Respect There’s no doubt that stylists will feel more comfortable with some clients than others. Some clients will be easier to get along with, while other clients will be challenging to please.
Figure 3: Treating All Clients with Respect
Continue your education Continuing education is essentials for professionals in every field. Salon professionals are no exception. In continuing education, stylists have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the industry, increase their skill-base, and further their career. Sounds like a pretty great deal! There are many ways for stylists to engage in continuing education. Before starting a continuing education journey, stylists should determine the kinds of skills they want/ need to gain. Seek out courses that will help them to acquire these skills- there are many options for continuing education, so choose wisely! Another option is attending workshops that can provide short-term training. These are Promote expertise The first rule of self-promotion is professionalism . This word appears multiple times in this course because it’s an essential component for stylists. When stylists engage people with a professional attitude, people will remember them in a positive context. The opposite is also true. People remember when someone mistreated them, or behaved in a disrespectful or unprofessional manner. The second rule is exposure . This is what self-promotion is all about. However, the ways in which stylists use exposure determines how people perceive them as a professional. The big three of business exposure are printed ads, web marketing, and word of mouth. Stylists need exposure to get clients. The salon owner is responsible for running ads and maintaining a website, but stylists should be familiar with what the ads are promising and how the website promotes their skills. Figure 4: The Big Three Areas of Exposure
excellent ways to meet others in the profession, network, and learn what other people are doing. These workshops often provide excellent ways to increase knowledge of a specific kind of skill that stylists use in daily work. Stylists can even check your local bookstore or surf the web for ideas. The field of cosmetology is advancing all the time, so it’s important to stay updated. But make sure not to simply take ideas from others. Stylists should let others know they’ve visited their website and that they appreciate their knowledge and expertise. This shows a level of respect that people appreciate. Stylists can generate their own word-of-mouth referrals. They can develop a one-minute description, such as: “Hi, I’m Sara, I'm a professional hairstylist with a specialty in cutting.” They can include something about their training, and then hand out their business card— something that stylists should carry all times. Stylists should not wait for the salon owner to send clients their way. They should take the initiative and take responsibility for their career. Loyalty is another key to marketing and self-promotion. Stylists must earn peoples’ trust and loyalty over time. They can achieve this by providing the best service possible. Find the Best Resources . They are everywhere today- in magazines, the library, on the internet, and through colleagues. Stylists can ask colleagues where they had their business cards made. They can ask other salon professionals about their marketing strategies and what worked for them. Once again, good communication is the key to success. Email is a wonderful modern communication tool. It can be a boon, or it can be a bust. There are rules to follow when emailing with clients. Stylists should remember the following tips when emailing clients. Helpful tips 1. First, gain the client’s permission to include them on the list. The best way to do this is to have a printed form that both parties sign. Stylists should then make one copy for the client and one copy for themselves. The form must be clear on how their email will be used, how often clients can expect emails, an assurance of confidentiality, and who else will be on the list (i.e. just clients). 2. Prepare a spreadsheet in Excel (or another similar software program) to keep track of the list and the dates they sent out any information to them.
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Book Code: CIL0725
EliteLearning.com/Cosmetology
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