Episode 25: She Stopped Discounting and Doubled Her Bookings

Diary of The Search Queen

Episode 25: She Stopped Discounting and Doubled Her Bookings: How Ceri Scaled Coastal Blondes with Google Ads & SEO
What happens when you stop relying on discounts and Facebook ads and start showing up on Google where your dream clients are already searching?
In this episode of Diary of the Search Queen, I sit down with salon owner Ceri Connors from Coastal Blondes to unpack how she transformed her business from chasing short-term bookings to building a powerhouse brand that’s now fully booked through Google Ads and SEO.
This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck trying to grow your salon through social media alone. Ceri’s story proves what happens when you back yourself, trust the process, and finally invest in marketing that actually compounds.
We Talk About:
The turning point that made Ceri ditch discount-based Facebook ads
Why her Meta ads failed (and how Google flipped the script)
The exact Google Ads + SEO strategy that filled her books on autopilot
How she started attracting high-value clients who rebook and refer
The mindset shifts behind building a sustainable, expanding salon
Balancing roles in business and partnership without burning out
Her advice for salon owners ready to scale with strategy, not stress
About Ceri:
Ceri Connors is the founder of Coastal Blondes, a thriving salon built on strategy, soul, and systems. From humble beginnings to becoming one of Queensland’s most in-demand blonde specialists, Ceri now leads a growing team and thriving client base—proving that visibility and alignment are the ultimate growth combo.
Connect with Coastal Blondes:
Instagram: @coastalblondes_
Salon: coastalblondes.com.au
Want to take control of your visibility?
It’s time to get seen where it counts on Google.
Book your free Salon Scaling Demo today:
👉 sonjathesearchqueen.com/salon-scaling-system
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Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
LinkedIn: Sonja Pototzki-Raymond
Facebook: Sonja The Search Queen
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Timestamps
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:16 – Meet Ceri from Coastal Blondes
00:05:05 – The marketing struggles before Google
00:06:06 – Why Facebook ads failed
00:07:01 – The Google game-changer
00:08:09 – Attracting high-value clients
00:13:25 – Building a sustainable business
00:14:36 – Expanding the salon and team
00:15:05 – Balancing partnership roles
00:16:08 – Advice for salon owners on the fence
00:17:22 – Marketing as a must-have investment
00:18:24 – Why industry-specific marketing matters
00:22:02 – Raising education and quality standards
00:23:02 – How to connect with Coastal Blondes
Loved this episode?
Tag us @sonjathesearchqueen and @coastalblondes_ with your biggest takeaway!

If this episode inspired you to stop relying on social media alone, please leave a 5-star review. Your next client could be searching for you right now.
Here’s to showing up where it matters most on Google. 🧡