Beauty Marketing Simplified podcast (April Meese)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Beauty Marketing Simplified podcast
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 2020 | Episode 51 Rose Prieto, CPCP about Growing a Beauty Business and All Things Beauty! | 00:41:16 | |
How do you become great at what you’re good at? Are you just new and starting out in your permanent beauty business? Have you been in the industry long enough but just now going all-in in what you’re passionate about? We’ve seen beauty professionals who have achieved so much and have proven their worth in the industry. For sure, it is not pure luck that brought them there. They didn’t get there overnight; there must be a beginning to everything. We chat about how one gets started, hard work, passion, overcoming fear - crushing it, just doing it, and continuous learning and education, which all provide inspiration for us to emulate. Rose Prieto began her career as an eyelash and makeup artist nearly 30 years ago during her years as a Theater Arts major in college. Her fondness for character development inspired her interest in stage make-up, which led to her passion for manipulating the contours of the face, using shadow and light. Rose is a licensed cosmetic tattooist, aesthetician, and electrologist living in Miami, Florida where she owns and operates a private aesthetic practice, "Beauty and Brow Lounge.” Her passion within the PMU arena ignited when she began mentoring young artists. Her love of educating and empowering others propelled her to write her first PMU Educational Guide, 'How Fitzpatrick and Melanin Influence the Cosmetic Tattoo ", ‘ which she has turned into an online course of the same name. As a published beauty writer and content creator(since 2013), Rose has dedicated her career to educating others through her knowledge of skincare and beauty. She is currently developing the second book in her PMU useful guide series, "In the Skin.” She continues to host her own weekly podcast, " The Beauty Lounge,” where she empowers listeners to become the best aesthetic version of themselves.
In this episode, Rose shared how she got started in the PMU industry, how she went all-in just to conquer all the fears that would bring her closer to achieving what she wanted in her life. She couldn’t stress enough how important passion, hard work, continuous education, and learning are to grow your business. If you are just starting out, she strongly recommends giving out your services for free if only to put more hours into practice to be good at a particular skill you are passionate about. There is no substitute for getting hands-on practice to become the best at what you do. She shares tips on building lasting relationships with clients as this will carry your business down the road of success. Mastering every skill you can think of doesn’t help; she recommends niching on something you’re good at, work on it, and be the best in it. And if there’s one enemy that’s preventing you to step up completely, that is - your fear, Rose teaches us how to conquer it every time. | |||
| 10 Jun 2020 | Episode 36 How To Get More Time Back In Your Business! | 00:06:13 | |
Most likely, when you start your business you're doing everything all by yourself. As your business grows, there is a strong need to delegate tasks so you can focus more on scaling your business. This is when outsourcing becomes necessary. You may say you’re the only one who knows everything in your business and that you can’t afford to hire somebody else to do it for you, but the reality is you can actually hire someone who is competent to handle your tasks. Delegating tasks will save you time and money. I invite you to make a list of everything you do in your business and ask yourself these questions: Is this making me money? Should this be delegated? Is this a good use of my time? Think about what kind of business you want. Do you want the freedom and easy to design your lifestyle? Learn to delegate today so you won't get stuck on that never-ending hamster wheel! | |||
| 03 Apr 2022 | Episode 108 Optimize Blogs/Vlogs for Brand Awareness with Jamie Stone | 00:25:25 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Do you have insights to share about your services and industry that could increase brand awareness but haven't let others know about it? Do you want brilliant ideas for promoting your blog to grow your business? My guest, Jamie Stone, is a Former beauty publicist/social media expert, turned blogger, and now a podcaster. After years of working on the PR and marketing side of the beauty industry, she took her insider knowledge and started HonestlyJamie.com, where she uses her former background to decipher between which products really work and what's just marketing magic. In addition to being Founder/Editor of HonestlyJamie.com, Jamie contributes to TODAY.com, HelloGiggles.com, and ghostwrites for several celebrities. For today's episode, Jamie shares how she got started in blogging. In addition, she is dishing out lessons learned for staying consistent with creating and promoting blog content, finding a unique voice to stand out from competitors, and doubling down on the importance of branding to build a solid online presence for your beauty business.
02:54 - Her journey in the beauty industry and how her background in PR & marketing helped her get into blogging
Key Takeaways: "It really helps being kind of an early adopter to that blogging world, obviously making contacts and connections and just kind of establishing credibility." - Jamie Stone "I think investing in SEO is definitely a good tip. I think that is the kind of thing where if you don't have a million followers on Instagram, that helps you get known and seen just from organic search." - Jamie Stone "Actually, a good tip, too, is that many people feel like, oh, if I'm not constantly updating this, I should just delete it altogether. It's like, well, if the content is good, you should just leave it there. It's not gonna do any harm." - Jamie Stone "Exclusive content is always a good idea to get people to subscribe to say, if you subscribe to my email newsletter, I'll give you five of my favorites, whatever it is. Things like that really help promote the blog post with email." - Jamie Stone "I've noticed a lot of bloggers are not posting their content on Twitter anymore. And I think it's a huge myth. If you have a Twitter account, you should be posting there. It takes two seconds. It's not hurting anybody." - Jamie Stone Resource mentioned:
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 22 Aug 2023 | Episode 149: How to create consistent demand | 00:34:49 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Ever found yourself trapped in the maze of beauty marketing, only to wonder, "How the heck do I get consistent clients knocking on my door?" No more fretting! Episode 149 is coming to your rescue. We're diving deep into the art of creating a consistent demand - because let's face it, in our world, consistency is everything! In today's episode, April Meese is sharing her insider secrets. We're talking about how to put your value into words that even the most penny-pinching client can't resist, the secret sauce behind those jaw-dropping testimonials, and more. Whether you're a permanent makeup artist, lash artist, skincare specialist, or beauty aficionado, Episode 149 is your passport to crafting a captivating brand and fostering demand that shines. Tune in, as we embark on a journey where beauty meets business brilliance!
Topics Covered:
1:22 - How to be relevant to your prospective client
3:09 - The most important aspect of business
3:30 - Why your work doesn’t equal your worth
5:34 - What to do constantly and consistently in marketing
4:42 - What does your prospective client perceive about you?
9:15 - Overcoming price objections
9:34 - The number one thing to increase demand for your services 12:11 - Addressing a deeper fear or objection with your marketing
14:31 - The essential parts of fantastic social proof
16:02 - Understanding the difference between a website and a funnel
17:45 - The must-have words for every testimonial
19:02 - A “gem” tip for every beauty professional
21:54 - How to get more testimonials
24:32 - #3 way to create consistent demand for your services
25:13 - Misconception about marketing
27:35 - The key way to ensure you do more video content
28:05 - Increase your content creation with AI
Key Takeaways:
"Being relevant means to be able to articulate your value and to articulate your value in not that you are just a nice to have beauty service. They're not coming to you for lashes or brows or whatever the service is, they're coming to you, as I always say, for more time-freedom, they're coming to you for really a lot more confidence." - April Meese
"Your worth is not tied to your work, right? Your work does not equal your worth, but your worth, and how you value yourself will be reflected in your business and your life and all of the things. Like it's So cliche but so true like how you let people treat you, what you charge for your prices, or what you believe that you can get...that is all reflected in your business." - April Meese
"People need reminders and new people are coming into your atmosphere. New people are finding out about your business. New people might be finding you on social media or new people might be looking for a solution. And so because of that, we wanna make sure that we are continually expressing right, constantly and consistently expressing how we solve the problem and meeting the client where they are at."- April Meese
"You need a variety of social proof, not just before and after. You need social proof of other people talking about how you solve their problems. That's the best social proof." - April Meese
"People value other people's opinions and they value when people express those opinions." - April Meese
"One of the ways to get more social proof is to get it on the spot. Don't procrastinate. As they say, the delay is the death of the sale, but the delay can also be the death of your testimonial. So get it right then, but also give them a framework, help them do it." - April Meese
| |||
| 09 Dec 2022 | Episode 123: A very personal message (sensitive topic trigger warning) | 00:11:47 | |
Various past circumstances shape our present beliefs. Self-doubt can occur when we feel like we don't measure up. It is essential for business owners to figure out why we have these deeper beliefs so we can overcome them. Past trauma can trigger these emotions and cause us to lose faith in ourselves and struggle in our business. But there is no better way to step out of your comfort zone than to take the time for self-reflection and change them.
This episode is much more personal than most of our past episodes, as I share my struggles and how I emerged from them over the years. [Trigger warning: mentions of abuse and eating disorders]
Topics covered: 00:40 - Reason behind the topic for this episode 01:40 - Addressing the "perfection myth" caused by social media 02:06 - How personal issues can affect our business 02:37 - Stepping out of your comfort zones 03:08 - Why inner healing is critical 04:00 - Suffering is universal 04:45 - April's traumatic experience (Trigger Warning) 06:06 - How April recovered and overcame the trauma 08:01 - Stages of acceptance 08:48 - Takeaways
What you will learn: - How each of us has our moments of self-doubt and our self-worthiness is questioned - Nothing (and no one) is perfect. - Understand the connection between your past emotional experiences and your current actions in your business - Addressing own trauma is challenging but doable one step at a time
Key Takeaways: "I think everything that happens in our lives leads to how we show up in our business. One famous quote says, "How you're showing up in your business is a direct reflection of you." And I always ask my students to ask themselves, "Who am I being in my business right now that has led me to have the business that I have?"
"When we ask those hard questions, it can be uncomfortable, and we have to, as business owners, get outside of our comfort zones. And I will tell you that sharing what I'm going to share in this episode is extremely challenging for me. It's definitely outside of my comfort zone. But I thought it is important because, again nothing is perfect, but there are lessons in it."
"I also believe that when you do a vulnerable share, you should share from a scar, not from an open wound. Meaning, you should be healed and past it. If you're still going through it, it might be hard to talk about it." | |||
| 23 Dec 2022 | Episode 124: My 3 Things of focus for 2023 | 00:27:58 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
2022 is almost over. Where did the year go? Some businesses had massive highs, others had significant lows, and some fell in the middle. With the growing competition, it can take time to handle the pressure of unlimited strategies. Are you ready for the next level in your business this 2023? Also, there is always time to equip yourself and seek support through mentorship. Finally, remember that success starts from within, so feed your mind and soul with the right things to focus on the goals! This episode might help you get mentally ready for the new year.
Topics Covered: 02:46 - Lessons from The Hunger Game movie 06:05 - A key to Master 07:37 - The true meaning of Enthusiasm 09:54 - Another element to master 15:48 - Something we should all master 19:40 - Systems and strategies to create 21:40 - Focusing on the long-term goal 22:30 - Invest in yourself
Key Takeaways: "Fear does not work as long as there is hope." - From the movie Hunger Games President Snow
| |||
| 25 Sep 2019 | Episode 6 Sell or Be Sold by Grant Cardone | 00:19:12 | |
Sales are an absolute component in every business, and selling is a very critical skill to its success. The book that I’m currently reading entitled, Sell or Be Sold by Grant Cardone, details the techniques and principles that are vital to master the art of selling. The author also highlights that sales are affecting not only business but every area of life. In this episode, I will share the insightful topics in this book and broke them down into a two-part series. Know why you need to understand sales, learn how to deal with the negative ideas about selling, and discover why it is necessary to believe and convey the value of your services. Also, find out how commitment levels affect the results you want for your business. | |||
| 15 Nov 2021 | Episode 94 How to Maximize the Gift-Giving Holiday Season | 00:26:39 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
As you know, the holidays are around the corner, which means we are entering the most significant consumer spending season. Do you want to earn extra profits this 4th Quarter and holiday after holiday? Are you already prepared with your holiday promotion action plan? Or are you still stuck thinking of what to do and how to go about it? In today's episode, April shares a system that you can rinse and repeat in all the holiday specials you will have year after year without discounting your services or products. At this time of the year, when people's wallets are wide open and they're predisposed to splurge a bit more, you don't want to miss it. Therefore, it is critical that your beauty business is ready to seize the opportunity and that you have a sales system you can implement time after time. Topics Covered: 01:51 - How creating a holiday sales system will work for you repeatedly Key Takeaways: "You need to have your landing page, at least the homepage optimized for mobile, meaning that the speed and loading time is quick. And your pictures are optimized and things like that because that's how people check out our business. They're on their phones. They're checking out what's happening." - April Meese "I've had students that have actually applied what I teach them and made an extra $5k to $10,000 in just that weekend, just from extra sales, because they got people to get off the fence. They had a little bit of urgency. And they had a little scarcity. And they had a deadline, and it moved people to take action. And that's what you want." - April Meese "Are you appealing to them to buy something for themselves? Or are you marketing it as a give a gift? Actually, I like a little bit of a combination of both, where you say, hey, buy a gift certificate, and I give you $25 gift certificates. Instead of giving a discount, you're giving a value add, and then you can use that $25 gift certificate for a friend. And you see how that's a win-win." - April Meese "A cold audience usually needs more social proof. They need to see more testimonials. And usually video testimonials are going to be super powerful here." - April Meese "Your warm audience, they already know you. They've seen some of your content. So this is going to be more before and after pictures. This is going to be probably like a catchy GIF, like an eye-catching animation." - April Meese Resource:
| |||
| 23 May 2020 | Episode 34 3 Must-Haves for Your Marketing Message | 00:23:02 | |
Your business’ sustainability matters and marketing has a lot to do with sustainability. In order to attract the right clients, we must do more than low pricing and discounts. Long-term success is our goal and for this to be viable, we have to work on improving our marketing message. Good marketing is dialed into the hearts and minds of your prospects. They come to you with a problem and they become convinced that your solution is what they have to take action on. This is where persuasion comes in. Strong persuasion is about conveying the value of your products or services without hard selling. People don’t like it when they are being sold to. They don’t buy products, they buy results and that is your solution to their problem. You also need to develop rapport-building strategies to create influence in order for them to take action. And speaking of influence you need to take these three into consideration. First, you must decide what type of audience you want to attract because you must be drawing in the right clients for sustainability's sake. Don’t just think of lowering prices, that will only serve you short-term. Secondly, you need to connect with them to understand their concerns, their reasons for buying, and for not buying. Third, must uncover their pain. Unless their pain is clear and they understand what it’s costing them, they won't take action on your solution. Your marketing message is seen in your rapport with prospects and that shouldn’t start during consultations with them, that message must be conveyed everywhere - on your website, blog, and social media. This will help you pull in clients that are right for you. | |||
| 30 May 2023 | Episode 140: Scalp Micropigmentation Industry Evolution with Steven Greitzer | 00:35:49 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Steven Greitzer began his career in Scalp Micropigmentation in 2012. He partnered with one of the world's largest brands and opened their first two locations in Miami and Palm Beach, Florida. He has since become one of the world's leading experts in Scalp Micro-Pigmentation, and he also is sought out for his color theory.
His knowledge of machines and needles is so extensive. He's been a speaker at other conventions and also an emcee overseas. Steven was exposed to different skin types and hairline styles which enabled him to be a very versatile artist. He is not only an Award Winning Scalp Micro-Pigmentation Artist, but also a trainer.
In this interview, Steven discusses the current state of the Scalp Micro-Pigmentation Industry and the issues of improper training. He talks about his concerns about poor work being showcased on social media, as well as, a disconnect between veteran artists and newcomers in the industry. Steven emphasizes the responsibility that comes with being a trainer and the importance of taking this business seriously. He dives into understanding your limitations as an artist and the challenges of scaling multiple aspects of the business to create additional revenue streams. Finally, he touches on the impact that Scalp Micropigmentation can have on people's lives, and how it is important to approach the industry with the right ethics and intentions.
Topics Covered:
01:23 - Steven Greitzer's introduction 03:01 - How he started the evolution of machines and needles 06:20 - Common mistakes in the industry 09:55 - The disconnection between veterans and newcomers in the SMP industry 13:54 - How he evolved as a person to manage different business projects 18:05 - His major lesson learned from the past experiences 19:20 - Challenges affecting the marketplace and the SMP industry 22:51 - Steven's advice to somebody that's just starting 28:09 - How he scaled his business 32:19 - His upcoming events 34:24 - What brings him joy
Key takeaways:
"There's been this disconnect between veterans who've been doing this a long time, and then new people who are stepping in thinking like, "Oh, well, we're doing it the new way, and this way it looks better than what you guys are doing." And when you've thought and we're all like, "Well, we tried all that. We've done it, and it doesn't heal the right way. It does learn that there'll be a big wake-up call in your fourth, fifth year, and even before that." And it comes down to really just poor training. You know, there's a lot of bad training out there." - Steven Greitzer
"Since we live in a social media world, the loudest, biggest, brightest voices get heard. And that's what shows in the marketplace. And people just assume like, "Okay, well this person's got a big following and a bunch of comments and people going, looks great, looks great, looks great, looks great." These people know nothing. And of course, it looks great on Instagram. So there's this really strange disconnect that's happening along with evolution." - Steven Greitzer
"Learning how to teach is like cooking. It's easy to make a plate for your wife or your husband whenever, and know that they'll like it. Or for a group of three or four people, you know. But when you start cooking for 30, 40, 50, or a hundred people, You gotta pull the salt. You can't go so spicy. So you gotta curate something digestible, and palatable to the masses. And understand how some people learn by seeing all the different learning types. You gotta learn that. So training is not easy and it's great for financial change. We can get a good amount and it doesn't take too long. But what other people don't realize is, as you start growing, the more students you have, so the questions that come in and the following. You're responsible for these people's future or a good trainer should be. So is something that really should happen. Naturally and organically." - Steven Greitzer
"You have to take this business very, very seriously. You can't have one foot in, one foot out. And a lot of people use this as a side gig, and that's okay. But you have to be in it for the right reasons. You can't do this to chase money. Because it's not always amazing, and when you're chasing the money, you don't have the ethics to start to sway a little bit." - Steven Greitzer
"Practice, never get a big head and think that you're the best. Cuz even if you are, people are coming up ready to take that spot for you. You can't get complacent. Keep pushing your art, keep pushing your heart, and learn how to market." - Steven Greitzer
"Try to find a mentor. If you can find a mentor and really like, put your pride aside. If you really wanna learn, find somebody who's done what you've done, put your pride in your eye and go and learn. I took a complete side step for my career, put everything down, and was like, you know what? If I really want, if I really, really want this to go in this direction, I need to, like I pulled the plug, stopped, humbled myself, went, and just kept my mouth shut for the better part of six or seven months and just absorb and that took me in a whole other direction." - Steven Greitzer | |||
| 15 Apr 2022 | Episode 110 Beauty Boss Series Interview on Lessons in Life and Business with Paula McDonald | 00:26:53 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you ready to drive out your fears and open up yourself to greater possibilities of scaling your business? Paula McDonald is an award-winning permanent makeup artist and a master trainer for plasma. She is also the owner of Dermica Beauty. In this episode, Paula tells how she got started in the PMU industry by acquiring an apprenticeship after being a client. This unique experience and her art background helped her start and grow her own beauty business. As her company continues to evolve, she is proud of what she has today. You'll hear her talk about how not every day is sunshine and rainbows, but how to deal with the challenges and the importance of letting your creative juices flow. When you find the fun in the art of your skill, you will constantly get better results for your clients. Paula also talks about knowing when to get help by hiring team members so that you can stay focused and shine in your skills for tremendous business success.
02:09 - Paula's start and journey in the PMU industry Key Takeaways: "I try very hard to be very real because much of the stuff online is so misleading; it's all very tailored, edited photos, the best of 100 clients. And people learn more from just seeing our regular clients, normal people. And to remember that we all have those clients, and they're our bread and butter. Let's embrace them, and show them on social media." - Paula McDonald "The building blocks to make you a great artist are having those really bad times; you'll learn so much from that. If you jump in and everything is perfect, you gain ego and complacency. And that's not ideal for anyone." - Paula McDonald "Never give in to fear; don't let that be the reason not to do something." - Paula McDonald "Don't be afraid of change. I think change is ever-evolving. And we have to evolve with it." - Paula McDonald "I never stopped drawing and never stopped doodling to see if I could get better results. Just keep on playing. Just keep trying new stuff. It's fun." - Paula McDonald "Clients engage if you give them something to talk about; if you tell them why they need something, they talk to you, which helps massively." - Paula McDonald "Always practice. Never think that you know everything. Your skills will become obsolete." - Paula McDonald
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 06 Apr 2022 | Episode 109 : Text messaging in your beauty business to reach more clients | 00:35:58 | |
What you will learn from this episode: ● Discover the growing popularity of text messaging marketing to get more clients. ● Understand why mobile marketing is a great additional tool for growing your beauty business. ● Learn how mobile marketing has higher open rates than email and more visibility than social media posts so that you can have better communication with your clients. ● Hear about setting up incentive promotions to get more prospective clients in your database and send out special messages for birthdays and holidays so that the client is more connected with your beauty business. ● Find out how the whole messaging process can be timed and set up in advance so that you have a marketing funnel that is always working for your business.
Have you noticed that people rarely leave their homes without a mobile cell phone, and we all are constantly using and looking at our phones? Our guest, Mary Barnett, also known as "Mobile Mary" discusses the power of SMS mobile marketing and shares the rules of mobile text messaging to help your beauty business reach more clients. She is the founder and CEO of Another Brilliant Idea, Inc., a certified small and women-owned boutique marketing firm.
4:00- Different ways of how businesses use text messaging.
“Bottom line is, you want to make money. Because if you have more money, you have more freedom to do what you want with your family, with your time.” – Mary Barnett
Connect with Mary:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.barnett1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobilemary/
| |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | Episode 115: The Lies of Video Marketing | 00:15:11 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
The last two years have felt like a carnival circus roller coaster, where the scariness is more from the shady mechanics that you know would never pass any actual safety inspection than the ride itself. Despite the reduced organic reach and rising ad costs, video marketing is still going strong. In fact, the Instagram feed is pretty much 80% video now. And all other platforms such as Linked In, Pinterest, TikTok, Youtube, and Facebook use video. But there are some misconceptions and some lies about video marketing. If you are like most people, you've thought or told yourself at least one of these lies regarding video marketing in your beauty business. In this episode, we will talk about the absolute truths that will set you free when it comes to using video in your beauty business. Then, let's boost your exposure online to get more clients!
