How to Set Up Online Booking for Your Hair Salon

Online booking is the single highest-leverage change you can make to your salon's revenue. Salons that offer 24/7 online booking capture 30–50% more appointments than those that rely on phone calls alone — because clients book when they think of it, not when you are available to answer.

Before You Go Live: Three Things to Set Up First

1. Your Service Menu

Every service you offer should be in your system with an accurate duration and price. This is what populates the booking page. Incomplete menus create the wrong first impression — if clients cannot find their service, they will not book.

For each service, configure:

• Service name (be specific — "Full Balayage with Toner" converts better than "Highlights")
• Duration (including processing time if applicable)
• Price (or price range for variable services)
• Which staff can perform it
• Whether a deposit is required

2. Staff Availability

Set each stylist's working hours, days off, and any blocked time. The booking page will only show available slots based on actual availability — which prevents overbooking and sets accurate expectations for clients.

3. Booking Rules

Configure how far in advance clients can book (typically 3–6 months), minimum notice required for same-day bookings, and how far in the future new client slots are available.

Step 1: Get Your Booking Link

Your Santurg booking page is live at a dedicated URL the moment your services and staff are configured. It looks like: your-salon-name.santurg.com/book (or your custom domain if configured).

Test it yourself before sharing it. Go through the full booking flow as a client. Make sure:

• All services appear correctly with accurate pricing
• Staff availability is correct for this week
• The intake form (if configured) appears for new clients
• The confirmation SMS and email arrive correctly

Step 2: Add It to Instagram

Instagram is the primary discovery channel for most salons. Your booking link should be in three places:

1. Bio link: Replace your current link with your booking URL. Use a simple call to action: "Book your appointment →" or "Schedule online 24/7 →"
2. Story highlights: Create a permanent Highlight called "Book Now" or "Appointments" that includes a swipe-up link (or text overlay with the URL for accounts under 10k followers)
3. Regular posts: Include "link in bio to book" in every service post caption

Step 3: Add It to Your Website

If you have a website, your booking button should be visible on every page — not buried in a menu. Place an "Book Appointment" button:

• In the navigation bar (top right, visible on every page)
• Above the fold on the homepage (primary CTA)
• On your services page next to each service
• In the footer

Step 4: Set Up Your Google Business Profile

Google Business allows you to add a booking button directly to your Google Maps listing. When clients search "hair salon near me" and find your profile, they can book without visiting your website.

To add your booking link: go to your Google Business Profile, find the "Booking" section, and add your Santurg booking URL. Google will display a "Book" button on your listing.

Step 5: Tell Your Existing Clients

Send a simple text or email to your existing client list:

"Hey [Name] — we now have online booking! You can book your next appointment any time at [your booking URL]. No waiting on hold, no phone tag. See you soon!"

Most regular clients who receive this message will use online booking for every future appointment. The phone calls drop within two weeks of sending it.

Optimizing Over Time

After your first 30 days of online booking, review:

• Which services are booked most online (promote these in posts)
• What time of day most online bookings happen (this informs your posting schedule)
• How many new clients booked online vs. called (this shows the growth from online visibility)

Most salons see online booking account for 40–60% of all new appointments within 60 days of going live.