The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Alternative Platforms To Grow Your Clientele Other Than Instagram Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown walk you through three platforms that can bring new local clients without relying on Instagram. If you want practical steps to show up where people are actually asking for stylist recommendations and searching with real intent, this conversation gives you a clear plan you can implement this week.

Whether your goal is to spark client word of mouth on Reddit, appear in AI powered search results, or reach more locals on TikTok, you will learn how to position your work, what to write, and how to mobilize happy clients so your name shows up in the right threads and feeds.

Key Takeaways:

🧭 Why these platforms work now
People want human experiences and unfiltered opinions. That is why local recommendation threads convert. Learn how to get mentioned where decisions are made.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Reddit for local proof
Find existing “best hairstylist in City” threads, collect the links, and invite clients to share their experience just like a testimonial. Keep it specific to your specialty.

🤖 Be findable in AI search
Use the same language real clients use in your site copy and profiles so AI summaries and search features can match you to the right queries.

📍 TikTok that reaches locals
Guide the algorithm with city and state names plus your specialty in your bio, titles, captions, hashtags, and naturally in your spoken words.

🎥 Content ideas that travel
Consultation clips, authentic moments, and even calming B roll can pull viewers in and showcase your chair experience.

Why You Should Listen:

If your Instagram reach has stalled, this episode gives you three timely channels and the exact first steps to get discovered by people who are ready to book. You will leave with a checklist you can use today to claim Reddit threads, update your copy for AI search, and post TikToks that bring local clients through your door.

Let's connect on Instagram!

How to Retain Clients AND Get New Ones With Social Media Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown show you how to use the same platforms you rely on for discovery to also deepen retention. If your marketing has been focused on new clients only, this conversation reveals how existing clients are seeing that content too and how to turn every post and story into a relationship builder that keeps people coming back.

Whether most of your clients arrive from word of mouth, Instagram, or Facebook, you will learn simple ways to bring them onto your socials, keep them on your email list, and show up in stories with content that feels human and helpful. You will also hear why storytelling builds loyalty and how to make clients excited about new possibilities in your chair.

Key Takeaways:

📣 Marketing that serves two audiences
Your new client content is seen by current clients. Treat feed posts and stories as touchpoints that strengthen trust and spark referrals.

🧭 Get clients onto your platforms
Use a quick in chair ask and a simple QR code to move clients to Instagram or Facebook and onto your email list so you can stay visible between visits.

📱 Let stories do the retention work
Stories reach existing clients most reliably. Share helpful micro updates, quick education, and light personal moments to keep relationships warm.

🗣 Tell client stories
Show the journey from consultation to result so people see what is possible next for them. Storytelling keeps clients engaged and eager to return.

✨ Make the service feel exciting
Retention climbs when clients believe they can try something fresh with you. Share new techniques and ideas so visits feel like an experience rather than a chore.

👀 Curate who you follow to spark real engagement
Use the followed tab and a focused list so client posts appear, then comment and interact with intention. The right feed creates daily touchpoints.

Why You Should Listen:

If you want your social content to fill the chair and keep it filled, this episode gives you a simple plan to market for discovery and loyalty at the same time. You will leave knowing where to show up, what to share, and how to turn everyday posts into retention that compounds visit after visit.

Let's connect on Instagram!

The Silent Leak Killing Your New Client Requests Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown pinpoint the hidden break in your funnel that stops excited followers from becoming first time clients. If people are engaging with your posts but disappear after they hit your website, this conversation shows you how to turn your site into a true decision page and guide every new client through one clean path that you can measure and improve.

Whether your traffic comes from Instagram, Google, or referrals, you will learn how to route visitors to a short digital consultation form, collect the details you need, and remove objections before they can stall the booking. You will also hear why most clients are happy to complete a form when it leads to the right time estimate and an accurate quote.

Key Takeaways:

🧭 Make your site a decision page
Cut the info dump and design a single path from landing to request so visitors know exactly what to do next. Your website should facilitate a decision, not create more questions.