Topics Covered: 01:58 – Reasons you may be holding back from doing video 02:29 – Lies with video marketing 03:17 – April's gaming story with her daughters 05:07 – Creating confidence 08:07 – Trendy videos vs. original content 11:52 – Benefits of video marketing 12:57 – Wins with Video Made Simple Workshop
Key Takeaways: "Video is about being seen, and that does feel vulnerable. But it's being seen so that your audience can find you. The right people can find you, and connect with you. Showing up on video is a service for your client, so don't think that you are flexing or being showy." – April Meese
"Confidence doesn't come in a snap. Confidence is a muscle you build. When you have the tools, and when you have done all the work, you feel more confident. And that confidence is contagious. Other people are drawn to it." – April Meese
"The statistics show that videos that do the best, that are converting into real paying clients, are videos that are not trendy. They are actually videos that are talking about what the client's concerns are." – April Meese | |||
| 14 Aug 2021 | Episode 86 - How to Start a Movement and Leave a Legacy | 00:26:04 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
It's easy to go along with the flow and ultimately give up when faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Taking a stand on an issue or standing up against "a giant" is never easy. There will be moments of doubt and maybe fear. Even with the best intentions, others may dampen your spirits and try to dissuade you from pushing through. But when you fight for something beyond yourself and honestly believe you can create a significant difference in the lives of others, then you must find a way to champion the cause. Even amidst the threat of imprisonment, Vicky Martin remains steadfast in her desire for change. She has started a bit of a revolution against social media in a campaign that would change the lives of cancer survivors and fellow beauty artists. In this episode, she shares all of the behind-the-scenes of how it got started, as well as the organization of the community, and right down to the planning the media coverage. "I had to shut off, to be honest, because I think you have to be careful when you have something that's a little bit outside of the box because the people that you talk to about it will try to talk you out of it. And then you have not fulfilled your calling." - Vicky Martin Topics Covered: 02:19 - The backstory of championing a cause Key Takeaways:
"We have such a beautiful group of strong people that we're all in it together. Honestly, we're all moving along. And every little detail has been thought of. We've created a press release. We've created what you write on the email so that you can send it to your local radio, to everything else. Just make the world know that we have a voice and we will be heard." - Vicky Martin "It's just so nice when you just stand up for yourself and in a very classy sophisticated way." - Vicky Martin Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 31 Oct 2021 | Episode 92 Favorite PMU Tools Reveal | 00:30:56 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Do you ever wonder what other beauty professionals use as their go-to favorite PMU tools to get the best results? Do you want to know the tricks and tips they have for saving time and money to be more efficient in their beauty business? Are you looking for those secret hacks to make your services better? Our beauty professionals April Meese, Karen Betts, Vicky Martin, Mary Ritcherson, Dawna Mainard, Charlotte Duke, and Shauna Magrath recommend their favorite PMU tools to help you deliver excellent results. Topics Covered: 01:39 - The time-saving tool that April calls genius
"I love Karen Betts' eyebrow guides. When she first came out with these measurement guides, I was like, 'Genius; this is amazing! I had bought these other little sticks on strips that were like triple the price and nowhere near as good because they didn't form around the eyes." - April Meese "I really do love these tiny little tweezers. And I love that you can give them to your client after you use them. It's just like a little gift." - April Meese "I know some people like a heavy handpiece, I've had heavier machines, and I really liked the Bellar because there's very little vibration. And I like that and I like that it also is a very light handpiece." - April Meese "Just love what I call brow definers which helps draw brows really natural fine detail strokes of brow hair." - Karen Betts "I learned many, many years ago never to pluck your client's eyebrows before getting the 'okay' from the client. I'll always block them out first with a tool, a cream pencil." - Karen Betts "I just use blue tack to keep my pigment pot in a secure place." - Vicky Martin "I use double-sided tape. I can put them on my tray and then put all of my inkpots, and then they stick so they don't move around." - Dawna Maynard "What I normally do is, I put a lump of Vaseline in the middle of the chest, and I mix in a little bit of anesthetic in with it as well so that I can just keep because I use the anesthetic to take the redness away from the areola and so that I can see the color." - Vicky Martin "I have to say that Mary Ritcherson brow pencils are the best pencils that I've used because it's actually a reminder that I can't live without them." - Shauna Magrath "I also really love working with my headlamp. That's something that I can't work without. And string; I love using string when I'm working to check my measurement." - Charlotte Duke
| |||
| 04 Sep 2020 | Episode 49 What It Takes To Build Your Business with Vicki Hansen | 00:55:25 | |
Are you a beauty professional who is just starting your business and trying to make it big someday? Are you on the lookout for ideas to improve your skillset and bring in more clients? Or are you someone who has been in the beauty industry for some time now and wants a fresh take on business ideas to scale up? Wherever you are in your business life it doesn't matter, because our guest, Vicki Hansen, has so much wisdom and brilliant ideas to share with you to help you run your business successfully. Vicki Hansen brings 28 years of experience to the permanent makeup industry and has worked with some of the top plastic surgeons in Texas. As a medical aesthetician, she has been teaching aesthetics procedures and permanent makeup for well over a decade. Vicki customizes procedures for her clients. She does permanent makeup, eyebrows, eyeliner, correction, 3d areola, skin needling, scar reduction, camouflage, and so much more. She's also a fantastic teacher. Her business is called Vicki's Making Faces and The Studio for Advanced Permanent Makeup Education is located in Arlington, Texas. She is a certified permanent cosmetic professional for the SPCP Society of permanent cosmetic professionals. In this episode, with her decades-long experience in the beauty industry, Vicki shares gems of thoughts and brilliant ideas that will steer your beauty business to its course. From skill-building, marketing, client-getting means, even handling demanding clients, tools and machines used, techniques to employ, all the way to scaling up your business, look no further, Vicki has it all accounted for. | |||
| 09 Mar 2021 | Episode 67 Inspiring 6-Figure Beauty Boss Series with Layla Hinchen | 00:28:11 | |
Summary: Are you a beauty professional that is a perfectionist? Do you find yourself always comparing your photos with someone who's been ahead of you in the industry? Do you feel like your work is never good enough? Don't be hard on yourself. Just continue to learn and train more, but don't give up. You are not alone! Listen to Layla's journey to success. Layla Hinchen started her career in the beauty industry in 2003 and has run a successful and well-established hair and beauty business since 2004. In 2006 Layla became an appointed permanent makeup trainer, teaching beauty to other salons and therapists across London, Kent, and Essex. Layla now offers a range of courses, providing mentoring in permanent makeup. Layla is a multi-award-winning artist and educator with over 16 years industry experience and 12 years teaching. Company director of a successful clinic & training academy, Layla is also the creator of the first online PMU platform & support group - The PMU Circle. Combining educational content with a community feel & continued support, The PMU Circle is aimed at artists of all levels. With a passion to raise industry standards and share knowledge - The PMU Circle is the perfect platform for bringing artists together from around the world. In this episode, Layla shares how she started in the industry, her struggles, and how she overcame them. Learn what keeps her striving to be her best, so there is no chance to be complacent. Plus, hear her advice on what she wished she would have known when starting her business and that she now applies to her business every day. She's been in the industry for almost two decades and what kept her going throughout the tough years is her passion for what she does. Keeping that passion for what you do, patience, and self-grace is what she recommends because the reward of the pride you feel when you finish the service and the client delight is all worth it. Always have that confidence in the work you are doing to keep moving forward. Layla gives excellent advice on getting better at your craft and not judging yourself. There's no reason to compare yourself to other artists you perceive are ahead of you because everyone's journey is different. It can be challenging when you are seeing other beauty professionals posting their best work on social media. You don't want to miss the story she shares and a fantastic tip on how to handle a challenging client situation. Knowing what to do when things aren't going as planned with the beauty service is a lesson that everyone should remember. Often we beat ourselves up for wanting to make things perfect. However, there is always room for improvement, so be kind to yourself. There is so much to be excited about the world opening up again and all of the online support, but as she says, nothing beats the in-salon training.
"And even seventeen years in, I'm still faced with challenges when it comes to clients, such as have that confidence to keep pushing forward and just know that not every treatment is going to be a perfect one and accept that." - Layla Hinchen
Topics Covered: 02:19 - What got her fascinated with the PMU industry 03:22 - The struggles she went through in her early years in the industry 04:47 - Why you shouldn't judge yourself against someone else's shiny, glossy Instagram photos 06:06 - What keeps her going 07:03 - When did she feel confident about what she was doing? 07:42 - Her favorite procedure 07:59 - Favorite machine needle and pigment 08:59 - Favorite pigment color 09:55 - What she loves to teach about and give tips on 10:25 - What she would have done when she was starting out 13:14 - Her ways of getting clients 19:27 - What she does when doing her work and there's a power cut 20:30 - What's the huge shift in training right now, and what's one thing that can not be replaced 21:52 - What is The PMU Circle Pro all about 24:04 - Encouraging words from Layla
Key Takeaways: “Don't kind of judge your work against everyone’s shiny, glossy Instagram photos because it's important to remember that we only post our best work. If an artist has difficult skin and the treatments are not photo-worthy, we don't post it. But it doesn't mean that we're not doing them.” - Layla Hinchen “I've gotten to the point now where I'm quite happy to turn clients away if we can't come to an agreement. But I think when you're quite new into the industry, it's having that confidence to kind of put your foot down a little bit with them.” - Layla Hinchen “If I go on a training course now and I learn a new technique, I do that model post instantly, and it just works so well. And if I learn something new, I like to make sure I do quite a lot of it. And straightaway otherwise I forget things.” - Layla Hinchen “Now, if something's not going right, you need to change something. So, just stop your machine and just take a second to think. Otherwise, we just keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.” - Layla Hinchen “One of my biggest tips to beginners is, just turn your machine off, stop and just think.” - Layla Hinchen “I have definitely seen a huge shift in training with the online world now. I don't see the online training going, even when we are kind of back to normal. And I'm actually quite excited by it. I think it does open up a lot of new opportunities. It'll never replace in-person salon training because obviously, you need to do clients and you need hands-on.” - Layla Hinchen “I would just say never stop learning. Never stop improving. Always looking at your work, looking at how you can do better. Just don't ever give up. Permanent makeup is a tough one.” - Layla Hinchen “Don't be too hard on yourself.” - Layla Hinchen
Connect with Layla Hinchen:
| |||
| 03 Aug 2022 | Episode 116: The 3 pieces of beauty business advice I wish I knew soon | 00:09:38 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Wisdom comes from various life experiences and embracing different perspectives. Building a beauty business is a process, and learning from the knowledge of others is recommended along your journey. Since starting a new business can be very challenging, I've had to re-learn some life and business lessons while managing my expectations. In this episode, I share 3 pieces of beauty business advice I wish I had known sooner.
I'd love to hear any lessons or words of wisdom you have to share if you want to reach out and message me on Instagram or Facebook.
Topics Covered: 01:05 - Is it bad or beneficial? 01:52 – Different perspectives in business 02:05 – Relationships lead to revenue 02:48 – Evolving your marketing 04:01 – When to start a new goal or project 04:45 – Hiring a team member or virtual assistant 05:10 - Avoid this trap 06:26 – Working on your mindset 06:49 – Beauty bosses with "Impostor Syndrome"
Key Takeaways: "Sometimes the things we need the most are all around us. We just need to shift our perspective." – April Meese
"Your marketing must evolve for you to stay relevant. As you know, marketing will always be as important as skills. So being seen and knowing how to convey your value, which is how to articulate how you are different from your competition, and why your client should choose you, is essential." – April Meese
"When you do more videos and show up more, you create this omnipresent. So more people will get to know, trust, and like you through association, and seeing your work feels like they've known you." April Meese
"You do need to slow down a little bit to train them in order to speed up in the long run. But I definitely think that you can get a lot more done and go faster when you have an assistant or a teammate." – April Meese
"When you have the consistent cash flow and up-level your marketing, it's time to scale up your operation so that you can do more in less time and get more freedom." – April Meese
"Our mindset can be really powerful. We should speak to ourselves as we would speak to someone we really cared about." – April Meese | |||
| 17 May 2021 | Episode 76 Beauty Boss Series: Sharing Your Story with Elizabeth Molina | 00:36:34 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Elizabeth Molina is a Beauty Mentor / Influencer, Founder of theMolinaGlow.com. She is a model on a mission and a Speaker. Elizabeth's personal story of survival has led her to become a catalyst to help people redefine the WHY surrounding beauty practices. Elizabeth will help you find and uncover the reasons behind your beauty choices. Elizabeth's exercises will help you discover your true self and reignite your zest for life. In this episode, Elizabeth shares the ordeal she went through as a very young woman, and it is one inspiring story. She tells how she found the strength to move ahead past these impossible situations in life. Despite it all, she picked up pieces of her life and became independent -- started her own beauty business that is doing well today. Her Instagram account has a good following, and she shares tips of what she does to resonate with her audience. She gives her advice for someone just starting in the beauty industry to establish yourself as the go-to person and build your business. With the pandemic changing the business landscape, she also transitioned her business online. Listen to her as she opens up about what made her finally share her experience and how it impacted others and herself in the process. Telling your story is priceless, indeed!
- Elizabeth Molina Topics Covered: 02:05 - Taking a backstory of her life as shared on Ted talk
Key Takeaways: "I would say, showing up for your community being vulnerable with them, engaging with them and asking them questions. I feel like that is how my following on Instagram got there." - Elizabeth Molina "If I could provide that safety because they did see me as this almost perfect person. And I could show them my flaws and they will say I also have them and thank you for unburdening me because I now feel safe." - Elizabeth Molina "With the TEDx, telling my story, I was so nervous. I was scared even afterward. But I'm super happy that I did it, the feedback from the people who need to hear the message, the men, the father saying, I thank you so much I need to send this to my daughter." - Elizabeth Molina Resources:
Connect with Elizabeth Molina: Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 07 Sep 2020 | Episode 50 Believe in Your Dreams | 00:08:46 | |
Times are still hard with most businesses remaining closed. Many are losing jobs and the US economy sends confusing signals to its real state. We have been hit hard with financial difficulty, indeed! Despite it being difficult to come to terms with reality these days, we need to keep the faith and believe in our dream of running a successful beauty business. Beauty professionals serve people in a special way and we cannot lose sight of that. We could be doing other things, but we chose a path that makes a difference in others’ lives, and that alone fuels us to not give up on it. When things get tough and life becomes dreary, this one book helps keep our sanity and continues to feed us with positivity. It talks about persistence, desire, and staying open to opportunity. It lays down a foundation for owning your dream, believing in it, and making it happen. Truly, the power of visualization creates transformational ripples of success one after another. Believe it, act on it, and be ready for it. | |||
| 25 Nov 2019 | Episode 11 Four Stages to Growth in Your Beauty Business | 00:27:11 | |
Every business has its growth stages. And it is equally significant to have clarity and be able to recognize these stages as it is to know how to act systematically on the problems that you will encounter. It will be a pivotal period if a business will rise to the challenges of a growing company and surpass these stages. This episode will discuss the Four Stages to growing your beauty business, how they are characterized by each other, and how to avoid getting stuck in each stage. But remember that no matter which stage you are in, what will count is you do something every day to improve your business even if it’s only 1%. Well, that would sum up to 365% in a year and already outstanding progress indeed. Tune in to find out more of these stages and discover more ways to keep building your business. | |||
| 22 May 2023 | Episode 139: Kim Zen's Journey of Entrepreneurship and Empowerment | 00:32:19 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Kim Zen is a seasoned beauty professional with over 20 years of experience as a brow artist, PMU artist, trainer, and industry leader. She has traveled the world as an international artist and speaker, judging competitions and sharing her expertise with aspiring artists.
She is also a successful entrepreneur, having founded her own PMU Academy and product line. Her passion for the industry and dedication to helping others succeed make her a valuable asset to the beauty industry as a whole.
Kim's journey began when she started working at a plastic surgeon's office as a receptionist right after high school. She was fascinated by the world of aesthetics and was fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of the doctors, who taught her about wound care, skin, and aesthetics. This experience inspired her to become an esthetician, which opened up many doors for her in the field.
For the last eight years, Kim has focused solely on permanent makeup, and it has been an amazing journey.
In this episode, Kim will share her experience with being a pioneer beauty entrepreneur and the constant struggle to overcome obstacles to grow her business as she scales with new beauty ventures. Despite the difficulties, she continues to persevere and grow as a person, citing her past experiences as the foundation for her present-day confidence in tackling new challenges.
Topics Covered:
00:57 - Kim Zen's introduction 02:36 - The 60 seconds backstory of getting started 04:31 - Becoming a beauty entrepreneur 06:06 - Challenges that molded her into the person she is today 08:17 - Her marketing strategy that drove clients into her beauty business 10:19 - The sign that she is ready to take on new challenges 13:05 - Industry mistakes 16:57 - What does it take to be successful? 19:13 - Kim's advice on how to focus and avoid distraction 21:05 - The struggles in finding good team members 24:20 - Things she wishes she had done at the beginning of her career 26:32 - Top characteristics to be fierce 28:09 - Her upcoming events and socials
Key takeaways:
"I know what I was lacking when I got trained and I wanted to give back. And I've always wanted to help others too, just to have a better experience and because I knew what I was missing. So, when I had the opportunity, I dove in. Because I knew I could make it better." - Kim Zen
"My passion is to really help others, because I know I've been there. I wanted to quit because I didn't have the guidance. And so, I think that's why I'm so passionate about what I do. And I wanted to create a space for other artists like me, that were struggling or that wanted guidance." - Kim Zen
"It really takes a lot of dedication and discipline. Because you're going to have those challenges that want to throw you off the path. So you really have to have a strong why, like, what is your ultimate? Why? Your reason. I think motivation only can't take you so far because that disappears along the way, but you really have to have that real discipline and commitment." - Kim Zen
I think you really have to prioritize, and really write down and have a schedule, set to delegate certain hours for this, because I mean, with life and everything, it's so hard to just get distracted. I have to definitely prioritize and write it out and have it all laid out for the week, or I will completely forget and get distracted." - Kim Zen
"You do need to take your time, which people don't want to do. I always say people hire when they're already past, like you're already in the weeds, so to speak. You're already overwhelmed and you're just like, you want somebody just to take it, like take all of this and make it better and you don't have time to teach them. You don't have time to really set them up for success, which makes it challenging because you didn't slowly hire. You tried to just get somebody in there to be a mind reader and do it all." - April Meese | |||
| 09 Oct 2021 | Episode 90 Critical Lessons from the Lioness | 00:21:00 | |
Why you have to check out today's podcast:
Do you feel like you're defeated or sometimes losing confidence? Are you comparing your work and your business with others? Do you wish your business was bigger, you were moving faster, or that your skills were better? Are self-doubt and fear holding you back from your full potential in your beauty business? This episode highlights the qualities of a lion & lioness that you should adopt to improve your beauty business. The lion may not be the smartest, fastest, or biggest, but he is still considered the king of them all. You may be feeling the same way in your beauty business; however, you can look to the lion for inspiration on the qualities to possess so that you can rise to the top. So let's work on our weaknesses, be bold, and take action. Most importantly, look deep into your 'why,' and that will see you through.
01:01 - Being at the top
Key Takeaways: "If you look at it, the lion is not the biggest; that's the elephant. It's not the fastest; that's a cheetah, it's not the smartest. But it is the king of the jungle. And I think this comes down to mentality, like the way the lion thinks." - April Meese "Social media is great, but not as your only way of getting clients. You have to have a backup strategy. If social media completely went down, my business would be fine. And I want the same for you, too. That's why we teach referral partners and those power partners because like the lion, there's power in numbers." - April Meese "Lions work in groups. They work in packs because there is power in numbers. When you can team up with other like-minded businesses, all for similar goals that benefit everyone, that is where you're really going to leverage your time." - April Meese "The lion likes to hunt in a storm because their prey actually won't hear them coming on. And that's so interesting. Instead of thinking of it as your prey, think of it as your competition. What are they doing where they might be distracted and wasting time, and there's a time that you can really make the most of it. And really give it your all, instead of halfway going through it." - April Meese "If you're feeling like, I'm not who I am; I'm not the biggest, I'm not the smartest, again, tap into that courage to be brave to reach out to your tribe. I know that you're also going to need some tools. It's going to take your faith and your mentality. It's going to take your action and your courage, and it's going to take some tools, some systems to help get you there and go after it." - April Meese
Resource:
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 24 Nov 2022 | Episode 122 : What to do when you feel defeated or stuck | 00:16:12 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
I've said a thousand times, and I will say a thousand times more, that "Owning and operating a beauty business is a self-growth process. The business works on you as much as you work on the business.
There can be many distractions along the way, whether it is personal or career-related, which slows our progress. This lack of focus and decline in productivity then affects our mindset. So it is essential to understand the warning signs of stagnation will help you know when it's time to take action to keep moving forward.
As we all know, the right mindset can take you where you want to be, so you must keep a positive attitude to continue to follow your vision.
I'm sharing how I used this downtime to pause, reflect, and rewire my thoughts, and I'm relaying the strategies to help you get back to achieving your goals.
Topics Covered:
03:34 - How to handle personal growth and the challenges that come with it 04:17 - The reasons for feeling stuck or stagnant and their implications 04:49 - Questions and steps that can help you to move forward and get clarity 09:05 - Three main compositions of success 10:08 - Being like the captain of a ship 12:00 - Importance of working energy and faith
Key Takeaways:
"Feeling defeated will cause you to doubt yourself. Your belief in yourself will decrease." - April Meese
"Every time you reach a goal, there's always that next goal to look forward to. Success is pursuing a worthy ideal and a worthy goal." - April Meese
"There are three parts if we are to break success down: have the knowledge, have a plan, and have to put in the work. - April Meese
"We become what we focus on." - April Meese | |||
| 21 Mar 2022 | Episode 106 The Importance of Mentors and Relationships with Victoria Racca | 00:33:22 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you nervous about investing in your business or yourself? Do you find it challenging to connect with people for possible partnerships and collaborations? Victoria Racca, a.k.a Victoria Glam, owns the Microblading Institute in Louisiana, with affiliates in Texas and Florida. She also owns brow sister PMU products, and they manufacture pink gel, the new anesthetic. In today's episode, Victoria shares her inspirational journey of investing in mentorship that allowed her company to grow from what it used to earn to way more than she could've ever dreamed of before. Additionally, she discusses the importance of having strategic relationships for expanding your business. Finally, she gives excellent advice from the lessons learned by owning multiple successful companies and earning well over multi-5 figures monthly. Topics Covered: 03:20 - How Victoria started her PMU business Key Takeaways: "Finding people to hire? I just listen. It's about relationships. It's not about where you meet them. It's about what kind of person they are. Strike gold; it doesn't matter where it came from." - Victoria Racca "The bigger your dreams get, the bigger your problems get, too. But because of that, you have to open your mind." - Victoria Racca "I think a lot of times, it's very chicken or the egg, why beauty bosses don't get mentors. Like, I don't have any money to invest in that. Well, of course, you're not leveling up your business. That's kind of the point." - Victoria Racca "Would you want to be friends with you?... In general, a great rule of thumb is, if you treat people the way that you want to be treated, most of them will treat you the exact same way." - Victoria Racca "For a mentor, find someone who aligns with not just your personality, not just your business, but actually truly speaks to your language itself. Communication is so important.” - Victoria Racca Connect with Victoria Racca: Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 30 Mar 2020 | Episode 26 The Five "R's" You Should Do For Your Beauty Business Now! | 00:32:04 | |
There is a lot of uncertainty ahead but this reason shouldn’t dampen our spirits to see what else we can do for ourselves, for others and for our business. There is still so much positivity around. This is an opportune time for us to be connecting and supporting each other and find out where we can help. I acknowledge that this would cause some kind of a dip for businesses. I know, too, we don’t have all the answers to all of what is happening, but the human spirit in all of us remains steadfast in coping up with this challenging time. We’re soldiering on and I know we can do this, with each others’ help we can come out of this stronger and better. This episode provides us an avenue to find resources, an action plan as well as encouragement to move ahead and continue to nurture our business as well as the clients and customers who are part of it. There is hopelessness in the air but I know this is not the time to bury our heads in the sand. Marketing at this time is so well needed, our message must be communicated carefully so as to be sensitive to others’ plight. I am sharing with you here everything I know on how to soften the blow this Coronavirus is trying to grip us with. Will fight on. Love and light to you all. | |||
| 21 Mar 2023 | Episode 133: "Community Support to Grow" an interview with Beauty Boss Mo Hamil | 00:35:15 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with beauty boss Mo Hamil about the crucial role of community support and collaboration when growing a successful beauty business.
