As Personal Stylists, our business depends on attracting as many clients as possible. The more clients we get, the more income we generate, and the more our business grows and allows us to lead the flexible lives we are all looking for. If you've just started your business and you've had your first couple of clients through the door, you may be wondering what the best ways are to attract more clients and generate more business. Today I'm going to share with you the 3 key strategies that have used in my own personal styling business which have consistently resulted in getting more clients through the door.
1. Social Media - Social Media has such an influence today on people's decisions. How many times have you been scrolling through Facebook and seen something you liked and then gone on to buy it? Or how many times have you followed someone on Instagram because you like their images? Using social media is a great way to attract new clients, and as a bonus it's free. The key to making the most of social media is to use the right platform, and then make the right kind of posts. For Stylists, Instagram and Pinterest are extremely effective because of their visual nature. Be sure to make posts that show your work and show images of you actively engaging in your work. People will be more likely to want to work with you if they know that you are actively working as a Stylist. Also, be sure to use the hashtag of the geographical areas that your business covers to target potential clients.
2. Advertising - I know for many Stylists just starting out, advertising can seem out of their reach because of the cost. But you really don't have to spend a lot of money and it can yield big results. Think of where your potential clients get their information and where they spend their time. Is it google, is it Facebook, or is it LinkedIn? Once you know where your potential clients virtually hang out then try running an ad on these sites. When I first started advertising I used a budget of $10 per week on Google and even with this low amount I was able to generate new clients.
3. Work for Free - I wrote a whole blog previously about how working for free boosts your business. If you haven't read it I definitely recommend you check it out. Working for free is one of the best ways to generate word-of-mouth referrals. Consider doing charity work to get your name out there, or run a free workshop in your local community. If you know someone that could send a lot of referrals your way then offer to style them for free in return for handing out your business card. Ask any successful Stylist and all of them will tell you that at some point in their career, they have worked for free.
Finding new clients may seem like an impossible task at times, but it doesn't have to be now that you have some strategies to try :-)
Happy Styling!
Louisa
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