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.

I run a few small businesses.
I don't do lifestyle content about myself but agree social media takes work.
It's a very strange climate at the moment as so many people are curbing spending, understandably.

Fill out your Google my business profile if you haven't already.

I do think most people now expect a website and booking system but these don't need to be a huge expense.

lol i don't earn that every week sadly! There have been a fair few weeks that I have earned that, I just wish could be every week

I have my other jobs (I do about 10-12 hours office cleaning self employed and 8-10 hours in a carer role which is employed ) which I do to make sure I always have a basic income. I then do my brow and PMU clients around that work

It's good you get a lot via word of mouth. I've had a few come to me via recommendation, it's definitely the best way.

I don't post lifestyle content all the time, I only do it every so often to make it look like it's incidental

Ie I get a lot of clients adding me on Facebook so between business posts I'll do a few "personal" posts. But it's tactical, if I'm on a night out or weekend away I post a couple of select pics from that, but never, ever anything controversial or god forbid anything political or anything 😂 . I post things that I know will get a lot of engagement to hopefully then boost engagement with business posts I subsequently post

so if I ever want to post something more personal then I set my audience to only friends (ie real friends and family not clients )

See what I mean how it's exhausting 🥹😅

I'm going to be brutally honest here, because a friend of mine also runs a business. Not the same thing, but it also relies on her constant social media presence. She pesters the life out of everybody, looking for likes and shares and goodness knows what else. She is all over my facebook feed all the time, with endless tiresome posts.

It is really really irritating and annoying, and it actually puts me off buying anything from her.

Get someone who knows what they are doing to create a proper website for you, and make sure that it has all the key words in it that people will Google when they are looking for your services in the local area.

And stop hassling people on social media so much.

I think its madness not to fit people in, surely they will just go elsewhere. I left my old hair salon because it was a pain trying to arrange an appointment.

Also from my perspective, seeing how 'fantastic' your life is wouldn't have any effect on me, in fact it would probably put me off if I saw constant posts of living the high life i would think you were ripping off your customers.

I prefer it when someone has a separate personal and professional account eg lisa browns personal page and a separate lashes by lisa page. I think it's more professional.

If you want people to share you need to give them something in return.

Eg like and share for 10% off next treatment

Refer a friend and if they book an appointment for the next month and give your name you get 30% off.

Like and share and tag 3 friends that might be interested to enter a competition for a free treatment to be taken in the next 4 weeks

I post things that I know will get a lot of engagement to hopefully then boost engagement with business posts I subsequently post

I wouldn't do this.

Instead think about your best clients, your ideal clients. What content do they respond do? Getting 500 likes is pointless if they aren't the right people and they won't buy from you. Better to have 20 who are viable customers. Otherwise it's just vanity metrics.

I own a yoga studio and if I have hundreds of followers in Australia it's pointless. I only care about engagement from my ideal customer.

Yes you need a website. Anything beauty related or anything else tbh, I'd search websites not social media. Any tech geeks you know would help you with customising a website template that website providers will have. Design a leaflet & get a few printed at your local print shop & leaflet your area. . My supermarket also has a noticeboard that loads of small businesses use.

I take your point - that does sound super annoying 😆 is it MLM, I absolutely hate mlm and hide people instantly if they do it I've got zero tolerance

but just to be clear I DO NOT EVER ask people for likes and shares etc. that would be annoying and cringeworthy and make me look bad. And make any likes and shares i got worthless if it was simply cos I'd badgered people . I just try and put stuff out there that gets engagement but yeah I don't beg 😳

If you don’t need the basic income then you’d be better off in the long term spending 10-20 hours a week working ON your business e.g learning how to build a brand, website, networking, finding opportunities for cross promotion, give aways, joining a small business group etc.

Can you take a break from either or both of the cleaning or caring to really focus on building your business? How many clients per week would you need to replace that income? How achievable is that.

And your husband wouldn’t have been able to build his career as easily without you at home doing childcare. You contribute to the family doing that, do not down grade yourself.

And I agree with others, I wouldn’t care to see your gladly lifestyle on social media. I would want to see someone with impeccable brows herself, loads and loads of before and afters, to know that they really care about and understand brows, skin types etc. Someone I feel comfortable with trusting with my face. Also that you do natural brows with examples. Clear prices, clear booking process, clear aftercare service.

Good luck

I have my other jobs (I do about 10-12 hours office cleaning self employed and 8-10 hours in a carer role which is employed ) which I do to make sure I always have a basic income. I then do my brow and PMU clients around that work

If your DH earns well and you don't "need" the money, would it not make more sense to throw everything you have into your business, rather than restricting your availability by taking on other (relatively low paid) jobs?