In the beauty industry, it's not just about selling products or services, but about fostering relationships with your customers, other businesses, and influencers. Collaborating with other entrepreneurs and industry professionals can bring a wealth of benefits, including increased exposure, access to new customers, and valuable insights and expertise. Additionally, community support can be a significant source of inspiration, motivation, and encouragement, especially during challenging times.
Mo's story is one of resilience, determination, inspiration, and the power of the human spirit. She overcame tremendous obstacles to rebuild her beauty business after a natural disaster and launched a completely new beauty business venture, LashBash. Mo's journey is a reminder that even when things seem impossible, there is always a way forward.
We'll hear about Mrs. Hamil's experiences, and the lessons she's learned along the way. So, let's jump in, as we delve into the importance of community and collaboration in the beauty business world.
Topics Covered:
01:10 - Introduction of Beauty Boss Mo Hamil 04:24 - Mo's reluctance to begin new projects 6:10 - The significance of support 7:10 - What LashBash is all about 8:20 - Collabs to expand 12:50 - Upcoming events 15:26 - Challenges on the beauty business journey 18:00 - Being seen to boost your integrity 20:40 - What to do when you feel stuck 24:43 - Social media changes and advice 28:15 - The right connections to grow your business
Key takeaways:
"It takes you to the next level when you have those like-minded people with you. We get stuck in one room, we had nobody to communicate with, nobody to troubleshoot business with, to troubleshoot retention, nothing like that. So, you kinda feel stuck for a while because you don't have this relationship with those outside influences to be like "Dude it's okay.", "You got this!", "Try this." - Mo Hamil
"So many beauty businesses, like they have the skills, they have the customer service, they know it, but they're just afraid of showing up and you can't be the best kept secret. People need to see you to trust you to connect with you. It has to be your point of view, your perspective, your education." - April Meese
"Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Reach out. With that simple message of "Hey girl! I've seen you and you're killing it! or "Hey! Welcome to the journey!". We should be all lifting each other up. They're just people. They're just like you and I. So the only way to get further is to put yourself out there." - Mo Hamil | |||
| 19 Sep 2023 | Episode 151 - Evolution in the PMU Industry: An Interview with Beauty Boss Shauna Magrath | 00:35:38 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
In our latest episode, I sit down with Shauna Magrath, founder of Beauty Ink, Permanent Makeup Artist, Scalp Micropigmentation Artist, speaker, and educator. Shauna is a pioneer in the makeup and beauty industry, known for her scalp micropigmentation. She's even an Emmy-honored makeup and special effects artist. Talk about an industry OG! During our chat, Shauna takes us on a journey through her 30-year career, sharing how she witnessed the rapid evolution of the PMU industry and introduced groundbreaking techniques. Shauna also emphasizes the importance of safety protocols and the need for comprehensive education in the industry. She spills the beans on her in-depth training program, SMP Essentials, and has some exciting innovations on the horizon of a top-secret project that she can't wait to share with the world. Join us in this conversation with Shauna as she shares her wisdom, experiences, and valuable tips in the exciting world of PMU & SMP beauty.
Topics Covered:
04:15 - Evolution and advancements in the beauty industry over time 06:37 - Hybrid brow technique in permanent makeup 09:08 - Advancements in pigments and needles 10:51 - The evolution of training 13:10 - Changes in pigments and aftercare 21:03 - Safety Protocols 22:32 - Importance of Fundamental Education 25:14 - Nurturing Clients and Referral Networking 31:57 - Shauna's training methods and techniques 33:56 - Bringing Joy through Helping Others
"Every art form evolves, and the beauty industry is no exception. "Remember, in beauty, one size doesn't fit all! Understanding color theory and proper techniques for cross-contamination prevention are essential to cater to diverse clients. Also, investing in necessary equipment and education for safety is non-negotiable. – Shauna Magrath "How do you achieve longevity in the beauty industry? Focus on client satisfaction and referrals. Nurturing clients, monitoring their progress, and making them feel valued is the secret behind a successful career in beauty. Also, building referral networks with hairdressers and barbers can boost your client base. – Shauna Magrath "Bringing joy to others, that's my daily goal! Whether it's opening a door for someone or assisting with a flat tire, every act of kindness counts. And in our industry, we have the chance to bring joy daily, through our artistry and care. – Shauna Magrath "It makes such an incredible difference to their life and it makes it all worthwhile in the end when you can see somebody completely eliminate all their insecurities and walk out the door feeling like a whole new person." - Shauna Magrath "I won't stop giving and I won't stop helping and I won't stop enriching the lives of people that I touch every day." - Shauna Magrath
Are you eager to grow your beauty business but feel overwhelmed by all the strategies and systems out there? Check out our FREE 3-day Workshop–Overlooked to Overbooked for a beauty business Waitlist www.aprilmeese.com/clientwaitlist
Beauty Ink Inc - Shauna Magrath's beauty business: Website - https://www.beautyink.ca/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beautyink/
SMP Essentials Training Program - Shauna Magrath's interactive online scalp micropigmentation training program: https://beautyink.teachable.com/p/smpessentailsyourkeytosuccessinscalpmicro-pigmentation | |||
| 16 Jun 2023 | Episode 142: Mastering Brand Identity with Anastasia Karina | 00:46:30 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Developing an effective brand identity is essential in the beauty industry, as it helps businesses establish a unique presence in the market and create a memorable impression on their ideal target audience. This includes everything from the company's logo, website design, and colors, to the overall personality and values the brand aims to convey. A well-defined and consistent brand identity not only sets a business apart from its competitors but also fosters customer loyalty and long-lasting relationships.
In the podcast, Anastasia Karina talks about her journey as a brand strategist and the importance of creating and maintaining a compelling and cohesive brand identity. Anastasia emphasizes the need to understand the company's mission and statement before embarking on creating the brand identity. She notes the importance of research in choosing the right colors, typography, and shapes, as these elements can strongly influence the consumers' emotions and perceptions of the company. She discusses the significance of maintaining continuity in your brand messaging and values, as well as how to create impactful brand experiences in your business for more income and impact.
Topics covered: 00:00:09 – Introduction of Beauty Boss Anastasia Karina 00:01:09 – What is Brand Identity? 00:06:08 - The Importance of Brand Identity 00:09:09 - Creating a Unique Brand 00:14:59 - Importance of Consistency 00:15:37 - Luxury Experiences 00:17:04 – Ethics in branding 00:20:39 – Analyzing Your Office Environment 00:29:09 - Importance of Thinking Outside the Box 00:35:00 - Tips for Beginners on Brand Identity 00:37:05 - Tips for Established Brands on Brand Identity 00:33:10 – Important Event Planning Tips 00:43:09 - From Events to Branding 00:44:20 - The Importance of Pursuing Happiness
Key takeaways: “In order to succeed, you need to break through the clutter, grab your ideal customer's attention, and show them that you, your product, your service, yourself can be trusted and you're the one we need.” - Anastasia Karina
“Brand identity is a long-term important mission, an important core for your company to grow. You cannot just do something without research.” - Anastasia Karina
“Create a comfortable area for [clients'] friends. Because we are occupied with a magazine, with a nice candy, with a coffee and we still have a friend around, but at the same time we feel like we're also having a good time. So, this is going to be your selling point.” - Anastasia Karina
"You have to be different. You have to be original and absolutely there's going to be somebody that if you can arrange it for them and you can take that off their plate, like how can you make it an easier yes for your client? How can you make it a no-brainer decision? How can you make your brand stand out from these other brands?" - April Meese | |||
| 14 Mar 2023 | Episode 132: Social Media & Beauty Business Tips with Lisa Doll | 00:49:50 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
In this episode, we'll be discussing the phenomenon of a beauty business "going viral" on social media, what that means, and how it really affects your business.
With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, beauty businesses have the potential to reach a wider audience than ever before. But what does it take to create content that resonates with viewers and inspires them to book appointments with your business?
Our special guest beauty business owner, Lisa Doll, will share her experiences of creating compelling content to build a strong online presence and how to leverage that momentum to attract more clients.
We'll also be diving into the hard lessons she learned when growing a successful beauty business.
Topics covered:
01:09 - Introduction of Beauty Boss Lisa Doll 02:30 - Lisa's journey to permanent makeup 05:09 - Her first viral video on social media 6:00 - The awareness needed to get customers 9:50 - The stages of your business determine the goal 10:31 - The story of her second video that got a lot of views 17:52 - Tips from Lisa Doll on getting attention 21:05 - Lesson learned from the past disappointments 30:10 - Unseen impact of a business name 32:25 - Managing a team 41:42 - Setting boundaries for your employees 45:35 - Being comfortable with disappointments
Key takeaways:
"So many people don't make themselves known (on social media). (it might seem like prospective clients) don't like, they don't engage. But they're actually very engaged [They're aware of your posts]. Whether they liked it or not, or made any comments or sent any hearts, it doesn't matter. They saw it, they enjoyed it. Now we have something to talk about and connect over to kinda further build that relationship." - Lisa Doll
"My goals are very inflated. I'm very ambitious. So my goals even years ago were to get on stage, speak, industry leader, etc. So, me going viral, me getting lots of views, and me having a certain amount of followers may not give me so much extra money on hand, but it does impress "gatekeepers". Who then establishes my value based on those metrics that then give other opportunities, which then allow me to maybe expand my income or awareness." - Lisa Doll
"People want to find things to connect with you. They need to feel that they have a common ground with you or something in common. So that they can begin to like and trust you and start to see you as somebody that can work on them and feel like you have that connection." - April Meese
"People want to come up with great names that are clever but the audience doesn't know what it is. And if they don't know what you clearly do for them and how it benefits, they're gonna walk right past you." - April Meese | |||
| 16 Apr 2024 | Episode 160: Business Perks: Free First-Class Flights and Travel | 00:18:53 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you dreaming of jet-setting to exotic destinations or simply taking a well-deserved family vacation without breaking the bank? In this eye-opening episode of Beauty Marketing Simplified, host April Meese shares her savvy secrets to flying first class by leveraging business credit cards for airline points.
April has flown her family of four to Europe in first class, and now, she's spilling the beans on how you can do the same. She walks you through the step-by-step process, from researching flights to selecting credit cards with the best rewards for your lifestyle. She also dives into the nitty-gritty of meeting those minimum spend requirements without going into debt and planning expenses ahead of time.
This episode isn't just about travel hacks; it's about making your entrepreneurial perks work in your favor. Whether you're looking to indulge in the luxury of first-class travel or simply stretch your business budget further, April's tips are pure gold.
Tune in now and get ready to take notes. Your next adventure awaits, and with April's guidance, the sky's the limit—literally.
Topics Covered:
00:56 - How to use your business points to fly first class for virtually free 02:24 - Mistakes to avoid 04:35 - Researching the airline alliances 06:11 - Understanding the fees and bonuses 08:40 - The order of credit cards to apply for to ensure approval 09:35 - Figuring out what credit card will benefit you and your lifestyle most 10:10 - How to get the mile/point bonus without maximizing your budget 11:11 - Thinking about putting your business expenses on your credit card 13:11 - Be open to all travel options 16:16 - Planning for seat availability and bonus credits 17:28 - Make note for part 2 and send me any question for part 2
Key Takeaways:
"Flexibility and preparation are your best friends when it comes to using points for travel. Don't lock yourself into one airline; explore partnerships and alliances." - April Meese
"Meeting minimum spend requirements doesn't mean overspending. Use your business expenses and planned purchases to hit those bonus point goals." - April Meese
"First-class travel doesn't have to be a distant dream. With the right credit card strategy, you can experience luxury without the luxury price tag." - April Meese
| |||
| 21 Jun 2021 | Episode 80 Daring to Lead (excerpts from Brene' Brown) with Lindsaya | 00:40:54 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Summary: Lindsaya VanDeusen is a licensed cosmetologist for over 16 years. While on her wellness journey, she found a company (Kemon) whose philosophy and vision aligned with her. Throughout the time, she has been able to use her success to help teach others how to make a true living-wage in an industry riddled with small paychecks, little security, and no benefits. What began as a career of wanting to make people feel FABULOUS transformed into feeling fulfilled by teaching others. As she advanced professionally, from an educator to the Kemon US Director, she experienced a rebirth of extraordinary excitement and passion in both her professional and personal life. She enjoys empowering professionals and assisting them further hone their skills and reach professional excellence. In this episode, Lindsaya talks about how everyone should have a coach or mentor to help us reevaluate ourselves at this challenging time. A mentor can guide us through these uncertain times, help us find room for improvement, and how far we have gotten in reaching our goals. In a world that feels shame around feeling a lower vibe of emotions, she's an encouraging force to let everyone feel the full range of emotions that we human beings feel. At the same time, she teaches us to inspire each one to find ways to move out from that space and shift it to joy, peace, and happiness. She teaches about grounded confidence and how we can shake off any self-doubt and insecurity around ourselves through this. Remember that we don't have the power to control the external forces around us, but we can react to them proactively. Touching on Brene Brown's teachings on rumbling, curiosity, and practice helps empower us to show up better. Instead of feeding our egos, we dig deeper and understand where those deep wounds come from. In doing so, we see things objectively and become the best version of ourselves every day. Lindsaya shares the best exercise of understanding those false judgment triggers getting in the way and allows for deeper understanding. Nothing is more powerful than saying empowering words to ourselves. You'll hear Lindsaya's impactful 'I am Statement' and be moved with positivity to overcome any limiting beliefs. Everything is about, as Lindsaya says, learning to love yourself amongst the mess. You never have to be perfect because even your faults have purpose. "I am grounded confidence masterfully created for service, success, joy and insurmountable love." - Lindsaya VanDeusen Topics Covered: 03:49 - Why everyone should have a coach, especially at this time of the pandemic Key Takeaways: "When you teach, two learn." - Lindsaya VanDeusen "And I don't think that the work is ever done. I think we continue to reevaluate who we are, where we are, and where we have room for improvement." - Lindsaya VanDeusen "When we look at the external problems, the reality is, the only thing we often are in control with is how we react to them." - Lindsaya VanDeusen "When we're talking about getting in the community, that is so important, because you need mirrors, you need to be in the arena with other people doing the same thing, getting their butt kicked, so that they're able to help you along, extend their hand back when they're one step ahead. And then same thing, allow you to do the same and push you ahead when they're behind." - Lindsaya VanDeusen "Stay curious. Ask people questions like become the interviewer. Whether you're in my industry, or not, you have something to teach me, you are gold, you have your own zone of genius." - Lindsaya VanDeusen "Things are applicable in every arena, you have to just bring it in and like rumble around with it again. That staying curious and then the practice is doing that, committing to doing that over and over and over." - Lindsaya VanDeusen "When we realize we have that trigger, a journal is the most explorative way. I like to use Brene Brown's work with the story I'm telling myself and write down." - Lindsaya VanDeusen Connect with Lindsaya: Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 07 Feb 2024 | Episode 158 - Ideas for Valentine's Day Promotions | 00:11:54 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Love is in the air, and so is the opportunity for boosting your beauty business this Valentine's Day! In this episode of Beauty Marketing Simplified, April Meese shares a 3-2-1 blast of inspiration: one exciting announcement, two empowering quotes, and three innovative promotional ideas to captivate your clients this February.
April reveals the return of the AI for Beauty Business Workshop, a game-changer for those looking to harness the power of technology to reach more people and save precious time. Imagine turning one video into a dozen with the click of a button, or even having a digital twin to represent you without the need for makeup. The future is here, and it's ready to elevate your marketing strategy.
But that's not all. April dishes out wisdom with two quotes about seizing opportunities and the importance of getting started, even if it's with a 'version one.' These nuggets of motivation will fuel your drive to implement new systems and embrace the growth that comes with taking action.
And for the pièce de résistance, April provides three creative Valentine's Day promotional ideas tailored for the beauty industry. From a unique 14% discount that plays on the date to a 'buy one, gift one' offer that taps into the spirit of giving, these strategies are designed to draw clients in and spread the love. Plus, discover how to create a gift guide that not only showcases your favorite products but also opens doors to potential collaborations with referral partners.
This short episode is brimming with actionable advice to make your Valentine's Day promotions stand out and to integrate AI into your business seamlessly. Don't miss out on these insights that will help you market with heart and smart technology.
Remember to stay tuned for more details on the upcoming AI workshop and how you can sign up to transform your beauty business operations.
Topics Covered:
01:37 - Announcement: AI for Beauty Business Workshop 03:02 - Quote 1: Opportunities missed 03:35 - Quote 2: Embracing 'version one' 04:12 - Valentine's Day Promo Idea 1: 14% off is better than roses 05:14 - Valentine's Day Promo Idea 2: Buy one, gift one 06:36 - Valentine's Day Promo Idea 3: Spread the love with a gift guide 10:52 - The importance of non-salesy promotion and taking action
Key Takeaways:
"Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. But once you put the system in place, it works for you." - April Meese
"Version one is better than version none. Just get started, and you will improve along the way." - Unknown
| |||
| 28 Jul 2023 | Episode 147 : Blazing Your Own Path with Tamia Haynes | 00:40:09 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Join us as we talk with Tamia Haynes and delve into her wisdom, uncover her secrets to success, and learn from her invaluable insights as a leading beauty business owner. Hear about Tamia's journey from being a payroll manager for Hyundai's corporate office to a revered permanent makeup artist. Her courage to pursue her passion and transition at age 43 into this dynamic industry exemplifies the power of following one's heart.
She sheds light on the importance of research when selecting mentors and trainers, emphasizing the significance of a good fit in this personalized profession. She candidly shares her experiences and challenges, including overcoming imposter syndrome—a common hurdle in any creative pursuit.
Prepare to be inspired by invaluable insights as Tamia Haynes takes us on a fascinating exploration of her life, career, and the business of permanent makeup.
Topics Covered:
01:02 - Tamia Haynes introduction
3:00 - Her career before transitioning into the beauty industry
7: 24 - Things she should've known when starting her business
8:22 - Dealing with impostor syndrome
12:17 -What to do when you have a bad days
13:56 - Overcoming struggles
14:28 - Invest for success
17:30 - The biggest lesson when starting your business
18:50 - How to stand out from your competition
22:00 - The wedding vs marriage analogy
27:08 - Changing the Regulation in PMU
28:31 - Biggest lessons she learned from her struggles
31:50 - Tamia's upcoming events
36:53 - What brings her joy
Key Takeaways:
"You have to be able to talk to yourself through the bad times. And you gotta know that it's okay. To feel a certain way. It doesn't mean that you're losing because you're in tears that day or you're having a struggle. Your struggle is gonna make who you are later because you push through those struggles. Nothing worth having comes easy. The more you work for it, the more you'll see success." - Tamia Haynes
"You might be able to learn a couple of things, but you should please stick with brows, then move the lips. You have to give yourself grace and give yourself time because that way, you won't be mediocre. You'll be good, very, very good at one thing and then get very, very good at another. And just let your work speak for itself." - Tamia Haynes
"Once you find where you fit in and you don't stop looking at what other people are doing, you could be inspired. But at the same time, you got to know that you have your own style and you're always doing things and that is okay. It's not one way or the highway and you will attract what you are in the industry."- Tamia Haynes
| |||
| 11 Aug 2020 | Episode 47 Personal & Professional Growth with The Elevate Program: An interview with Michele Moore-Breiten | 00:42:03 | |
Do you ever think you’ve tried it all...and nothing works - that there’s not a glimmer of hope left in your world? How about that fear gripping you all along that you think you are just being practical about not pursuing your goal? Are you just really gonna walk away from the business you’ve worked so hard for? Think about it again, you might just be like Michele, downright unsure of herself. Listen to her as she shares her journey and amazing transformation with the Elevate Program. You might just want it to happen to you, as well. Michele Moore-Breiten is the owner and artist at Defined Beauty Permanent Makeup. Permanent makeup has become her passion which is why continuing education is important to her. She has attention to detail and amazing customer service. In this episode, Michele shares how the struggle was real for her, from being gripped with fear, with no confidence to step up ahead in her business, with barely one client a day to attend to, and with her own personal issues to think about all the way to becoming a new version of herself - someone with clarity, focus and most of all, a fantastic transformation and conversion in both herself and her business. | |||
| 25 Dec 2023 | Episode 155: The Unexpected Uses of AI | 00:13:32 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you a beauty business owner or professional looking to up your game? This episode is a treasure trove of AI-driven secrets that promise to streamline your operations and amplify your marketing efforts. Our host, April Meese shares personal experiences with AI tools that act as digital assistants—taking meticulous notes, generating SOPs, and even responding to client communications. Plus, get a sneak peek into the potential of AI in crafting your marketing blueprint. Dive into this episode and transform your beauty business with the savvy use of artificial intelligence!
Topics Covered:
1:18 - AI can extract meeting minutes on your behalf 2:20 - Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with AI 4:32 - Proper prompting of AI for the best result 5:26 - The AI Marketing Blueprint Workshop 9:24 - Clone yourself with AI 10:43 - AGI: Artificial General Intelligence
Key Takeaways:
"There are apps and tools that are affordable and easy. Just literally a click of the button and it will save you time and it will just make your life so much easier." - April Meese
"If AI can pass the bar exam... it can create the marketing for us." - April Meese
| |||
| 08 Feb 2023 | Episode 128: The 3 Key Questions in Finding a Mentor, Program, or Coach | 00:27:14 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
If there's a faster way to success, who wouldn't want it?
When it comes to taking a big step in your professional or personal life, finding the right program, coach, or mentor can be intimidating. It’s hard to know who to trust, and you want to be sure that you’re investing your time and money wisely.