📝 Form before booking
Link from Instagram and search to your website, then to a new client request form. Keep public booking links off social and give returning guests their link privately. This protects safety, reduces admin headaches, and improves data quality.

📊 Track the right steps
Measure website to form, form to approved request, and requests to butts in chairs. This shows exactly where the leak is so you can fix the right thing.

✅ Clients will fill the form
Most clients are willing to complete a short digital consultation if it leads to the correct timing and a fair quote. Make the form clear, guided, and easy to finish.

🛑 Delete objections on the page
Address the but that stops someone who already likes your work. Name and answer the real concerns for your specialty so visitors feel confident to request.

🔒 Fewer DMs more clarity
A smart form cuts back and forth messages, speeds up responses, and triggers simple automations that upgrade the client experience.

Why You Should Listen:

If your engagement looks strong but new client requests are flat, this episode gives you a practical conversion plan. You will leave knowing how to structure your website, what to measure, and how to guide every visitor from curiosity to a clear request that lands the right clients in your chair.

Let's connect on Instagram!

Listen To This If You’re Overwhelmed With Tech Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown give a calm, practical plan for the moments when tech makes you want to quit. If you are staring at a screen, second guessing yourself, and thinking the software is broken, this conversation shows you how to reset your mindset, get resourceful, and move forward without wasting hours.

Whether you are setting up a new tool, reconnecting automations you have not touched in months, or just trying to make a simple feature work, you will learn how to pause, find the right help, and practice the fundamentals before you tackle the complex result you have in your head.

Key Takeaways:

🧘‍♀️ Step back before you spiral
Pause and come back with fresh energy. A short reset often fixes the problem faster than forcing it when you are exhausted.

🧰 Get resourceful first
Search your exact error, read the platform’s help docs, contact support, and try AI or Google to troubleshoot, then verify the steps inside the tool.

🧱 Start with foundations
Do not build the avant garde version on day one. Click around, learn what each button does, and master the basics before you stack features.

🧠 Reframe the blocker
Most issues are user error and that is normal when you are learning. The software usually works. You are building a new skill and it will take longer than you think.

🎯 One question to keep you moving
What is the smallest next step I can complete today that teaches me something new inside this tool. Then do only that.

Why You Should Listen:

If tech has been the reason you avoid projects that would actually help your business, this episode gives you a simple process to stay calm and get it done. You will leave with a reset you can use the next time you feel stuck, a checklist for finding answers faster, and permission to learn like a beginner without making it mean anything about your talent.

Let's connect on Instagram!

How To Turn Followers Into Bookings Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down the nurture phase of your marketing funnel so new followers become first time clients. If people are finding you but not booking, this conversation shows how to keep attention, build trust, and guide the next step with simple, repeatable touchpoints.

Whether you want a clearer content plan for stories and posts, a profile that earns the follow, or a more reliable channel like email to stay in front of people, you will learn where to show up and what to say so potential clients feel seen and ready to book.

Key Takeaways:

🧭 What nurture really is
After discovery your job is to hold attention with relevant value and consistent reminders until they are ready to book. Plan for multiple touchpoints because most people need to see you several times before taking action.

📱 Earn the follow then keep it
Make your profile strong enough to win the follow and use stories and regular posts to stay present. Consistency is what keeps the algorithm showing your work.

✉️ Move people to a channel you own
Invite followers to a simple email list so you can reach them reliably. Email still works when you give a clear reason to join and write messages people actually want to read.

🗣 Speak to their problem not your resume
Show what is possible for them and address the issues they care about so they feel seen and understood. Save the credentials for later.

📈 Measure what matters
Watch profile visits website clicks and consistent engagement to know if nurture is working. If people are not taking the next step refine the plan.

Why You Should Listen:

If you are tired of posting without seeing more bookings this episode gives you a straightforward nurture plan. You will leave knowing how to stay top of mind, what content to prioritize, and how to move people from interest to a first appointment with confidence.

Let's connect on Instagram!

How To Get In Front Of Your Dream Clients In 2025 Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown show stylists how to build true top of funnel visibility that turns into bookings. If you have been doing all the right things but still feel invisible, this conversation focuses on getting the right eyeballs on your work and keeping them engaged.

