For some context, I’ve just launched a personalized hair care guide for women and set up an eCommerce store for it. I’ve done everything on my own, from product creation to building the store, and started reaching out to influencers to help promote it. They liked the guide, but when I offered a profit-sharing model instead of upfront payments, many declined or didn’t respond.
Now, I’m looking for some guidance, potential funding support, or even a partnership to bring this project to life. If someone here is interested, I’d be happy to share the guide for a closer look, and if you find it worthwhile, I’d greatly appreciate assistance in marketing and scaling this.
Any advice or support would mean a lot!
Well done!
You now realize that it is not the idea alone that matters. Too many would-be entrepreneurs miss this understanding. Marketing is an art when done correctly. It must be rooted in the 4Ps as we say, but it MUST be uniquely inspired by the goods and/or services that need to be "Crossing the Chasm" as Geffrey Moore so clearly pointed out many moons ago in his landmark book, now in its 3rd Edition.
If this is your first venture into the startup space, I probably cannot be of much help. But if you have tried other adventures or worked for more than a year in someone else's startup, then I would be a great resource. And the first 30-minute call is free!
Put together a list of three (and only three) burning questions and book a time with me using this link:
https://clarity.fm/ski/30mins4free
^ski
It’s exciting that you've launched your personalized hair care guide and built your eCommerce store! It sounds like you’ve laid a strong foundation by handling product creation and outreach yourself, but now you're looking for ways to effectively market and scale.
Here are some suggestions to help:
1. Revamp Your Influencer Strategy
Offer Hybrid Compensation: Instead of just profit-sharing, consider offering a smaller upfront fee along with profit-sharing. This can make the offer more attractive to influencers who might be wary of performance-based compensation alone.
Focus on Micro-Influencers: Larger influencers often charge high fees, but micro-influencers (with 10k–50k followers) can be more affordable and often have more engaged audiences. They may also be more open to collaborative payment structures like profit-sharing.
2. Use User-Generated Content (UGC)
Encourage customers to share photos, videos, and testimonials about your product. Offering small incentives like discounts or features on your page in exchange for content can be a cost-effective way to build trust and social proof.
3. Partner with Beauty or Hair Care Platforms
Partnering with beauty or self-care platforms could help you gain visibility. For example, platforms like Allure or Byrdie often feature new brands, and collaboration with them can introduce your product to a wider audience.
4. Leverage Paid Advertising
Start experimenting with targeted ads on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where beauty and hair care content thrives. These platforms allow you to specifically target your ideal customers based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
5. Explore Funding Options
For funding support, consider reaching out to angel investors or applying to pitch competitions and grants focused on female entrepreneurs or the beauty industry. Platforms like iFundWomen or Crowdfunder could also help you raise funds while building your brand.
6. Partnership Opportunities
Consider partnerships with hair salons, beauty boxes, or even subscription services like Birchbox. These platforms can introduce your product to new customers in exchange for a percentage of sales.
If you'd like more in-depth support, I'd be happy to help brainstorm more ideas for free and you can use this link to book some time https://clarity.fm/chris-wilson1/about436
Best of luck with your journey!
I would love to help you with this and as a licensed cosmetologist and business owner, with 30 years of industry experience!
I do have answers that could potentially help from the professional side of things.
I also sense that the personalized hair care guide is a great idea fundamentally and - of course having the product available is absolutely imperative. That said, I would need specific information on your business, product benefits and features as well as the retail aspect of your business, in order to offer guidance with getting things off the ground. I know however, if this is marketed properly, you should be seeing profit within the first 60 days!
Schedule a call and I'll guide you through it from start to finish!
I would suggest connecting with a data analyst. They will be able to help you hone into your target market, and help you to see what type of buyer would be interested in funding your project further. Good luck in your endeavors! Your product sounds so interesting.
It sounds like you’ve made impressive progress with your hair care product and eCommerce store. Here’s some practical advice to help you move forward with marketing and scaling your business:
1. Reevaluate Your Influencer Strategy
Upfront Payments: Since many influencers declined profit-sharing, consider offering upfront payments or a hybrid model that combines an initial fee with a performance-based bonus.
