Blog | thepaidstylist.com

Creating A Newsletter, Part 3

Comment

Have you ever had mentors who told you over and over again to do something they knew was good for your business, but you refused to do it time and time again?

When it came to creating and distributing a newsletter, I was hit over-the-head so many times I swear there’s a permanent bump at the crown of my head.

I’m sure I hold the record for making every excuse under the sun in order to avoid the whole newsletter thing: I don’t want to annoy people. I don’t know when to send it. I’m putting together a strategy. I’m re-working my strategy.

My all-time favorite: I’ll send out a newsletter when I figure out how to promote my services without feeling and sounding sleazy.

Then one day, I ran out of excuses and had to come face-to-face with the whole newsletter thing.

In today’s video, you’ll learn the TWO mind shifts that helped me just get over it already and helped me to realize why my mentors recommended this marketing tool so much.

In the video above, I mentioned a newsletter workshop I created for you. Go here to check it out. It’s free.

As always, thank you for being here. Until next time, here’s to your styling success!

xo,

Michelle
Creating A Newsletter, Part 2

Comment

When it comes to creating a monthly newsletter, or as I like to call it a Style Tip Sheet do you find yourself saying to yourself:

WHAT exactly do I say in my newsletter?

In today’s video, I talk about how to provide great styling advice to your communities that you will love to create and cheerfully share with your communities without an ounce of shame.

When you provide a subscriber with information that is receive only through your Style Tip Sheet, it’s a good idea to provide her with style morsels she easily gets and tries on her own so that she feels like you’re in the closet with her.

The Power of Three. Try your best to not overwhelm our community with too much style. Keep your amazing styling advice to three so that she can quickly read it, remember it and apply it.

Until next time. Here’s to your styling success!

XO,

Michelle
Creating A Newsletter, Part 1

1

This week, I would like to answer a question around a piece of marketing that often times…okay, like all of time, gets a bum rap.

The Newsletter.

In today’s video, you’ll learn how I wasn’t always a fan of the good ol’ newsletter, until I realized the truth behind creating and delivering one.

Where does a girl start? Use the steps below to help you get started in adding a newsletter into your marketing mix.

Get it out of your system. Let’s start with getting every gross thought of newsletters out of our minds and instead fill them with lovely thoughts of creating and providing not a Newsletter, but a great Tip Sheet. Ahhh! Now doesn’t that feel a whole lot better?

Morsels of styling goodness. There is no doubt in my mind that you have loads of amazing advice to share with your community. However, your Tip Sheet is not the venue to provide so much information that she will feel like there is too much to learn in order for her to get it right. When creating your Tip Sheet, provide 2-3 tips that are between 3-4 sentences each and that are hyper specific to her style needs.

Consider the Tip Sheet I send you every Saturday morning. There are only three sections in the body and each section is a quick-ready but action packed with attainable tidbits.

Nix the technical. While you and I understand and adore what the runways showcase or what the Pantone color of the year is. Most clients…kinda don’t. They want to get practical, how-can-I-use-this-today advice from you.

So if you lead your Tip Sheet with something like, “Trends from the Catwalks of Paris” there’s a high probability that clients will fill up with anxiety and make a mad dash to the Unsubscribe link.

I would love to help you with the first step in adding a Tip Sheet into your marketing agenda.

In the comments below, let’s get our nasty thoughts of a Newsletter out of the way and then write how we will create an amazing Tip Sheet that your clients will love to receive.

I know this might seem a little silly, so I went ahead and wrote the first one.

Until next time, here’s to your styling success.

XO,

Michelle
Selling Services Individually or Packaged

Comment
Have you ever wondered if you’re providing the correct personal styling services in your business?

Or, if there was a special way to convince your clients to buy a particular styling package because you know that it’s the best solution for them?

In today’s video, I help a Stylist streamline her service menu so that she offers services that provide her clients the best results.

