You can also use it internally as a mission statement that gives your employees attributes that they are expected to live up to every day.If you choose to use your slogan as a public marketing strategy, incorporate it in every piece of advertising that you create. Your slogan should be seen as a part of your business name and logo. Promoting all 3 together to establish your brand will make each piece more recognizable in the long-run and down the road you can use single pieces of your brand to represent your salon.Include Your Brand in EVERYTHING!Once you taken the time to create your branding image and style, it’s important to incorporate that in everything that you do. Your salon storefront is your first impression for drive-by and potential customers so use that as an opportunity to emphasize your brand, to create a memorable salon image, and most importantly-attract attention.Salon window signs are the perfect opportunity to promote your brand and attract attention. Use unnecessary windows to create a full-cover window display using a one-way vision vinyl. This material includes full-color printing and is perfect for adding a hairstyle that represents your salon style surrounded by your branding colors and salon slogan. The best part of this material-it looks solid from the outside but is invisible inside. Add your salon name in colored vinyl lettering and add a die-cut vinyl decal to your front door cut the shape of your salon logo. Incorporate salon window clings for promotional signs that offer an attractive new style, coloring options, or product but set the foundation with your salon colors. Incorporating bits of your brand throughout your signage builds the identity of your salon and sets expectations from prospective customers.Inside your salon, add a wall decal to your reception desk, waiting room wall, or service menu that includes your logo and salon slogan. The inside of your salon should flow with your brand colors and accessories that match your targeted style. The slogan should be the mission statement held up by every stylist you employ. Your promotional items like business cards, flyers, and postcards should always include your branding identity including your name, logo, colors, and slogan so you become recognizable to consumers and throughout the industry.By creating a recognizable salon image you are setting yourself at the front of customers’ minds and sending a message that represents your business. Your salon signs, print ads, and salon style are the first step in building your business and creating a memorable salon experience. Knowing your goals and your image, you can then translate your style and expectations to your staff to offer a well-rounded, customer focused salon.