Getting and Retaining Clients as a Freelancer in 2023
Starting your own freelance business can be both exciting and daunting, but with the right strategies, you can secure and retain a loyal client base. In 2023, we'll guide you through useful tips for acquiring and keeping clients.
Start Locally
When embarking on your freelance journey, begin by tapping into your local network. Let your friends, family, and acquaintances know about your new venture. Offer them an initial discount, and consider implementing a referral program that rewards them for spreading the word.
But what's even more powerful than referrals? Testimonials and reviews. Maintaining an online presence is vital, as it ensures that potential clients can discover you and read about the quality of your services 24/7. Encourage clients to leave reviews on platforms like your business Facebook page or Google listing and ensure you respond with gratitude.
Top Tip: Request clients to leave reviews on various platforms, and maintain a responsive online presence by thanking them for their feedback.
To maximize your online presence, explore local business listings and Google listings. If you don't have a website yet, consider platforms like Squarespace and Wix, which offer user-friendly templates and often provide free trials. Alternatively, you can seek web designers through platforms like Fiverr, ensuring your online presence is professional and appealing.
Building Loyalty
Once you've established a steady client base, it's essential to maintain regular communication with them. Utilize emails and newsletters to keep clients informed about your latest offers and updates. Platforms like Mailchimp offer reliable services with pricing options to suit your budget. Ensure you have a GDPR policy in place to inform clients about data usage and security.
Top Tip: Include a newsletter sign-up form on your website to capture new customer data for future marketing campaigns.
Social media is a powerful tool for immediate communication and for attracting new clients. If you're looking to expand your clientele, engage with relevant online groups or communities on platforms like Facebook. For example, if you offer bridal services, join wedding and event-related groups and participate in discussions.
Top Tip: Encourage clients to tag you in their social media posts showcasing your work to expand your reach and credibility.
Getting to Know Your Clients
Building a loyal client base involves more than just offering services; it's about understanding your clients' needs. Take the time to get to know them, ask questions, and above all, listen. Are they concerned about sustainability? Do they prefer vegan or natural products? The better you understand your clients, the more effectively you can serve them and prevent them from seeking services elsewhere.
Cancellation Policy
In the event of a client cancellation, consider creating a cancellation policy. This policy outlines the terms and conditions of cancellations and can help you manage unexpected schedule changes effectively. For expert advice on crafting a cancellation policy, check out our blog.
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Choosing to go freelance could be seen as a scary move, yet it could also be one of the most freeing decisions you'll ever make. Here, the director of the freelance hairdressers' association (FHA) Sheila Abrahams, discusses what life might look like as a freelancer.
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Consultations are not only a legal requirement before treatment, but also an opportunity to discover what your client wants, along with possible contraindications, and achieve the perfect end result.
Freelance Focus, is a one stop resource for anyone working as a freelancer or thinking of going freelance in the hair & beauty industry, which includes a FREE downloadable guide filled with advice, useful insights, experiences and tips (from experienced freelancers) to help you understand the steps needed to make the right choices for you.
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Privacy Statement
This privacy policy sets out how Capital Hair and Beauty Ltd (CHB) uses and
protects any information that you provide when using the
capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk website or otherwise provide CHB with your
personal information.
CHB is committed to protecting your privacy. If we ask you to provide
certain information by which you can be identified when using the website,
you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this
privacy policy. We treat all your personal information as fully
confidential and do not pass your information on to third parties without
consent unless legally required to do so.
By providing us with your personal information, you agree and consent to
its transfer, processing, use and disclosure as outlined in this privacy
policy. This policy does not apply to data you place on any publicly
accessible page. For example, when you submit a product review.
CHB may change this policy by updating this page. You should check this
page from time to time to ensure you are happy with the changes. This
policy is effective from 21st May 2018.
What personal data will be processed?
When you shop on this site or in one of our stores, personal information such as your name, email
address, phone number, invoice/delivery addresses, type of business and, where applicable the IP address used
to connect your computer to the internet are collected by us. This data
enables us to process and fulfil your order or transaction. We also ask for your mobile
number, which helps us (and courier companies working on our behalf) to
contact you if there’s a problem with your order.
Other information we collect
We may collect technical information regarding the type of electronic
device used, such as the make and model, operating system, internet browser
and also which pages of the site are visited and for how long. This is
statistical data about our users' browsing behaviour and does not identify
you personally. Debit/credit card details are entered on secure pages
hosted by our payment service providers, whether this be Secure Trading or
PayPal, this data is stored securely on their servers, we do not have
access to this. Where card details are given for payment processing over the phone, we do not record or store these details.
We also use CCTV in our stores for the security of our employees and customers.
How will we process data?
Personal data collected is used in the processing and delivering of orders.
Names, email addresses, mobile numbers, postal addresses and business type
may also be used to send you marketing communications (if you have opted in
to receive them). You can opt out of these at any time by visiting ‘my
preferences’ in your online account.
Browsing behaviour data is collected and analysed to see how well our
website is performing on a variety of electronic devices and internet
browsers.
We also use this data for remarketing in conjunction with Google, which
allows us to display adverts to you on third party websites after you have
visited our website. To opt out of this please visit Google’s ad settings.
Who will process data?
Personal data is stored on secure servers, separate to the website server.
We may share this information with third party service providers employed
by us to perform functions on our behalf, such as courier companies
delivering orders, mailing companies sending postal mail, email service
providers sending emails and texts (SMS) and payment service providers
processing payments. PayPal transactions are subject to the PayPal privacy
policy.
We may also share certain data including email addresses (if you are opted
in to receive emails from us) with third party social media platforms in
order to show you targeted ads when you visit them. Third parties such as
Google use cookies to store browsing behaviour data, which enables us to
use their remarketing services. Please refer to our cookie policy for more
information.
Why are we processing data?
We require this information to provide you with a service (processing
orders), it also helps us to ensure that content on our sites is presented
in the best way for you and the electronic device used to access the
content. To send you information regarding our products or services (if
requested by you), protect you and us against fraud and to notify you about
changes to our service.
When will data be processed?
This data will be processed when your order is picked, packed and
dispatched by our distribution centre, or if you enter a competition or
free prize draw. It will also be used every time we send a marketing
communication, if you have opted in and the communication is deemed by us
to be relevant to you.
Any user specific browsing data will be retained for 26 months after you
last visited our site, after which time it will be deleted.
Unsubscribing from marketing communications
To unsubscribe from marketing communications please visit the ‘my account’
section of your online account and select ‘my details and preferences’. You
can then change your opt in preferences for email, text and post.
Alternatively simply click on the unsubscribe links that are sent out with
each email/text or get in contact with us.
Right to access your data
You have the right to request a copy of the data we hold about you, or to
have your data erased in certain circumstances. Please contact us if you’d
like to request this. Please note that depending on your interactions with
us, some data may need to be retained due to legal requirements.
This policy was last updated on 23rd May 2018
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