Back in the day, going digital felt like a big step. However, today, it has become the order of the day. If your beauty business has not adopted the latest technology, you will be considered backward. With some initial planning and investment, you can save time, money and resources. It’s not just the large salon chains that are using digital tools like beauty parlour software to grow their business. Even smaller business owners and freelance/independent stylists are going digital. This is because they are slowly realising that with the right digital tools, customers can be offered enhanced value.
Let’s look at a few ways in which freelance stylists are embracing the digital era to change the way they function.
Why Should Freelancer Hairstylists & Small Salon Owners Take the Digital Route?
- Helps Build a Personal Brand
Freelancers generally don’t have a brand of their own. They lack a brand identity. For this reason, a lot of clients have trust issues too. By investing in the latest technology, you can build your own personal brand. Though your name is your brand, you need to invest in digital tools that will help you offer a one-of-a-kind customer experiencer. For example, start by investing in a professional website, up your social media game, develop a digital portfolio and switch to the best salon software to take care of your operations.
- Makes Appointment Booking Easier
Freelancers and small salon owners are usually on the move. If the phone rings every few minutes, it can be quite annoying. When you switch to a salon scheduling software, all these hassles are eliminated. Clients can book on their own – 24/7. They can even prepay for their appointments. By doing so, freelancers can keep a track of their appointments for the day or week. Online booking comes with an added advantage of automated reminders. When clients book online, the software automatically sends a notification or reminder before the service. This also gives the client immense flexibility as they get to change/reschedule their booking in case they can’t make it. Online booking is a big boon for the beauty business.
- Social Media Marketing is a Breeze
For any independent stylist or small salon owner, social media is everything. This is where they can showcase their work and make their brand thrive. Salon software for small businesses is made in such a way that stylists can manage all their social media pages from one central location. Whether it’s Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook, put out the kind of content you want your audiences to see. A few content ideas include before-and-after transformations, tutorials and styling tips, clients testimonials, behind-the-scenes operations, wellness guides, and influencer partnerships. Regularly putting out this kind of content on your pages will help you gain more followers and attract the right kind of clients. An important part of going digital is also managing your social media appropriately.
- Ease of Digital Payments
Gone are the days when clients would pay cash. Today, all transactions are done online. When freelancers get beauty parlour software, they get to enjoy the ease of digital payments. It usually comes with built-in features such as mobile wallets, tipping options, loyalty programmes and more. Since the software integrates with various payment gateways, clients can choose the way they want to pay. They can even choose mixed mode payments. With digital payments, it also makes it easier for small business owners to track how much they’ve clocked in a day.
- To Build a Digital Portfolio
Freelancers are on-the-go, and they need to have a copy of their work wherever they go. Whether you’re a hairstylist or a makeup artist, it’s essential for you to maintain a digital portfolio. As an artist, it helps you build credibility, gather reviews and get high-quality leads.
- To Store Client Information
Customer relationships are an important component of the beauty world. You exist because of your clients. Thus, it is important for you to maintain a proper record of their preferences, past purchases, visit history, birthdays and special occasions. By switching to the right salon CRM, you can offer your clients a personalised experience and this also leads to better client retention.
Final Words
To manage your small salon business or freelance brand, Salon360App is the best salon software you can get your hands on. It’s an all-in-one toolkit to grow your personal brand as a hairstylist, nail technician or makeup artist. It’s easy to use and helps you streamline operations considerably. To learn more about how it can be a value-added tool to your business, discover our FREE demo!
