It's been a while since I did a post for my aspiring make-up artist readers - when I came across this Be Your Brand tip in my inbox, I immediately thought it would be useful for anyone working towards their entrepreneurial dreams!
The tip comes courtesy of Victoria Colligan, Founder of Ladies Who Launch - an interactive site where aspiring female entrepreneurs can find tips and inspiration on how to launch their own business. Read the full scoop by clicking on the picture below:
Key points to think about from this tip for all us aspiring freelancers:
- You are a walking business card. You represent a brand.
Think about it - when you go for a job interview, you might practice a few mock questions, but you will always polish up your look if you want to make a good first impression. Same rule goes for when meeting with your potential make-up clients, present yourself well, as that first impression becomes associated with you, your skill level and your brand. I'm not saying to do avant-garde runway make-up to show off your make-up talent - consider your audience and what the job is for (i.e. corporate gig or bridal) - and dress (and do your make-up!) accordingly.
I know it's not always practical to have the time to be the glamorous one, especially for early wake-up calls and for when you're juggling all the things you have to do in a day. But it only takes a few items (i.e. concealer, mascara, coloured gloss, blush - you get the idea!) to take you from 'just-woke-up' to 'I-made-the effort'. As Colligan states, "it’s worth it to spend a little extra time to look clean, crisp and put-together". You are your brand! - It lends credibility to what we are doing and conveys passion around our venture
Dressing the part helps to convey the message that you are a professional and that you take what you do seriously. Talk the walk, but walk the talk, etc. - Customers are only human and they will subconsciously judge your inside by what they see on the outside.
For an industry based on appearance like make-up, you can't deny that people may judge from the outside in, albeit subconscious. Your overall presentation (and yes, how you do your make-up) will be key to getting your foot in the door and eventually knocking those doors down!