I'm in a similar position in that DH brings in a good income and mine is more supplementary, but you're never going to succeed at your business if you're going to carry on working in other totally unrelated jobs for the majority of the week. Turning away £60 an hour work to earn minimum wage as a cleaner/carer just makes no sense.

is it MLM

Yes, unfortunately! The thing is, that there's such a lot of it about, people have become very jaded with seeing people's small businesses talked about on social media, whatever they are, and so people tend to give all of it a swerve.

Op, sorry I haven't read the full thread but when I've been looking for beauty services I've googled /used google maps, looked at reviews and then looked on Insta. It's geographic closeness that's the first pass and then reviews then SM. Occasionally something will come up on a local hashtag I follow but it's v rare. I know you can geo-target with insta and FB ads but I actually wonder if something more basic would be more useful?

Sorry and then a link from google maps to your website with lots and lots of B and As as others have suggested.

I agree with that - it could be why my "real" mates don't engage with mine perhaps they've hidden me 😂

Local Facebook advertising seems to work well around here. Either actual adverts or can anyone recommend an x and people mention you.
Any gyms etc that would carry advertising. 10% off for members.
Offers - people like a bargain. First 10 to book only pay x.
Do you need models? I started at my beautician as a model.
Donate to schools, brownies etc - their mums are your customers so a free raffle prize.
I wouldn’t be busy - short notice appointments could be very popular.
Could you stand out by your hours etc - open late night or Sunday etc.
Wedding packages and advertising at wedding fayres.

I book my treatments via an app called Fresha. Something like that'd be easier for clients to use (you can block out your time at the other jobs) and may look more professional than "just" SM messages?

I notice lots of older ladies with the tattoo eyebrows. Maybe you are focusing on Instagram when more traditional advertising may work best with an older demographic. Local Beautician posts nails done on her older clients on Facebook which I think shows not just for young and is probably a good market with time to have done.

Yes you're totally right ! Most of my ladies are 50 plus - it is actually rare u get younger ones

Altho you'd be surprised how many 60 and even 70 something ladies contact me via fb and even Insta

I think I will try more traditional advertising as well once I've had my little break ! I've got a friend who does good leaflets so I'll perhaps distribute some to hairdressers etc and put them up on notice boards etc

All good ideas and I never thought of gyms

I do sometimes post on local Facebook pages ie spotted and similar but sometimes I get cunty comments (ALWAYS off men) saying negative things. I've had men take the piss out of one of my clients looks calling her ugly 😔 (so I immediately took it down of course- imagine how hurt my client would of been if she'd see it) One even accused my pics of being fake (- I can state categorically that isn't the case) but yeah I worry about trolls on those sort of pages

Hasn't the eyebrow moment passed? I do worry for self employed folk in these sort of jobs, tattooists, beauticians etc, as this sort of spending is surely the first to be cut during the current climate?

Are you sure social media is the way to go? It would never occur to me to go on that to find someone. Certainly not through FB. As for posting - I'm not interested in my beauticians life, I mean I chat to her and I feel we have a good rapport, but I'm sure she doesn't think about me or me her otherwise.
How about pairing with a hair salon? Like a room in the back? That's how I found my last two. And personal recommendation. I'm about to try a new one (I've just moved) because it's at the end of my block and the locals rate her. She has a shop front. I found my hairstylist through a recommendation and groomer for my dog. Maybe go to locall kids play groups or whatever's in your area and hand out pamphlets with a 10% offer or something.
I do think a website is not a bad idea. Say some one said 'oh try struggling she's great' I'd Google you and check out what you offer.
And a small business loan? Aren't there funding especially for new start ups? Having other part time jobs takes away from time building up your own business. You kay have to have one other, but three? No wonder you are burnt out.

No defo not - eyebrows are still massive and I can't see them ever not being, because a really good set is honestly so flattering to the face. And the fact people then don't need to pencil them in etc and can swim and run and all sorts and still have brows

It's one of the reasons I love it so much , being able to transform peoples looks and therefore their confidence

But People just seem to find the money for this sort of stuff . Although a lot of my clients tend to be wealthy and so far I think the rising costs just aren't hitting them, yet at least

Ironically after posting this giant moan, I had 3 bookings yesterday out of no where 😮

This.

I'd also link into your local business community. There's often small business classes that are run free/low charge.

For example for West of England

www.businesswest.co.uk/how-can-we-help-your-business

Fantastic Op. It must be area specific as I’ve never seen nasty comments on our Facebook.
If your market is mainly 50 plus I’d focus on that eg My beautician offers mother of bride/groom packages.
If the brows are ideal for ladies who swim and exercise I’d focus marketing there.
Good luck.