Pinterest is more than just fun and games. It can be a valuable business building tool for many, including those in the beauty industry. If beauty school students get creative, they can use Pinterest boards to market and create interest in their own work, as well as gain inspiration from others.

Create a Pinterest Portfolio

Create a board with pictures of your own work. If you do more than one thing, such as hair, nails, and makeup, make a board for each. The easiest way to do this is to post the pictures on your own website and then pin them. That way each picture links back to your website with information on how to contact you. You can even divide hair into up-dos, short, long, etc. or divide nails boards into classic and artistic. Maybe even have a board for formal styles, or unique styles. The sky really is the limit here.

Create an Inspiration Board

Follow other pinners in the same profession, and pin their work that you love for your own inspiration. Keep track of styles and techniques you want to learn and those you want to remember for specific clients. This is a great way to use Pintrest to help expand your abilities.

Networking

Follow clients and Pinterest could become an excellent networking tool. It is now the third largest social media site and 70% of the users are women. Through the web of pins friends and followers of your client’s pins will find your boards, including your portfolio of your best work, and potential new clients are born.

Social media is the wave of the future when it comes to marketing, and perhaps no one site has grown so fast as Pinterest. It can be a colossal time waster if not used in moderation, but used properly it can be one of the strongest tools in your marketing tool belt. Grow your business, attract new clients, and increase your skill set all with the help of this social media phenomenon. One last note to help grow your Pinterest marketing campaign is to be sure to make a note on your website for all to see encouraging visitors to pin work they like. This helps ensure that your portfolio will grow and spread through other’s boards faster, thus increasing your reach.

Also, feel free to add us on Pinterest here.

Turns out, physical appearance does matter when it comes to your ability to succeed in the work place. (We imagine that’s especially important if you’re trying to get a cosmetology job!) This infographic covers how the public believes physical attractiveness may provide an advantage in getting a job or promotion, and some people even believe that looks matter more than your sense of humor or even education. Wha?! So confidence, experience and a great resume are still important to getting a job, but don’t discount the importance of spending a little time and money on your personal appearance if you’re hitting the pavement to find work.

Copy and paste the code below to embed this infographic into your website or blog!

<a href="http://www.beautyschool.com/blog/beauty-jobs/looks-matter-when-job-hunting" title="Looks Matter When Applying for Jobs" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.beautyschool.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/looks-affect-job-prospects-infograph-625x1024.png" alt="Appearance Matters When Job Hunting Infographic"/></a><br /><em>Via <a href="http://www.beautyschool.com/articles/how-is-the-cosmetology-industry-really-doing" title="Beauty Jobs Outlook">BeautySchool.com Beauty Jobs Outlook</a></em>

I’m frequently shocked by the vast number of people who ask, “Am I too old for cosmetology school?” Reality check! It’s never too late to achieve your dreams of becoming a beautician.

Diane Rickard was 59 when she enrolled in cosmetology school, unable to find work in another field in today’s rickety economy.  Now, just a few of years later, she is the proud owner of her very own beauty business – AvaShay, a natural nail spa in Brighton, Michigan.

If you are passionate about beautifying people and you’re ready for a change of scenery, switching to a cosmetology career may be perfect for you – regardless of your age. Some things to think about are balancing current career responsibilities with getting your beauty education, your family’s reaction, and facing your fear of the big change!

In today’s tough job market, jobs are hard to find – particularly for someone who is older or interested in switching careers.  But the beauty industry still offers opportunities for someone who is people-oriented and not willing to let anything stand in their way. Diane Rickard was the oldest person in her cosmetology class when she enrolled at Brighton Institute of Cosmetology – and now she’s her own boss.

Live the dream. Find out what it takes to enroll in cosmetology school - no matter how old you are.

1. Do what you love.
For your business to be successful, you have to be passionate about the services you provide. You figured out when you attended cosmetology school for beauty training what you do and don’t like to do. This means if you’re an esthetician but you don’t enjoy waxing, you don’t necessarily have to provide this service. Or if you’re a cosmetologist who isn’t passionate about hair extensions, why waste your time? Do what you love and be amazing at it. If you love every minute of what you do, your clients can tell. They will recognize your passion for beauty and keep coming back.

2. Create a website.
Websites are one of the top ways people find services. A beautiful website sets the mood for your business and can be a deciding factor for a potential client who is choosing between you and your competitors. It can also be an additional way to provide product for your clients. Online social networking is also a great way to spread the word about your business and your website.

3. Sell top-of-the-line products and services.
The products and services you offer don’t have to be extremely expensive, but they should be something your clients don’t have easy access to. Make sure the products and services you provide are something you truly believe in. For example, if you are passionate about organic beauty products make sure that is what you provide to your customers. Finally, know about your products to the tiniest detail, and be prepared to answer any questions your clients might have about them.

4. Network.
Word-of-mouth is a great way to boost your clientele, so be sure get your name out to as many potential clients and industry professionals as possible. Don’t be afraid to hand out your beautiful business card! Networking can also lead you to possible partnerships and long-lasting professional relationships. Beauty business owners can often partner up to cut down on costs and increase clientele.

5. Take care of yourself.
When you’re running a beauty business, it’s often difficult to make time for yourself. But it’s especially important in the beauty industry because your appearance matters to your clients. Take care of yourself not only for clients – but for you as well. Pampering yourself can help keep you focused, relaxed and happy even with the stresses owning a business can bring.

Are you already a successful beauty business owner?
With these 5 tips as a springboard, you will be well on your way to successful beauty business ownership in no time. You’ve got the beauty skills, now show them off! Are you already a successful beauty business owner? What success tips do you have to offer other aspiring beauty entrepreneurs?

Why not turn your passion for fashion into a profession?

The cosmetology field employs creative people in every city, in every state in the country. According to a national survey released by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences in December 2007, nearly 53 percent of salon owners had job openings for trained and educated beauty professionals. That’s right. Even in this economy, job openings in the world of beauty are still flooding in.

Nearly three quarters of them, though, said that they had a hard time finding qualified applicants. If that doesn’t scream opportunity, I don’t know what does! More than half of the salons in the country are full-service salons, so they offer all kinds of different beauty services to their clients such as hairstyling, nail services or makeup. There are tons of spots open around the country for people fresh out of cosmetology school and equipped with the hands-on training and knowledge to do an awesome job in real life.

So for all you beauty-loving, makeup-obsessed, creative people who have a passion for fashion, why not turn that passion into a profession? Whether you’re fresh out of high school and just beginning to consider a career or you’ve been in the working world for a while and want a new direction, have you thought about a career in beauty?