Here’s how you can easily streamline your styling menu…

Head to your Services page and make a list of all the services you’re currently offering.

Then, group the services that have a step-by-step to it. Think of it as a styling conveyor belt.

After you’ve grouped your services, take a look at the services remaining on that list. Are there any in there that can enhance the package you just created? An example of this would be a makeup or undergarment consultation. Add these to your styling package and call them a bonus. (Who doesn’t love a bonus, right?)

Next, figure out how many hours your new package will take to complete and bravely give your new package a value. (It’s okay, girl. Give it that price. You’re worth it.)

Add your new package to your Services page and remove all other services that didn’t make the cut.

Finally, promote your new package to your community through social media and your newsletter. Bonus points if you send a personal email to all of the people who have contacted you about your services but never booked. You may be surprised to hear their response to your new styling package.

In the comments below, I would love to know what type of styling conveyor belt you created in your business.

Thank you so much for being here, I’ll see you again next week.

Here’s to your styling success,

Michelle
From Free Advice To Charging For Advice

Comment

Have I ever told you the story of the girl who thought it would be cool to charge for styling advice she was providing all of the time for free?

Here’s the thing, this girl didn’t want just any personal styling business that brought in money here and there. This girl yearned for a business that looked the part. Talked the part. Didn’t embarrass her. Plus, made a consistent stream of income.

That girl’s story is my story.

I knew there were people out there who would cheerfully pay for someone to finally help them have a wardrobe they loved and I was determined to figure out how to do it in a way that was loving, educational, and most importantly fun!

I’ve taken what I’ve learned and turned it into a super focused program that shows you how to convert your amazing styling advice into a personal styling business that looks and talks the part from Day 1.

In today’s video, you’ll know exactly how I can guide you from wanting to have your own personal styling business to actually having it.

It would be amazing to get to know you and help you have your own business soon! http://StyleNowProgram.com

Here’s to your styling success,

Michelle

P.S. Before I forget. I will not host another Style Now Program until FALL 2013. If you want to launch your personal styling business sooner than later, then I’d sign up for the session starting this Monday, April 22.
Am I Narrowing My Market Too Much?

Comment

Welcome! A fellow Stylist feels that if she narrows her market too much, she will lose business.

In today’s video I reveal the truth behind niche marketing in your personal styling business.

Use this exercise to help you discover who your target audience is today. You may be surprised to find that you didn’t have to look too far.

Step 1: Create a list of those who have sought your styling advice in the past six months.

Step 2: From that list, circle the names of those who you would love to help with their wardrobe more in-depth AND (and this is the most important) they would pay for your expertise. You will find that most of the individuals, who you’ve circled, have similar characteristics and lifestyles.

In the example below, all of the women circled are women who own their own business. I also learned that six out of eight are moms, while the other two are single with the exact type of business – something to consider as another niche market for the future.

Step 2 revealed that the first market I will focus on in my personal styling business are Mom Entrepreneurs.

Step 3: Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a particular niche market, make a list of their similarities. Step 3 will reveal more about her lifestyle and the style needs for her lifestyle.

So, what did you come up with? In the comments below, let me know who your niche market is.

Here’s to your styling success,

Michelle

Are you ready to take your personal styling dream to the next level? I’ll show you how. More details here.
Can I Write-Off The Clothing I Wear?

2

Let’s be real. Being a personal stylist is a pretty sweet gig. We work with clothes, shoes, and accessories and if that weren’t enough, we make a positive impact on another human being through our knowledge of clothes, shoes and accessories. Aaaand then, we get paid for it?! Pretty nice if you ask me?

So, if our job “requires” us to look a certain way and our clothing, shoes and accessories are part of helping us look that way, then surely we can write it all off, right?

In today’s video I reveal the answer, and talk about a couple of other things you can purchase, write-off, plus help you grow your book of business.

