Thinking about starting your own barber shop and want to boost your online presence? Do you dream of a website that not only looks professional but also drives more customers to your business? Great, because in this blog post, I’ll guide you through 3 easy steps to build your own barber shop website, even if you’re not tech-savvy. You’ll learn all the essentials, how to choose the right structure and design, why a responsive website is crucial, and how to leverage SEO to improve your visibility. Let’s see how to create a successful barber shop website that helps your business to grow!
IN A NUTSHELL
To create your own barber website, you should (1) choose the right domain name, (2) prepare information about your business for 8 essential content elements (home page, services, online booking, about us, gallery & testimonials, contact, blog, social media integration) and (3) complete the AI wizard using _Now to generate your website in 60 seconds.
Starting Your Journey: The Essentials
Embarking on your very first barber shop website journey can be as nerve-wracking as your first straight razor shave! But don’t worry, the process can be made simpler than you might think. Before you begin building your site, you first need to choose the right tool for the job. There are 2 main methods of building a website yourself:
- Using a website builder: You write the content and choose the template or design, while someone else takes care of hosting, coding, SSL certificates, maintenance, etc.
- Doing it all yourself: Here you need to purchase hosting, configure a server, prepare a content management system (CMS), install a theme or configure a template, along with other technical elements—all before you can get down to writing any content.
Website Builder vs. DIY
Let’s tackle this choice right away. When many small businesses think of building a website themselves, they imagine having to take care of all the details and the complexity involved. This is the dilemma connected to the second option of doing it all yourself. For this you’ll need a CMS such as WordPress.
Full Freedom Comes at a Cost
While building a custom website will grant you more freedom and flexibility in how you shape your site, it will inevitably also require a steeper learning curve and deeper pockets. This process often snowballs into something bigger, beyond what you as a small business owner originally expected or have patience and time for.
If you don’t plan to invest a lot of time and energy into understanding how a website is hosted and built—i.e., learn how to build a professional website the hard way or by constantly asking friends who might know more than you—I highly recommend you go with the first option: using a proven, modern website builder.
Beyond “Good Enough”
Let’s face it, you need more than a good haircut to keep your customers coming back—you need exceptional service and a welcoming environment. Similarly, your website needs to be more than just “good enough” after all that hard work of trying to make a WordPress site finally work as it should. Your business site needs to be responsive to different user devices, informative and user-friendly. That’s what will attract your customers and keep them coming back for more.
While there are a variety of website builders out there, at cyber_Folks, we believe the new kid on the block, _Now, is worth a shot if you want to get started quickly with both layout and content. Our AI-powered website builder is easy to use and boasts features designed for content editing on the go and fast page speeds for visitors.
So strap in—we’re about to embark on a journey to build a winning barber shop website. And remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—or in our case, the first click! Here are the 3 steps we will take to success:
1. Choosing the Right Domain Name
Selecting the right domain name for your barber shop is a crucial step in building your online presence. Your domain name is often the first impression customers will have of your business, and it can significantly impact your brand’s credibility and its searchability in Google. Here are some key considerations to ensure you choose a domain name that works for you.
1. Keep It Short and Sweet
A short, simple domain name is easier for customers to remember and type into their browser. Aim for a name that’s easy to spell and pronounce. Avoid using complex words or phrases that might be difficult for people to recall or type accurately. For instance, instead of “ExquisiteBarberingServices.com,” something like “TopCuts.com” is more straightforward and more memorable.
2. Reflect Your Brand and Services
Your domain name should give potential customers a clear idea of what your business is all about. If possible, incorporate relevant search terms people use in Google to highlight your services and brand identity. If your barber shop has a unique name, try to include it in the domain. For example, if your shop is called “Modern Man Barbers,” a domain like “ModernManBarbers.com” immediately communicates your business name and industry. This not only helps with brand recognition but also with search engine optimization (SEO).
3. Choose the Right Extension
While “.com” is the most popular and most widely recognized domain extension, there are many others to consider, such as “.net,” “.org,” “.barber,” and even location-specific ones like “.nyc” for New York-based businesses. If “.com” is not available for your desired name, consider these alternatives, but ensure they still look professional and are easy to remember. For example, “ModernMan.barber” would be a great alternative if the “.com” is taken.
4. Avoid Numbers and Hyphens
Numbers and hyphens can create confusion and are often misremembered. People might not know whether to use the numeral or spell out the number, and hyphens can be easily forgotten. For instance, “Top-Cuts4U.com” could lead to misunderstandings and typing errors. Sticking with a clean, hyphen-free name like “TopCutsForYou.com” ensures clarity and reduces the risk of losing potential traffic.
5. Think About the Future
Choose a domain name that allows your business to grow and diversify. While “JohnsHaircuts.com” might be perfect if you only offer haircuts now, it may limit you if you decide to expand into other services like beard grooming or hairstyling products. A more flexible name like “JohnsBarberShop.com” gives you room to grow without needing a domain change.
6. Check Availability and Trademark Issues
Before finalizing your domain name, make sure it’s available and not too similar to other existing businesses. Use domain search tools to check availability and ensure there are no trademark conflicts that could lead to legal issues down the line. Additionally, securing your domain name on various social media platforms ensures consistency and helps in building a cohesive online brand.
By investing time and thought into choosing the right domain name, you lay a solid foundation for your barber shop’s online presence. A well-chosen domain name enhances your brand, improves your visibility, and ultimately drives more customers to your business. If you feel stuck coming up with domain names, why not make use of AI and ask Copilot for a couple of suggestions?
