Why AI Is Changing Salon & Med Spa Marketing (And Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore It)
Why AI Is Changing Salon & Med Spa Marketing (And Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore It)
By Michele R. Matkovich | Salon Owner, Agency Founder, Data-Driven Marketing Expert
Let’s have a real conversation about what’s happening in this industry.
The way clients search, book, and interact with salons and med spas has completely changed.
And yet—I see so many owners still trying to market like it’s 2018.
📍 They’re relying on Instagram posts that barely get seen.
📍 They’re waiting on word-of-mouth referrals to trickle in.
📍 They’re manually following up with leads—and losing half of them because they can’t keep up.
Meanwhile, the top salons and med spas—the ones winning right now—are doing things differently.
They’re using AI to show up first in Google & TikTok search, book more clients automatically, and take all the manual work off their plates.
🚨 This shift isn’t coming—it’s already here. The only question is: Are you keeping up?
Let’s break down exactly how AI is changing salon marketing—and how you can use it to fill your books faster, without adding more to your workload.
How Clients Find & Book Salons Has Changed Forever
Here’s the biggest misconception I hear from salon and med spa owners:
💭 “I just need more people to see my posts.”
💭 “I’ll start running ads when I need more bookings.”
💭 “If I just had the right social media manager, I’d get more clients.”
No. That’s not the problem.
Your potential clients aren’t just scrolling Instagram for a cute balayage pic anymore.
They’re actively searching for services in real time—on Google, TikTok, and AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT.
And if your business isn’t showing up where they’re searching, they’re booking with someone else.
Where Clients Are Searching in 2025:
✅ Google & Google Maps – Still the highest-converting platform for local businesses. If you’re not ranking in the top 3, you’re invisible.
✅ TikTok & Instagram Search – Clients are literally typing things like “Best blonde specialist near me” into TikTok. If your content isn’t optimized for search, they’ll never find you.
✅ AI-Powered Search (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Voice Search) – Clients are asking AI where to book, and AI is deciding who gets recommended.
🚨 The Problem: Most salons & med spas aren’t optimized for any of these.
💡 Want to know if your salon is even ranking?
Get a Free SEO & Visibility Audit.
How AI Is Helping Salons Book More Clients (While Doing Less Work)
Even if your salon is showing up online, that’s only half the battle.
🚨 If a client inquires and doesn’t book right away, you’re losing money.
🚨 If you miss a call and don’t follow up instantly, that lead is gone.🚨 If your front desk is overwhelmed, potential clients are slipping through the cracks.
And THIS is where AI is making the biggest impact for salons.
✅ AI-Driven Booking & Lead Follow-Ups – Instead of relying on your team to call back leads (which they won’t), AI automatically follows up and converts them into bookings.
✅ Missed Call Text-Back – If a client calls and no one answers, AI instantly texts them a booking link—so they don’t go searching for another salon.
✅ AI-Powered Chatbots & DMs – Clients don’t want to wait hours for a response. AI answers questions and books appointments instantly.
✅ Automated Review Requests & Reputation Management – Google ranks businesses with frequent, high-quality reviews higher. AI makes sure you get them.
💡 Want to see AI handle this for you?
What AI-Optimized Salons Are Doing That Others Aren’t
Salons that are using AI the right way aren’t just booking more clients—they’re running smoother, growing faster, and spending less on marketing.
1. AI-Optimized Social Media (Because Clients Search TikTok & Instagram Like Google Now)
If you’re just posting random hair transformations and hoping clients find you—you’re missing the entire shift happening right now.
📌 40% of Gen Z prefers TikTok over Google for search.
📌 Instagram is prioritizing search-based content over just “likes.”
How AI-Driven Salons are winning social media search:
✔ Using AI-generated captions & hashtags optimized for TikTok & Instagram search.
✔ Creating short-form videos that answer real client questions (not just showing off hair).
✔ Engaging with potential clients using AI-powered auto-replies to DMs and comments.
💡 Want AI to handle your social strategy for you?
Use the Salon & Med Spa Social Content Creator.
2. AI-Optimized Websites (Because Google’s Search Algorithm Has Changed)
SEO isn’t just about keywords anymore. Google’s AI is ranking businesses based on engagement, reviews, and AI-readable content.
How AI-driven salons are getting to the top of Google:
✔ AI-optimized service pages with the exact keywords clients search for.
✔ Automated blog content that ranks in AI-powered search engines.
✔ Google Business Profile updates that keep them ahead of competitors.
💡 Not sure if your site is optimized? Get a Free SEO Audit.
3. AI-Powered Lead Follow-Up (Because 50% of Calls Go Unanswered)
Salons aren’t losing leads because they don’t get enough inquiries. They’re losing them because they don’t follow up fast enough.
🚨 40% of potential clients don’t book on their first inquiry.
🚨 Most salons have no system to bring those leads back.
How AI-driven salons are fixing this:
✔ Automated text & email follow-ups for clients who inquire but don’t book.
✔ AI-generated rebooking campaigns to get past clients back in.
✔ AI-powered reminders & special offers at the perfect time.
💡 Ready to stop losing leads? Let AI do it for you.
Final Thoughts: AI Isn’t Taking Over—It’s Helping Salons Win Faster
I get it—AI sounds overwhelming.
But here’s the truth: Salons using AI now will dominate their market in the next 1-3 years.
The ones that ignore it will be playing catch-up while their competitors are already fully booked.
🚨 The time to adopt AI isn’t next year—it’s now.
If you’re ready to automate what’s holding you back, increase bookings, and stay ahead of the competition, let’s make it happen.
📞 Call +1 (704) 327-2200
💻 Get a Free AI Marketing Audit
📅 Book a Call
🚀 AI isn’t replacing you—it’s helping you build the salon you’ve always wanted.
Articles Written:
Women’s Insider: https://womensinsider.com/from-first-click-to-loyal-client-how-michele-matkovich-is-redefining-lead-generation-with-ai-for-salons-and-med-spas/
How SEO Fills Your Salon’s Schedule: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-seo-search-everywhere-optimization-fills-your-every-matkovich--7ozee
Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullybookedai/
Messenger: m.me/877124249330712
Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@fullybookedai?si=p3qqgn9RCgB7_HpC
FBAI® TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fullybookedai_official
Website: https://fullybooked.ai
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/get.more.clients.patients.usingai
AI Voice Agent Website: https://aisalonsalesteam.com
Text or Call Michele’s AI Assistant: +1 (704) 327-2200
Text or Call Justin’s AI Assistant: +1 (980)-300-8100
Custom GPT’s to Help Implement Marketing Systems
Ideal Avatar Creator: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-PEt2Mb3uM-salon-med-spa-marketing-ideal-client-avatar
Bio Creator: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-trIcw0z6l-bio-creator-for-beauty-professionals
Offer & Package Creator: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-Kan8C9c2V-create-salon-offers-signature-packages
G-Search & Maps Posts: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-aeutkIRBi-get-your-salon-found-on-g-search-g-maps
Social Content Creator: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-Mnt9CC6da-social-media-content-creator-by-fully-booked-aitm
Email Marketing Asst: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-1DUzlXjG2-salon-med-spa-email-marketing-assistant
Software System & Tools: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-CR2NmF6uG-fully-booked-ai-r-a-high-level-powered-system
AI Solutions for Salons & Med Spas: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-97r8SpDkd-ai-solutions-to-grow-and-scale-your-salon-or-spa
