15 Ways to Market yourself as a Freelance Makeup Artist

15 Ways to Market a Makeup Artistry Business 

1. Business Bookmarks. Rather than simply creating an ordinary business card, create a business bookmark and use it to insert into relevant books in the library. On this business bookmark, include your business information and a photo of one of your best portfolio shots. Then, head out to the library and insert your business bookmarks into random pages of relevant books. For example, a bridal makeup artist would insert her bookmarks into wedding planning books, bridal makeup, wedding craft books, books about prom, modeling, photography, etc.
   
   
2. Film YouTube Videos. Millions of people head to YouTube for beauty advice, makeup reviews and makeup tutorials. Develop a following for yourself as a professional makeup artist by creating high quality makeup tutorials, reviews and giving tips to combat common issues, such as concealing under-eye circles, acne, and making small lips look plumper. When creating your videos use good lighting, speak clearly and opt for a true video camera rather than using one that may be built into your computer. In addition, if you make partner on YouTube (your videos must be quite popular), it'll be an effective way to supplement your income while still following your passion in makeup.
   
   
3. Join ModelMayhem.com. Model Mayhem is a website where creative professionals, such as photographers, models, and of course, makeup artists, can connect with one another. You can network with talented professionals in your area and work together to develop all of your portfolios simultaneously. And, photographers, models and interested clients can contact you for paid work through your profile. It's necessary to add value to the Model Mayhem community. Spend time creating a professionally written bio and uploading quality pictures. Also, take the initiative by reaching out to local talent to proactively network your way to success.
   
   
4. Create a website. Most prospective clients research makeup artists before deciding to hire them. If your portfolio isn't online, you very well may lose potential clients to the competition. Create a website to showcase your portfolio, and also add pages that display your bio, and rates. Many makeup artists choose to quote on a case by case basis, therefore you may choose to simply implement a contact form and ask prospective clients to contact you for a quote.
   
   
5. Write a blog. Writing a blog in addition to your website is one of the most effective ways to promote your business. Write blog posts about previous work you've done including photos of the process/client if possible, post tutorials and reviews. Readers generally like list-based blog posts, such as “Top 10 NYX Products” or “My 5 Favorite Lipsticks of all time. As always, write your blog posts in a professional voice as this is an avenue in which you promote your business, rather than rant about your everyday life.
   
   
6. Wear your work. Each time you leave the house, do your makeup in a professional, interesting and awe-inspiring manner. Soon enough, people at the grocery store, mall, school or wherever you seem to be, will begin to approach you to complement you on your makeup. Take this opportunity to inform your admirers that you're a makeup artist, and hand them a business card.
   
   
7. Network with other makeup artist. Networking with other makeup artists opens the door to you receiving their overflow, and vice a versa. When your makeup artist acquaintance has too many clients contacting her for work, she may refer them to you rather than turning them away altogether. This is an I-scratch-your-back-you-scratch mine type of agreement. When you have overflow, send it her way, and when she has overflow she just may send it your way. To truly maximize the potential of this technique network often with a large number of other makeup artists to hopefully receive regular overflow.
   
   
8. Car Decals. Use car decals to promote your makeup artistry business. Car decals are valuable forms of advertisement for your makeup artist business as everyone that sees your car on the road will become aware of your services. Everyone on the road is a potential customer or knows someone that may need your services. Therefore, drivers that are stopped at red lights and spot your car decal may take down your number to contact you or to pass onto someone that they know that may be in need of your services. In order to enhance the visibility you receive through your car decals, have additional car decals made and ask your spouse, parents and best friends to place one on their vehicles. By doing so, you'll have four or more cars on the road simultaneously promoting your business rather than just one.
   
   
9. Participate in social media. Social networking is one of the most effective ways to spread the word about your freelance makeup artist business. Promote your business on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and any other social networking websites you're active on. The best way to promote your business is by offering a discount, sending a link to a blog post or YouTube video or updating your fans on the current happenings of your makeup artist business.
   
   
10. Form local alliances. Teaming up with local bridal businesses (if that's the niche of makeup artistry you're in) can be highly profitable for your business. You can simply ask local bridal shops, accessories shops, bakeries and wedding planners to pass out your business' information if they have a bride that is yet to hire a makeup artist. In exchange, you can hand out their information to your clients as well to reach a mutually beneficial partnership. Or, you can offer them a commission for every bride that they refer to you and becomes a client. Both options are equally attractive to complementary businesses as they both result in additional revenue for the shop.
    
    
11. Join local business associations. Though it is unlikely that you'll land clients on-the-spot at local networking events, becoming a part of your local business associations can prove to be an effective way of getting clients as a makeup artist in the long-run. Being an active member of such associations will cause word of mouth promotion of your business on a local level, and this is one of the purest forms of advertising your business can receive. A real estate agent or lawyer may contact you down the road to do their makeup for their head shots. Or, a daughter of one of the members may be getting married or attending prom in the upcoming months. This is an especially effective tactic if you're in a small town, as you'll likely have very little competition from other makeup artists.
    
    
12. Post an ad in the newspaper. Posting ads in the newspaper is a severely underrated method of marketing your business. Brides often look through the newspaper to find advertisements for local businesses, such as wedding venues and makeup artists while planning their wedding. Therefore, it's up to you to ensure that your ad appears in the paper. Contact your local newspapers to inquire about their rates.
    
    
13. Ask your current customers for referrals. Offer your customers a 5% to 25% off coupon for every new client that they refer to your business. To sweeten the deal, you can also offer a discount to the client that is referred to you. This offers a greater incentive to spread the word about your business. If you feel as if you're losing money by offering such a discount, you can choose to totally skip this tip or alter it to your liking.
    
    
14. Advertise on blogs. Find relatively popular blogs that are tailored towards your demographic and purchase advertising. Nowadays, most independently owned blogs will offer their sponsors an introductory post which tells their readers about your business in addition to placing a button to your website or blog on their sidebar. The cost of this form of advertising is unpredictable. A new blog may charge $10 to $35 per month. While a more established blog may charge $50 to $300 per month, or even $700 in some cases. You'll likely be able to get more bang for your buck by choosing to advertise on a blog that is tailored towards your local audience or a location you're willing to travel to.
    
    
15. Host a giveaway. Contact a local blog or business and offer a prize to every reader or customer that enters your giveaway. In exchange for the prize you're giving away, collect e-mail addresses from those that enter the giveaway so you can update them on the happenings of your business through an e-mail newsletter. This is also an effective way of increasing your YouTube subscriber count in order to help your makeup channel increase in popularity and make partner.
    
    Books Related to Becoming a Makeup Artist
    
    1. Iman: The Beauty of color
        Price: N3,500     
    
    
    
    2. Style Eyes by Taylor Chang-Babaian
        Price: 2,500    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    References
    1. http://shoppingguru.hubpages.com/hub/15-Ways-to-Market-yourself-as-a-Freelance-Makeup-Artist
    2. www.lasage.com.ng