The way the world works these days social media is a constant, the scroll is the new stroll. Potential clients aren’t just walking past your storefront, they’re scrolling through social media, checking out your feed, reading your reviews, and deciding whether you're worth their time before they even step foot through your door. So how do you turn that casual scroll into a real-world visit or booking?
This guide breaks down proven social media strategies used by successful Australian service-based businesses to turn online engagement into appointments. Whether you're just starting out or ready to boost your bookings, these practical tips will help you turn followers into loyal, paying clients.
The 10 Social Media Strategies That Actually Drive Foot Traffic
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Use Location Tags & Geo-Targeted Ads
Make it easy for locals to find you. Always tag your suburb or city in posts and stories, and consider using geo-targeted ads to promote time-sensitive offers. -
Share Before/After Content
Whether it’s a fresh set of lashes, a bold new hair colour, or a new body piercing vs healed—transformation posts highlight your skill and help potential clients visualise their results. -
Include Clear Calls to Action
Always guide your audience: “DM to book,” “Tap the link in bio,” or “Call us now” are simple prompts that increase action. -
Run Limited-Time Offers
Time-sensitive promotions—like “$15 off this weekend only!”—build urgency and encourage bookings. -
Cross-Promote Your Platforms
Mention your TikTok on Instagram, your Facebook on TikTok, and so on. Keep people moving through your online ecosystem. -
Collaborate with Local Influencers
Micro-influencers who align with your brand can introduce your services to a whole new pool of local potential clients. -
Use Instagram Highlights Effectively
Save key info to Highlights—like pricing, FAQs, service menus, or client results—so new visitors can get familiar fast. -
Share Client Testimonials
Positive reviews, whether in Stories or posts, help build credibility and attract curious followers. -
Showcase Studio Updates
Whether you're bringing in new stock, upgrading your space, or welcoming new team members—share it. Keep your audience involved. -
Use Story Stickers for Interaction
Polls, sliders, and questions not only boost engagement but help you understand your audience better.
Mastering Instagram & TikTok for Service Providers
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Jump on Trends (With Relevance)
Use trending sounds and visuals—but make them fit your brand. Hashtags like #MelbourneBeauty or #BrisbaneHair help with local visibility. -
Create Reels and Short Videos
Behind-the-scenes clips, mini tutorials, or quick client reactions can perform better than static posts. -
Post Educational Content
Share tips- like how to maintain results, what to expect from a treatment, or common aftercare questions to build trust and show continuous education. -
Pin Key Posts to Your Profile
Keep your top content, booking info, or standout testimonials at the top of your grid. -
Be Consistent
Even if you’re just posting to Stories a few times a week, staying active keeps you in the algorithm and top of mind.
Leveraging Client Content
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User-Generated Content
Encourage happy clients to tag you and reshare (with permission). It builds trust and shows real-life results. -
Share Reviews Publicly
Screenshot your best Google or Facebook reviews and repost them across your platforms. -
Create a Branded Hashtag
Something unique to your business helps track and collect all posts made by your clients in one place. -
Before/After Carousel
Let followers swipe through transformations, it gives them a sense of your capabilities and outcomes. -
Celebrate Your Clients
Feature a “Client of the Week” to make visitors feel special and build loyalty.
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Use Geo-Specific Hashtags
Tags like #SydneyBeautyTherapist or #GoldCoastPiercer help target nearby clients. -
Always Tag Your Location
Make your area visible on every post—Stories, Reels, and static content. -
Engage With Neighbouring Businesses
Like, comment, and share posts from cafes, salons, or fitness studios nearby. It helps build local networks and opens up collab opportunities. -
Get Involved in Community Events
Attend local markets or festivals, or sponsor small events. Sharing this on socials shows you’re part of the community.
The Power of Going Live
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Live Product or Service Demos
Walk through a treatment, product showcase, or styling session in real-time. -
Answer FAQs Live
Host live Q&A sessions about popular services, products, or concerns. It's personal and positions you as a go-to expert. -
Behind-the-Scenes Access
Show your clean setup, prep routines, or team in action—great for demystifying your work for first-time clients. -
Announce Limited-Time Deals or Bookings
Use Lives to drop news about flash sales or last-minute appointment openings.
Promotions That Don’t Feel Pushy
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Quick Flash Sales
A surprise “20% off today only” post drives urgency without over-relying on discounts. -
Purposeful Giveaways
“Tag a friend” or “Share this post to win” builds exposure and engagement with minimal cost. -
Seasonal Campaigns
Think “Self-Care September,” “Holiday Glow-Up,” or “Back-to-School Specials”—aligning offers with the calendar makes promotions feel relevant. -
Cross-Promos with Local Businesses
Partner with a nearby florist, gym, or coffee shop to create bundled experiences or mutual shout-outs.
Boost Engagement = Boost Bookings
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Use Stories to Spark Conversations
Ask questions like “What treatment would you love to try?” or “Which product would you choose?” -
Polls and Quizzes
Keep your audience interacting with simple yes/no or fun knowledge checks. -
Secret DM Promos
Try “DM us the word ‘GLOW’ for 10% off your next facial” to drive private engagement and track interest. -
Promote Last-Minute Slots
Post real-time availability: “Just 1 spot left at 3pm today—who wants it?”
Scheduling for Success
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Best Times to Post (AEST)
Aim for early mornings (7–9am) or evenings (6–8pm)—when people are scrolling before or after work. -
Use Content Schedulers
Platforms like Later, Buffer, or Meta Business Suite let you plan ahead so you can focus on clients during the day. -
Batch Create Content
Set aside a few hours weekly to film, edit, and design your content in one go. -
Plan Themed Content Days
“Monday Motivation,” “Wellness Wednesday,” or “Feedback Friday” give structure and make content creation easier.
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
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Ignoring DMs or Comments
Every unanswered message could be a lost client. Aim to reply within 24 hours. -
Posting Low-Quality Visuals
Invest in good lighting and clean backgrounds. Your photos reflect your professionalism. -
No Clear Booking Path
Always direct people where to go—don’t assume they’ll figure it out. -
Ghosting Your Audience
You don’t need to post daily, but disappearing for weeks can hurt trust and momentum. -
Overloading Graphics with Text
Keep things clean and digestible. Let visuals do the heavy lifting.
Your social media is more than a portfolio, it's your most valuable marketing tool. With the right strategy, platforms like Instagram and TikTok can become your main source of steady business. From location tagging to client-generated content, from community collabs to Reels that show your personality, every post has the potential to bring someone new through your door.
Show up consistently. Engage authentically. And focus on building a community, not just followers. That’s how you turn scrolls into sales and browsing into bookings.