Fortunately, there are a few key tips to help you identify the right program, coach, or mentor to help you reach your goals.
Choosing the right program, coach, or mentor is an important step to take when you’re looking to make a change.
This episode will help you find the perfect coach or program for you so you can make the changes you’ve been dreaming of in your beauty business and life.
Topics Covered:
1:12 - The secret to success 2:40 - Misconception of success 3:20 - Understanding what you are looking for in a coach or program 6:57 - What helps you make a decision 9:17 - How does your lifestyle play a part in choosing a mentor? 14:37 - Do you know who you are learning from & getting advice from? 15:45 - Here's my hard lesson learned 22:00 - How to avoid mistakes/disasters 24:34 - Elevate Your Beauty Business
Key Takeaways: "The most successful people get support from other like-minded business people that have been through it before them. We all have blind spots. Nobody has it all figured out." - April Meese
"It is important to have a game plan, it is important to have support especially when you are facing things which you have never faced before." - April Meese
"Knowledge is something you can get from a book or when somebody verbally teaches you. Knowing is when you actually experience it." - April Meese
Special Links: www.aprilmeese.com/reviews | |||
| 02 Oct 2020 | Episode 52 Inspiring 6-Figure Beauty Boss Series with Valerie Weber | 00:53:03 | |
How do you put your life together when all you've got is a seemingly crippling situation? You've started a business with your hard work, but don't see a single client around. What rubs insult to injury is the crumbling personal life you've got to deal with without family nearby to help you out. With massive faith and steadfast determination, you can beat the impossible odds and reach success. Valerie proves it as she shares her story. She did it, so can you. Valerie Weber is the Founder of Dermagrafix Permanent Cosmetic Studio, a Cosmetic Tattoo Artist and Certified Instructor. She began her journey in cosmetic tattooing, where she felt most at home in her artistic self. After years of striving to learn more to be the best, she realized that it took a great deal of practice and dedication to this craft to be just that. She continued to learn from those she admired and collected valuable knowledge that eventually helped her develop her style. Loving what she's doing is a complete understatement. The idea that a well-executed cosmetic tattoo can positively change someone's quality of life, knowing that drives her to be her best and work side-by-side with other professionals she trusts and shares that same vision as she has. Ultimately, this thought led her to train and mentor others who are also meant to change lives through art. The ever-popular Bi-Fusion Eyebrows and WhipLash Eyeliner techniques were what she played with for years to get just right. In this episode, Valerie shares what you need to consider in growing your business, the need to hire a team, the structure you need to create, and what comes with getting one. She underscores how not to sacrifice laws and safety even when you are still starting and doing things yourself. You're putting your brand and name on the line here. Though we are already digitally connected, she points out nothing beats creating personal relationships with your clients. That will last you a lifetime. As a business-minded person, she reminds everyone that your time is your investment. Though she's big on being generous, always learn to draw the line where your business assets aren't compromised. As with every success, you start at the beginning, and Valerie shares the most challenging times when she started her beauty business. At that time, her married life was in shambles, she went through a divorce, was left with a 5-year old son she sent to and from school while juggling her work in a clinic. She didn't receive child support; she didn't have a family member to help her out with her son. Her father was dying of cancer. She was all alone and left with no choice. What adds to the awful situation is that she had no clients, but never gave up. With patience and dedication, she painstakingly worked on her portfolio by scrapbooking. She went to every place she could get friendly with the owners and presented what she had. That's when her efforts paid off. To this day, she looks back with pride in her achievements. It was a choice of fight or flight. She chose to fight... and see where it got her today - on the wings of success.
| |||
| 11 Apr 2020 | Episode 28 The #1 Thing To Overcome Crisis | 00:39:33 | |
This is not the easiest of times, but when we allow ourselves to be consumed by the negativity happening around us our health suffers and in so doing we become unproductive. When life presents us with something beyond our control what should likely be our response? Businesses have been hit the most these days, and everyone is panicking what could be the worst that could happen the next day or so. But there is more we can do other than dwell on what we can’t control. We need to focus on our self-care more so that we can be healthy and get the clarity to get things done for our own family and our business. For a lot of us, we’ve responded with a lot of mechanisms that only fueled us to get stuck and be led to seek desperate measures. It even stunted our perspective to seek creative ideas to do something for our business. Yes, a big uncertainty pervades the world today. Yet, it is through this dark time that we should rise above these roadblocks to fully see what we can still do. It still is not the end of the world. If only we open ourselves to the possibility that we can do better despite the times, we indeed can. It is never about shutting that fear but rather it is about acting on that fear and turning it into something advantageous to our business. What’s happening in the world is beyond our control, but we can always focus our time and effort on something we can control. Just when we thought we lack creative ideas to keep our business moving at this time, this episode will prove it otherwise. Expect free resources, helpful thoughts, strategies, helpful studies from surveys conducted. All these will help do something for your business to move forward. Not unless you believe there is something you can do and you act on it, your business will do well and it will ride through this crisis. This is not the easiest of times but, surely, this is the best of times to be proactive. Let’s get our mindset right. | |||
| 10 Sep 2019 | Episode 4 What to Consider Before Starting Facebook and Instagram Ads | 00:20:43 | |
Running Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns are great ways to increase exposure, share content, and drive traffic and engagements. How to start these campaigns are very critical. It can make or break your marketing strategy. In this episode, I will detail seven rules to consider before launching your Facebook and Instagram ads. Know the do’s and don’ts, and start reaching your target audience and generate more leads and sales for your business. | |||
| 04 Apr 2023 | Episode 135: Reframing Failure and the 7 figure mindset for growth with Taylor Perry, Scalp Micropigmentation Artist | 00:49:13 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Welcome to a new episode of our Beauty Marketing Simplified podcast, where we delve into the topic of reframing failure and developing a success mindset with scalp-micropigmentation artist and beauty business owner, Taylor Perry.
For many people, failure is often seen as a negative experience that they want to avoid at all costs. However, changing our perspective on handling different challenges and how we think about failure can lead to real exponential growth. In this episode, Taylor Perry discusses his journey with breaking into a new industry, the common misconceptions, and his experience with building a 7 figure business. He talks about the practical strategies for cultivating a successful mindset to navigate the ups and downs of a business. He shares how he has learned to embrace criticism and adopted the mindset shift of believing "everything is working for me" to scale his business to new levels. So, whether you're facing problems in your personal or professional life, this episode will provide you with valuable insights for coping with setbacks, reframing failure, and turning difficult situations around.
Topics covered:
01:13 - Taylor Perry's introduction 02:30 - How he began his professional career 08:22 - Overcoming misconception in Scalp Micropigmentation 14:33- Common complications 17:21 - His choice of tools 20:28 - Knowing how to respect ethnic diversity requests 21:25 - A painful lesson learned 26:30 - Leading with never-been-done-before breakthroughs 28:06 - The changes he wants to see in the industry 31:21 - Advice for his younger self 32:13 - His thoughts about his failures 33:24 - Challenges of growing a brand versus growing a team 37:55 - If you are just starting your business 44:04 - Taylor's upcoming events, announcements, and where to find him
Key takeaways:
"People bashing me, people hating on me, other artists that were here before me, that would really hurt me. Because I wished good for everybody. But, I slowly learned "No it's because I'm successful. If you guys are not doing that, then I'm not making enough noise". So, ultimately learning that was actually a good sign that I am being successful and I'm getting up the ladder." - Taylor Perry
"Understand the cultural differences. You have a "brow daddy" style brow that is saturated, very dark hard lines, and then you have people who like softer natural-looking stuff and always talk trash about that style. But it's just a cultural difference. And there are so many people who love that style and don't like the other lighter style." - Taylor Perry
"The more I market to people who have no clue this even exists, the better for all of us. Somebody needs to do this. It doesn't matter who does them, as long as somebody does them, it's gonna make people aware of what I provide. The more people who market, the more people who (we) make aware that we exist, the better for all of us." - Taylor Perry | |||
| 27 Jul 2021 | Episode 84 Facebook/Instagram Ads versus Google Ads with Hayley Johnston | 00:36:45 | |
What you'll learn from this episode:
Hayley Johnston runs an agency called Piper & Co Digital, a full-service digital agency based in Sydney, Australia – serving people and brands worldwide. The agency was born out of a passion for marketing and lifestyle. They work hard. And play harder. They believe great work comes from diversity of every kind and that diversity breeds creativity. With team members from various locations worldwide, they have diversified experts with proven and stellar results time after time. They do everything from Facebook advertising to Google advertising, social media content creation, web design, funnels, basically anything digital you can think about. In this interview, Hayley talks about choosing between Facebook ads and Google ads and the best one for your beauty business. These are the two dominant advertising platforms, so learning how to make the most of them will surely be an excellent investment for your business. Hayley shares with us how Google advertising differs from Facebook advertising and the advantages of each platform. You'll be better informed on which one to choose after taking into account the goals for your beauty business. Plus, if you are new in your beauty business, have a tight budget, or are just confused, Hayley gives sound advice on where to start and she helps you decide where to spend your advertising budget. "I like both Facebook ads and Google ads. They both are amazing powerhouse platforms. And they work in a complimentary way. I don't think they work as competitors at all, utilizing paid search and utilizing paid social together. I feel like that's a highly effective, highly holistic marketing strategy that can have a major return on investment impact for your business." - Hayley Johnston Topics Covered: 04:08 - Defining a Google ad and a Facebook ad Key Takeaways: "When I think about Facebook advertising, I think more about brand building, building awareness about who I am to an audience that doesn't know me yet growing my audience and also making sales." - Hayley Johnston "Facebook ad advantage -- they've got powerful audience targeting. I've never seen targeting like Facebook before. It is highly, highly granular. You can do interest-based targeting. You can do geo-targeting based on location, very detailed targeting. You can target different interests, gender, and different demographics?" - Hayley Johnston "There are nearly 2.5 billion active users on Facebook worldwide daily. That's a huge amount of reach. Obviously, you need a massive, massive budget on Facebook if you're trying to reach a huge audience, but geo-targeted audiences don't need that large amount of reach because you're trying to target a small portion close to where your business resides on Facebook." - Hayley Johnston "What I love about the display ads and images that you can use is that, with Facebook, you can't use before and after, but with Google, you actually can. That's a bit of a positive difference between both platforms because 'before and after' works well in selling your service or product." - Hayley Johnston "Google ads is intent purchasing, someone is searching for you, or your service actively on Google. It's keyword targeted. There's that huge potential reach. Seventy-five thousand search keywords per second are insane. The reach is unbelievable." - Hayley Johnston "What I really like about Google ads is, you can go make competitor search bids. So if you have a competitor taking a lot of your target audience, for example, you can use your competitor's name in your Google ads campaign. And when somebody types in your competitor name, you can come up." - Hayley Johnston "If you're building your brand awareness and compiling a strong audience, that's your main KPI. Then Facebook will get you there. And probably at a bit of a lower cost than Google because it's not really that conversion; it's brand awareness." - Hayley Johnston
| |||
| 24 Oct 2022 | Episode 121: The Industry Lies | 00:31:31 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Every business will have struggles, and there's no such thing as always success without failures. So even though we think things are perfect for others from what we see on social media, there's more to the story behind the scenes for growing a beauty business. We can shed light on the truth when we expose these industry lies and myths and move forward with a positive mindset. This allows you to focus on your goals and enjoy the journey! Here's an episode for you to know: The Industry Lies.
Topics Covered: 01:15 - Filtering reality 04:36 - The beauty business industry has a lower start-up barrier 09:41 - How these lies affect our thoughts, beliefs, and actions 10:48 - Comparisonitis Disease 13:07 - Understanding what's required for success 15:58 - Why you need to be constantly promoting your brand 17:17 - What is Leverage Income 21:30 - The different levels of support for growth 25:38 - Hiring help or contractors 27:01 - Get connected to a community of support
Key Takeaways: "The real problem with these myths, industry lies, is that as beauty professionals, it makes us feel like we are behind." - April Meese
"The Passive Income lie promotes this idea that you don't have to work. It's the same thing as easy and fast." - April Meese
"If you feel like you're struggling in any way with your beauty business right now, it's normal. There are highs and lows. I've been there....Yes, I've had lots of success, but I'm still growing, and I'm still learning. And that is going to be messy and challenging, and that is the journey." - April Meese | |||
| 17 Jul 2020 | Episode 41 Our Changing Industry | 00:18:57 | |
The changing times call for us to think about where we are in our business. It’s a challenging time and I know how you feel as I also tried to start a business during the great recession. It is never easy but you can still take action. This is the time to be creative and think outside of the box. We need to adapt to change. If you are struggling with your beauty business, want to turn things around, or believe a unique system can help you, then consider the Amplify Method. This method is taught in one of the courses I offer that will change your business. Not just with tactics but strategies that will attract the right customers--not just bargain hunting individuals. You want your business to complement the way you design your life. In order to achieve this, we must choose the right mentor. Someone who has proven success in that niche. This will save you time and energy because finding someone who has already made an impact makes for the fastest route to your business growth. If you make mistakes, learn from them, and seek help from those who are already where you want to be. There is also a need to look at your marketing. Your message must convey your services and their value. You’ve got to work on that. As beauty professionals, we are caught up in our own limitations. We do our business by ourselves and that gets us stuck. And this is not the way to move forward, we need to call in support. We have seen many businesses close down, but if you want your business to thrive, look at what you can do to move ahead. Develop a mindset of a true entrepreneur. Don’t get stuck, just do the imperfect action.
| |||
| 07 Feb 2021 | Episode 62 Will the new Clubhouse App Help your Beauty Business? | 00:40:40 | |
Summary: One vital thing that you must know about Facebook ads is that they have changed since Apple changed their privacy settings. If you try to run your Facebook ads on Facebook and Instagram, you won't be able to track conversions for those that click on your ads while using Apple devices. Ultimately, it seems that Facebook ads are a bit less effective, which only means the cost will be going up, too. The same is happening with Instagram; Instagram feed is mostly dead now as it is all about stories (after they copied Snapchat) & IG Reels as they are competing with Tiktok. That is why it is an excellent opportunity to get on the Clubhouse now as it is early, and you have a chance to build your network with the app while it is in its infancy stage. You might be wondering what this clubhouse app could be about. Will this be another shiny object out there that is just a distraction? Can you add more to “your plate” right now? Do you see the value of global connections for your business? The earlier you get on this app, the more exposure you have and the more chance to build yourself and the opportunity to develop your authentic community. When it comes to this Clubhouse app, you also need to ask these questions: Is your business focused on building relationships? Or are you wanting to position yourself as an expert? This platform is a good platform for those things mentioned above, as many connections and collaborations are happening in real time. I firmly believe in connections as a core concept of what I teach in my Amplify Method, leveraged marketing, leveraging other authority referral partners' audiences to build your network. In this episode, we will discuss the Clubhouse app, take you behind the scenes, break it down for you, and give you all the information.
"It's a great opportunity to get in on the Clubhouse app because it's new, and you can really build a following while the clubhouse app is still in its infancy." - April Meese
Topics Covered: 00:57 - Thoughts about the new app called Clubhouse 02:22 - The phone you need to have to download the Clubhouse app: iPhone 02:40 - What you need to know about the Facebook ad changes 04:24 - Why is it an excellent opportunity to get on the Clubhouse app now 04:38 - What is a Clubhouse app 05:43 - Key things you need to know about Clubhouse: etiquette, do's and don'ts, terminology used 09:05 - April talks about how to download the app, walking and navigating through the Clubhouse app 10:54 - What is a 'Ping' 11:23 - What is a 'room' and what are the different types of rooms 12:34 - What are 'clubs' 15:31 - A calendar of upcoming rooms 16:15 - A walkthrough on how to join the room 20:37 - How the clubhouse app is accessible by the blind and deaf 21:49 - How to have a chance to follow a speaker on Instagram or Twitter 24:16 - What you need to do for you to connect with people in the room 25:50 - What happens when you start to follow people 29:53 - How to follow speakers in the room, how to get notifications when they're on stage 31:48 - Where to find your profile and how to edit your bio 33:02 - Why the first line of your bio should be the six words that you want somebody to know about you 33:42 - What it means to 'reset the room' 35:45 - The moderator's role 36:28 - What I love about the Clubhouse app
Key Takeaways: "When I experienced it myself, I'm like, 'Alright, this is something I can get behind.' And you have to have an iPhone or an iPad to be able to download the app. So I have an Android phone, but I have my iPad." - April Meese "It's a great opportunity to get in on the clubhouse app because it's new, and you can really build a following while the clubhouse app is still in its infancy." - April Meese "What I love about it is, it's real candid conversations, it's not overly produced as we see in this world where things are glossy. It's a natural conversation; there's not going to be a replay. And so just as you see, Tiktok broke away from the curated type of reels, and they're going for more of the authentic -- that I feel like people are just craving more of the authentic." - April Meese "You could get into a room with top business owners and ask them questions, or might be, there's a lot of celebrities that are on the platform if that's important to you. But you're able to get proximity to people that you're unlikely to get proximity to before." - April Meese "It's physically, in my opinion, impossible to fake it. Like, it's you authentically on there. There's nobody faking their photos, there's no way to fake boost your numbers right now, or straight-up lying about what you've accomplished, maybe people can put lies in their bio, but when they get on the stage, people are going to know like, 'Are they real or not'?" - April Meese
Connect with April Meese: | |||
| 22 Oct 2019 | Episode 9 Struggling Beauty Practitioner vs Successful 6 Figure Beauty Professional | 00:18:24 | |
You are a beauty professional who has refined her marketing message and positioned herself as the authority in your area. You have a consistent flow of clients and an established base of referrals. Because of the demand for your services, you can raise your prices and choose to work less. And because you work less, you have more time for your family. Ultimately, you get a sustainable business that helps you enjoy your work and your life. This is the life of a successful six-figure beauty professional that I aspire my audience to be. Join me in this another exciting episode as I share with you the qualities that differentiate a struggling beauty practitioner from a six-figure beauty professional. I will also reveal how powerful is the principle of authority and how it influences humans to say yes. You’ll also learn how positioning yourself with your marketing message makes you stand out and be the go-to professional in your area. All these and more as I help you achieve your success through my six-week program called Elevate that will help you effectively increase your income and impact with less stress. | |||
| 13 Jan 2023 | Podcast Episode 125 - Letting go of 2022! | 00:08:43 | |
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an alternative treatment for emotional distress and sometimes even physical pain. It's also referred to as tapping or psychological acupressure, according to Healthline.com Gary Craig, the developer of EFT concluded that a disruption in energy is the cause of all negative emotions and pain. I wanted to offer this as a way to let go of 2022 and any negative energy with it. Let's start 2023 with fresh energy, full of excitement and positivity! The new year is another chance to grow and make our goals and dreams come true. Here is an episode to help you release 2022 and be inspired and motivated this year of 2023.
What you will learn:
| |||
| 08 Nov 2019 | Episode 10 How to be Certain of Your Success | 00:25:19 | |
What is success for you? How will you know that you already succeeded? Success is a huge word and the road to reach it is quite a journey. But the good thing is, it is possible to achieve coupled with the right mindset and strategies, be it on your personal or business goals. Join me today in a very meaningful, profound, and content-rich episode as I guide you on how to be certain of your success. Know why confidence is the key to building and growing your business. From showcasing your skills and applying your technical know-hows to making big decisions and scaling your business, confidence plays a very crucial role. Get inspired and motivated on why you need to experience discomforts, changes, failures, and disappointments to help you grow and other things you need to do to succeed and take your business to greater heights. | |||
| 19 Feb 2022 | Episode 104 Self-Awareness and Discipline for Success with Beauty Boss Jody Stoski | 00:30:39 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Do you want people flocking to you and creating buzz for your services with constant referrals? Do you want to become an industry leader and create a loyal client base? With popularity comes haters, so how do you create a buffer from the negativity and remain undaunted from all the criticisms thrown at you? Are you ready to find out how to become self-aware so that you can become a stronger beauty business owner?
She has worked with doctors, surgeons, cancer survivors, self-harm survivors, burn victims, and everyday men and women, treating over 10,000 clients to date. In this episode, Jody shares how she grew exponentially by being a skilled specialist rather than a generalist in her business. She shares how to value your skills with your prices, and she discusses how to get people to notice you even when you are just beginning. You'll hear how she uses social media for her marketing brand awareness. She has excellent advice on not letting all the pessimism affect you and other helpful insights for success in your beauty business.
02:03 - Naming your business for unique branding Key Takeaways: "You just muddy the waters, you dilute everything, you dilute your expertise when you've got a million things to offer, people are overwhelmed. They don't know what to see you for." - Jody Stoski "Being committed is one of the biggest reasons people have success." - Jody Stoski "It's getting thicker skin and just realizing a lot of times the people who are directing negativity at you are; they're just in such a bad place themselves, that's why they do those types of things. One of the things that I think is super helpful is that I don't read many comments anymore. I'm fortunate now to have people help me with my social media."- Jody Stoski "The underlying principles [online and brick and mortar business], people want to be respected, they want to know you care, that you're sincere, and I'm there for the right reasons, I want to educate them, give them as much of my knowledge as I can. Whether I'm trying to do the best tattoo I can, versus giving them the best version of myself educating them, I think those are just synonymous across the board." - Jody Stoski "I think my best advice is to commit to something 100%. I think goal setting is so important. And don't try to be the jack of all trades. I think some people do think that that is a great thing. I just think, for this industry, you need to be laser-focused and go for your dreams. Go for your goals; set high dreams for yourself and just go for it." - Jody Stoski
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 06 May 2023 | Episode 137: Utilizing stories in your marketing with Ashley Gonzalez and April Meese | 01:04:16 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
In today's episode, we're joined by Ashley Gonzalez of Beautylicious as we dive into the power of using stories in your marketing as a beauty business owner. Whether you're a beauty business owner, a skincare specialist, a microblader, a lash, or a permanent makeup artist, storytelling can be a powerful tool to connect with your audience, build brand loyalty, and ultimately drive sales. We'll share some tips and examples of how you can use stories to differentiate yourself in a crowded market and create a lasting impression on your customers. We will also talk about April's signature Story Funnel Framework to convert viewers into buyers. So, grab your notebook, and let's get started!
