Now that you’ve started your journey into the world of beauty, it’s important to get your name out there for future employers or clients to see! This is why a strong social media presence is vital. Social media is a great tool to network your business and build connections with the community around you. It is the easiest way to get exposure for your business and grow your client base. We know that creating a strong social presence can seem daunting, so we created a list of 6 tips to start building your social media!
1. Know Your Audience
Your first step is to figure out who your audience is, and then learn as much as you can about them. It’s not enough to just reach as many people as possible – you need to tailor your content to whoever it’s going to affect the most. Is your client base young? Old? Mostly women? Mostly men? Ask yourself, “Who is your market? What are their interests/challenges?” and then go from there!
Younger audiences are probably more interested in trends and new things to try, and if this demographic is college/high school age, cheaper product recommendations can be helpful. Older audiences may already know what they like and just want beauty professionals and products they can trust no matter the cost.
2. Choose Your Platforms
Our second tip is to choose which platforms to use. Social media is a prevalent part of society now. With that, it’s important to know what social media platforms will be the most beneficial to you. Some potential platforms to utilize are:
- Instagram: This is probably the most beneficial platform for beauty professionals as you can post images of your work which can go directly to your audience’s feeds. This platform is also ideal for client interaction.
- Facebook: Facebook can be used like Instagram to share work and interact with your followers. This platform also allows customers to leave reviews which is great for a business.
- TikTok: TikTok is a fast-rising platform that many businesses have yet to take advantage of. Don’t miss out! This is a great way to share tips, behind the scenes processes, or participate in fun trends.
Other platforms include Pinterest, YouTube and Twitter. These can be just as beneficial when used correctly, but starting out with too many platforms can be overwhelming. Choose 2-3 to start and then build from there!
Your beauty social media accounts should be different from your personal accounts. On Instagram and Facebook you can create a business specific account where you can view statistics and data.
3. Post Your Work
Next, is posting your work. The main aspect of social media is the posting. Frequent posting is important to stay relevant and engaging, but too much posting and followers can get annoyed and lose interest. As you start your accounts, we recommend posting frequently, but as your audience grows you can post less. Utilize the range of options available to you through videos, photos, and stories!
Before & after photos are perfect for building your portfolio and showcasing your skills. This allows potential clients or employers to see what you can do! Clever captions and popular hashtags are great ways to keep your audience engaged. Research possible hashtags to see what’s currently trending, but also use hashtags specific to your work and brand. That being said, post when and what feels natural to you! People appreciate authenticity and you don’t want to get burned out by doing too much.
4. Share Tips & Tricks
A range of content can keep your followers engaged, and showcasing tips and tricks is another way for you to serve your clients. It’s not always an option for clients to visit their beauty professional as much as they would like. This is why it’s important to create ways for them to take care of themselves in between visits. You can help educate your followers with at home tips, product recommendations, and demonstrations.
5. Add Highlights
Specifically for Instagram, Highlights are a great way to showcase products, services, and other information in an easy-to-find format. Possible highlights could include:
- Salon Information (Address, Hours, Scheduling, etc.)
- Clients
- Services & Pricing
- Favorite Products
- Tips & Tricks
Having highlights with cohesive covers creates a strong communication between you and your followers. Future clients can easily see what you’ve done, and get a read on your style to see if they want to book you. Highlights are a great feature to utilize.
6. Interact with Your Audience
Simply posting to your account isn’t cutting it. Interacting with your followers and clients is one of the best ways to build your brand. People want to find connections on social media, and building those connections with your clients is a great way to create trust, friendship, and a strong clientele. People want to know and trust their beauty professional!
On a technical side, social media posts with more active and thoughtful interactions get more reach. So, not only will you create trust with your current clients, but you can also attract more clients when you engage with your audience.
Beauty as a Business
If you’re interested in learning how to turn your beauty knowledge into a strong business, Beauty as a Business is a great resource. Beauty as a Business is an interactive online learning curriculum designed to help you build your professional portfolio and market yourself on Instagram! If you’re ready to take the next step in your beauty social media presence, this is a great way to do so!
Get Started at Elite Academy!
Does working in the beauty industry and showcasing your artistry interest you? Then beauty school may be the perfect path for you! At Elite Academy of Cosmetology, we offer courses in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, and more!
Contact us for more information on admissions, *financial aid, or our school. We’d love to help get you started on your journey!
*Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
