How to gain Bridal Clients!

Being a Makeup Artist to the Brides can bring in some serious cash. Well, I should say, serious cash if you live in big city. If you live in a place like Boise, Idaho, charging what a big city Makeup Artist charges for wedding makeup will get you no business and therefore, you won't make the big bucks, sad to say. I should know, I have family in Boise, Idaho.

So you've got your kit, your business cards arrived in the mail, your website is up and running
..........
What now?

Well, before you run out the house and start hustling, another great tool besides business cards are comp cards. Comp cards are post cards around the sizes 5x7 (smaller or a bit larger) and contain your contact information and a couple photos. Nothing sells a bride more than before and after photos. Show them how you can transform them! You can even add your prices on the back of the card.

Here is mine. Sorry for the low quality. I took the photo with my iPad and I have yellow lighting, blah. Google comp cards and you will get the idea. If you want to see these pictures they are on my Homepage.

Now that you have your tools, there are many things you can do. Create a profile on Wedding Wire and The Knot. You can create a free profile on Wedding Wire, but it might end up on page 3 and on. If you want premiere placement which gets you on the first page, it costs over $1000. The Knot does not offer you a free profile. Either you pay the $1000 or not. I have a free listing on Wedding Wire as I cannot afford the premiere placement. But if you do have the money, I believe it is worth it. These are the top two wedding sites and nowadays, everything is searched for online. Makeup Artists who have their profiles on the first page are usually booked every weekend for weddings. Below is a photo of Lesly and I attending a Wedding Wire Networking Event where you swap your cards with other people in the wedding industry (photographers, florists, caterers, etc.) I'm the one sitting down with pink heels. =)

What else can you do if you can't have premiere placement like me! lol This is where the hard work comes in. Take your business cards and visit every drugstore and bookstore you can and slide your business card in as many wedding magazines you can get your hands on; without people staring, wondering what you are doing hehe =)

Stop by every hair salon, cake shop, flower shop you can and leave some business cards and comp cards. Make appointments with every Wedding Coordinator/Planner in your area to meet with them, show your work, and leave behind business and comp cards. You can also do this at churches, hotels and banquet halls. 

Another great tool is WORD OF MOUTH! Let everyone know you are now in business! Give your family members and friends a bunch of cards so they can hand out when appropriate. 

Another fun way of gaining exposure to gain clients is to have a contest on your Facebook page. Well, lets back track. Make a fan page on Facebook. Everyone nowadays has a Facebook page. So, announce a contest for women in your area. Have them submit a photo of themselves and put those photos in an album titled Contest. Then, the contestants must gain "likes" on their photos. The girl with the most "likes" gets a free make over from YOU! This is a great way to get women in your area to find out about you since they must "like" your page in order to vote for their friend. And now that they know about you, anytime they need a makeup artist for an event, you will pop into their minds! 

For my contest I actually gave first AND second place free makeovers because they worked their butts off to gain so many votes, which brought hundreds of people to my page. In turn, one of the winner's friend hired me for her wedding, and both first and second place hired me for their weddings as well. 

Any other tips you guys would like to share?