How to get more clients as a freelance makeup artist

Whether you’re a professional makeup artist, a bridal makeup artist or a student just out of beauty school, you need a wide client base to be successful. If you need tips on how to find and land new clients for your freelance makeup business, this guide is for you. This article explains how to get more clients as a freelance makeup artist including:

• Building a portfolio of your work
• Creating a website for your portfolio
• Building a following on social media
• Collaborating with influencers
• Collecting client reviews and testimonials
• Attending makeup events and expos
• Organising photoshoots to show off your work
• Using gift certificates and loyalty cards
• Making financial admin easy and fast with the Countingup app

You can use a combination of all or all (amazing!) of the methods below to get more clients as a freelance makeup artist.

The most important thing you need to attract new clients is a portfolio that shows off your best work and skill. A makeup artist’s portfolio should show off the different types of work and styles you can do – from wedding to glam makeup to creative styles (if that’s your thing). Your portfolio should clearly show what your clients can expect if they book with you.

It’s important to update your portfolio regularly and showcase your latest work. As you become better at your job, make sure your portfolio reflects that!

You can create and host your portfolio with a site like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace or hire a professional to build it for you. Having your portfolio online means you’re likely to attract new clients via the web. 

On your website, you need your contact details to be easily accessible. You could also use a booking form so that clients can book quickly.

Social media is great for makeup artists to build a following and find new customers, especially image and video-based channels like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. 

Your customers are most likely to be on these social media platforms and it’s a great way to display your work visually. If people like your work, they’re more likely to follow you and interact with your content, allowing you to build out an even bigger audience of potential clients.

On Facebook, you can accept client reviews to help build trust and rapport with potential clients as they know they’re in safe hands. 

Social media is also an excellent way to look for jobs. People often post on local makeup or beauty groups asking for recommendations, this is great because previous happy clients or friends and family can tag you in the comments. You can also join makeup groups, connect with potential clients, and share pictures of your work to promote your skills.

 You could take it one step further by sharing makeup tutorial videos of how you create different looks on YouTube or TikTok – this could help to build a following.

When using social media to find customers, don’t forget to:

• Use high-quality images and videos of your work
• Use clear and engaging language to describe each post
• Publish a fair mix of imagery and videos
• Use local tags to increase the odds of finding customers near you

Another way to gain exposure is to collaborate with an influencer on social media with a large following. You could offer them a free or discounted makeup session in return for posts on their profile.

Having a collection of client reviews and testimonials on your social media and business marketing is a great way to build trust and rapport with potential customers. You can collect reviews through Google or Facebook but you need to set up business pages beforehand. 

The makeup industry is all about connections, so attending makeup-related events is an excellent way to grow your client list and network. As a freelance makeup artist, you want to take advantage of every makeup-related event and expo you can. 

Exhibiting at these events could be your chance to meet new people and show off what you can do. Even if you only attend as a guest, you can get an idea of how other makeup artists in your area use these expos and events to get clients.

There are so many different types of expos, so it’s helpful to think about your unique speciality. Are you interested in chic bridal makeup? Look for wedding events to attend to showcase your work. Or are you into theatrical makeup or special effects makeup? Try to find events where you can show off those skills. 

Another way to grow your client base is to organise professional photoshoots to show off your work. High-quality pictures will always show your work in the best light possible, attracting higher-paying customers like bridal parties and commercial brands. Creative shoots are also fun and inspiring and allow you to build connections with other creatives.

You can go all out and work with a professional photographer or take the pictures yourself. Choose whatever fits your style and budget best. 

This marketing idea can help expand your client base for your makeup business. Your clients can buy a gift card to give to one of their friends as a gift – you could offer them a special discount or a free makeover for helping you win more business. 

You could also host a competition on social media where the winner gets a free makeover or gift card to use when they want as another way of growing your business and clientele. 

Another method you can try is to give loyalty cards to returning clients. For example, you could offer 10% off return appointments. Or offer something special every 5th appointment, like a freebie or 50% off. You could offer a free session if you can afford to do so.

Whatever model you go for, offering loyalty perks will help you keep more clients and attract new ones when they hear about it. 

Now that you know how to get more clients as a freelance makeup artist, it’s time to put them to the test and start building your business. Good luck – we’re behind you!

For more on how to start a makeup business, read our complete guide.

Financial and tax management can be stressful and time-consuming when you’re self-employed. That’s why thousands of business owners use the Countingup app to automate their financial admin like transaction categorisation, invoicing and tax estimations.

Countingup is the business account full of small wins. When you’re signed up, you’ll have access to built-in financial, accounting and tax management features that will help to save you time and money. With features like receipt capture tools, easy payment links and cash flow insights, you can confidently keep on top of your business. 

You can also share your bookkeeping with your accountant instantly without worrying about duplication errors, data lags or inaccuracies. We make business for freelance makeup artists seamless, simple, and straightforward! 

Find out more here.