How to get clients for your nail studio: a 4-week plan
To get clients for a nail studio, look after what someone sees when they search for you on Google Maps first: a complete listing, real photos of your work and recent reviews. Then show your work on Instagram with the client's permission and, above all, book the next appointment before she leaves. A client who returns is worth more than ten who pass through once.
In short
- Someone searching "nails near me" decides by looking at photos and stars on Google. Fix that first.
- Your best photos are your shop window, but a client's hands are her image too: ask for written permission.
- Most of what is published on this is written by booking-software companies. Here is a plan you can try for four weeks and measure with a notebook.
Where does a new client find you?
Mostly on Google Maps and Instagram, and she usually decides in seconds by looking at photos and ratings. Google explains that local results depend on relevance, distance and prominence, and prominence includes reviews: according to Google, more positive reviews and ratings improve local ranking. You cannot pay to rank higher. You can complete your listing.
A BrightLocal survey in the United States (2026, 1,002 adults) finds that 97% read reviews for local businesses and 68% require at least 4 stars. That is data from another country and from a local-marketing company, so take it as a hint, not a rule for Barcelona or Madrid.
What do I do in week one? Your Google listing
Do this in one afternoon:
- Category and services. Pick the main category you really are (nail salon) and list your services with prices: gel manicure, regular polish, sculpted nails. Google says a complete profile helps it match what people search for.
- Real photos. Google asks for sharp, well-lit photos that show reality, as JPG or PNG, ideally 720 × 720 pixels. Upload the front, the inside and ten of your own jobs.
- Hours and how to book. A link to your WhatsApp or your booking page. If there is no easy way to ask for an appointment, the photos do not help.
We have a step-by-step guide: how to set up your Google Maps listing. It is written for cafés, but the listing steps are the same.
How do I get reviews without giving anything away?
Ask with a link or a QR code, right when the client leaves happy. Google recommends reminding customers they can leave reviews and prohibits offering incentives, such as free or discounted services, in exchange for a review. No "give me five stars and I will do your nail art for free".
A line that works at the till: "If you liked it, it helps me a lot if you say so on Google. Here is the code." More ideas in how to get Google reviews without it feeling awkward.
How do I show my work without image-rights problems?
Ask permission before you post. A person's image is personal data: according to the European Consumer Centre Spain, citing the data protection agency AEPD, you should have someone's consent before posting their photo or video. Hands with a recognisable ring or tattoo can identify a person too. This is not legal advice; if in doubt, ask your gestor.
A short text you can copy, which the client signs or answers on WhatsApp:
I authorise [studio name] to publish photos of my nails/hands done today on its Instagram and Google listing. I can ask for them to be removed at any time by writing to [contact]. Date and name: ______
To make the photos look good: window light, plain background, before and after from the same angle. On Instagram, a collab post can appear on both profiles if the client accepts the invitation.
How do I get them to come back?
Book the next appointment before they leave. Nail upkeep repeats: for gel or sculpted nails, a fill or change comes every two to four weeks, depending on the service (our estimate; ask your team what rhythm your services have).
Two habits:
- Book the next one at the till. "Shall I book you in three weeks, same day, same time?"
- A reminder the day before on WhatsApp, and a waiting list for gaps that open up.
If you also want to give something to the clients who return, a loyalty card is one option. It is not a must, and if your booking software already has one, use it. If you want to see what one looks like on a client's phone, look at the demo.
A 4-week plan
An example to try and measure. The times are our estimates.
| Week | What you do | Time (estimate) | How you measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Complete the Google listing: services, prices, 10 photos, booking link | 2-3 h | Number of photos and services on the listing |
| 2 | Ask for reviews with a QR at the till; send the photo consent to 5 clients | 15 min a day | New reviews this week |
| 3 | Post 3 jobs with permission (before and after); propose a collab post | 1 h | Messages and bookings that mention Instagram |
| 4 | Book the next appointment at the till for everyone; ask "how did you find us?" and write it down | Part of the service already | Repeat bookings and answers in a notebook |
At the end of the month, look at your notebook: where did the new clients come from, and how many came back? Repeat what worked and drop the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos should I upload to Google?
Google does not set a number. Start with about ten of your work, plus the front and inside, and add new ones when you make something nice. What matters is that they are real and well lit.
Can I offer a discount to someone who leaves a review?
No. Google prohibits offering incentives, such as free or discounted services, in exchange for reviews. Ask for the review, but do not buy it.
Do I need permission to post photos of nails?
If the person can be seen or recognised, ask for her consent. It is safer to ask every time, in writing. This is not legal advice.
Does a loyalty card work in a nail studio?
It can, if your clients come often. But first book the next appointment and look after your reviews: they are cheaper and pay off sooner. If your booking software already has points or loyalty, start there.