Topics covered:
1:08 - The evolution of Instagram 2:05 - Why stories are important 3:10 - Can you tell the same story over and over? 8:50 - Getting clients to know you 10:04 - What people hear when you tell your story 12:44 - The thought reversal story type 14:17 - Letting your audience know about your process 16:13 - The most powerful types of stories 20:30 - Marketing to sophisticated buyers 24:11 - Different styles in the Story Framework Funnel 31:20 - Ways of telling stories without showing your face on camera 38:29 - Walk the clients through your service by storytelling 42:41 - What every story must have 51:09 - Marketing as an introvert
Key takeaways: "People remember when you tell a story. And when you are telling stories, their guard is down. They don't feel like they're being sold to, it's more of "Here's the customer journey", "Here's what you need to know," - April Meese
"Don't get tired of telling people about the transformation that you offer because the specific way that you say it, this one time might be the exact verbiage." - Ashley Gonzalez
"You can get a client solely by word of mouth but that's going to be such a slow growth. If you can get comfortable with telling your story online, it doesn't have to be live, it has so many ways to leverage social media and tell your story and talk about the transformation you received and how you can give that to others. You never know what side of yourself they needed to see before they realize "Oh she's the one that I want to go to" - Ashley Gonzalez
"When you tell your story, not only does it go past the conscious mind goes into the subconscious where people do not want to feel they're being sold to, they're listening they're engaging to your story, but people hear their story in your story. So they relate to it. - April Meese
"If you can find a way to touch people's issues or problems and then package it in a way showing that you have that solution, in a way they didn't realize they had a problem, you will have a forever client." - Ashley Gonzalez
"The stories are the proof. Because anytime you say it, you have to prove that what you say is real. We are in the trust business. Maybe they've been following you for a long time, but for some reason, they're sitting on the fence that's keeping them from buying. There is a story that needs to be told there, to get them off the fence to take action."- April Meese
"When you simplify it, it's doable. You have the clarity of this is what I need to do, you have the confidence to do it, and then you have the plan to get the content done."- April Meese
"You don't need to be a great storyteller. But you need to know the right stories at the right time. You need to know what somebody needs to hear, like what is going to keep them engaged and what is going to motivate them to book or buy. Once you have these core stories, they are your go-to (marketing)."- April Meese | |||
| 28 Jul 2020 | Episode 43 Interviewing Molly Klipp on Her Journey from Running a Million Dollar Beauty Franchise to Starting Her Own PMU Business | 00:32:41 | |
Maybe you have a lot going through your mind right now. You are not tech-savvy and are too old to learn new things. Or maybe, you say, ‘I know a lot already and my business is doing well…..there’s nothing in it for me anymore.’ But what if, just when you thought you’ve got everything all figured out, the Elevate Program could do so much more for you and your beauty business as it has done for Molly? Molly Klip is the sole owner of Carefree Beauty Permanent Makeup with two locations in Lynwood and Arlington, Washington. She's been practicing permanent cosmetics for over six years. And she specializes in micro-blading and Soft Tap powder eyebrows. And she also teaches a 100-hour curriculum for cosmetics. Her 30 years of being in the cosmetic industry and running a multimillion-dollar organization drive her to help others. She has an extensive background in beauty and running businesses. And she's received awards, two years running for the Best of Lynwood for Permanent Makeup for 2019 and 2020. And she was one of the earliest winners of the Aloette’s Eagle award for her contributions to Aloette’s. Molly has also co-authored two books - Image Power and Mom Entrepreneur Extraordinaire. And she's also a board member of the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals and on the board of directors since 2018. She also served as the Secretary and Quarterly Editor. And she's going to be serving another two years coming up. Let’s listen in to this episode as Molly shares how the Elevate Program impacted a change in herself as well as in her business. Starting a new venture later in life and not being a tech geek, she was able to do so much more than you can imagine for her beauty business. | |||
| 15 Jul 2021 | Episode 82 Tips for Starting a YouTube Channel with Terry Lively | 00:38:04 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Terry Lively has been in the cosmetic and traditional tattoo industry for over 20 years. She is a certified trainer member with the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals. Additionally, she is a SPCP approved member supplier. Terry specializes in 3D areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors and has referred clients from over 15 surgeons in Texas. Have you ever thought about creating a YouTube channel? Let Terry give you a few tips and pointers on her lessons over the years with her Youtube experience. You can start with just the basic setup of low-cost tools and possibly some equipment you already have, such as a decent microphone, lighting, and background. If you're concerned about what video content to create and post, she shares with you some ideas to start it with and free software you can use to edit them. If editing is not your thing, April recommends hiring a virtual assistant to do it for you at a minimal cost. You can ask about hiring a VA here. Learn about keywords and thumbnails as they are crucial to boosting your YouTube search engine ratings. Find out what clickbait is and how to avoid it so that you don't destroy your Youtube reputation. And instead, you'll get some ideas on how you can make your thumbnails exciting and eye-catching, so people are curious enough to check out your video content. What about having a YouTube playlist? Terry talks about what is so special about it. How about creating headlines and titles? She helps you outline them. You'll hear about what mistakes she had the first time she started, so you know which ones to avoid and alternatively what to do. Terry also talks about her favorite tattoo machines and the customer support her online store offers. Plus, she shares her final piece of advice for permanent makeup artists. "By putting my videos up on YouTube, and people watch me through the years, they feel like they know me personally. And I can't tell you how many times I've had people come up at conventions and say, I feel like I know you because I've watched your videos for so long. People are going to become more comfortable with you and your work even before they've ever met you or had a consultation with you. It's a cool marketing tool." Topics Covered: 02:42 - When and how she started her YouTube channel Key Takeaways: "We don't have to overthink it. The important thing is just to get started. And your videos aren't going to be great in the beginning. It's not like we're live today, people are seeing a slide with your YouTube videos, you can go in and edit them." - Terry Lively "I just think you want it to be accurate to what the video is about. You don't want to say something in your title, and then have the video be about something else or not quite with that title." - Terry Lively "Every single video that you do, you're going to make small improvements, and it's just going to get better and better. And don't knock yourself in the beginning because that's the learning curve. You've got to have a learning curve with all this." - Terry Lively "You don't really learn until you're working on the skin every day. You can't do one or two procedures a month and expect to really get good; you have to be working on the skin every single day and have your feet in the trenches." - Terry Lively Resource:
Connect with Terry Lively: Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 16 Sep 2019 | Episode 5 From the Mailroom to Dr. Oz TV Show - Honor Your Journey | 00:14:05 | |
Are you in a disappointing and frustrating situation right now? Do you have a goal but failed to win it? Do you feel stuck and struggling to find your purpose? Believe me, when I say, you are not alone. I have my share of bad experiences. But what I didn’t know was those experiences prepared me for the best opportunities to come. And when they come, I am ready, and that’s’ what makes success sweeter. In this episode, I’ll telltale my story with my humble beginnings – from mailroom licking envelopes to making phone calls to buy ad space to appearing on national TV promoting our products. How I transcend from one chapter in my life is as exciting as the lessons that I got from them. This is my amazing journey as a beauty entrepreneur. I hope that you’ll learn nuggets of wisdom from this that you can apply as you travel through this same path, we call life. | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | Episode 111: The Must Do's for Live Videos | 00:21:04 | |
What you will learn from this episode: · Hear about the importance of videos in growing your beauty business. · Learn the three P's that are essential when using video marketing to get more clients. · Uncover how to boost your confidence in front of the camera. · Discover key tips on setting up your virtual "stage" to have an impeccable viewer experience.
Are you a camera-shy beauty business owner who wants to get seen more on social media? Are you ready to tap into the power of video to help your beauty business get more exposure and attract more clientele?
As video dominates the internet, it is difficult to deny the stats that confirm that your prospective clients consume this type of entertainment/media the most. Most people don't go a day without watching some kind of video. Yet, many beauty professionals use images as proof of their skills and a way to attract new clients to book appointments. The simple truth is that your prospective clients need to get to know you first before they can trust you for your services. What's even more compelling is live video so you can interact with your audience, and they will value your authenticity to build trust faster. This episode will guide you through some critical video components for confidently doing video marketing to reach more clients.
Topics Covered: 01:56 – Hear how April started doing videos in 2015 03:12 – Breaking down the "3 P's" for video success 06:16 – Practical examples 08:59 – Having confidence in front of the camera 09:30 – The mistakes I've made with the second "P" 10:10 – What April learned from being on Dr. Oz TV show 11:58 – The three E's for enticing videos 14:41 – Maximize video potential
Key Takeaways: "Video is important for growing your business on social media and for connecting your clients in building that know, like, trust and buy factor." – April Meese "Since the camera sucks your energy, you need a little bit more energy, have fun with it. You want your audience to enjoy it. Because we are all distracted, multitasking." – April Meese "When you tell it in a story, people will remember it. People always love stories." – April Meese "If you can promote, let people know that you are going live so they won't miss it." – April Meese | |||
| 01 Sep 2019 | Episode 3 How to Combat Imposter Syndrome | 00:14:31 | |
While there are different marketing strategies of a business to increase its profitability, it is equally important for business owners to deal with and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. But what if, as a human being, the business owner faces personal hurdles feeling unworthy of their accomplishments, or lacking self-confidence, or simply not feeling good enough? This imposter syndrome is common to entrepreneurs and April is no exception. Join her in this episode as she reveals her struggles to inspire others, and challenges her fellow entrepreneurs to get past any blockers that will move your business forward. | |||
| 02 Sep 2020 | Episode 48 The Secret Ingredient to Spark Sales | 00:29:16 | |
Stories have a lot to tell, and your marketing is a series of stories you tell your audience about your brand. And what eventually leads to sales are the stories you share that make them relate and resonate with your product and service. And what are the stories you need to tell? First off, have your signature story that you have to share every time you have an event or talk with anyone. Instead of talking to them about technical terms, it is best to let them know what you do and what transformation is achieved once they experience the product or service. There are a lot more stories you can weave in from there. Stories of your own customers' transformation - the before, during, and after can be one - this addresses their fears of trying the service. It gives them the feeling they are not the only ones having the problem. That there is a solution to their problem. Those testimonials you collect from those who have tried your services and product - they matter too. That adds credibility to your service. And that is important to your target audience that they see your service works for other people, which means creates the reassurance in their minds that it will also work for them. Tell them your own stories of being a mom, experiences where you and your audience can get insights from, your struggles and successes in your personal and professional life. All these things are significant inspirations for your stories. Creating stories is one thing, and making an impact with your story is another thing. That is why we need to talk about the key ingredients in crafting stories that connect with your audience. Let your story have a hook that brings in the curiosity that will get them more engaged with your story. Second is, let it speak to their problem and the solution. It would be best if you zeroed in on the challenges and struggles they are experiencing, the transformation they want, and then provide them the opportunity to overcome it; this is where your services come in. After connecting with them on an emotional and logical level, you need to show them that you are the authority, back your claims with proof. The bigger the promise of transformation, the more significant the proof is required. People need to find out that what you are communicating is true. Stories indeed have the power to captivate and convince your audience of themselves about your service. They are not there to entertain but rather serve its purpose of not only telling but selling, and in effect, serving.
| |||
| 21 Dec 2021 | Episode 97 Apps That Will Simplify Your Life and Permanent Makeup Business | 00:28:16 | |
Gone are the days when you did everything manually, and things were rudimentary. Even if you label yourself as a "technophobe" or not too computer savvy, don't you love simplifying things and doing your tasks efficiently? In this episode, our top beauty professionals, April Meese, Karen Betts, Vicky Martin, and Dawna Mainard, share apps they use that help them with various business processes. Topics Covered: 01:50 - A great app that is perfect for your scheduling management system that you can sync with other apps Key Takeaways: "My second go-to app is Headliner. It's an app that you can get for free, and you can make audiograms with it." - April Meese "Fiverr is an app where you can find somebody that will do like a video edit for $5. And then they have ways of upselling you in different packages. "- April Meese "There are these new copywriting apps that I am a little obsessed with. Words are so powerful and really knowing the right sales psychology and the right things to say to kind of you know, bring someone in to help them stay on the page and read more, and you know, continue to stay on your website and want to book is so important. One of the most popular ones is called Jarvis." - April Meese "An app that you can transcribe anything you've just taken a voicemail on. So even when I'm doing one on ones with my team, or even if I'm driving in the car, and I'm thinking about something, I'll just press the voice recording, which everybody does on an iPhone, I don't know about any drives, but you do have it on an iPhone voice recorded, I will actually speak into the voice recording. And then I can actually just send that to otter.ai. Because once I've downloaded that, and what it does, it transcribes it. So there I am, I've got all now written up, I don't need to start typing." - Karen Betts "I love doing a Zoom consultation because you can share your screen on Zoom. So I've made like a really cute little presentation for area owners and for eyebrows and permanent makeup, which makes it flow and it looks super professional." - Karen Betts "I just felt like the whole consultation was just way more professional once you did it on Zoom, and you just put a PowerPoint with it." - Vicky Martin "My favorite apps that I use to make my life a little bit easier is called the PhiBrows app. I can really check symmetry, and it's something that I can show my clients if they say I think this one's higher. And I know it's not. I can turn the app around, and then the conversation is over. I have it right there in front of them. So it makes my drawing process quick and easy." - Dawna Mainard
Resource: Holiday Special for a One-On-One Coaching with April at 50% off. Click here https://www.aprilmeese.com/offers/QtUvW2Jo/checkout?coupon_code=2022
Apps you can use: Calendly
| |||
| 14 Jun 2020 | Episode 37 Understand Why and How to do Your Marketing | 00:23:21 | |
Repetition is big in marketing. Why do brands advertise? Because marketing is creative and repetitive. Big brands launch slogans to create a more memorable and positive feeling about their product or service. Nike- "Just do it"....I'm sure you have a couple of those stuck in your head ;) A slogan is impressionable, but there's more to it. Your brand's value must be conveyed. This is where the two parts of marketing come in: strategy and tactic. It is good to have a website, do Facebook ads, post on social media, attend trade shows, etc... this is the tactical part. The strategy is when you get dialed into the message you want to convey to your clients. It's about connecting with them to understand their fears, their aspirations, and their problems that need your solutions. You could spend a lot of time and money on the tactical stuff, but if your clients aren't relating to your message- it won’t work. Remember, it's marketing that helps people make good decisions. The message you convey helps them decide that your product is the best choice for them. Your brand's value must be clear to them. It isn't enough to just present before and after results. There is so much more about your process, background, and customer service that will make them choose you. This is where education becomes key. You should start with empathy and understand where they're at. Think of it this way, your marketing should already answer their objections. Once your message resonates with their pain, you have earned their trust and that's going to get them to take action. When customers don’t see a difference between what you offer versus your competitor’s, then they'll default to the least complex variable which is price. It can’t be stressed enough that when people don’t understand the value of what you are offering, price becomes a deciding factor for them. Last but not least, when you are doing good marketing you won't have to hard sell clients. | |||
| 20 Jun 2020 | Episode 38 How to Get More Time and Freedom! | 00:26:16 | |
What could give you more time and less stress? We're going to talk about setting up systems in your business. As beauty professionals who own businesses, we dream of making it big and making a difference in the people that we serve. We want to grow our business and as our business grows, more time and energy is demanded. If we are the ones doing all the work, getting burnt out is most likely on the horizon and that’s one thing we don’t want happening. A lot of us are still doing things manually, but nothing compares to doing things online. The process just gets easier. When we don't embrace systems, we slow down the whole process. Especially when clients keep pouring in and you are spread thin. This is how we become bottlenecks in our own businesses. The energy we put in, is the energy that comes back to us. We need systems to get things in place and we need help from competent people to run those systems. It is only when we offload ourselves of repetitive tasks and hire someone to do it for us, can we devote our time to growing the business. My virtual assistants and operations manager have done a good job of saving me time and allowing me to focus on my zone of genius. I know getting these systems in place can take some time, but it will save you time in the long run. Have you considered documenting your daily tasks? Try categorizing them in order of importance and consider which are costing you the most amount of time but return low value. The reason you do this is to determine which tasks you need to hire someone for. I want you to get this because when you value your time and your energy, you start to have more time, energy, and money. Not to mention...freedom! | |||
| 01 Jun 2020 | Episode 35 You Have A Moral Responsibility To Tell Your Story! | 00:25:53 | |
Why do you think people buy sports memorabilia? Why do they follow a sports team and buy hats, shirts, with their favorite team’s logo on it? Telling your story plays an important role in giving an impact to your audience. It has to be full of empathy since your story has a way of connecting with people. When you put out a message that resonates well with their pains, fears, and struggles... people buy your products or services. As beauty professionals, you have a unique calling in this world. You act as therapists for your clients and what better way to do your part in fulfilling your mission than spreading your message through your story so you can reach more people to help with their transformation. Since you have a unique way of serving people, you have the moral obligation to show up to tell your story repeatedly and consistently. That way you will start to build your audience, it may be small at the onset but that’s how things start. You might not know who you’re touching and reaching. But things don’t just stop at telling your story. It is not enough that they hear it. This is all about spreading your message and compelling them to take action to get the solution to start their transformation. You’ve got to be able to re-frame the way you think about selling because selling is serving and this has to be communicated in your story.
| |||
| 05 Apr 2021 | Episode 71 - Beauty Boss Series: How to be Fearless and Keep Evolving with Anne Marie Rubino | 00:38:00 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Summary: Anne Marie is the director and manager of Permablend. She is a special educator who has worked with children with Autism and their families. Parent trainer focusing on behavioral issues and behavioral techniques to create the home and family environment desired. What gives her the most joy is the time spent with her twin girls. Listen to Anne Marie as she shares her life's ups and downs. How she carried it with strength and grace is one thing we can all learn from and strive to attain. She shares the time she started tattooing and how she overcame the thought of perfectionism. There's no point in comparing yourself with other tattoo artists or beauty professionals, but instead, just hone in on your craft to be the best you can be. As a lifelong learner, she reminds us not to be afraid of failure. You can always fix things as you move along. She mentioned the evolving nature of permanent makeup and the tattoo industry to become mainstream for the public. Young artists who are just starting may not know what women before them have gone through and fought to have the industry they love today. She talks about where she finds the strength to get through life challenges like a divorce after a long marriage, coping with her sister's death, and losing other loved ones. She shares encouraging words to other beauty professionals on being fearless and being where their feet are. Allow yourself the grace of time and experience. She thinks women tend to compete with each other, not realizing that nurturing women to help each other grow creates more of a significant impact. Remember that everyone is going through something, and you never know if your kind words could change their life. Her biggest tip is having great mentors and a strong support system to get you through it all. It's an investment in yourself since no one should try to do it alone. You will always need someone, and we all have something to contribute. Even successful individuals have mentors of their own and see where it has gotten them.
- AnneMarie Rubino Topics Covered: 01:32 - Having the most beautiful and precious time with her twins
“I was so disheartened because I thought that I take so many classes, and I thought that I was just not doing something right, right, because I couldn't get the results that I wanted. And I think just persevering, just really continuing to hone in on your craft, and not really worrying about what anybody else was doing.” - Anne Marie Rubino “I feel like we always get better, we can always be better. There’s always so much to learn and I'm a lifelong learner.” - Anne Marie Rubino “I think once we feel like we've arrived, I think that's when we get in trouble. And so I think by continuing to have an open mind and continuing to learn from whoever is in your path, I think is always the best way.” - Anne Marie Rubino “I don't claim to know, I don't claim to be or do or know anything. I don't know if I don't know, I'm going to tell you that. If I don't know, I'll find out. And I'll make it that I know it now but I'm not going to pretend that I know it. I'm not as good as one artist. I'm not as bad as the other artist. I'm right here and it's my job to make myself better.” - Anne Marie Rubino “I think to give ourselves the grace to know that we don't have to be perfect. Yes, that was a big life lesson for me, because there were things that I wouldn't do when I was younger because I couldn't do them perfectly.” - Anne Marie Rubino “A friend of mine said, If you make a decision, and it's the wrong decision, just make another decision.” - Anne Marie Rubino “When people have to really think about and focus on other people, they also lose concentration on how to better themselves.” - Anne Marie Rubino “One of my colleagues here at work, his grandmother used to say, be where your feet are.” - Anne Marie Rubino
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 11 Feb 2020 | Episode 18 The Two Forgotten Marketing Must-Haves | 00:30:48 | |
Marketing has evolved over the years. Nowadays, when you look at any social media platform, you’ll find lots of online marketing tactics trying to capture and win your audience’s attention. As a business, we need to find innovative ways to reach to our audience, and often it feels overwhelming. But how to connect with them? How can I make my marketing message stand out from the rest? What strategies should I use to convert them into buying customers? Sure, there are lots of options to run through all these. But the real power lies in understanding the foundations of any marketing plan. This episode will guide you to two significant yet forgotten marketing must-haves that every beauty business owner should know. Deal with your struggles and get a dose of what’s hot and what’s not that can help you on your marketing plans. | |||
| 06 Aug 2020 | Episode 46 Critical Question to Grow Your Beauty Business | 00:34:07 | |
This year has been a rollercoaster ride for everyone and for everyone’s business. We get to choose whether we are seeing opportunities or cowering in fear of uncertainty. For those of us who want to move forward in our business, this is how we can face what lies ahead - by asking questions that truly matter in our business, in ourselves, and in our marketing. Answering those questions provides us a gauge on how to act on it. And by saying so, let’s start asking ourselves questions that push us toward our goals. How can we navigate through these times and thrive? What are the concrete steps I need to do to be able to gain more clients? How should I plan to show up for my clients? What am I capable of doing at this time? These are questions that allow you to become proactive. And this is good for raising your positivity meter. Think about your customer service. Have you done enough in this area? Ask - How am I making my clients’ experience of the service even more magical for them? How do I continue to serve them better? Am I truly helping them get the results that they want? Be obsessed with your success in creating success stories for them. It will only serve you better in getting testimonials and referrals. Marketing is also one big chunk of your concern. Consider your content creation. Think about the who, what, where, when, why, and how of creating it. Be specific with the message you want to be conveyed by taking into account where they’re at in their buyer’s journey - are they problem aware, solution aware or are they completely unaware? Also, learn to leverage your time. How can you do that? Learn to repurpose your material and turn them into different social media assets. Learn to verbalize your message to come up with effective marketing. Creating systems also helps you save time. Ask yourself when are you going to document the process of your business operations because in doing so you increase your efficiency as they become reliable and repeatable. Most importantly, ask yourself - What is my highest potential look like? What is that one thing I am capable of doing? What is it that I deserve? What result do I want for my business? Are my values aligned with my actions? The answers to these questions will get you to do unconventional actions that will get you results. And that’s what matters. | |||
| 06 Jun 2023 | Episode 141: AI to Transform Your Business with Cutting-Edge Technology | 00:38:01 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Do you want to enhance customer engagement and streamline processes in your beauty business? If so, I have the solution for you. By incorporating the latest AI technology, you can optimize your marketing and increase efficiency with your systems and operating procedures. Revolutionize your beauty business by leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to save time and increase your bottom line.
