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Local Visibility: Why Stylists Should Market Beyond Social Media

Real strategies from beauty industry experts for growing your business offline and in your neighborhood


Meet the Experts Who Shared These Insights


Rob Abney

Marketing Strategist & Startup Consultant

Rob has led marketing for beauty tech companies like ShearShare and SalonInteractive, helping salons and barbershops grow through smarter branding, client engagement, and community-based strategies.


Carla Jones

Beauty Business Strategist, Educator, and Licensed Practitioner

From behind the chair to behind the scenes, Carla has done it all—stylist, school owner, multi-location salon leader, and national director of operations for a beauty school chain. She now helps stylists and beauty educators build systems that actually grow revenue.


Shannon Thompson

Brand Storyteller and Digital Marketing Expert

Shannon’s career began in clean beauty formulation and grew into a decade of leading marketing for Jane Carter Solutions. Today, she runs a digital marketing agency that helps mission-driven beauty brands and nonprofits tell powerful stories and grow their impact.

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Why Visibility Still Starts in the Community

“Everything started in community.”— Rob Abney

Most of us were taught to market online. But for beauty professionals, offline visibility is just as powerful—and sometimes even more effective. Social media is one tool, but it’s not the only one. During our July ANHC PRO Roundtable, Rob, Carla, and Shannon shared powerful, real-world ways beauty pros can grow their business in the spaces they already live and work.


💡Get Your Info Where People Wait

Not everyone is scrolling through social media, but most people spend time in community spaces like salons, libraries, or laundromats.


Carla Jones shared how she would leave brochures or flyers behind in waiting areas where people had time to notice them.

“I’d walk in, flip through a magazine, and discreetly leave a few flyers behind. It’s not complicated—and it works.”— Carla Jones

💡Use Schools to Reach Parents

Schools are a direct line to families—and families need hair care too. Carla reached out to her daughter’s teacher and offered $5 coupons as student rewards.

“Who opens the folder? Parents. That’s your target.”— Carla Jones

💡Shine a Spotlight on Local Businesses

When Carla moved to a new city, she created a one-page salon newsletter and featured a local business each month. In return, those businesses distributed her newsletter to their customers.

“It cost me nothing, and it built relationships and visibility.”— Carla Jones

💡Activate—Don’t Just Attend—Events

Whether it’s a farmers market or local networking mixer, events are packed with potential clients. But Rob Abney emphasized: don’t just show up—activate.

“Show up with purpose. Talk to people. Make sure they leave knowing who you are and what you do.”— Rob Abney

Final Thought: You Are the Brand

Social media can’t do everything for you. The best marketing still starts with real people, real conversations, and real service.


As Shannon Thompson shared:

“You may be a stylist, but you are a brand. Your business is what you do. Your brand is who you are.”— Shannon Thompson

Join the Movement

If you found these insights helpful, imagine what you’ll gain from being part of ANHC PRO. We host powerful monthly roundtables, share proven business tools, and bring together a network of beauty professionals committed to growing sustainable, intentional businesses—not just chasing likes or trends.


🔗 Join us today: www.anhcpro.org/memberships

 
 
 

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