How to make your mobile nail business thrive
By Metta Francis | 31 July 2018 | Business, Expert Advice, Feature, Tech Talk
Metta Francis, winner of Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year 2015 & 2017, reveals her top tips for fellow techs working on-the-move…
Setting up as a mobile nail technician is relatively straightforward; you complete the relevant training, purchase products and equipment, get insurance and register as self-employed or as a company. You can then start working on members of the public. What is not so easy is building and maintaining a sustainable business. This takes time.
Most new businesses fail within the first few years so if you’re still working as a mobile nail technician, congratulations! Most people will give up, so reward yourself and reflect on your achievements – however big or small. It’s so easy to forget how far you’ve come when you’re living and breathing nails and the business, especially when you’re having a bad day.
Here are some key ways to stay on track with your business, especially during quiet times:
Zone in on your ideal client
This is a great activity to do when you’re starting up as a mobile nail tech but also to revisit if you are feeling lost or demotivated. Take the time to put together a profile of your ideal client including their age range, income, lifestyle and interests.
Once you have identified your ideal client, research where you are most likely to find them. Look at local forums and directories to find relevant places in your area and contact organisers directly to see if there are any opportunities to advertise or promote your services. Link up with other suppliers who target the same market, as synergy and collaborations can be very powerful!
This method is a good way to remind yourself who you are trying to target and you’ll feel less guilty for having to turn away clients who don’t match, for example clients that aren’t willing to pay your prices and who don’t understand the value of the service you provide.
Word of mouth
A personal recommendation about your service can be far more effective and valuable than paid advertising. Your existing clients are literally a walking advert for you so think about introducing an incentive for them to spread the word and encourage their friends and family to book. You can increase incentives at off-peak times to give business a boost and this can include anything from discounted treatments to complimentary service add-ons and products.
Use specialist beauty websites to market yourself
The rise of online beauty booking websites means there are even more potential clients looking for mobile manicurists on the web. As well as having a good business website, it’s worth looking into beauty booking websites such as Treatwell to see if they serve your area. You can usually set up a business page for free and a commission is taken from every booking made via the site. This is a good way to generate new leads that you may not have found otherwise and can help fill any empty slots in your diary. Just don’t forget to check the Ts&Cs!
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback
If you’ve not seen a client for a while, don’t be afraid to get in touch with them, ask for feedback and if suitable, offer an incentive to return. It’s always a good idea to understand why clients no longer book and can help you identify areas that may need improvement.
Comparison is deadly
With social media at our fingertips, it’s so easy to compare yourself to other nail technicians. However, comparison is the cousin of procrastination! It doesn’t help improve your own situation and you never know what struggles and hardships anyone has gone through to achieve their success. Social media does not reveal everything about a person or their business – it doesn’t show you their lack of sleep, the clients that never came back, the jobs they lost to a competitor or their financial difficulties. Clap for your fellow nail technicians because every time they are winning, they’re helping our industry, which in turn helps you! It’s great to get inspiration and look at what others are doing but focus on your own activities and business and you’ll see more results.
Don’t forget, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!