Topics Covered :
00:00:09 - Introduction to AI in Beauty Business 00:03:11 - Ethics of AI 00:05:01 - Using Chatbots 00:08:00 - Using AI in Marketing for Client Attraction 00:11:22 - Front-end vs Back-end uses of AI 00:14:50 - AI in Social Media Marketing 00:19:25 - Four Pillars of Social Media Marketing 00:22:00 - Importance of AI Education 00:28:59 - Introduction to AI in Business 00:32:11 - Using AI to Create Entertaining Content 00:35:33 - Conclusion and Future of AI
Key takeaways:
"We want to make sure that we are personalizing it and we want to make sure that it is working for us and helping us get clients, not turning clients off." - April Meese
"Imagine if you had your social media done in an hour. It's craziness. And that's what these tools are allowing us to do." -April Meese
Benefits of AI in Social Media Marketing AI-powered tools have enormous potential when it comes to enhancing social media marketing efforts. These tools can help create and distribute tailored, engaging content efficiently and effectively. Leveraging AI technology in social media marketing can help businesses save time, improve audience targeting, and produce high-quality content that resonates with their target audience. April Meese advises beauty businesses to utilize AI technology to streamline their social media marketing while maintaining core elements such as inspiring, engaging, and educating their audience. She also urges businesses to explore different AI-powered apps and tools that can automate content creation, such as writing, creating memes, simulating voices, or even generating avatars on behalf of the business.
Using Chatbots AI chatbots are a useful tool for beauty businesses to improve customer interaction and automate responses to clients' inquiries. The chatbots can be programmed to provide informative and personalized replies to prospective and existing customers, which can help increase customer satisfaction rates and foster stronger client relationships. April Meese discusses how beauty industry professionals can benefit from using AI chatbots as a way to save time, create effortless communication, and build trust with customers. Businesses can incorporate chatbots in their customer service process to streamline and enhance the client's journey, providing tailored responses and messaging that cater to individual needs and preferences. | |||
| 06 Feb 2020 | Episode 17 Goal setting for 2020 | 00:34:55 | |
Now that we’re done in identifying the upcoming marketing trends for 2020, it’s now time to do another critical yet powerful task for your business – goal setting. When you set your goals, you are getting countless benefits for your business – focus, direction, clarity, control, motivation, personal satisfaction, purpose, etc. The list is endless. With my mission to help you grow your business, I came up with this episode and workshop-in-one to discuss the highly regarded importance of goal setting. I’ll detail the three essential parts that you need to know, how to do and apply each step, plus the tried and tested tips and strategies that will work in reaching for your goals. I hope this will be a helpful and engaging activity for you. And oh, have your pen and paper ready since I’ll be asking you to write down a lot. | |||
| 11 Jan 2022 | Episode 98 How to Get More Repeat Clients | 00:38:18 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Do you find yourself worried about how you can keep a steady flow of income into your beauty business? Are you ready to find out how you can get more client appointments consistently year after year? Here's how these top beauty professionals, April Meese, Karen Betts, and Vicky Martin, fill their calendar, and get fully booked with repeat clients for increased income with less stress. Topics Covered: 01:34 - What it means to create an amazing experience for your clients Key Takeaways: "When I say experience, we often think of just our service, like the service that we are giving the client. Obviously, we want the treatment to turn out alright, as in the procedure to turn out beautiful, but I'm thinking about the experience from start to finish. When you think about your website, is it easy for them to navigate it? If it is hard, even if they love the service, they might not be able to book, and in today's society we give up easily." - April Meese "I tell my students that if they have an aunt or an uncle or a neighbor or someone, have them look at your website, and you don't say anything. You look over their shoulder and watch them navigate through your website and see – do they find it easy? Do they find it confusing? Ask them at the end why they clicked on what things. There is website software that does this as well. But you can even have a friend do it for free and just kind of get a different perspective of your website from a consumer or outside view." - April Meese "My tip is -- just have multiple and different reminders in your business to remind them of appointments to come in. Don't expect them always to show up and always remember; we have to really reach out to them, it's our job to remind them." - April Meese "It's all about trust; that's why they're going to book you." - Karen Betts "I'm constantly communicating with my clients. Every four to six weeks, I send out a really quick newsletter keeping my clients updated on what I'm actually doing. The reason why I do that is that I'm on their mind shelf. And I find I have an excellent open rate because my clients really love to know what we're up to and what we've been doing. So then they could even be talking about you to their friends, their family. And it really keeps them thinking about their appointments and thinking about you." - Karen Betts "I always say, just listen and think to yourself, 'What could I have done differently?' And what would I do differently for my next client to make sure that I really make her understand what permanent makeup is all about." - Karen Betts "My biggest tip to get repeat clients is -- just value your beautiful clients and let them feel heard and make the whole treatment as enjoyable as you can possibly make." - Vicky Martin "What I think our industry misses a little bit is that when someone's emotions are high, whether they're nervous or scared, you have this innate ability to help reprogram, which I am quite passionate about. The way Hypnosis works is, when your brain goes into a different brainwave, you can empower and we have that in our treatment room. It's so beautiful. And that's one thing I'm really passionate about; I want people to leave feeling like they are the most beautiful person in the world on the inside and the outside." - Vicky Martin Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 17 Jul 2023 | Episode 146: 2nd Most Critical Part of Marketing–the Headline and Hook | 00:28:04 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Have you heard these marketing myths strategies? Myth #1: Website headlines don't really matter, it's all about the content. Myth #2: Hooks are just “clickbait” and shouldn’t be used. Myth #3: Beauty businesses don't need strong headlines and hooks, their service/products speak for themselves. Now, let me share the truth with you. But before I do, let me ask you this: Have you ever read a headline and thought to yourself, “I have to know more about this?” Yes, and the same is true with reading a terrible headline and then you don't bother to read anymore. This is why the ability to craft compelling headlines and hooks is a skill not to be underestimated, especially as a beauty business owner. Your headline acts as the initial handshake, introducing your brand and offer to your potential customers. More than a mere part, it can single-handedly determine the success or failure of your marketing content, material, & campaigns. Moreover, the hook reels the audience in, providing a direct route to their hearts and minds where decision-making happens. In this episode, I give you specific examples for creating a well-structured headline and hook to grab attention and motivate your audience towards taking the desired actions - be it to click, buy, or simply read along.
Topics Covered:
Key Takeaways:
“The headline and hook of your marketing is what keeps people reading and engaged. Without it, all your efforts are wasted.” - April Meese
“Your headline is the first impression you make on your audience. Make sure it's compelling and curiosity-inducing to keep them interested.” - April Meese
“Two things that most people want in terms of marketing is to avoid pain and find pleasure. Both are leading to your beauty services, but they're going to attract people in different ways.” - April Meese
| |||
| 01 Sep 2019 | Episode 0 Beauty Marketing Simplified Trailer | 00:01:11 | |
Welcome to Beauty Marketing Simplified! I'm your host, April Meese. My goal is to offer weekly business advice, inspiration and some real-life behind the scenes, shady truth type of stories on how to grow your beauty business. | |||
| 05 Aug 2021 | Episode 85 Instagram and Google Updates With Video Marketing | 00:17:00 | |
What you'll learn from this episode:
Changes are inevitable. Many changes are happening around social media and these other platforms, as well as Google and Apple. Whether we like it or not, we must adapt to these changes so you can continually evolve, innovate, and grow your beauty business. These updates will affect the way our brand gets clients from a visibility perspective. Plus, the changes will affect how we connect, nurture our clients, and stay top of mind for our client's buyer journey. Make sure you listen to this episode to prepare for how these changes will affect your business, catch up with what's new, see what works, and implement for continued relevance with your audience. Topics Covered: 01:03 - The big news about Instagram everyone's crazy about
"As a business owner, we should be looking at that [Instagram update] and looking at these other businesses that aren't getting complacent with status quo and seeing what they're doing, how they're constantly innovating and how we can also be looking at our business and consistently updating our systems and our policies and our marketing." - April Meese "The CEO of Instagram named both Tik Tok and YouTube as those platforms that are stronger and growing faster than Instagram. And so from that, they are turning towards more video and that they are going to be less of a photo sharing site. And they're looking for more entertaining videos because they realize that that's what their audience is tuning into." - April Meese "Instagram has said that they are going to be changing the platform and they will be changing the algorithm and moving away from photos moving more towards video." - April Meese "No longer just hashtag strategy when before, the way to get found in Instagram was through the explorer tab, through a really strong hashtag strategy. And so now that is changing. They are saying that they're going to ask you what topics you'd like to see, and they're going to suggest different people to follow and things that you might like." - April Meese "They said they're going to use this next six months to try to figure things out. They're going to just test and see what's working. They're looking at the main two platforms, TikTok, and they're also looking at YouTube. And they're going to do those strategies and see what works." - April Meese "So they also said that this platform is or they're going to be focusing their energy on Instagram, as it goes through the changes in the next six months, for creators, for video, for shopping, and for messaging." - April Meese "The CEO of Instagram, he had said in his address that they will actually be going more towards shopping because they noticed that trend during the quarantine times." - April Meese "Google has said that they are going to change the way your website is actually being viewed. So all of your photos on your website and videos need to be optimized for mobile." - April Meese "iOS 15 is going to be how it affects your email delivery." - April Meese
| |||
| 02 Feb 2022 | Episode 101 Hiring Family Members and Working with Your Spouse with Ashley Gonzales | 00:59:02 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Have you thought of hiring a relative or friend to work with you to grow your business? Is it even a good idea to be partnering with them, or is it a disaster in the making with unseen pitfalls? In this episode, Ashley Gonzales shares how she created a demand for her beauty service eyelash business that led to turning clients away before she realized she needed to hire help. As the pandemic started, and when other businesses began closing, her spouse's barbershop business was one of those affected; with hers continuing to flourish, he decided to learn her business skills. Ashley was skeptical at first, but it proved to be a success in the end. In this episode, she openly talks about the struggles, overcoming challenges, and what changes had to happen in their business and personal relationships. Mrs. Gonzales also discusses creating a solid foundation to progress any business relationship. She shares how they have continued reaping win after win and are becoming a stronger team working to scale their business together. Topics Covered: 03:11 - Her strategy getting fully booked in just a year of starting her business
“I just feel like I'm always doing extra to make sure that I'm taking care of people to the best of my ability. I think that maybe that was kind of a strategy that I didn't realize that I had. But I've always kind of done pretty good as far as getting clients.” - Ashley Gonzales "I'm learning now that my' work hat' needs to be on at work. And then my 'wife and mother hat' needs to be on at home." - Ashley Gonzales "Before we'd be busy, I mean, yes, we were together. But we were busy doing our own thing; now, we are literally working with each other 24/7. And I am learning to let go of the fact that this is my business; it's now our business." - Ashley Gonzales "We have completely different love languages; his is quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, mine are more like acts of service and material gifts; totally opposite spectrums of the love languages. And so what he has to learn and what he's navigating through right now is that, yes, we're working together, but we're not hanging out together. Like work is work, and we need to work, we need to get things done." - Ashley Gonzales "Communicating, like, why you're doing what you're doing, and knowing the story behind your business has been really helpful for us, too. Because it's not just money, we're not just here to make money; we're here to make a difference. My ultimate goal is to make a difference in my community." - Ashley Gonzales "Take off the defense hat. For me, a lot of times, because it's my business, I tend to be defensive when somebody comes from a certain angle. A lot of times, they just don't know how to communicate in a way that's not going to hurt my feelings and not going to feel like it's an attack. If you can take that defense jersey off and just try to be compassionate." - Ashley Gonzales "When you can put compassion in, and really take the time to take yourself out of it; it just creates less hurt for you." - Ashley Gonzales "After 11 years of being together, we have grown stronger together. Because we've realized how much stronger we are together. Like our business has grown so much exponentially since we've worked together. And so we're realizing now that, hey, we actually are a good team, we need to learn how to work more efficiently." - Ashley Gonzales Connect with Ashley Gonzales: Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 30 Jan 2023 | Episode 127: Dealing with Disappointment & Frustration—Making change | 00:25:06 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
As beauty business owners things can feel out of our control, but we can only control how we respond to circumstances. Having healthy thoughts is required to keep going to reach your goals. But how to do that is often unknown. To start with, it is helpful to believe that everyone is doing their best and has good intentions. Then, you can have compassion for yourself and others. But take responsibility for your future self!!
Here is an episode for you in Dealing with Disappointment & Frustration.
Topics Covered:
1:40 – Business circumstances that lead to disappointment 3:11 - When other people let you down 4:50 - Self Disappointment challenges 7:17 - Stacking the thoughts and feelings of the letdown 9:30 – Two stories of the mindset of a bad situation 11:44 – “You cannot be sensitive and successful” - T.D. Jakes 17:36 – People love to advocate for their limitations 19:17 – Announcement of upcoming program 20:07 – Join our Free Workshop "Fully Booked Beauty Business" www.aprilmeese.com/booked
Key Takeaways: "Do not advocate for your limitations, do not argue for your circumstances and what they might be, look for ways that you can work around it, look for ways that you can have more empowering thoughts and feelings." - April Meese
"Business can be hard and it can be challenging, but the duality is it's also worth it, it is worth the effort." - April Meese
"Disappointment is real, and those feelings are valid and normal. You're going to feel all the feelings, and have all the thoughts. But then you have to say to yourself. What thoughts are going to help me more? I can't keep having these negative thoughts." - April Meese | |||
| 29 Aug 2022 | Episode 118: Learning to Pivot Your Business Model for Success with Beauty Boss Miriam Grice Richardson | 00:35:23 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Is imposter syndrome keeping you down, or you don't feel confident in your skills? Perhaps you have difficulty finding clients and making your expertise known. Miriam Grice Richardson is one of the UK's leading professionals in Semi-Permanent Makeup; Miriam is the trusted face of long-lasting beauty. With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Miriam is a pioneer in discovering some of the most refined and delicate techniques taught by skilled artists from all over the World. A champion in advanced aesthetics best practice, not only does she perform these techniques in her work, but she is also a trainer and mentor to other PMU professionals. In this episode, Miriam shares how she continuously evolved and grew her beauty business to have a 9-month waiting list of clients. Her willingness to remain flexible has helped her overcome challenges. She once doubted her skills and herself, but her commitment to constant improvement led to the business success she has today. Topics Covered: 01:35 - How Miriam's journey started in the PMU industry
"I just want to keep it simple. And focus. And when you focus on too many things, you spread yourself too thin." - Miriam Grice Richardson "As well as selling the treatment, you've got to sell yourself because someone buys into you -- your confidence, your skills, your experience, your ability, not just the product. - Miriam Grice Richardson "I think many people struggle with accuracy in the beginning; that just comes with practice. You can't beat practice." - Miriam Grice Richardson Connect with Miriam Grice Richardson: Connect with April Meese: | |||
| 21 May 2020 | Episode 33 Leveraging Your Time And Money | 00:34:08 | |
If you want sustainability for your beauty business, you need to leverage these two resources: time and money. We need to realize how closely connected time and money are and how these two help your business tremendously. In this new normal that we live in, all the more that we need to maximize resources to get our business thriving. You can always charge additional fees for PPEs that clients would be using when they get their services done, as well as, other sanitation and disinfecting measures you will put in place. You might be worried you are “nickel and diming” them but what you don’t realize people already understand the state we are in as other businesses are also doing the same thing and they are aware that these are happening. You can do traditional ways of leveraging money by putting it in stocks, real estate, IRAs, and a lot more. And for your beauty business, since you have clients who already booked with you during lockdowns as well as those who book after, prioritization is what you should think about. How to leverage money here? One of the ideas that you would want to give a try is having a VIP day for your customers wherein they would pay more for having access to you on a Saturday, the most in-demand day. Don’t be worried about their reaction, Disney World is having a fast pass for those who want to get ahead in line and maximize time to increase the number of rides one can get in a day. This one you can relate to your beauty business and I will talk about lengthily in this episode. As you can see, technology has helped us in ways we could ever imagine. Some helpful tools and apps speed up the process. Take advantage of them, more so, get online scheduling. You will find it interesting and beneficial you would think why you haven’t done it in the first place. It may cost you a little, but it saves you time talking to your clients about appointments and after-service self-care. Besides, this is one way for you to get reviews for social proof about your beauty business, which helps a lot. How about hiring virtual assistants? Don’t do everything all by yourself and pull yourself out from that hamster wheel. What will take you months figuring out your company’s logo will only take about a few dollars and time if you outsource it. Social management would be easier if you pay somebody to do it for you. That would be adding up time for you to focus on more business-building areas. Realize that sooner. You can always find these VAs somewhere. You need to have a system in place to have proper communication and expectations are met. Think of having VAs as an investment and not an expense. We have to remember, it takes money to get money, so use money, leverage it to make more time, and get more money. An abundance mindset powers us up to success. | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | Episode 107 Top 3 Keys for Beauty Biz Success | 00:32:48 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Does your business model align with your goals? Do you have the right system to support the accelerated scaling of your business? Are your business skills up-to-par with your current stage of business?
In today's episode, April discusses how to manifest your business goals. What influences our decisions? How will other people's beliefs affect ours? What are the actions we need to take to materialize our dreams?
Topics Covered: 01:40 - What to do beyond setting goals at the start of every year 02:56 - Introduction on the 3 keys to success based on studying Millionaires 03:54 - April's account of how she was able to raise her prices and improve her profits 06:02 - Understand the different stages of businesses for growth 07:49 - Your tribe can influence your vibe 10:29 - Dispelling the myth that you must work hard for money 14:09 - The 2 "universal truths" about money you need to know 16:16 - This is what most beauty professionals don't do that keeps them from making more money 20:47 - Steps for aligning your habits 21:26 - Doubling down on your strengths 26:53 - What it takes to create consistency in your marketing 27:46 - What skills are you lacking for the next level of business?
Key Takeaways: "This is also why having a community around you is so important because others will show you that they are reaching for their goals and achieving them, and then all of a sudden you'd think, 'If they can do it, I can do it!.' Having that support, that structure that somebody's pushing you to say 'Yes, you can do it' but also someone saying like "This is possible."--April Meese
"I'm constantly redefining my message. What is it that my audience needs to hear, feel, and believe to trust me for my services? You should be asking the same thing for your audience."--April Meese
"We stop in the hard part, and then we start something new. Because when you first start something, you have a lot of quick wins, you're having progress. And then when we stop when we get to the hard. And that's when you end up having a lot of half-built bridges. You can't get to the other side where momentum is." –April Meese | |||
| 19 Apr 2023 | Episode 136: Breaking down a marketing strategy | 00:37:35 | |
What you will learn in this episode:
Many beauty professionals and business owners share one common struggle. The constant complaint is that so many are overwhelmed with social media and marketing.
They’ve been taught that if they had great service skills and did good work the clients would just naturally flow in without any marketing needed. When they soon realize that marketing needs to be their MAIN job it leads to feelings of being overextended and burnt out each day.
The truth is, marketing doesn't have to make you feel overwhelmed or exhausted. The true definition of marketing is simply sharing your services (i.e. solution) with your ideal prospective customers looking to solve a problem and giving them the option to buy.
In this episode, we simplify the different marketing stages and client attraction steps, so that you can effectively evaluate what areas are lacking and where to focus your energy.
We'll identify areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement leading to more new clients and other successful outcomes.
Here is an episode to break down the marketing strategy for improving your beauty business.
Topics covered:
02:22 - Reviewing your marketing plan 03:33 - Tips for working quickly 06:35 - Understanding real lead generation 07:27 - Mastering audience attraction 07:57 - Analyzing the growth of your business 9:30 - How can you increase visibility 11:34 - Not all followers are buyers 12:10 - Building trust to convert prospective clients 14:42 - Thinking about what clients need and why 16:57 - Getting personal to serve the client better 19:13 - How to get more client sales 22:02 - Understanding the difference between urgency and scarcity 23:20 - The essential task to increase revenue each quarter 26:21 - Be creative in choosing a referral partner 27:46 - Five (5) critical questions you need to ask to grow
Key takeaways:
"Lead generation is not just about growing a following, it is not about how many followers I have, it is not about vanity numbers. Lead generation is how many people do I have their name and phone number or name and an email, so you could follow up or continue to nurture the relationship." - April Meese
"People need multiple touches with you and your brand. They need multiple times to hear about you, to see that you know what you are talking about, to build trust with you, and to build connections with you. To know the answer why they should come to you." - April Meese
"What is your unique selling point? What do you do better than anyone else? Different is better than better. If you do not know how you can uniquely solve their problem, or why they should choose you over the competitor, they would not know. And not only do you need to know, but you also need to talk about it." - April Meese
"Attract Beauty Clients in Less time with AI!" MasterclassClick the link to save a seat for the FREE Masterclass : | |||
| 22 Jul 2021 | Episode 83 How to Boom in the Treatment Room | 00:36:58 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
In the beauty business (and in life), time is your greatest asset other than your health. The more time you can save with each procedure, the more clients you can serve, and that means more revenue flowing to your business. How do you make all these happen and make the time-saving process a part of your daily system? In this episode, beauty artists and professionals Karen Betts, April Meese, Vicky Martin, Jill Hoyer, Mary Ritcherson, Sarah Gibbs, Liarna Jessica, and Ana Perrone joined forces to share their favorite tips, tricks, techniques, and resources. You'll learn how to shorten the time in the treatment room but still provide your clients the best service, so you both are happy and satisfied. Topics Covered: 00:57 - How to save time to serve more clients Key Takeaways: "I like to tell my clients that I'm going to do the five Ps. And those stand for prep, pictures, paperwork, payment, and then procedure. And I do that so one, I let them know what to expect, and so they realize I'm in control, and we don't start going off on lots of questions and down rabbit holes." - April Meese "If you press between the eyes like the third eye, that is an acupressure point that pushes actually on the nerve that runs to the sinuses, through the eyes and sinuses that makes you feel like you want to sneeze and so if you push right between the eyes, then that acupressure point will keep them (the client) from sneezing as well." - April Meese "As long as I can still see my design, I try not to over wipe the skin because the more we wipe, the more we can irritate the skin." - April Meese "My big thing is saving time. Time is our biggest asset; we can never get time back. For me in the treatment room, saving time means that I can get more clients so that I can get more revenue, as well." - Karen Betts "So my big tip for you guys is to make sure that you keep practicing drawing eyebrows and set your alarm for 10 minutes and see what you can do and see how we can actually see what you can achieve in that 10 minute time." - Karen Betts "I minimize my numbing creams. And the reason why I minimize my numbing creams is because I want a minimum amount of swelling. The less numbing creams you have, I always feel that your treatments can heal quicker." - Karen Betts "One of my rules to boom in the treatment room is just to set a standard and train your clients that actually their time isn't more important than yours and your time isn't more important than theirs. At least then you have this understanding, and you have a level ground where they know what you expect of them." - Vicky Martin "I do try to get as much in one pass, and I do work slow. I do I work because the slower that you work, the more pigment you get in."- Vicky Martin "I find using threads when you've lost your way and gauging what part of the ear the thread touches really helps to match it to the other side without having to sit the client up; it looks like you've lost everything. So you can just have a little mini flap behind their head, put that in. And that really, really helps me, and that makes my treatment a little bit quicker. " - Vicky Martin "Your speed, guys, slow means fast. So, if you slow down, you will get that pigment in quicker, and your pressure, while you don't need to have a strong pressure, I always say don't go too deeply. I'm very light in my pressure because my pigment will stay in there and minimum amount of bleeding." - Vicky Martin
"I have them come 15 minutes early just to fill out paperwork. And then I spend the rest of the 45 minutes basically (on procedure). If I'm spending more than 10 or 15 minutes drawing, I'll reschedule them because it throws a wrench in the rest of my day, and I can draw an eyebrow, so if they don't like my drawing, I'll draw it on, (& tell them) just wear it around for a couple of weeks. I'll see when you come back. I don't want to rush you. I want to make sure that you're 100% happy and comfortable with my design. I want you to feel happy, and I don't want you to be nervous about doing it." - Mary Ritcherson "I draw on my brows beforehand; I'll draw on the hair strokes. And that's not only just to save time, but it's also to kind of allow the client to see what they're going to get before we even start. So by the time we finish, there's nothing else to add, so they know what they're going to get." - Liarna Jessica Resource: The best microblading training and e-forms app by Ana Perrone. We recommend it to any microblading professional to download. It's FREE! Click here: https://microbladingapp.com/microblading/
| |||
| 16 Jan 2024 | Episode 156: Fresh Start Energy: Harnessing Momentum for Success | 00:24:20 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Happy New Year, beauty bosses! It's time to ditch the vague resolutions and get serious about your success with a concrete plan for profit in 2024. In this episode, April Meese dives deep into the power of a fresh start and how to transform that energy into a strategic plan that will drive your beauty business forward. She'll reveal the three critical parts to hitting your goals, and why just setting them isn't enough.