Whether you are rebuilding your book or simply ready to be more discoverable, you will learn how to research your ideal client, show up where they already spend time, and keep your profiles search and AI ready without living online all day.

Key Takeaways:

📣 Active and passive visibility
Put yourself directly in front of people and make yourself easy to find so more qualified clients enter your funnel.

🔎 Research first
Define your dream client, learn where they already show up, then commit to those spaces with intention.

👥 Facebook groups that actually convert
Encourage client recommendations, equip them with what to say, and consider incentives so real referrals keep coming.

📷 Instagram search readiness
Use keywords, geotags, and clear bios to be found, then be social so people see you even if they were not searching.

🧭 Be AI and Google friendly
Your posts can surface in search. Keep portfolios and sites updated so the path of least resistance leads to you.

🎯 Specialize to be discoverable
Tailor your marketing to one clear person so search and social can recognize and recommend you.

🗂 The ninety ten platform plan
Put ninety percent of your effort into one primary platform. Keep the rest lightly maintained so any profile that surfaces looks current.

Why You Should Listen:

If you want more of the right people finding you this year, this episode gives you a simple visibility plan you can execute now. You will leave knowing where to show up, how to be findable in search and AI, and how to turn awareness into real bookings.

Let's connect on Instagram!

Get Out Of Burnout Mode Fast With These 3 Actions Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown share three fast actions to break out of burnout, fear, and creative paralysis. This is not a pep talk. It is a simple plan you can use the next time you feel stuck and need momentum.

Whether you feel weighed down by the world, uninspired by your day to day, or frozen by overthinking, you will learn how to spark dopamine with a just for fun business project, make an impact that reconnects you to your why, and schedule productive self care that clears friction so you can move again.

Key Takeaways:

🎨 Do one joyful business project now
Play with a hair model or build a brand guidelines packet purely for fun. Do not judge it. The goal is to wake up creativity and make work feel lighter again.

🤝 Use your platform for good
Run a raffle for a cause or set a quarterly nomination where a client’s friend receives a free service. Small impact projects rebuild purpose and gratitude.

🧹 Choose productive self care
Clear the clutter that drags on your focus. Purge and reset your space at home or in your suite so you start the day with energy instead of noise.

🗓 Refill then redirect
Commit to one non business activity that genuinely recharges you. Put it on the calendar and use the refreshed energy for one concrete next step.

🚀 Action beats anxiety
When you feel the smallest spark, pick one of these moves and do it. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

Why You Should Listen:

If you feel stuck, this short episode gives you a reset you can apply today. You will leave with three doable actions that restore hope, lighten your workload, and get you back in motion.

Let's connect on Instagram!

5 Tips To Make Your IG Feed Cleaner And Better Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown share simple fixes that make your Instagram feed cleaner, clearer, and more bookable. If you have heard that curation does not matter anymore, this conversation shows why visuals still build trust for a visual service and how to make your grid easy to scan at a glance. You will learn quick changes that improve first impressions without slowing you down.

Whether you want a feed that looks consistent, covers that read clearly, or photos and videos that actually show your skill, you will get practical guidance you can implement on your next post. Expect clear rules for what to show first, how much work to feature, and how to hook busy scrollers in the first second.

Key Takeaways:

📸 Lead With The After
Show the result first on photos and video so new visitors see your best work right away. Avoid using a before image as the cover.

🧠 Give A Reason To Care Fast
Trim the first few seconds of reels and stories, add a clear hook, and label covers so people know what they will get before they tap.

📊 Use The seventy percent rule
Make about seventy percent of your visible grid work or work related so clients can quickly trust your skills. Fill the remaining space with personality, education, or client experience.

✂️ Frame And Format With Intention
Keep the full head of hair in the shot, mix photos, carousels, and reels, and repurpose winning ideas in different formats.

Why You Should Listen:

If your feed feels busy or inconsistent, this episode gives you a fast audit and five fixes you can apply today. You will leave with a cleaner grid, stronger first impressions, and a simple plan to turn scrollers into clients.

