Ultimate guide to creating a makeup artist website

Getting your name out there is a big part of being a makeup artist. While social media is great for showcasing your work, connecting with new clients and raising awareness of your work, a website is a 24/7 marketing tool that can help you market your business even more effectively.

Here's everything you need to know about creating a makeup artist website, including why you need one and how to create it.

 

Why create a makeup artist website?

A makeup artist's website is a great tool to show off your work, connect with clients and ensure you stay booked and busy. You're in control of what's on there and can tailor it to the type of clients and work you're looking for.

A website provides a professional platform where potential clients can learn about your services, view your portfolio and contact you. You can also share reviews and testimonials on there to help build trust in your business—often, makeup clients are making an investment for a special occasion or event, and they want to know that they can rely on you.

It also allows you to display your portfolio with high-quality images of your work. This is important so that potential clients can see the range and quality of your makeup artistry and work out if you're the right fit for them.

Whether your clients are local, national or industry-based, they'll likely start their search online (88% of people do), so it's important to have a presence where your audience is. Having a digital presence also means that you can set up services like Google Business so you show up on local Google Maps and in searches for "makeup artists near me".

Your website can include essential information like your contact details, pricing, and a booking form. This makes it convenient for people to contact you and ask about your services or schedule appointments. You can even include a booking link and your policies so that clients can choose an appointment that works for them.

 

What should you include on your website?

Before you start building your website, it's good to have a plan of what you want to include. While it will depend on you, your business and your clients, some information probably makes sense to include on your website, for example:

Homepage

A professional and eye-catching header with your business name, with a menu of the rest of the pages and images that showcase your business. This is often the first page your audience will see, so it needs to be visually appealing and set the tone for your business. This is the place to show off your most amazing work.

About me

Getting your makeup done is a very personal experience, so including an about me page can help your clients decide whether you're right for them. You can share information about your background, qualifications and certifications, experience and passion for makeup, as well as linking to your portfolio page.

Services

Clearly defined services you offer, such as bridal makeup, special events, editorial work or makeup lessons - especially if there's a particular makeup style that you specialise in. Including detailed descriptions of each service, including any special techniques or products you use, can also help your potential clients determine which is the best service for them.

Portfolio

A comprehensive portfolio with high-resolution images showcasing your range of makeup looks on various clients. Consider organising your portfolio into categories (e.g., bridal, editorial, special effects) for easy navigation. This is a really important part of the website, as makeup is such a visual service.

Testimonials

Testimonials and reviews from previous clients can strengthen your offer as a makeup artist. Getting makeup done for multiple people or for a special occasion or event (which is pretty common) can be a big investment. If clients know they can rely on and trust you as a business owner, then this can increase their chances of booking.

Contact information

Your potential clients might have questions before they book with you. Clear and easily accessible contact details or a contact form can help them get in touch to ask questions, check your availability and book. Including a few different ways your client can contact you can be helpful, like an email address, phone number and social media channels.

Booking information

Details on how potential clients can book your services, including any consultation or trial session processes, can help avoid any misunderstandings ahead of time and provide the opportunity for your clients to ask for more information. You might also want to include a booking link, but this can sometimes be better if you provide it after getting more information.

Rates and packages

Transparent pricing information for your services can be helpful. Though every job will be different, there will probably be some services where you can include a fixed price, pricing options or "pricing from". It's also a good place to include any package deals or discounts you offer.

FAQs

Including frequently asked questions (FAQs) can help answer questions you get asked regularly. They can also support the booking process and avoid any misunderstandings or miscommunication ahead of time. You'll have a good idea of what questions clients ask you regularly.

Press or features

If applicable, showcase any press features, collaborations or publications where your work has been highlighted. This is even more important if you do lots of editorial work (or want to do more) as it shows that you're experienced in this and shows off the quality of your work. It all works together to build trust in you and your services.

 

What to build your website using

There are many options to choose from when it comes to building your website, and it can feel overwhelming. Working with a professional website developer is the best way to get a fully functioning website with everything you need and ongoing support. This can come at a cost, and if you're conscious of trying to balance out your budget, there are DIY options, including:

Wix

Wix is a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder that offers a variety of templates suitable for different industries. It's suitable for beginners and provides a lot of flexibility in design.

Squarespace

Known for its elegant and visually appealing templates, Squarespace is a platform that caters to creative professionals. It's user-friendly and has built-in features for portfolios, blogs, and online stores.

Weebly

Weebly is a straightforward website builder that offers a simple drag-and-drop interface. It's suitable for small businesses and personal websites.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress. It's easy to set up and use, making it a good option for beginners. However, it has some limitations compared to the self-hosted WordPress.org.

There are also options where you can showcase your portfolio or your social feed, but a website with more information is more helpful to your potential clients. Some booking sites also give you a free web presence, but this isn't usually the same as having your own website that you own.

It's also worth remembering that 60% of web browsing is done via a mobile device, so you want to ensure that your website is responsive and looks just as good on a mobile as it does on a screen.

 

How to build your makeup artist website

We've already discussed planning your website properly, which is an important first step. You need to define your goals and your audience, work out your website's look and feel, and ensure you have the pages, information and images you want to use. You'll need to send this to your developer or add yourself.

The next step is to choose your website address. Select a domain name that's easy to remember, reflects your brand and is related to makeup artistry. You can use domain registration services like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Bluehost to purchase your domain.

Then, you need to connect the website domain to whichever website building platform you've chosen (or ask your web developer to do this). Then, you choose a template, theme or style you want your website to use. Have a look around ahead of time to see the style of website you like.

After that, it's time to start creating pages and filling in the right information, social media feeds and imagery on there—it's also worth getting someone to optimise your website so that it shows in search results on Google. This is called search engine optimisation (or SEO), and it's best in the hands of a professional (your web developer might do this).

Your website's probably looking pretty good right now, but before you set it live, do a little testing and check that everything works and is in the right place. Then you're ready to go and good to launch.

Remember, building a website is an ongoing process. As your portfolio and business evolve, make necessary updates to keep your website current and correct. Your website is always visible, so people can easily pick up on outdated or incorrect information.

 

How to get people to your website?

Now that your website is up and running, you'll want people to start seeing it and booking with you. Here are some ideas to get people to your website:

• Search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Social media marketing
• Content marketing (blogs and keywords)
• Social media marketing
• Email marketing
• Online advertising, like Google Ads or social media ads
• Collabs, partnerships and networking
• Including your website on offline materials like business cards, posters and press ads
• Press and PR coverage

You can use metrics tracking software like Google Analytics to keep an eye on who's visiting your website and where they're coming from. The number of bookings and enquiries you get can also help you work this out, especially asking people where they heard about your business when they booked.

 

Specialist makeup artist insurance through Ripe

As a professional makeup artist, insuring your business through Ripe can help provide financial protection and peace of mind should the worst happen.

Specialist makeup artist insurance arranged by Ripe includes Public and Products Liability cover and treatment risk cover, with the opportunity to build your own policy so you’re never paying for more than you need.

Find out more about how we can help here, or get an instant online quote today.