April will also guide you through the process of setting intentions with specificity and emotion, making decisions that align with your business vision, and preparing for life's inevitable curveballs. Plus, she's offering a free master class on January 18th to help you craft a tailored action plan for the first quarter. Whether you're looking to boost your income, streamline your operations, or simply find more joy in your work, this episode is your roadmap to making it happen.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to join April for an action-packed session that will leave you focused and ready to conquer 2024. Click on the master class link below and get ready to turn your beauty business dreams into reality!
Topics Covered:
03:31 - The allure of a fresh start and the psychology behind it 05:43 - The three parts of achieving goals and why specificity matters 07:54 - The power of assumption and aligning your goals with emotions 11:20 - Decision-making and how to create a plan that navigates obstacles 16:57 - The role of self-integrity and having your own back in business 22:00 - Invitation to the free master class for goal-oriented planning 22:36 - Embracing the new feeling state of accomplishing your goals
Key Takeaways:
"Write down your goals with the assumption that they've already happened. Tap into the feelings of having achieved them to release the energy of attraction and assumption." - April Meese
"Being decisive and having a clear plan of action is what separates those who set goals from those who actually achieve them." - April Meese
"Your business is a direct reflection of you. To reach your goals, you must become the person who is capable of achieving them." - April Meese
Here is the link for the Profit Plan Masterclass https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMscOuprTgtGdCTfwV7ZRFl1FjOaUq_u9Hb
| |||
| 23 Jan 2021 | Episode 60 BTS--Why I took almost 1 1-2 months off of Social Media | 00:10:25 | |
Summary: Year 2020 has put all of us in a situation none of us would have imagined happening. Business-wise, my beauty business shutdown as well as those of my students’ business. Despite what happened I still continue to find ways to help them with their business and myself, too. Since starting my beauty business, I have always been juggling family duties with work, but by the end of 2020, I felt my body was getting worn out. I had been sick with a sinus infection and hives from the family tension and anxiety that came about with quarantine. So I’ve decided to take time off from social media to create memories with my family and to get a clearer perspective. Even after a rough start to the new year I am hopeful and have a positive outlook for this year. Taking some time off gave me space and grace I needed. It helped me to get clarity about important matters and reprioritize. I have always believed that you have to build your life around your business and not the other way around. That’s what I did, I walked the talk. I’m hoping these revelations will help you, too, in any way possible. Tactics can only get you so far. I pride myself in teaching sustainable marketing strategies that give you the real results and built my business while raising twin toddlers. That’s why you want to go with leveraged marketing. As you know, Facebook and Instagram have changed a lot since even a few years ago and it takes a lot more effort and time to get clients organically. In order to help you with your beauty business, I will continue to show up for you on my Facebook Business Page and the Beauty Marketing Simplified Podcast with free content. You can also expect low-cost workshops to give you tools for quick wins and business boost. One thing for sure is, the best way I can help you most is when you get a higher level of support. Investing in yourself gives you significant changes in your business and makes you step up on a different level. I have seen the most progress in my students in the Elevate Your Beauty Business program and the Mastermind Excel-erate Program. I would love for you to reach out to me for a success strategy call and see how I could support you. Hoping for a fantastic 2021 for all of us! “It's important to build your business around your life, not build your life around your business. And I need to walk the talk. So that's what I needed to do. And I pride myself in teaching sustainable marketing strategies.” - April Meese Topics Covered: 00:55 - Why she took time off from social media and podcasting 02:37 - Finding that work-life balance 03:15 - Starting a business, helping beauty professionals, and becoming obsessed with their results 04:15 - Teaching her students leveraged marketing 04:34 - A wakeup call, getting clear and reprioritizing matters 05:43 - How to get a life and enjoying the process without overwhelm and stress 06:42 - Understanding and knowing that principles are permanent, strategies are sustainable and tactics are temporary 07:19 - What you can expect from April to help you in your business 08:03 - Invest in yourself - how April can help you the most
“I took some time off to heal my body to make some memories with my family and to get grounded on what's really important and focus on those things. And I gave myself the grace and space, to not worry about social media like I usually do, or letting people down because I said I was going to do this podcast weekly or not showing up on social media.” - April Meese “Principles are permanent, right, and strategies are sustainable, whereas tactics are temporary.” - April Meese “I appreciate you guys taking this journey with me as I share with you what I've learned and what's helped me grow my beauty business and my students. And again in that leveraged way, meaning we can still have a life and we can still enjoy the process without the overwhelm and stress.” - April Meese “I will continue to show up with free value both on my Facebook business page and my podcast, beauty marketing simplified with real guests and topics with tips to help you grow your beauty business, and maybe inspirational stories.” - April Meese “The strategies that I teach work for everyone, and I've had it work for people in other countries across the world and people at different stages in business. And it's worked across the board.”- April Meese “One of the things that became crystal clear to me is the way I can help you the most is with the higher level of support. And there's something that happens energetically when you invest in yourself on a higher level. That is when you get lasting results and significant changes in your business, you show up on a different level.” - April Meese Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 20 Mar 2020 | Episode 24 Is Your Beauty Business Prepared For Recession? | 00:29:46 | |
We are at a time where we feel the onslaught of the global downturn. The fear that this big C is gripping us with is evident. And when things like this that is one big global concern hit us, we can only think of two different camps of people that would emerge, one is, those that are thinking the sky is falling down and the other one is, those who are in denial. I, for one, can't help being concerned about this global phenomenon because I have two little ones I care about.
This is not to sound fear mongering or sowing seeds of panic. This global phenomenon has forced us again to enter into a period of recession. We all feel it. And we know this will have a big impact on our own businesses. As with previous recessions, Statistics shows that a lot of businesses close at this time. And it is more fitting than ever for me to talk about this topic now. Yes, we feel apprehensive about a lot of things these days but then, it is best to keep calm and not panic. There is much that preparedness can do and this episode is entirely devoted to making our business thrive amidst all this craziness around. As the saying goes “When the going gets tough, the tough must get going.” Now, Let’s get going! | |||
| 04 Mar 2021 | Episode 66 Industry Trends for Your Beauty Business with Marisol Medina | 00:37:11 | |
Summary: Are you learning to balance motherhood, family relationships, life, or any other challenge with running your beauty business? How do you rise beyond the struggles and keep moving forward personally and businesswise? Look for the opportunities in change and with hopeful eyes to see that there's always something new that you can do to adapt and thrive. The key is to focus your energy where you get a return on investment with less overwhelm. Listen to our guest and find wisdom in what she shares. Marisol Medina is the Microblading Hub creator, a digital consulting service for professionals in the permanent makeup field. She is a past journalist that fell in love with digital marketing. She loves teaching how to optimize your website, rank on Google, increase your overall visibility, and become less afraid of social media. Marisol talks about going through a marital breakup just when she was starting her business. In this episode, find out how she overcame many things to keep moving forward both personally and professionally. Just as everything is changing, social media's algorithm goes the same way. If social media is an overwhelming thing for you, find other ways to get your audience's attention instead. Time and again, everyone underscores the importance of mentorship. It pays to hire a coach, someone who will hold you accountable for the success you want for yourself and your business. The best in the world have mentors and coaches. Marisol talks about the importance of finding support to reach your beauty business goals faster and investing in advertising with Facebook or Youtube ads. Please don't get discouraged with other people saying they've tried FB ads and didn't work out. There are real-life examples of businesses that are scaling and doing well even amidst this pandemic with advertising. She also talks about her excitement with TikTok for growing your business, plus so much more is shared in scaling and growing your business: 1. Make your customers' experience as impeccable as it can be, and don't cut corners with customer service because people will know that something has changed. 2. Connect and network with people so that your ideas and knowledge won't age quickly, and you are continually evolving and moving forward. 3. Learn to delegate because the most significant transformation happens when business owners delegate. That way, you can focus on doing what you are best at, that is -- customer satisfaction with your service skills. "Opportunity is exciting, change is exciting. We can look at it through a negativity lens or look at it through hopeful eyes and see that there's always something new that you can do to adapt." - Marisol Medina What you will learn from this episode: 00:59 - A backstory of how she ended up marketing her digital strategies 03:49 - Personal struggle she went through while starting her business and getting through it all 04:25 - Juggling the roles of a mom, wife, and an entrepreneur with two businesses 07:23 - Two significant issues that need to be shifted to go forward 10:04 - Where to focus your energy instead when you feel social media is too much of a burden for you 13:34 - Trends she foresees coming 19:32 - Why investing in a coach pays you back 20:15 - How to look at change and navigate this new normal 21:56 - What's the number one thing you can do for your business to keep going 23:21 - Why the hesitation in doing advertising 26:33 - Make sure that the service that you are providing is perfect 27:51 - Don't be afraid to connect and network with other people in your space 28:49 - Biggest transformations happen when you start delegating things in your business
Key Takeaways: "If social media is too much of a burden for you, don't do it and focus your energy instead, on Google ads, or Facebook ads, something that is going to give you return on investment, and it's going to bring in clients without such overwhelm." - Marisol Medina "Invest in coaching, is my best advice. It helps so much to have someone on the side of your bench and helping you, listening to you, calling you, asking you how this and this and that are going, and keeping track of your progress and telling you, giving you ideas, and educating you." - Marisol Medina "You can look at something and be somber about it, or you can look at something and think about the positive things that can happen from it." - Marisol Medina "Invest in having someone on your side, who cares about your development as a business owner and your development as a person, your personal growth, and just establish that connection." - Marisol Medina "You can look at something and be absolutely somber about it, or you can look at something and think about the positive things that can happen from it." - Marisol Medina "There's always opportunity in change." - Marisol Medina "I would say, invest in advertising. I think that's a good thing to do. Anyone that's starting a business, investing in advertising is definitely going to help your business forward, especially now." - Marisol Medina
Connect with Marisol Medina:
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 27 Jun 2023 | Episode 143: Getting Clients with a Small Audience Following | 00:16:32 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you looking for effective low-cost ways to reach more prospective clients? Do you want to establish a strong connection with your audience for more client sales? Look no further! Video marketing is the solution you need. Creating engaging content through video is one of the fastest ways to build trust with potential clients. And with video, you can convey your brand's personality and values, and authentically showcase your unique services. Plus, through video marketing, you can reach a wider audience to increase your brand's visibility.
As a small beauty business owner, I know the challenges of creating engaging content that connects with your audience. That's why I am excited for the latest episode of Beauty Marketing Simplified, in which I'm sharing my secrets of building two six-figure businesses with a small social media following. Let's explore how video marketing can help you achieve your goal of building your beauty business with more client appointments and sales!
Topics Covered:
00:01:33 - The different ways to get brand Visibility,
00:07:58 - The most important type of content for building trust
00:10:03 - The benefits of live videos.
00:17:12 - The three pillars of authority attraction
00:15:26 - The tips to building trust with video marketing
00:15:53 - Sharing your unique perspective to increase sales.
00:16:06 - Your business growth challenge
Key Takeaways:
"It's not just any type of attraction. It's an authority attraction." - April Meese
"We're not just getting an audience to get an audience, right? We're not just trying to gather followers. This is not a popularity contest at all." - April Meese
"Reach does not equal revenue." - April Meese
"People want to hear about your solution and your unique perspective and that is what influences buyer behavior." - April Meese
"If they don't trust you and they don't see you as being different, as really having a unique solution to their problem, they're just going to price shop." - April Meese
“You have to build connection and trust before you can convert.” - April Meese | |||
| 07 Feb 2022 | Episode 102 : The Latest Instagram Updates 2022 | 00:27:35 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you up-to-date with the newest Instagram?
Have you been maximizing video on the Instagram platform to promote your services?
Have you been frustrated with the algorithm?
This episode will give you the low-down info of the Instagram changes to help your beauty business attract more clients.
Topics Covered: 1:06 - Instagram changes 2:59 - How context switching lose your momentum 4:01 - Filter's pros and cons 4:55 - IG for Kids 6:08 - Sensitivity Control 7:04 - Rage shake 7:42 - Creator Monetization 16:35 - Reels 18:12 - Algorithm changes 20:15 - Three new feed (3) options 21:53 - More recommendations based on the likes
Key Takeaways:
"When you are focused on something, and you take the time to move to another task, you lose momentum." - April Meese
"Be true to yourself but look at what works and model success." - April Meese
"Whatever you choose to go all in, it will work." - April Meese
"When you look at all of the changes with the platform, we only have so many hours in a day, and you want to look for ways in leveraging your time, look for ways to repurpose it, look for a big result." - April Meese
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 18 Jan 2021 | Episode 59: Quick Tip: The Importance of Niching Down in your Beauty Business | 00:06:36 | |
Summary: Many beauty professionals are so passionate about many things they end up with no results because they become a jack of all trades but master of none. Most successful brands/beauty professionals that you may follow started with one main service skill. After they mastered that primary skill, then they eventually expanded. However, many beauty professionals are scared that they will limit themselves when they narrow down to offering just one "thing" when they start their business. The opposite is true in that you have the chance to market your strength and become the go-to person at the top of your prospective client's mind. If you don't see any growth in your business, there are only two reasons for that: visibility and value. Make yourself and your brand known. Craft a marketing message showcasing your value to your target market. Let your marketing resonate well with your clients. One way to start the process is for you to niche down. Be the best at one thing first, be known for it, that instinctively, when people have a problem, they would think of you as the solution. "The goal with marketing is to help you stand out, not blend in, and niching is where you become that known person, that first person that comes to mind, that go-to person. That's key." - April Meese Topics Covered: 00:14 - Two reasons why you are not experiencing growth in your business 00:55 - Why the idea of narrowing down is scary to most beauty professionals 01:19 - What do successful brands you follow are known for at the start? 02:45 - Why many beauty professionals are doing everything with no result? 03:45 - What is the goal of marketing? Key Takeaways: "Odds are if you are not experiencing the growth in your business that you would like, it's probably because of two reasons, visibility and value, meaning that you are unseen or unknown, or that you are not able to convey the value of your services." - April Meese "When you have a focused area of expertise, what I call your signature service, that it's easier to get known. That's not to say that you don't do other services, but you are marketing your strength." - April Meese "You don't want to be the jack of all trades, master of none, you've probably heard the expression, you can do anything, but it's not wise to do everything." - April Meese "If you're not able to get the traction, it's that perpetual hustle mode instead of that focused momentum." - April Meese "Remember how you talk to a 20 or 30-year-old about their problem is going to be different than how you speak to a 40 or 50-year-old with similar but different concerns." - April Meese Valuable Resource: Join our Beauty Business Bootcamp, ‘How to Create a Vision for Your Beauty Business and Actually Achieve It’. Click here: https://april-meese.mykajabi.com/offers/2CGBFwh3/checkout
| |||
| 18 Feb 2020 | Episode 20 How to Get Past Perfectionism Procrastination | 00:22:53 | |
In our journey reaching our business goals, have you felt as if you’ll never get there? We hold ourselves back, felt paralyzed, and with little or no progress at all. Those things happen when perfectionism procrastination sets in our minds. We get so worried about getting perfect and getting everything right that it stops our business growth which could also impact other people’s lives. This episode talks about dealing with the more profound reasons that hinder our highest potential as beauty business owners. Tune in to this episode as I give you real talk on failing and learning, on dealing with fears and overcoming it, and on changing and impacting not only your life but the lives of many others. | |||
| 25 Feb 2020 | Episode 21 Social Media Changes and What You Need To Know | 00:31:50 | |
Nowadays, social media plays a massive role in the marketing strategies of every business. That’s why it is imperative that we understand, study and strategize how to utilize these social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This episode is loaded with in-depth and vital information that can guide you with the recent changes in social media. By learning these changes, you’ll maximize the use of these tools that will help you to connect with your potential clients and eventually, give positive and progressive results for your beauty business. | |||
| 05 Jun 2021 | Episode 78 Growing and Managing a Team for Your Beauty Business with Paul and Tussanee Luebbers | 01:06:57 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
For 13 years, Paul and Tussanee Luebbers ran Integrity Lash, a premier 7-digit lash salon in Southern California. Over the years, Integrity Lash was recognized by Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Magazine, Pasadena Magazine, Pasadena Weekly, Brides.com, and others as one of the best of SoCal. Salon Today chose Integrity Lash as one of the Top 200 salons in North America for four years. Now Paul and Tussanee host the top-rated podcast LashCast, as well as host training and webinars tailored for lash artists. The twosome aims to educate and uplift lash professionals on how to be better lash artists and competent business owners. Paul and Tussnanee founded The LashConference in 2019, and over the last two years, almost 700 lash artists have attended the event to learn how to market better and run their businesses. Aside from their training and events, they will be launching their coaching program soon to teach lash artists how they can achieve their business goals and build a business that serves them…instead of the other way around. When they aren't running their events or training, they also speak at trade shows like ISSE and IBS and lash conferences all over the states. In this episode, Paul and Tussanee share their real-life experiences in starting their beauty business, managing, and growing it, including the pains and joys that go with it. You'll hear an open and honest account of the lessons learned from their 'mistakes' and setbacks that made them stronger and better leaders. In addition, they share insights from what might at first seem like counterintuitive practices, but that is precisely why these strategies work. If you think you'll have it easy when you hire staff, this eye-opening conversation will make you think again. Find out the leadership qualities you need to successfully manage your team for a harmonious and prosperous beauty business. How do you deal with problems or negative energy in the workplace? Paul and Tussanee forge a sense of collaboration among their staff with their management style. You'll want to hear their approach to resolving conflict and making the most of difficult conversations. It's a great reminder that a lot is expected from you when you are a leader. Listen as they share with you essential tips before hiring your staff because knowing these key components will help keep your beauty business thriving and growing. "We really have a philosophy when we have staff that my number one job as manager was to take care of the team, not the clients, not anything else, take care of the team. I take care of the team, the team will take care of the clients, and the clients are taken care of. They take care of the business; it's a circle of life in business."
