It’s a big decision, but deciding you’re ready to be your own boss can be one of the most exciting moments in a health and wellness professional’s career. We’re 100% confident that our mini salon suites here at Salons de Beauté are the ideal location to begin your new journey… but, of course, building a salon suite business isn’t just renting a space, decorating it, and telling your current clients where to find you. You have to market yourself—be proactive—do all the “stuff” that your former workplace did for you, basically, and likely not with the same budget or resources. But, never fear—we have some great ideas for maintaining contact with your clients and gathering new ones, so read on!
One of the best pieces of advice we can give our new salon suites owners is: be professional. You own your own business now, and while you don’t have to put on a suit or nylons every day (unless you want to, of course!) it does help to take a professional attitude when you’re in charge. You should look the part, whatever “the part” is, based on your vision—but swagger and style is only part of the deal. You also have to be on time, keep your interactions with your clients professional in nature, treat everyone with respect (even when they’re in the wrong), and make sure to create excellent client experiences. Trust us… you can leverage that sort of professionalism to expand your business and use word of mouth—one of the most powerful marketing tools, and one that money can’t buy—to your advantage.
Social media is another thing you should be relying on, when you’re coming up with low-cost salon marketing ideas. Make sure you at least have a Pinterest or Instagram account with fabulous pictures of your work and your salon environment, and a Facebook page (for your business, not a personal Facebook) with all your contact information. Don’t hesitate to promote it, too—you should encourage people to follow in order to get coupons or learn about specials. Keep it updated, because regular and current content lets clients know you’re in business. And also: be patient! Self-promotion takes time. You may not see results immediately, but you will see them over time.
Speaking of deals and coupons, you could also consider a referral program. Everyone’s doing it these days, from online styling services like Stitch Fix to local businesses like your new mini salon suite in Lawton, Oklahoma. Offering your current clients discounts and rewards if they bring you new business is a great way to grow your clientele while building loyalty with your existing customers. You can also offer “thank you” rewards for those who leave positive reviews on Yelp, Foursquare, Google Local, and other review sites!
You should also keep up with our Salons de Beauté blog for more articles like this on how to manage your new mini salon suite business. We want Salons de Beauté to help artists like you achieve your dreams—and self-promotion is absolutely part of the process!