How to promote your mobile beauty business
With the excitement of starting a mobile beauty business comes a lot of hard work. Whether you plan to offer make-up, hair or waxing services, you’ll need to juggle client appointments, stock management and a whole range of administrative tasks.
While delivering excellent customer service should be your number one focus, it’s also important you devote a significant portion of your time to promoting your new venture.
Competition in the beauty industry is fierce so you’ll need to stand out. Here are our four top tips for winning customers, growing your clientele and creating a buzz around your exciting new business as an independent mobile beauty therapist.
1. Build a website
Setting up a beauty business website for your mobile venture isn’t just important – it’s essential. It’s your virtual shop window; if you’re operating without a physical business base, such a salon, this is the first place potential customers will go to find out more about your services.
If you’re strapped for cash, don’t worry – setting up a website doesn’t have to cost the earth. Sites like Wix and WordPress allow you to build your own website free of charge using pre-existing templates. Then, you only have to pay for web hosting and a domain name which costs a small monthly fee.
2. Get the word out on social media
These days, no one is a stranger to social media. When wondering how to promote a new mobile beauty business, this is the first place most entrepreneurs will turn.
Set up a Facebook and Instagram account for your business and get posting. The best thing about using social media is it’s free. In a highly visual industry, curating interesting images of your beauty therapy work should come naturally. Just tag your photos with relevant and local hashtags and you might start attracting new customers – all without spending a thing.
3. Use daily deals sites
If you have a small marketing budget, advertising on sites like Groupon and Wowcher can be a great way to attract new business. Offer deals for a limited time only and you can quickly win new customers who may not have otherwise heard of you. However, be careful to make sure you’re still making a profit from any deals you offer.
Groupon and Amazon are known to take a hefty chunk of sales on their sites. But, even if your margin isn’t that high, discount sites are still an invaluable tool for generating leads and turning them into repeating customers.
4. Remember, it all starts with word of mouth
In the first few months of your business, good old-fashioned word of mouth can be just as effective as paid adverting. If self-promotion doesn’t come easily to you, ask your friends and family to help. After all, research shows (external link) people are far more likely to trust a recommendation from someone they know. Give friends and family your business cards to hand out to contacts who may be interested in your services.
Offering discounts to customers who refer a friend is another great way to grow your clientele. Customers love discovering new beauty secrets. By setting up a mobile beauty business in your area, you could be their latest top-tip! Through discounts, you can create fans who want to shout about the great work you do.
Growing a mobile beauty business can be time-intensive, and can involve a lot of hard work. But, with the right promoting and marketing, the pay-off can be huge. Don’t forget, in order to protect both clients and yourself against unforeseen risks, you’ll need beauty therapist insurance. It’ll protect your business from any mishaps, and give you peace of mind, so you can focus on building a beauty business you can be proud of.
Disclaimer:
At Hiscox, we want to help your small business thrive. Our blog has many articles you may find relevant and useful as your business grows. But these articles aren’t professional advice. So, to find out more on a subject we cover here, please seek professional assistance.