“What are some tips to get more followers?"—It's a question we get over and over again, and I cringe every time. Not because it's redundant or a lot more work than a few tips could really cure, but because what the most common question should be is “How do I turn my social media energy into my clientele?”
Insta-fame has stroked the ego of many stylists but the reality is, those repost pages with thousands of followers aren’t making money. Unless they are getting commission on products they push, Instagram followers do not equate to income.
Before you give up and start feeling defeated, there is a way to convert on social media. All we’re pointing out is that your focus shouldn’t be on your following, it should be on your potential client follow through. When it comes to cultivating a clientele from your social presence, here are a few rules we live by…
Educate
Take it upon yourself to educate your future clientele—tell them what goes into creating these looks, the work you put into caring for their manes to keep them healthy and vibrant. Teach them the terms so they feel confident coming to you asking for what they want based on the work that you’ve created and specialize in. The more your client feels they are coming to you for your expertise and the more confident they feel about what they want, the more likely it is they will convert from a curious follower to client.
Engage
When it comes to converting your following, engagement is the most important thing you can do. Create a conversation in your content, ask questions, play games, be authentic. You’re not just putting things out into the universe, you’re creating connections.
Entertain
When it comes to hooking your clientele, don't over think your every post. Instead, share your brand personality, your humanness and your voice. If playful posts don’t fit in your feed, take advantage of things like InstaStories and the live feature to share your more playful and authentic side without it affecting your visual game plan.
Build Trust
Convincing a prospective client to commit is all based on building trust. Be delicate with your sales pitch and any product promotion, because while getting freebies and reposts on manufacturer’s product pages is fun, it's not necessarily beneficial to your followers. This is not to say you shouldn’t talk about the products and brands you love, just choose wisely and make sure those posts are focused on introducing your clientele to your community.
For more information, visit www.thebusinessofbalayage.com.