I'm exhausted and frustrated trying to make my new business work

[strugglingspmua]

I am a semi permanent make up and microblading artist, been qualified almost a year and have my own home studio.

I absolutely love my work and I hope this doesn't sound big headed but I know I'm good at it. Clients are happy and I'm happy with my results. But I'm exhausted with the constant never ending hustle to get clients. I have to be on social media all the time I'm not working, making posts and trying to encourage people to engage with my posts so in turn my posts get seen. Interacting with people so they in turn see and interact with my posts. It's so fake

I also feel really pressured to portray a really successful lifestyle on social media etc. based on what I've seen This seems to be the done thing if you have a beauty / aesthetics business. And I feel the need to appear really busy so I look like I'm in demand, so when I do get clients I feel I have to make out I can't fit them in for ages

But I actually work 3 part time jobs including my business. But I keep the other jobs a secret from most people (apart from family and mates) as I don't want my clients knowing I need to do other jobs. Last week a lady came to me who works for a company who I do office cleaning for on the side so I almost got caught out 🤦‍♀️

It's so frustrating as if I could get even one new client a day I'd earn really well and not need my other jobs.

You have to just keep going, and hope it builds up.

unfortunately with regards to SM, that’s the way it is to be done to get the best results, it’s very sad actually, but just the reality of the situation when building a business.

Don't be embarrassed about other jobs. I'd also not tell them you are too busy. Tell them you'll juggle things to fit them in exactly when they want

Ummmmm, what is do is the first thing to be cut from peoples budgets as the cost of living increases

cleaning will probably be more profitable over the next few years

have you got a website? a good website with decent content (articles etc) which have good SEO words and keywords might help. E.g. you would want the words microblading, kent or something if you're in kent - helpful content with good articles, maybe ask a copywriter who knows about keywords and SEO. Another thing is offer reduced or special introductory rates to hook people in.

I'm looking for microblading what part of the country are you in can you PM me

Can you stretch to paying someone to do your social media updates? A local student?

Yes I've thought about doing a special offer but it's just so hard to get my stuff "seen"

I paid for a Facebook ad but it was basically useless, I don't think I got anything from it

I don't currently have a website but I know I need to get one. Trouble is I'm absolutely terrible at stuff like that so I'd need to pay someone to do it.

The frustrating thing is that actually the main thing i need is for people to interact with my posts as then it means they get seen. Then more people see etc it's a snowball effect . My friends know this full well and I've hinted it would be nice if they could give me a quick like or comment to help me. yet not one of them ever likes or comments on my business posts it's really hurtful but I can't say anything as I'd look unreasonable

Perhaps I could pay randoms to comment on my posts 🤣 only half joking

Don't fall into the trap - you lie about being busier than you are, then someone catches you working somewhere else, cleaning.. oh no... then clearly you've hidden the cleaning side of things because it's a dirty secret...

And so it becomes gossip..

If you don't do that, if you're honest what your hours are for the beauty business and that you have other commitments (no need to spell out exactly what they are but if you do bump into someone, smile and say hello and own it), then it isn't a big deal for anyone you would want to be a trusted and long-term client.

You may get the odd fickle twit, but they're not who you actually want as a client base - that industry works on a solid repeat customer basis, who tell their friends, who then become repeat customers.. who tell they're friends and so on.

So shallow clients who give a shit that you also do other things and would bitch/gossip/go somewhere else.. they're not who you want anyway.

Just pitch it in the right way, don't go out there saying 'I am struggling with XYZ so I have to do ABC'.

Say: 'I love doing something different each day, having several different jobs keeps me interested and motivated'.

If anyone asks, tell them the cleaning work is your 'switch off' time where you get to concentrate on a satisfying job but don't have to do the chatter, it gives your brain down-time so you can recharge for your lovely clients whilst still earning!

As for SM content - work smarter not harder. Schedule posts to go onto insta, twitter and FB at the same time when you post something new on just one of them, using IFTTT, so you cut your new content posting by 2/3rds!

When you have spare time, come up with several posts and schedule them to post throughout the week.

You really only need to post new content twice a week, and be around to reply to things an hour a day, it does NOT need to drain your life!

If the endless social media isn't bringing in new clients, then it isn't working, so you need to focus your time on other avenues that could bring in revenue.

I have a friend who started up a business pre lockdown and it was super successful. It was killed off by Covid. When she restarted, she spendt hours on social media and got no new clients. I asked how she'd got clients first time round. It was by putting up posters on village noticeboards! I told her to do that again. She did and her client base grew.

Don't be scared of using old school advertising techniques.
If you do corporate cleaning, could you ask at companies if their staff would be interested in a lunchtimes or afterwork special offer from you? No one judges someone who works three jobs while setting up their business. I'd be more likely to book you for beauty sessions if I saw you also cleaning the office because I would admire your work ethic.

All that fake lifestyle stuff is transparent. It doesn't seem real. Another friend of mine has started using all those marketing techniques and it puts me off going to her. When she was just being honest about who she was and what she did, it was much more appealing.

Do you provide any other services? It sounds like these are one off services, that I guess people don’t need to return to you regularly for?

If I were you… waxing. Or other hair removal, whatever is cool these days. Just to get people knowing you and coming to you regularly. So then you can do the stuff you enjoy.

if I was looking for micro blading, I’d be searching for websites, so I could see what was on offer, prices etc. i wouldn’t be looking at social media.

you need a website.
at least some of your potential customer base won’t consider anywhere without a website.

look into squarespace or similar, you can learn how to build your own. cheaper and easier.

That's show business. It's never ending when you have to sing for your supper.

I'm self-employed in an entirely different industry and can relate to much of what you say. Except for the showcasing of my highly successful lifestyle. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong. 🤔

I really want microblading done.