2. What to Put on Your Website?
Now it’s time to prepare business information for the content you’ll be publishing on your site. Every professional barber website should include the following 8 essential content elements:
1. A Welcoming Home Page
Your home page is often the first page people will see, so make it count. Use a high-quality, inviting image that captures the vibe of your shop. Add a brief introduction highlighting what makes your place special. And don’t forget a clear call-to-action (CTA) button like “Book an Appointment” or “Write to Us” to guide visitors on what to do next.
2. Detailed Services Page
List all the services you offer with clear descriptions and prices. Whether it’s a basic cut, beard trim, shave, or a specialty service, each should have its own section. Providing a short description, what the service involves, and how long it takes helps manage customer expectations and can tip the scales in your favor.
3. Online Booking System
An online booking system is a game changer. It allows customers to schedule appointments at their convenience, without picking up the phone. Make sure it’s user-friendly and works well on mobile devices. Confirmations and reminders via email or text are a nice touch, ensuring customers remember their appointments and can easily reschedule if needed. This not only boosts customer satisfaction but also keeps your operations running smoothly.
4. About Us Page
The “About Us” page is where you can shine. Share your story, your mission, and what sets your barber shop apart. Introduce your team with bios, including their experience and specialties. Adding a personal touch, like their favorite styles to cut, helps customers feel more connected and comfortable with your shop.
5. Gallery and Testimonials
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a gallery showcasing your work can speak volumes. High-quality photos of haircuts, beard trims, and other services demonstrate your skills. Pair this with a testimonials section where happy customers can share their experiences. Genuine reviews build trust and credibility, encouraging new clients to give you a shot. Mixing written testimonials with video reviews adds a dynamic element.
6. Contact Information and Location
Make it easy for customers to find and reach you. Include a dedicated “Contact Us” page with your shop’s address, phone number, email, and a contact form. Embed a Google Map for easy navigation. Display your operating hours and any special instructions for first-time visitors, like parking details or appointment policies. This clarity ensures there are no hurdles in their path to your chair.
7. Blog or News Section
A blog or news section can keep your website fresh and boost your SEO. Share grooming tips, trends, and advice to position your shop as a go-to source in the barbering world. Use this space to announce promotions, events, or new services. Regularly updated content keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.
8. Social Media Integration
Link your social media profiles to your website to expand your reach. Icons connecting to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X are a must. Displaying your social media feed on your website can showcase your latest posts and give visitors a taste of your shop’s daily life and community vibe.
By mixing these elements into your barber shop’s website, you create a compelling online presence that draws in new clients and keeps existing ones coming back. A well-designed website not only reflects your professionalism, but also enhances the overall customer experience, driving your business towards success.
3. Let’s Build It Together—in 60 Seconds!
This is all sounding good, you may say, but how do I go about building out a website that even resembles something like this?
Enter our modern and incredibly easy-to-use website builder _Now, specifically designed with your needs in mind. Unlike other website builders that can be overly technical, this one is as easy as pie, ensuring you spend less time wrestling with complex code and more time running your business. Forget about having to wait for code, pictures, or text—we’ll get it done instantly.
Let’s have a look at the process:
Step 1
Go to the _Now editor—no credit card or account needed at this stage!
Step 2
Provide some simple answers about your business.
Step 3
After 60 seconds, you already get to see a ready-to-go website.
Step 4
Now you can easily adjust the site to your needs, fine-tune text, and upload your own photos.
Step 5
You go online in a flash!
Your Barber Shop is Online—What’s Next?
Final Touches to Boost Your Website’s SEO Ranking
Studies show that a well-structured, appealing website with valuable, personal content plays a significant role in SEO ranking. Search engines like Google take user experience into account when ranking websites. With our website builder, you’ll have a reactive layout, content, and fast page loading times right out of the box.
What’s left for you now is to review all content and adjust it to your liking. Ensure the text reflects the personality of your business and properly describes the services you offer. If you want to use custom images or pictures taken inside your barber shop, you can include them. All of this will support better performance in Google’s search results over time.
With _Now, your sitemap (a file linking to all of your live web pages) is also created automatically. This is an essential part of your SEO game, as Google crawlers love to see a clear sitemap so they know where to discover new content on your site. The meta title and description of each page, showcased as the title and description you see in Google’s search result for each page, are also generated for you on the fly by artificial intelligence.
What About Page Speed?
In today’s fast-moving world, speed is everything. When it comes to your barber site, having a fast, responsive site isn’t just a bonus, it’s a necessity. Why, you ask? Well, it’s simple. Research by the Aberdeen Group has shown that a delay of even 1 second in site load time can lead to 7% fewer conversions, 11% fewer page views, and a 16% decrease in customer satisfaction. Amazon, in turn, claims that for every 100ms of added page load time, it costs the company 1% in revenue. These aren’t numbers to take lightly, and as website owners, it’s our job to ensure our visitors aren’t left twiddling their thumbs.
So, how do we crack this speed dilemma? As a modern website builder, _Now by cyber_Folks offers a host of features designed to supercharge your website’s speed, no matter where in the country your visitors are located. This is important not just for user experience but also for search engine optimization. That’s right, Google and other browsers take site speed into account when determining a site’s ranking. If your site is as slow as a tortoise, it won’t win the ranking race.
Conclusion
As we venture down the homestretch of our digital journey, one thing’s clear: Building a successful barber shop website isn’t rocket science, but it does take some elbow grease, the right tools, and a solid strategy. With Now by cyber_Folks, a modern and easy-to-use website builder, your path becomes much smoother.
Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ll be more than happy to assist you in getting your barber site ready for take-off!
0 comments