It would not be a stretch to say that the beauty industry professionals emphasize client relationships more than many other industries. A beautician relies on loyalty because gaining new clients is not that easy because of the competition. However, if you can get a steady base who visits a salon regularly, you can expect to be on your way to success.
One thing to note about client relationships is that consumers are getting more demanding, and it is not always easy to maintain a good relationship with everyone. And since every client matters, you do not want to cut ties with them just because there are communication problems or another obstacle standing in the way.
No, instead, those working in the beauty industry should focus on creating a strategy to strengthen their relationship with clients. Here are some great suggestions for how to do that.
Overcommunicate With the Clients
Overcommunication is a good approach because some clients visit beauty salons for more than just to look prettier. They also want to have a chat while getting their hair done. A positive experience also encourages tipping, which is another thing to note.
Of course, it is important to note that clients are different. If someone is an introvert, they are unlikely to look for a beautician who chats non-stop. If anything, such behavior might seem obnoxious and could damage the reputation. That is why it is necessary to know when to overcommunicate and when to stick to the necessities when conversing with a client.
Use Tools to Manage Appointments
Simplifying things for your customers is another approach that could score you some points. For example, more and more beauty salons are incorporating available tools to manage appointments. You can use an app for beauty freelancers, such as Watalook, to allow clients to book in advance.
As a beautician, you can create a website with a smart calendar and share the URL to it with your customers where they can check available appointment times and select the one that works for them. Clients are happy because they do not have to go all the way to the salon to book an appointment in person, nor do they have to call and wait for a beautician to pick up the phone.
Be Positive
Positivity is appreciated by those who visit beauty salons. A smiling beautician could be just the thing to brighten a customer’s day. Thanks to the positive experience, they will begin to associate the salon with good things and are more likely to return to it themselves or recommend it to their friend.
Sure, there are days when beauticians do not feel like smiling all the time, but it is still recommended to encourage a positive environment so that customers feel welcome.
Request Feedback
Satisfied customers will not have negative comments, nor are they likely to give any feedback. Having said that, a beauty salon should still encourage customers to share their thoughts about the service or their results.
Seeking feedback is a sign that you care about customers. They will feel important because a professional beautician is asking for their input.
Treat Clients as Individuals
Treating clients as individuals rather than means to make money is one of the most valuable tips for improving client relationships.
It is important to listen to their needs and hear them. Some employees might struggle with it, and supervisors should rectify the situation by talking to such employees and instructing them on how they need to act with customers.
Take the Extra Mile
Taking the extra mile in certain situations is another way to show that you are genuinely interested in better relationships between the beauty salon and its clients. The question is how to take that extra mile.
In the beauty industry, there are multiple examples of the phenomenon. For one, a beauty salon could try to work around the schedule and fit a client who cannot make the appointment on the original date.
Taking responsibility when it is not your fault is another great example. If a client is five minutes late and you are about to close, working overtime is something that would be greatly appreciated.
In case a client asks where they can get one of the beauty products that a salon uses because it is not available online or in brick-and-mortar stores, ordering a package for them from your supplier sounds like another way to take the extra mile.
Keep Up With the Industry Trends
The last bit of advice is to keep up with the industry trends. One day, a customer might come in and ask for a procedure that has not become too prominent yet, and they would get disappointed by a negative response.
On the other hand, if managers provide training to prepare beauticians for such cases, the response will be positive and leave customers happy, which, in turn, strengthens the relationship.