Gadgets. “Hi, my name is Michelle and I love gadgets.” Ok, I have to confess, I have a mad love affair with tech gear. It’s bad. I love to learn what the next gizmo is, get my hands on it, and learn how it can help a stylepreneur.

As a small business owner, you can write-off items such as your laptop, cell phone, printer, even headphones as long as they’re used for your styling business.

Continuous Education. Guys, I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2001 and still feel like I have so much to learn. Depending on what your specific business needs are, I’d recommend looking for an online program that helps you in that specific area. So, for example, if you want to learn more about Facebook Ads, then look for a program that gets into the nitty gritty of that subject versus a program that covers Facebook A-Z.

Receipts. When it comes to the best tax deduction experience possible, saving your receipts is key. I typically put all of my receipts in a box that I keep right on my desk. I recently bought this neon pink one at Target. The color is one of my favorites and it’s pretty hard to ignore when it’s right in front of me, in that color. Over the years, putting my receipts in a box has become habit. I go through my wallet once a week, pull out the receipts and throw them in.

So, I would love to know: What’s your receipt system? I always love to learn what others do in their business to help them stay on-track, and would love to know your routine. Let me know in the comments below.

Until next week, here’s to your styling success!

XO,

Michelle

Are you ready to take your personal styling business to the next level? Click here and learn how you can get there in no time.
How To Charge For Styling Services

Comment

There are so many things I love about working with women in the Style Now Program, but one my favorite parts is showing them step-by-step how to set up their website to get paid automatically for their services.

I love to hear a “Are you sure I can pull that off?” on Monday and a “Whoa, I can’t believe I just did all of that on my own!” by Wednesday.

Gives me warm tech fuzzies.

When it comes to your personal styling business, I would recommend to you as I do to them:

Request payment for your personal styling services through your website.

Here’s why…

Positioning. Asking for payment through your website instantly positions you as Style Boss. You know what you’re worth and you’re not afraid to show it. There’s something very appealing about that.

One less thing. When you’re an entrepreneur the word “automate” is your best friend and you want to implement tools that will do things for you so that you can focus on what you do best: styling and helping others look and feel amazing.

Some tips…

I love using words like “Book Now” or “Get Started” inside your checkout button vs. “Buy Now.” Friendlier. Still gets the point across. It’s also a good idea to create your checkout button in a color that compliments the main color on your website.

Instant gratification. Once your client has paid for their service, automatically re-direct them to your Client Intake Form. This way, a client dives right into the styling process and your client avoids a “Now what?” experience.

If you don’t have a website set up to charge for your services, don’t stress. You can always take a check or request payment through a credit card reader. Just make sure to take full payment during your first consult.

As always, thank you so much for being part of this community. There is no doubt in my mind that you have everything it takes to become a successful style-preneur!

With love and confidence,

Michelle

Ready to make your personal styling dream a reality? I’ll help you get there. Full details here STYLE NOW PROGRAM.
How To Get It All Done

Comment
Welcome to our newly designed newsletter! As I thought of what our weekly newsletter was going to bring to your life, there were two things I wanted to make sure I delivered to you: Realistic and Action-Ready Tips.

Here’s what I mean by that…

Realistic

It’s very important that I provide you with a real picture of what it takes to run a successful personal styling business.

You see, so often, the outside world believes that running a personal styling business is only about the clothes, shoes, and accessories…but the truth is, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

There are a kazillion things I can outline to help you run a successful personal styling business, but when it comes down to it, all of those items can be broken down into two categories. Yup. Just two.

Front Of The House – Everything the public experiences to help your business thrive.

Back Of The House – Everything used in your business to help your business run like a well oiled machine.

Both, Front Of The House and Back Of The House, work together for one purpose – help you book paying clients.

Action – Ready

Each week, I would like to provide you with delicious action-ready morsels of information that you can read, learn and easily apply into your style house.

To help you further, I will be delivering my newsletter to you on Saturday mornings so that you can enjoy in a still home, over your morning coffee and schedule your action steps into the following work week.

