Working as a freelancer brings highs and lows, and learning how to set yourself up for success can make all the difference. There are many ways to make the most of your business and we’re here to help you with our essential tips for freelance stylists.
At Hennessy Hair & Beauty, we understand the hair and beauty industry and we have an exceptional range of professional products for salons and freelance stylists. Investing your time and energy in your business will set you apart from other freelancers in your area and encourage your clients to keep coming back, and we will always be happy to share our expertise to optimise your offerings.
Let’s take a look at the steps you can take to grow your client base and ensure that you stand out from the crowd, giving you the opportunity to enjoy your work and increase your earnings at the same time. Whether you are just starting out or have an established business as a freelance stylist, read on for top tips and guidance.
Working as a Freelance Stylist
Working as a freelancer in any industry brings challenges, and freelance stylists face many complex issues in their working lives. Tuning in to your clients and focusing on business growth can help you to get past the challenges and embrace the joys of working to your own schedule.
Our top tips for success as a freelance stylist include:
- Build social media presence. Social media is crucial to most businesses in our modern world, and for a stylist, it is a very important tool. Choose a couple of platforms to focus on, and select these by looking at your clients and where they tend to spend time online. Pouring your efforts into a platform that is not ideal for your client base will be a waste of your time. To build a strong social media presence, you’ll need to consistently showcase your work and demonstrate what you are offering. A good variety of photos and videos will help to attract new clients and give your existing clients inspiration, and you should encourage interaction with comments and questions wherever you can.
- Take before and after photos. Before and after photos make great content for social media, and you can create posts, carousels and reels to display your handiwork. These can also be very helpful to show clients when they have booked an appointment, especially if they are looking for new ideas or want to try something different. Get into the habit of taking before and after photos of every client and you’ll soon build up an impressive bank of content and portfolio material.
- Encourage pre-booking. Every time you have an appointment with a client, encourage them to pre-book their next appointment to ensure consistency and repeat business. It is much easier to do this in real life than via a phone or email system, so get used to asking your clients at the end of every appointment when they would next like to see you. Each process you offer will have a recommended time between treatments, so you can work with clients to ensure that they get the best and longest-lasting results from their investment.
- Use efficient systems. It goes without saying that you should have an efficient booking system that doesn’t allow you to double book or present an unprofessional impression to your clients. It is also vital to ensure that you have a clear cancellation policy and include this in communication with clients so that all parties know where they stand. Disagreements over cancellation fees or refunds can sour a client relationship quickly, so clarity is very important here to maintain positive connections.
- Sell products. As a freelancer, you will want to increase your opportunities to earn wherever possible and having a range of products available for your clients to buy directly from you can be an easy way to do this. You can take advantage of bulk buying offers from wholesalers to ensure that you make a small profit on items sold, and this is also a good way to ensure that your own stocks are secure in case of busy periods. You should always ensure that the products you are selling meet with your own high standards so that you can make reliable recommendations to your clients.
- Focus on client experience. Even if you are a highly skilled styling specialist, your clients do not come to you for your technical skills alone. Client experience is a vital part of the process, and this is what will keep loyal customers returning to you for many years. Being responsive to your clients is key, intuiting whether a client likes to chat or enjoys a bit of peace during an appointment, and offering drinks or refreshments can help to ensure a positive experience.
- Use client testimonials. Clients want to know that they are in safe hands, and ensuring that you have plenty of positive reviews and client testimonials can make a big difference when attracting new clients. You can ask your clients to leave positive reviews or to spread the word amongst their friends and family if they are happy with their experience. Word of mouth is a very important way to recruit new clients to your business, and using your reviews and testimonials wisely can build on this.
- Be organised. Your clients rely on you to take good care of them, and you can only do this successfully when you are meticulous with your organisation. You should keep clear and thorough notes on each client and their treatments, including records of appointments and the products you have used. This is essential for your own peace of mind in case of any incidents, and will also help you to present a more professional image to your clients.
- Track your finances. Your business can only thrive if you take it seriously, and it is important to make time for the less creative side of it, too. You should ensure that you are regularly tracking your finances, keeping an accurate record of your income and your expenses, both for your own peace of mind and for your annual accounting process. As a freelance stylist, you need to be aware of the regulations and procedures you are subject to, such as filing a tax return every year, and adhere to these strictly.
Prioritise Your Clients
As a freelance stylist, you’ll build positive relationships with your clients and feel honoured that they are trusting you with this important role. It is good practice to remind yourself of this privilege and do everything you can to create a positive experience for every client, every time.
Consider the experience your clients receive during an appointment with you, and think about what you could do to make this even better. If your clients visit you at home, do you offer them a drink while they are having a treatment? If you visit their homes, do you offer product sales or offer a discount for a second person so that they are incentivised to encourage a friend or family member to join them? If you are working in a salon, what make your treatments stand out from others?
When you work with clients in the hair and beauty industry, you’ll need to maintain a careful balance between friendliness and professionalism. Your approach will set the tone for all of your client interactions, so be sure to leave your clients feeling great about themselves. A good hair or beauty treatment can transform the way your clients feel and ensure that they recommend you to everyone they know!
Hennessy Hair & Beauty: Excellent Quality Products in Ireland
For more than 40 years, we have worked hard to provide the highest quality hair and beauty products to our customers across Ireland. As a second-generation family run business, we have built strong relationships with our clients, suppliers and staff over the years, and we are committed to delivering a service you can rely on. We know how important it is to make a good impression on your clients, and we’re here to help you deliver the very best services.
At Hennessy Hair & Beauty, we have won several industry awards in recognition of our work in the hair and beauty industry, and we supply excellent styling products and essential salon supplies for freelancers and businesses. Talk to our experienced team to find out more about the range of products we offer, including all of the top brand names, and we’ll help you to find the product solutions you need.