How I Got My First Clients as a Newbie Microblading Artist
Amrit Gill
Editor’s Note:This post is one of our guest post series, by a former Innovate & Create star student, Amrit Gill, from Toronto, Canada. If you would like to guest post for us, please email us at info@microbladinghub.com.
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Amrit is a medical aesthetician with over 15 years experience in the beauty realm. Looking to expand her services and further her skills, Amrit learned Microblading a few years ago and had to learn how to attract clients anew. Here’s her advice on how to get clients when you’re just starting out.
1. BE YOUR OWN WALKING, TALKING BILLBOARD!
I guess this is indirectly related to being steadily busy but word of mouth is the best way.
This was the hardest for me to do. Being in the beauty industry for 15 years, my clients were used to me only being their skin care specialist.
The clients I had for brow tinting/waxing/threading were easier to convince about microblading but trying to work out of my comfort zone was the hardest!
The beginning was tough, once I started pushing myself it kept getting easier. And now, I’m almost a pro at it, lol!
This is my little secret now, and it works every time: I browse through my before and after photos of microblading when I am on transit, in the mall, at any gathering. Guaranteed, someone will ask me – ‘You do microblading?’ OR ‘You offer microblading in Toronto?’
That opening line gets me to open my instagram page and show them my work and talk more about brows.
Try it, even if nothing comes out of it, you will gain a new follower on Instagram, and possibly she/he might send you someone who wanted to get microblading done.
2. YOUR MAILING LIST
This is possibly the most important thing to do for any beginner in any field.
Your family, your friends, your acquaintances – they are your first customers. Add them all to a mailing list which is your starting point for any sort of advertising. I personally cannot do without mailchimp! This will be of use to you practically every month OR anytime you feel you are slow.
When I started microblading I was sitting on a list of almost 1500 clients from all over Toronto, that I had collected over the years.
Instead of looking internally, I kept thinking I needed more NEW clients. Till one of my dearest friends, who works for an advertising agency, told me that I was sitting on a gold mine! And that is what I needed to utilize. 4 years later, I still rely on it heavily!
3. CROSS SELL
If there are other beauty skills that you specialize in, cross sell them!
Be it threading, tinting, waxing, lashes etc. PMU services aren’t something that will get your client coming in monthly so it’s important to offer other services which keep you in constant contact with your clients. And also fill in the gaps where you are slow.
REFERRALS
Start a referral program.
If you are not a believer in offering discounts, start a referral program that brings your clients back for other services.
For example, if a client refers you her friend send her an email to thank her and let her know she gets to pick between a brow wax OR a paraffin hand treatment OR a lash tint. It’s a WIN-WIN! You have a happy client and you got to show her what other services you offer.
5. YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE
If it’s too early in the game for you to invest in a website, get active on social media channels. And treat them as your website. I used Wix to create my website www.ibrowshape.com.
Start gathering material for your accounts. Whether it be before and after photos, your microblading tools, your work station etc. Get creative and collect enough photos so you can post actively everyday.
Basic information about your service is very important and your contact information being visible is also extremely beneficial. Keep your photos fresh by updating them on a regular basis. You will be creating more interest, especially for those who have already been referred.
6. OFFER SOME FREEBEES
Offering free services is really hard to get your head around, especially when it takes over 2 hours. But trust me, it is ABSOLUTELY worth it when you are starting out!
Not only does it give you an opportunity to take multiple photos that is like your vault of valuables. But you will gain more than what you are giving away.
Whether it be where you can shave off time, or take better photos from different angles, or how to keep your client calm if they are experiencing pain. You will always gain something from it that later you will feel was of utmost value. And that one freebee can potentially bring you another client.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What I am going to tell you next has been my mantra since I started working in a customer service based industry from 2004. In return, I have very rarely experienced a ‘slow’ or ‘dead’ week or month.
Keep in mind the client who came to you, CHOSE YOU! Out of the thousands of microbladers out there, she/he CHOSE YOU. That client chose to spend her hard earned dollars at your establishment. Give her every bit of respect, attention and care. Your client will sense it from your caring attitude towards her and she will know she made the right choice!