As always, thank you so much for being part of this community. There is no doubt in my mind that you have everything it takes to become a successful style-preneur!

With love and confidence,

Michelle

Ready to make your personal styling dream a reality? I’ll help you get there. Full details here STYLE NOW PROGRAM.
Should you become a personal stylist?

1

Hi there,

Today, I wanted to share a personal story. A story that made all the difference.

Like you, I was at a point in my life where something had to give.

I knew I wanted something bigger and better for my life. Something that involved doing something I loved. Something that involved making a positive impact in the lives of others.

For so long I had helped friends and family with their wardrobe dilemmas. Doing this not only made me feel alive, but helped them feel like they could conquer the world.

And every time I would help them get to where they wanted to be, I would think to myself, “Is this something I can actually do all of the time?”

Over time that soft question became louder and louder, to the point that I couldn’t shake it any longer.

I realized helping others look and feel great through clothes is what I could do to make this world a better place.

But it never failed, every time my excitement reached new levels of courage, the dreaded “What if’s” came knocking…

“What if people think I’m a fraud because I don’t have any certifications?”

“What if people think I should style a celebrity first to prove I know what I’m doing?”

“What if people think that finding clothes at Target or JC Penny or Marshall’s isn’t cool enough?”

“What if I put myself out there and completely fail?”

Despite all of the “What If’s”, my heart’s voice was louder and, to be frank, I was sick and tired of being so wishy-washy with this idea of actually becoming a personal stylist.

So one Saturday morning, I opened up my laptop and wrote and email to a small group of people who I love and trust to help me with sound feedback. This group included my parents, brother, my three best friends and my previous boss.

Here’s what the email said…

Hi there,

I’m writing today because I’m thinking of taking a big leap and need to run it by you to make sure I’m going in the right direction.

Since being at home with Matthew and Ethan, I’ve had the chance to be around other stay-at-home-mamas who have consistently asked me for advice on where to shop for clothes and how to put things together.

On several occasions, they’ve expressed that they would happily pay me to take them shopping to the stores I go to and show them how to put together new clothes with the items they already have in their closets.

This got me thinking…

Could I possibly start a business where I can show women where to shop, help them find clothes at those stores, then show them how to put it all together?

While the thought of being an entrepreneur excites me I am also scared to put myself out there.

I’m seeking your opinion to help me make a decision, so here it is…

Do you think I should move forward in starting a business that shows women where to shop, how to find clothes at stores, then help them make sense of clothes, shoes, and accessories?

I cant express how grateful I am to have you in my life and be able to share my idea with you and get your opinion. I know you would only want the best for me and will give it to me straight.

All my love,

Michelle

Here are the replies I received…

“Go for it! Dude, what’s taken you so long?” – Diana, bff

“Uh, yeah. Isn’t that what you’ve been doing for me since birth!” – Martin, brother

“Michelle, there is no doubt in my mind that once you set your mind on any venture…you will find a way to succeed. After sharing your idea with Paty, she was excited to know that there will be someone she knows and trusts to help her with shopping (she hates it!). She also thought of at least six other women who she could immediately refer you to. So there you have it, a market is already available for you to serve.” – Edgar, previous manager/eternal business mentor

“My sweet daughter, your life has been waiting for this moment. Run and don’t stop. – Lupita, mom/eternal cheerleader

The feedback I received from those I loved and trusted most was the confirmation and motivation I needed to learn how to get started and GO FOR IT!

This weekend, I want to encourage you to open your email, and send a similar message to those you love and trust the most.

If your heart is stirring the way mine was to help others make sense of shopping and wearing clothes, this could easily be the final step you need to take to confirm things for you and take the next steps to learn how to get out there and GO FOR IT.

Love, style and confidence,

Michelle

P.S. Will you do me a favor? I would love to know what type of response you received from your family and friends. You can email me at info@thepaidstylist.com