OP, are you on any Facebook "Spotted" pages for your local area? Promote on there.

Do you have an Instagram? Follow as many people as you can. Follow similar pages to yours and set up an engagement group (you each comment, like and save each other's posts). Set up a Facebook page and make sure it details exactly what you do and how much you charge. Lots of before and afters.

And, this may just be me, but I recently went somewhere new to get my nails done. Her salon was a mess. She couldn't find a box of gloves because there were boxes everywhere! I won't be going back because I just didn't like the feel of the messy room. Make sure your salon is somewhere people can relax and feel comfortable.

You don't need a website. You can work off instagram and facebook.

Don't bust a gut trying to produce content for your socials unless it is content of your work. Follow your clients, get your clients to tag you in when they post, work smart.

You need to have at least 3 main funnels for getting new clients in. At the moment it sounds like you are relying on one only (social media). As an example, I’d recommend you think about other types of companies local to you who have the same ideal clients as you and consider how you can work together in a way that benefits you both, as well as the client of course. So, could you join forces with a wedding make up artist, could you host a party with a Botox specialist, that sort of thing?

There are lots of ‘business clubs’ which may be of use to you. Most have a free week or free ‘boot camp’ so you can get a feel for what they offer. That might be worth you looking into? Check out Facebook. Once I started looking I got adverts for various ones for weeks!

I know you are busy but you need to set aside a set amount of time to work ON your business not just IN your business.

I've a part time business as a photographer and found the social media side exhausting.Every couple I did wedding photos for had to the cutest, best , funniest ever.I keep my private life very private and just don't share it.
I've found Instagram much easier and I'm working towards having 5x15 minute slots per week where I put up posts, like others etc.It's social media time dedicated to my business.
The make up artist industry is saturated and photography is the same.You have to remember it's a business to make money, not a vanity business or a hobby.

Tie in with events such as wedding services showcases, there’s more to life than social media-it’s not the only way to build a business.
Give your current clients a wee incentive to recommend a friend, and that will snowball

Don’t fixate on social media.

Get a website. You can do this very easily - even if you think you’re an idiot, which I can guarantee you are not. Spend some of the time you spend on social media on learning how and what to put on a website.

Diversify your offerings. Exactly what a PP said, as soon as you mentioned what you do I thought that’s not particularly regular repeat business, is it?

If you can’t diversify, try to team up with someone offering a complimentary business, like nails or hair or whatever. Figure out a mutually beneficial special offer to get clients interested, share social media posts etc. That’s how you’ll create organic reach and get new clients.

Consider going on a business course.

When looking at these sites I need to quickly find a price list and what’s available - I would also like to book in online -
The other obvious thing missing is the address and parking.
Maybe do a few warm posts, how you love meeting new people, make some offers,
we have one here - Just letting you all know that I have spaces filling up quickly and I’d love to get you all in ready for your holidays.
Do you offer a discount on pre booking the next session? What about a loyalty card - or can some do quite sessions? For those who prefer that? Some get nervous about other people.

I wonder could you offer some free sessions for local influencer types in exchange for them to promote you on their social media?

Or run a competition to win a free microblading session?

What really helps is an email list. If people sign up to your email list, they get an entry into the competition (use Mailchimp for email list or something - easy to set up) then you have them as a captive audience. They either win the free session or they get a 10% discount when they subscribe to the list. That way you have a regular audience you can keep in contact with by email too.

The thing is you've no return custom have you?
Could you train in lvl lashes or something else beauty related....semi permanent makeup is done and dusted, so you probably are going to struggle to make a living. You need to widen your portfolio.

i would love to get my brows done but I can’t find anyone who does really natural looking brows - I do see a lot of micro blading pop up in my socials but I wouldn’t use them because I don’t like what they do.

Do you post a lot of before and after a? can you do reels and get yourself on TikTok? Unfortunately being either well known in your town or being really good at SM is necessary. Also websites are really easy to build these days - worth looking at rather than just assuming you’ll be no good at it!

Could you train in eyelashes / eyebrows that’s really popular atm
spray tans
pedicure / manicures

you want something that needs regular maintenance so that the customer needs to return to you

I’ve been having my eyelash / eyebrows done for over 4 years - fuck knows how much I have spent probably enough to pay my gas and electric bill for 2 years 😂

I easily spend 200 - 250 month on nails eyebrows eyelashes and pedicures with the two same salons

I would imagine that semi permanent make up doesn’t require much upkeep so you don’t get people returning often
you want people to have something that needs regular maintaining every 2 -3 weeks or so

I pay my salon £100 a month by direct debit and I can have up to 20 eyebrow / eyelash treatments a month

so that’s normally infill one week and full set the next
and tinting / shaping
the most I go is once a week if I’m at home

do you use or are you on Fresha
i use that to book any extra appointments that I need
as a customer I love it no idea what it’s like for a business .

do you follow the people you give treatments to .
so on their consultation card get their SM details
follow them and their friends
people will see your work this way

can you do weekends / Sundays early mornings late nights times that other salons aren’t available

tie in with weddings / hen parties

In the salon that I go to they are always doing hen / wedding parties bookings and they bring in therapist from other places

and good luck it’s hard work but you will get their eventually
it’s summer people want to look nice for their holidays

Both of your skills are "one and done" type things... No one needs microblading every week. Have you considered adding other treatments with more of a return factor (lashes for example, need a top up every 2ish weeks)?

Getting someone to build a website seems like a good idea (even better if it can take online bookings). Also an outlay it is worth it overall.

Also faking bring really busy by saying you can't fit them in for ages doesn't seem ideal. If I messaged someone for a treatment and they said that I'd just go any look somewhere else instead.