If you’re growing a business then you know it does not happen overnight. Trust me! It took me years to get to the place I am today and I had to figure out what worked best for me during the process. Building a business is hard because there are so many moving pieces and often times, it’s hard to figure out which is most important. Well friends, after a ton of trial and error, I’m here to tell you that building a business isn’t half as important as building a strong and loyal client base.
Now you might be rolling your eyes right now because building relationships sounds like the easy part! And although undeniably rewarding, investing in new and existing clients is a full time job. Not only do I want my current clients to feel special, but I want the opportunity to get new faces in the door too! So along the way, I developed a few tips that I truly believe have helped me grow my clientele to what it is today and in turn, has made my business a success.
1.Always lead with the intent to better your client’s life. Yes I said LIFE! That is the kind of impact we have the potential to make stylists and you should never forget it. If that is truly your intention while helping theme feel beautiful, then they will undeniably feel that and tell everyone they love about their experience with you.
2. Be a source of knowledge for your future client. When it comes to showcasing your knowledge to your future client base, consistency is everything. In order to known as a “source” clients need to be able to count on you for up to date and relevant information
3. Know your audience. There are LOTS of talented stylists in this world…probably even in your own town! But how will a woman with three kids running around at home feel after YOU do her hair? The answer should be magical. Make sure you understand exactly who your ideal client is so that you know exactly how to reach her the moment she sits in your chair. What does she wear? What does she drive? What’s important to her? What does she struggle with? What does she like to do in her spare time? If you can answer these questions, you’ve probably committed to understanding the woman sitting in front of you and that makes all the difference.
4. Your future client should feel like they already know you. My future clients know my voice, they know my quirks, they’ve seen me with and without makeup, they know my laugh and if we decided to grab lunch, we would never run out of things to talk about. How can you expect your client to put themselves out there for you if you don’t do it first? Do you need to be vulnerable? Sure. But it’s worth every second.
5. Always Stay Humble. Humility has allowed me to find success quicker than anything else. That doesn’t mean I’m not confident…It just means I recognize where I am and where I came from. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the relationships I have built with my clients. They don’t just need me to do their hair, I need them too.
Now although I truly believe these tips have been game changers for me, I want to remind you all of something when it comes to building and maintaining a clientele…You can’t please everyone. The best thing you can do is be as authentic as possible, work to add value to the lives of your clients and remain grateful for the opportunity to do so. If you can do that, the rest will come naturally.
