How To Create A Brand Experience Only YOU Can Deliver
THOUGHT PROCESS: Stop trying to be all things to all people. Instead, create a consistent brand experience that is uniquely yours.
Some prosperous salon owners got that way because they are good at being “all things to all people.” They learn every technique in the book and know how to work on every kind of hair.
That’s one approach to growing a business. And over time, say 20 years, it’s doable!
Is There A Better Way?
You bet! Get the 7 Secrets to Salon Ownership – and Get Started RIGHT!
Truth is, the best way to build your business no matter how many clients you already have is to create a uniquely personal, consistent experience for the clients who come into your salon.
What are your specific skills and unique personality traits? How you can combine the best of who you are, and how you serve others, into a brand experience that attracts, pleases, and gets shared?
The ONLY thing NO ONE ELSE can ever do is be YOU!
Developing a personal brand is fun, exciting and a great way to express who you are. You’ll also attract more clients who are a good fit – and keep them loyal to you.
What is a “brand”? It is a defined customer experience that is consistently maintained and communicated. There are two parts to defining your brand experience:
Personal Identity: Your style, FLAIR for life and sense beauty must be reflected in your brand. Your salon can and should feel like an extension of yourself.
Client Preferences: What your best clients want most from you.
ACTION STEPS: Discover Your Personal Brand
Let’s get started with a few crucial elements in your unique brand identity. Make sure you have a pen and paper handy to write down your responses.
What sets you apart from other beauty professionals? Think about your personal style and how you interact with others.
- What are your special talents that can help others look their best?
- Do you have a niche interest that would develop your personal brand?
- Who are your most likely clients? This is your target market. What characteristics do they have in common? What do they want from you? If you’re not sure, ask them!
- What kind of atmosphere would express these specific qualities?
- What big to-dos and little touches can you do EVERY TIME, consistently without fail, to create anticipation and expectation that never lets your clients down?
- Super important – HOW DO OTHERS SEE YOU?
What do you consistently hear others say about you? What do they like best about your service? Who are you in their eyes?
We’ll get more into that in a future blog post. For now, re-read any testimonials and reviews you’ve gotten, and think about the compliments you’ve received. What are people saying about you?
Take Control Of Your Business
Guerrilla marketers gave up trying to be “all things to all people” a long time ago in favor of a targeted, brand experience. So can you.
Define your personal identity and brand, and design your salon atmosphere, service, and market image around it. This is a wonderful opportunity to get your space to look exactly the way you want it.
If you make the effort to develop your own consistent, personal brand, you will become a shining gem among the stylists that haven’t thought this through. Your clients will take notice of the distinct and pleasing experience they receive whenever they visit, making your salon business more memorable, desirable and marketable.
How To Put Personal Branding Into Practice
Once you have designed your brand experience, start collecting items that will help your salon physically embody your concept. Also focus on nurturing the talents that set you apart. If you are exceptionally good at complicated hair cuts, then get even better. If you specialize in dramatic-stage makeup, then continue playing up that skill. Creating a brand identity is the best way to let clients know what you are all about.
Think about your personal brand whenever you:
Shop for new supplies
Talk to people on the street
Meet new clients
Help a client decide what they want for a new look
Take time for yourself
You can use an inspiration board to work on the brand image you want to project. Decide what you’re best at, how people perceive you, and the detailed service you want to be known for.
Make It A Habit!
Always remember, you are in the business of marketing your products and services. Next week we’ll talk about how to COMMUNICATE your carefully crafted brand experience.
It’s a LOT easier to create a consistent brand experience when you own your own salon and run it out of a single chair Studio. At MY SALON Suite, where you set your own rules and create your own professional atmosphere, it’s easy to develop deep and lasting one-on-one relationships with your clients.
Wouldn’t you LOVE to get YOUR clients into your own salon without the hassle of setting your salon space up from scratch, all by yourself? Not to mention, having to find, hire, and manage other stylists!