03:51 - How Paul and Tussanee's beauty lash business organically grew
Key Takeaways: "I have to say that one of the things that work about our relationships is because we are so united in our mission. I mean, here we have different jobs, but it's for the same cause, and it's really cool to be on the same team." - Tussanee Luebbers "I think the biggest thing is that most people think, Oh, I'm gonna hire people so I can make money in my sleep, passive income somehow. And the truth is when you at least first hire, and you're just starting out, you have to be ready to work more and make less, especially in the beauty world." - Paul Luebbers "You got to, sometimes just take the joy, the little things to celebrate because life's gonna beat the crap out of you at times. That's how you focus on, you're gonna be really discouraged, but take the small victories and pump them up." - Paul Luebbers "When you become a leader, you need to learn or know how to pull your team accountable. You need to be the one that holds the team and pushes them. Because when people aren't pushed we just kind of pull back, and we do the bare minimum." - Paul Luebbers "When we first hired, I was really learning to realize that we have to be servants first. That was the quality that we had to change." - Paul Luebbers "We say this: People, they don't leave companies, they leave you." - Paul Luebbers "You may think that you have a team, but if you compensate through commission, you don't have a team; you have individual players building their own businesses." - Tussanee Luebbers "You can't communicate when you're in anger because you're not thinking about what's best for the other person. You're only thinking about how you've been wronged or it's hard to serve people in the way that they deserve." - Tussanee Luebbers
Resource:
Connect with Paul and Tussanee Luebbers:
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 24 Dec 2019 | Episode 13 How to Deal with Customer Complaints, Bad Reviews, and Internet Trolls | 00:38:27 | |
Business owners work hard to get excellent and positive reviews for their products and services to earn the trust and loyalty of their clients. But, inevitably, it will not always go that way. In fact, part of running a business is getting bad reviews and complaints. No matter how you accept and prepare for these negativities, you’ll find yourself sad, frustrated, feeling-not-enough, defensive, etc. And nobody will question why you felt that way. That’s normal, and we can’t please everybody. But look at it from a different perspective that the bad review is not the problem. It is the result of a problem, and you can do something about it. Shift your focus on the reason why a customer gave a bad review. But first, you need to learn how to deal with those feedbacks, reviews, and complaints professionally. In this episode, we’re going to focus on how to respond with nasty customer comments, negative reviews, and internet trolls. Know the critical points to consider before replying, suggested scripts on what to reply to difficult customers, the implications when taking conversations off the public, and so much more. Plus, learn the pros and cons of having a Yelp page that can make or break your business. Stay tuned till the end and discover some exciting treats I have for you! | |||
| 26 Apr 2021 | Episode 74 Beauty Business Boss Series With Teryn Darling: Following With Your Gut Instinct | 00:56:08 | |
Join our FREE workshop and get consistent clients now! Click here: https://www.aprilmeese.com/live What you will learn from this episode:
Teryn Darling has been a cosmetic tattoo artist for over 20 years. Her background and experience in body tattooing elevated her to be one of the most skilled, versatile, and standout PMU artists in the industry. She owns the Girlz Ink Studio® along with her partner Kat in Las Vegas, where she proudly trained and now houses several top artists. She became the master distributor for LI Pigments® in 2011, and with that, she started and cultivated the Girlz Ink® Supply Store. She is a founding partner in Shades and Strokes®…the first and longest-running brow class to teach all techniques…powder brow, machine hair stroke, and microblading. She is a founding partner in Skinful Beauty®, producing some of the best and most innovative pmu products in the industry today. She is a founding partner in America The Beautiful® and launched the Girlz Ink Online Academy® last July. All this while still staying at the top of her game with her procedure skills, holding hands-on classes, and remaining humble and down to earth. She talks about LI Pigments, how she got the word out to market the brand to become known worldwide, and how it changed her life when she became the distributor of the line. Teryn talks about other ways to get the word out about your beauty services other than relying on social media. Thinking out of the box is the way to go, and she shares with us proven and effective ways to promote your services traditionally. Her leadership style has helped her keep a great vibe with her team of employees so that they want to continue to be a part of the business. She believes that for the artists to stay loyal, they must make good money and feel free in the workplace. No one is spared from any struggles and challenges in life. That's why it's essential to set boundaries and find your voice. She shares her inspirational story of how to handle adversity, as well as how she overcame self-doubt. Listen to her tell her #1 lesson learned over the years as an artist and what she passes along to other beauty professionals as words of wisdom. Hear her definition of success and what brings her joy and get nuggets from them that you can apply to your own. She leaves us a gem of thought to reflect on as we navigate the world of social media. "So I always wanted to relate to my artists as an artist. I don't put myself above them or below them, but I'm their leader." - Teryn Darling Topics Covered: 04:31 - What Teryn feels about her accomplishments 04:45 - How Li Pigments contributed to her life when she took over being the US distributor 08:50 - Her way of promoting Li pigments 11:38 - How she thought out of the box when she launched her first store 13:08 - Putting yourself out there and mentoring people helps in marketing Li pigments 15:53 - How she got her first clients 17:53 - Why you shouldn't rely on social media alone to market your beauty services 19:02 - How she manages her team of employees 23:51 - Her leadership style 25:35 - Lessons learned from her personal and professional struggles 37:01 - Talking about success, security, and complacency 37:28 - What success is to her 39:33 - People who have made an impact in her success 41:35 - What is there to look forward to with the PMU industry 42:46 - Favorite service needle, pigment, and machines 47:03 - What she's coming up with her product line 48:20 - Talking about a podcast 51:59 - What brings her joy? 53:05 - Her inspiring thoughts for everyone
Key Takeaways: "You learn, you figure out, Aqua today is not the same Aqua, as you and I knew it six years ago, even four years ago, four, three years ago, we made major changes to it, evolved it. Put it out there, own it, and be super transparent." - Teryn Darling "I think today that kind of stuff, the in-person stuff showing up at the doctor's office and getting booked, getting breakfast so you can speak in front of the doctor and the staff going to the salons, going out and meeting people, today, even with social media, I think it's still really powerful." - Teryn Darling "We're passionate, emotional, and we need to feel free, right as artists, so I knew that in order for my artists to stay because you want your artists to stay. They have to feel free. They have to have the room to make good money." - Teryn Darling "If you were to ask me my proudest achievement, my best achievement ever in my career, it would be my team. Without a doubt, I wouldn't even have to think twice about it." - Teryn Darling "Now, I know 100% that gut feeling, that is there by masterful design. That's our internal warning. And I listened to it now, I follow my gut now. I did not for a long time. Some of the worst situations I ever got in was because I didn't listen to my gut." - Teryn Darling "Building your confidence and finding that voice and setting boundaries is big for me now today." - Teryn Darling "I define success by peace, joy, feeling happy with yourself, time with my family, my partner, my animals, my friends. You reach a place of income where you can afford the things in life that are a necessity, like insurance. Trying to keep that balance." - Teryn Darling "With social media, use it for inspiration rather than comparison." - Teryn Darling
Connect with Teryn Darling:
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 01 Sep 2019 | Episode 2 Using Video on Social Media for More Clients | 00:20:28 | |
As social media becomes a necessity in our daily lives, it is also primarily become part of business strategies. There are various platforms to connect business owners with customers, to promote brand awareness, and to boost sales. But what is working on social media today? How does it work? Tune in to this episode as April answers this question that will help build your audience, get more clients, and ultimately, grow your business.
| |||
| 16 May 2023 | Episode 138: Building a business when life gets tough | 00:17:14 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
If you're like most entrepreneurs, you have faced personal and professional difficulties while building your business.
I believe that normalizing these challenges can help beauty business owners feel less alone and isolated, which in turn will improve your mental well-being. It is also wise to seek support and resources to overcome challenges and make informed decisions.
Moreover, acknowledging that negative emotions are okay can help you cope with stress, setbacks, and failures in a healthy way.
Here is an episode about building a business when life gets tough. It is indeed challenging, but not impossible. It requires prioritizing your well-being, developing a strong support system, and remaining focused on your goals. With perseverance and determination, you can learn from difficult situations and use them as opportunities for improvement in building a successful business.
Topics Covered:
1:59 - April's backstory 6:05 - Trying to numb the feeling is not the first solution 7:52 - Negative and positive thinking 9:30 - Acknowledging challenges 11:08 - Do this practice 13:59 - A growing business has each level of challenges 14:55 - Forecasting the future
Key takeaways:
"It's not healthy to deny the feelings or try to numb the feelings. Some people will numb it with drugs or alcohol. Some people will numb it with eating. Numb it with shopping, numb it with whatever, like distractions. Instead of just saying this is real. This is part of the experience and I should expect it." - April Meese
"I'm human. I'm gonna feel disappointed, I'm gonna feel sad. And then I'm gonna try to work through it. And so, I know that life is full of changes and all of the cliches, like the lows, help you appreciate the highs." - April Meese
"I could have gone to a negative space where I could have been like, life is never working out for me, things never work out. It should be different. I could do that, right? Or I could just say, this is all part of the experience. No one gets out of this life without some suffering and some challenges, especially when you are growing a business. Because if it was easy, everyone would do it right?" - April Meese
"Walk yourself through those emotions, and feel it and release it and sit with it and do all of the things that you need to do. But also let's just in general, let's just normalize the highs and lows of running a beauty business. It's challenging, even when it's going well. Growing each level has new challenges, right? Life doesn't stay the same." - April Meese
"Life is hard. Business is hard. You can do hard things, you are strong and we're all human. Don't have the thoughts that there's something wrong with you or you need to change in any way. And just know that you are on the right path and give yourself grace and space." - April Meese | |||
| 04 May 2022 | Episode 112: Omnipresence For More Clients | 00:16:42 | |
In this episode, you will learn:
Topics Covered: 1:02 - The number of exposures to your brand that is required for the prospects to become buying clients
"I always say focus on one platform and really get that going before you spread yourself too thin."---April Meese | |||
| 09 Apr 2020 | Episode 27 Sustaining Your Beauty Business | 00:35:30 | |
Facing this challenging time is hard enough and having a business to take care of requires an extra amount of your effort, time, and focus to sustain you throughout this tough journey. Nonetheless, given the situation as it is; being reactive would not help at all. One is encouraged to be proactive because when you become such there is more you can do to help sustain your business rather than contribute to its undoing. It is never a good idea to stop doing your marketing especially at this time when your clients and customers need your presence. This is the best time to step up your marketing. You need to be thinking outside of the box or else your business will suffer. And that is the farthest we want to happen now. There has to be a whole lot of marketing strategies and techniques we need to employ. It has been said that desperate times call for desperate measures but this is never to be the case at this moment. Don’t be someone giving in to emotional discount. Once you do, there will come a point that your business will become a cup that runneth empty. And you don’t want that at all, for you are in for the long haul. Your steps should be pointing out to that long term goal. This is the best time to do your discounts strategically. This episode is what exactly this is for. | |||
| 12 Jun 2021 | Episode 79 How You Can Prepare Your Beauty Business For The New Apple Privacy Changes | 00:20:03 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
With the new IOS privacy already rolling out, how might it affect your advertising and overall marketing strategy? From a personal standpoint, it is a good idea to have more privacy. On the other hand, looking at it from the perspective of a business that advertises, that's where the challenge lies. This new IOS privacy change affects every platform that uses pixels. This means that it will not be able to track the conversion of our potential clients the same as before if the prospective client decides to opt-out of the shared data. This could potentially affect the cost of ads, and acquiring a client will most likely get even more expensive. That's why you must look at your marketing strategy, your messaging, and your targeting. In this episode, I will share updates on the IOS Privacy changes, also known as the Apple Tracking Transparency Framework, what it is about, how to go about tracking your ad conversion, making the most of your advertising, and email systems. "With data privacy changes, the ad costs are going up. It means it's going to cost us more actually to acquire a customer. And that also means that we have to be more effective with our marketing strategy." - April Meese Topics Covered: 01:26 - How the IOS(Apple) privacy changes affect every one of the platforms Key Takeaways: “With these changes, you're still going to get ads in your Facebook or Instagram, in your feed, they just won't have your data and so they won't be able to track it.” - April Meese “From a personal standpoint, that feels good, less people know about our personal stuff and you mind your business. But from a business standpoint, like a small business, if you're doing any type of advertising, this can be a little bit tricky. Knowing what is being tracked and what's not being tracked is what's going to be key with this.” - April Meese “Instead of just sending them to just your overall general website, you would send them to a specific page, which is sometimes called a landing page or even a sales page. And the sales page is then designed not only to make sure it's answering all of their questions about your business and your services, that one service.” - April Meese Resource:
Connect with April Meese:
| |||
| 22 Feb 2024 | Episode 159: The Power of Mentorship: with Beauty Boss Jennie Hagerbo | 00:38:55 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you a beauty entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of growing your business? In the latest episode of Beauty Marketing Simplified, we're joined by April Meese and her guest Jennie Hagerbo, a permanent makeup artist and beauty esthetician who built her dream business while juggling family life and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Jennie's story is not just inspiring; it's a blueprint for success in an industry that demands both artistry and decisiveness. Starting her business in the comfort of her home in Sigtuna, Sweden, Jennie faced the universal doubts that plague many entrepreneurs: Will clients come? Am I good enough? Despite these fears, her business flourished, but she knew something was missing—visibility.
Enter April Meese, a mentor with a background in spa marketing, whose guidance was instrumental in Jennie's pivotal decision to move her business to a prime location. This move, though fraught with financial fears, proved to be a game-changer. Jennie’s business became more visible, and her appointment book filled up even more.
But the journey didn't stop there. Jennie's evolution as a beauty boss took another exciting turn when she began teaching, sharing her knowledge with aspiring beauty professionals. Her passion for helping others and her commitment to excellence has made her a excellent educator.
This episode is more than just a success story; it's packed with practical advice for beauty entrepreneurs at every stage. April and Jennie discuss the importance of mentorship, the power of social media, video marketing, decision-making, and the courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone. They delve into the nuts and bolts of business strategy, from client acquisition to branding and positioning.
If you're looking to transform your beauty business and want some inspiration, this episode is a must-listen. It's a reminder that with the right strategies, systems, and support, achieving your business dreams is not just possible—it's within reach.
So, plug in those earphones, press play, and let Jennie's journey inspire you to take the next step in your entrepreneurial adventure.
Topics Covered:
00:58 - Jennie's humble beginnings and the decision to move her business 03:31 - Overcoming the fear of visibility and the power of live video 06:50 - The transition from beauty services to teaching and sharing expertise 12:05 - The importance of listening to your intuition in business decisions 15:15 - Jennie's advice to her younger self and the impact of mentorship 20:47 - The future of Jennie's business and her goals for collaboration 24:06 - Final words of wisdom for beauty entrepreneurs
Key Takeaways:
"Sometimes the biggest step to take is the one out of your comfort zone. Embrace the discomfort, because it's a sign of growth and new opportunities." - Jennie Hagerbo
"Mentorship is not just about receiving guidance; it's about taking action on that advice and owning your journey to success." - April Meese
"Your business decisions not only shape your career but also serve as an example for others, especially when family is watching. Lead with courage and confidence." - Jennie Hagerbo
Remember, the quality of your life and business is directly tied to the questions you ask and the actions you take. Are you ready to ask better questions and take bold actions? Join April and Jennie for an episode that will inspire you to do just that.
| |||
| 29 Jul 2020 | Episode 44 Interview with Heidi Henderson: Learn how this Inspirational Mother of 8 Went from Broke to Booming in her Beauty Business | 00:44:20 | |
How would you feel if you reached a point when what fuels your business is pocketed from your household’s grocery budget? If that is not enough to imagine it, add this...you have 8 mouths to feed and you are a solo parent. AND you are full of self-doubt and wouldn’t consider asking for help from anyone. Meet Heidi Henderson. This was her reality, but as fate would have it, she betted on her only chance at turning things around for her and her children. Let’s hear her story with the Elevate Program. Heidi Henderson, RT, CRT, is a permanent makeup artist and Paramedical Tattooist in Bakersfield, Ca. where she owns a “New You Permanent Makeup.” After many years in the medical field as a Respiratory Therapist and Neurological Rehabilitation aide, she decided to open her own business and join the ever-growing field of aesthetics with a focus on helping cancer survivors and trauma victims complete their reconstruction with Areola tattooing and scar camouflage. She enjoys spending her spare time with her children and working on gardening and DIY home improvement projects. Let’s listen in to Heidi as she recalls her life before the Elevate Program, being that insanely introvert human being with a business that’s “circling down the drain” and how it was transformed into something not even herself could begin to imagine. | |||
| 12 Nov 2021 | Episode 93 Creating a Black Friday and Cyber Monday Holiday Special | 00:30:42 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
| |||
| 27 Jan 2020 | Episode 16 Upcoming Marketing Trends for 2020 | 00:18:44 | |
The start of a new year is the perfect time to look back and assess what worked and what didn’t work in your business, and make new plans to meet your goals. An essential step in achieving your business goals is to focus on which marketing trends will make 2020 your breakthrough year. Understanding these marketing trends at the start of the year will enable you to make sound business strategies and grow your business optimally. In this episode, I will share the marketing trends that you need to know about in 2020. | |||
| 20 Nov 2020 | Episode 57 Asking Better Question For Your Beauty Business | 00:17:58 | |
Asking important questions that concern your beauty business peel off layers of more important issues that need to be addressed. It will not only help you dig deeper and deal with what matters most but that it will help you move closer to your goal easier and faster. You must be always on track to where you are supposed to go and asking these questions helps a lot. The questions you ask yourself matter a lot depending on what stage in your business you are in. If you are just in the beginning stage, what concerns you most is getting clients in. What are clients thinking about, what are they dealing with now? How to overcome the client’s objections to your service? Which leads us to ask, what stories do we need to be telling them to take action and get past those objections? This brings us to the idea of social proof, which is putting out there success stories of people you’ve helped with in the past. This is how you build brand visibility that is making more buyers and not just followers. It is also important to ask how you want your future with your business to be like. What should you let go of to focus better on something more rewarding? It‘s helpful to imagine yourself already at the top of success, try asking yourself what you created to be able to reach there? What strategies did you employ that worked for you? What systems did you set up in place to make things efficient? Less is actually more. Try to declutter your marketing strategy. Doing more in your beauty business sometimes doesn’t make sense. You just need to focus on the one that works and do more of that. That which you put your attention more grows. Be sure to find out which will bring big returns to your investment. | |||
| 12 Sep 2023 | Episode 150: Business & Financial Planning for the Long Term: Interviewing Beauty Boss Leann La | 00:53:22 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Our guest, Leann La, a highly experienced permanent makeup artist and beauty boss joins us to discuss the importance of understanding the business side of being an artist and taking risks as an entrepreneur. She is a permanent makeup artist extraordinaire, who has performed over 15,000 procedures and coached over 8,000 artists worldwide.
In this episode, we dive into the key strategies and elements to growing and scaling her successful beauty business. We discussed the risks she took and the lessons learned along the way. You’ll hear about the importance of sound financial planning and investing for entrepreneurs. Truly eye-opening!
Plus, Leann La shares her experience with running a business with family members. From the importance of shared visions, mutual respect, and open communication to self-awareness, this episode is packed with valuable wisdom you won’t want to miss.
Topics Covered: 00:29 - Introduction to Leann La's background and accomplishments 01:35 - Starting a beauty business with family and finding your passion 07:39 - Transitioning from artist to teacher 09:55 - Focusing on how to improve 10:54 - Lessons Learned from the different aspects of running a business. 14:14 - The challenges of scaling a business, finding balance, and delegating 16:35 - Building a team 17:40 - Seeking feedback to improve 20:02 - The importance of taking risks 28:01 - Facing financial challenges and the importance of money management in the beauty industry. 30:30 - Investing, and long-term financial planning for retirement. 31:44 - Exploration of a beauty business exit strategy 32:38 - The challenges and benefits of working with family members 34:54 - Utilizing individual strengths in a partnership 36:07 - Trust and accountability 40:41 - Aligning goals, being supportive, and staying focused on personal vision. 42:44 - Advice to Younger Self 51:10 - Upcoming projects, online education, and mentorship 52:28 - The value of spending time with loved ones.
Key takeaways:
"Anything great is going to take time. I know sometimes we see things on social media and it looks like everyone did it overnight. But it doesn't happen that fast you have to be patient. And as long as you're passionate about what you do." - Leann La
"You might not jump for joy after you take training, it's going to challenge you. It is natural to have doubts, like, "This is harder than I thought", or "I don't know if I can do this". Just keep going because you don't know how your life can change." - April Meese
"No matter how long you've been in the business, you're going to experience so many ups and downs. I've learned so many different things. As far as teaching. I've learned that as a trainer I need to always also be a student, there's no stopping me when it comes to education and training. Sometimes people get into the industry and they think I'm gonna take my first training and that's all I need. But it isn't that way. I find that a lot of the top leaders in the industry are also the ones who are constantly taking classes, constantly educating themselves, and constantly getting mentorship. And I think that's so important. It's kind of like what you do, April. You're a mentor to so many other permanent makeup artists out there. And what you do is so important because sometimes we learn to be artists and we have no clue how to run a business, right? We have no clue how to market our business, have no clue how to even make sure we're doing things legally. It's so important." - Leann La
"As an entrepreneur, I always want to at least know a little bit about marketing, a little bit about the different operations and business side of things, because when I hire somebody to put them in that position, I want to make sure that it's the right person and that they're doing their job. If you don't know at least the basics of things, you may have no clue if what they're doing is helping your business." - Leann La
"Once you learn to get some of that help whether it be hiring somebody or nowadays you can get a lot of help, just not even having to do like hire a full-time person, right? And hire an assistant for a shorter period, just like a virtual assistant and things like that. I feel like that was important because you can't go at 110% forever. You have to know that at some point you're going to crash if you keep doing that to yourself. So one of the things I learned was just really to delegate certain tasks and continue doing the things that I knew I was good at, like building on my strengths and making sure that I got help for the things that I wasn't as good with." - Leann La
"I know sometimes we like to hear all the good stuff like "You're doing great!". But honestly, I think getting honest feedback, whether it be from your students or I sometimes have my employees sit in on my classes so that they can give me feedback. Because sometimes you're teaching and you don't know what you're missing and people learn differently. People learn visual hands-on like there are so many styles of the way people learn and I wanted to make sure that my class incorporated all those different learning styles. So just really important to mostly get that feedback so that you can improve.- Leann La
"There's going to be moments when you're going to have to show up more than your business partner, or he or she's going to have to take on more than you do. And you have to be okay with that. It's not like, Oh, what is he doing? And what am I doing? You're not keeping tabs on each other. I think it's one of those things where you just do because you care about your business, where it is going, and what I need to do to keep the business strong, rather than what my partner is doing." - Leann La
I do feel very blessed that I was able to get through it because I know a lot of businesses couldn't, but it really woke me up. It made me feel like, gosh, if it happens again, can I sustain it, you know?"- Leann La
Fusion Artistry - Website: fusionartistry.com
FREE 3-Day Workshop~Beauty Business Waitlist Sign up here www.aprilmeese.com/clientwaitlist
| |||
| 13 Oct 2021 | Episode 91 Denise Baldwin--Elevate Student Journey and Success Story | 00:31:26 | |
What you will learn from this episode:
Are you a one-woman show juggling everything all by yourself but not growing your business? Do you keep spinning your wheels, and nothing seems to work? Are you a beauty professional or artist who's stuck and doesn't know what to do next? Do you want to belong to a community of like-minded individuals who share the best industry practices, encourage and inspire everyone to do what's best for their beauty business? Do you want a proven and repeatable system to attract clients and continually grow your beauty business? Our guest for today's episode, Denise Baldwin, a PMU microblading artist, shares an insider's first-hand experience of how she took a leap of faith in joining the Elevate Program despite many hesitations about the course. She tells of how she found the Elevate Program having its weight in gold. Added to that is the nurturing and supportive Elevate community that she found herself in, how she found friendships that turned into good business deals. Best of all, she found a way to network and partner with people, not work as hard as she used to but earn and grow her business so much more. Talk about building confidence, thinking, and believing you can do it -- those are some of her big wins. Topics Covered: 01:33 - What got her into the beauty industry, particularly in the permanent beauty industry? Key Takeaways: "I loved the Facebook group being able to do FB live online. That's a big fear; you're thinking you're going to be judged, what do I look like? Am I going to stutter? And you know, we have the opportunity to do that in that group and get feedback that hones in feeling better about ourselves, which will build us up." - Denise Baldwin "With the Elevate Program, I liked the psychological part of it. A big aha moment for me was pricing. It's pretty legit; that's how our minds think. So it's a good implementation into your business and pricing structure if you're stuck or you don't know what to do." - Denise Baldwin "Straight out of the box, I didn't want to sound too woo woo but I mean, how the whole getting out of your way and really trying to do it. April's support and clubhouse and those words that she says and then all the support that she has with her being so you don't feel you're up here, and we're down here." - Denise Baldwin "I used to hang on every word during COVID. I would listen to your[April] podcast, and I was like, just getting really motivated in an unmotivated time. That's what I liked, because I'm like, okay, Denise, keep going, keep going. And that's what touches us. It's not like you're out there to just sell a course. I never felt that way about you. You genuinely want to help. And that's a biggie." - Denise Baldwin "If it wasn't for Elevate, not just that you learn. It's the other side, which is the confidence and the building of knowing you can do it. And it's not just those words, because everybody says that you can do it, keep going. That's great. You need something else, especially right now, so hard. There are so many artists, there's so much comparison, it's incredibly ridiculous. So with just having that nice little feeling of what you have to offer, and now the friendships that I've made with these other women is amazing." - Denise Baldwin Resource: Grow your business with a proven and repeatable system. Check out the Elevate Program now: www.aprilmeese.com/elevate. Program closes 10/13/2021 at 10 pm PST Connect with Denise Baldwin: Connect with April Meese: | |||