Let's connect on Instagram!

The Most Common Misconceptions About What Should Determine Your Prices Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown sort the myths from the metrics on what should determine your prices. If you have been told to lean on years of experience, awards, or a fancy salon vibe to justify a raise, this conversation shows you a clearer path based on demand, retention, and real numbers. You will also hear Hunter’s take on when competition matters and how to use it without copying your neighbor.

Whether you are moving to a new city, leaving a team salon, or simply wondering if now is the time to raise prices, you will learn how to evaluate your own data first and then layer in market context so your decisions fit your business and your clients.

Key Takeaways:

🧪 What does not set your price
Years behind the chair, awards, and luxe amenities feel great but do not move the numbers by themselves. Look for proof that your experience is creating measurable demand and retention before using it to justify an increase.

📊 The factors that actually count
Demand on your time, rebooking and retention, and current booking trends are the signals that you are ready. Decisions should be grounded in data, not guesses.

🧭 Competition used the right way
Market rates matter most when you are new to an area or pushing a higher ceiling. Study comparable specialists and structures without crowd sourcing random price threads.

🧮 Know your numbers first
Compare profit by service using real timing and product cost so you can choose sustainable prices or decide when hourly makes sense for complex work.

🔁 Smart transitions without drama
If you leave a team salon, match existing pricing to retain clients, then recheck demand and adjust within three to six months based on your actual results.

🧠 Ignore the noise
Trendy advice and cute quotes are not a strategy. Use nuance and evidence to choose what serves your business right now.

Why You Should Listen:

If pricing still feels fuzzy or emotional, this episode gives you a calm checklist for what truly matters and what does not. You will leave with a simple way to evaluate your readiness for a raise, how much to move, and how to factor in your market without second guessing every decision.

Let's connect on Instagram!

Big Beautiful Bill - How It Affects You & The Industry w/ Michelle Cook CPA Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia sits down with Michelle Cook CPA to clarify what the so called Big Beautiful Bill actually changes for beauty professionals. If you have heard conflicting takes on tip taxation, entity status, and year end reporting, this conversation gives you straight facts on what is in the final law and how to prepare your business for it.

Whether you are a W2 employee, a booth renter filing Schedule C, or an S corp owner, you will learn what qualifies, what does not, and what documentation you will need so your records match what the IRS expects in 2025. You will also hear which other provisions may help or hurt your bottom line this year so you can plan with your accountant before deadlines hit.

Key Takeaways:

💰 Tip rules explained
The law allows a federal deduction for the first twenty five thousand in tips if you meet the requirements and file correctly. States may choose different rules, so confirm your state treatment with a professional.

🧾 Reporting that counts
For W2 staff, tips must be shown in the tip boxes and in payroll tax filings. Contractors and booth renters should expect to rely on 1099 NEC or 1099 K reporting and keep clear backup since those federal forms are not changing layout for 2025.

🏷 Entity specifics
Schedule C filers still owe self employment tax. Employers still owe FICA. The tip deduction is a federal income tax item, not a replacement for those taxes.

📚 S corp action items
If you own an S corporation you must run tips through payroll to use the new benefit. Straight salary without reported tips will not qualify.

🧠 Beyond tips
Permanent 100 percent bonus depreciation and the permanent Qualified Business Income deduction can improve cash flow on big purchases and profits. The child tax credit increases to two thousand two hundred per child and a portion of charitable giving is deductible without itemizing. The clean vehicle credit ends after September thirty. Some health premium credits expire which could raise costs.

🏦 Better records better approvals
Accurate tip reporting can increase documented income which may help with loans for cars and homes.

Why You Should Listen:

This is a clear and neutral walkthrough of what the law says and how it touches salon owners, independents, and employees. You will leave knowing what applies to you, what to change in payroll and point of sale, and which planning moves to discuss with your CPA so your 2025 filings are clean and your benefits are maximized.

Follow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallbusinesscpa/

Let's connect on Instagram!

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