I know 2020 has been the weirdest year of our lives, but can I just say: THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY. I don’t think I realised how much I value tech until this year.
Sure, the lash industry has been affected, it’s not like we could do lash refills via Zoom (wouldn’t that be a dream!), but there’s more to running a successful lash business than just doing the lashes!!
I’ve highlighted 5 of my favourite apps I use to keep my business running no matter what’s happening in the world. If you’re not already using these apps, get across them, lash boss!
If you are going to take away one piece of advice from this blog today, it’s to invest in an efficient booking system that makes appointments in a few clicks. Have this in place, and you won’t miss out on new business because a client couldn’t work out the booking system.
Timely is my recommendation. It’s an appointment booking, and point of sale software that’s so very easy to use (even if you’re not tech-savvy). One of the highlights is its comprehensive reporting feature giving you a health check of your business regularly.
While Timely kinda has a hefty price tag, (especially if you have multiple staff), I believe it’s worth every penny for the ease of use and functionality — for you and for your clients!!
You can integrate Timely with your website and Facebook page, and take online bookings with deposits. It can assist you with SMS promotions, and syncs your client database with Mailchimp — say hello to EASY business communications and excellent customer service.
If accounting makes your eyes glaze over, you’ll love this. When you have multiple businesses, or just one — Xero is ideal for all your bookkeeping and accounting needs. This app allows me to easily calculate wages and superannuation, view reports and coordinate important financials with my accountant. Real-time analytics represent the financial position of my business at all times.
For a simple and streamlined app that requires zero accounting wisdom — Xero is your hero! Being a cloud-based service, you can access it no matter where you are in the world. Plus,
it has a very comprehensive help section on the website (which has been SUPER useful for me!). It’s an accounting solution that won’t take you hours to learn — Phew!
Side note: If you’re not working with an accountant, read my money mindset blogs: Part 1 of 1: Money Talk for Lash Artists with Andrea Pearce and Part 2 of 2: Money Talk for Lash Artists — Be a Wealthy Woman!
Bring out your creativity with Over. I’ve used this app for 5 years now, and continue to use it daily. It helps you create professional ads, branded content, and stunning stories. I use this app to stay on brand whenever I have a social post to share. Over allows you to add text or logos onto lash photos and watermark the eye — preventing others from stealing your images and claiming your work as theirs.
Again, it’s super easy to navigate, and features a selection of templates that are customisable to suit your branding. I love how it saves all of your projects within the app so that you can go back and edit older posts and repurpose them. Change the font, add new copy or include a new inspirational quote and you’ve just created fresh content for your audience in minutes!
PLANN quickly became a game-changer for my Instagram content planning. It’s the ultimate app for planning and mastering a gorgeous grid arrangement.
For me, there was nothing worse than having a bunch of stunning content to post on Insta, and I was unable to visualise it all on the grid. I use PLANN to edit photos within the app, then drag and drop images into the grid planner, then arrange them all until you swoon over your content.
Three other cracking features include PLANN’s ability to save hashtag sets and caption formatting, along with epic analytics. Forget guessing what posts get substantial engagement. The numbers will show you what’s working!
You can schedule all of your posts for a month or two, or even more ahead of time, then copy them straight over to your Instagram account each day. Hello to crushing social media with one click.
The options are endless with this app! Trello is the best way to organise all of the never-ending tasks you need to conquer, and helps you get future projects down on paper — err digital boards.
You can think of Trello as the modern-day to-do list, that’s more like a virtual assistant, who’ll organise your tasks and their timelines for free. Create multiple boards for each project, track your time and monitor your progress.
Because Trello is accessible on desktop, phone or tablet, you have no excuse for being disorganised. For the hard-core organisers out there – you can zip through your task list while you set positive business habits that’ll translate into all areas of your work and home life.
Speaking of home life, Trello isn’t just for business. Use it for planning home renovations, school holiday activities or writing your next ebook!
That’s it lash lover. You have the golden keys (or should I say apps) that will streamline your business operations and brand communications fast!
For even more lash business tips, join my free Facebook group – The Lash Business Lounge. It’s where I actively answer all your business questions and deliver free trainings each week.