Micro-Influencers: Try reaching out to micro-influencers (10,000 to 100,000 followers) who might be more open to collaboration, and who often have highly engaged audiences.
Product Reviews: Send samples to influencers or beauty bloggers in exchange for honest reviews, which can be a lower-cost way to generate buzz.
2. Refine Your Marketing Strategy
Target Audience: Ensure you have a clear understanding of your target audience and tailor your marketing messages to their needs and preferences.
Social Media Marketing: Utilize platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, which are popular for beauty products. Share engaging content, such as tutorials, user testimonials, and behind-the-scenes looks.
Content Marketing: Start a blog or YouTube channel offering hair care tips, which can drive traffic to your eCommerce store and establish you as an authority in the field.
3. Explore Funding and Partnerships
Crowdfunding: Platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo can help raise funds and create pre-launch buzz. Crowdfunding can also validate your product idea and build a community around it.
Grants and Competitions: Look for small business grants, beauty industry competitions, or startup incubators that offer funding or resources.
Strategic Partnerships: Partner with other beauty brands or retailers who align with your brand values. Cross-promotions can expand your reach.
4. Leverage Paid Advertising
PPC Ads: Use pay-per-click advertising on Google and social media to drive targeted traffic to your eCommerce store.
Retargeting Ads: Implement retargeting campaigns to reach visitors who have shown interest but didn’t make a purchase.
5. Optimize Your eCommerce Store
User Experience: Ensure your website is user-friendly, mobile-optimized, and has a smooth checkout process.
SEO: Optimize your store for search engines to improve organic traffic. Use keywords relevant to hair care and your products.
6. Build a Community
Engagement: Foster a community around your brand through social media groups or forums where users can share their experiences and provide feedback.
Customer Loyalty Programs: Implement rewards or referral programs to encourage repeat purchases and word-of-mouth marketing.
7. Seek Mentorship and Networking
Industry Mentors: Find mentors with experience in the beauty industry who can offer guidance and introduce you to valuable contacts.
Networking Events: Attend beauty and entrepreneurship events to connect with potential partners, investors, and advisors.
Summary
Reevaluate Influencer Strategies: Offer upfront payments or hybrid compensation to attract influencers.
Refine Marketing: Focus on targeted social media marketing, content creation, and paid ads.
Explore Funding: Consider crowdfunding, grants, and strategic partnerships.
Optimize Your Store: Ensure a seamless user experience and strong SEO practices.
Build Community: Engage with your audience and implement customer loyalty programs.
Seek Mentorship: Connect with industry mentors and attend relevant events.
By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your marketing efforts, attract funding and partnerships, and ultimately scale your business.
Call me to get best strategy for marketing
Creating a product is just the first step, but it doesn't guarantee market success or secure funding. In my view, the product seems to have been developed based on your personal passion for entrepreneurship rather than a clear understanding of what your target customers are willing to pay for or why they would switch from their current choices. Why do I say this? "Hair care product" is a broad, generic term. You need to be specific about the type of product you're offering—is it for black hair, white hair, or another demographic? Is it intended for children, adults, men, women, or all of the above? What unique benefits does it provide? Who exactly is your target audience, where do they spend their time, and what sets your product apart from others?
These are essential questions to answer before you even begin considering marketing strategies or partnerships. Let me know if you'd like assistance in developing a comprehensive marketing plan.
Great work mate, being a marketer and having worked with startup and ecommerce businesses, I can offer some piece of advice. 90% chance of failure can be reduced by this.
Things Not to do.....
1. I have worked with startups where owners don't know much about business (They don't need degree though), For Example, all they want is quick profit and see good ROAS in ads dashboards (Google ads, Social Media Ads). My friend, this is not success, infact it is failure in many accounts I audit. Your Success Metrics are MER, CAC, nCAC and LTV. Whoever, you hire for Advertising, ask them about these (I bet the majority don't know about it). If they can improve it, work with them, otherwise don't rely on what's showing inside the Ads platform.
2. Your competitors are one click away. From your traffic (be it influencers or others) make sure your offer is better, These things still work, "You give more value, I will buy from you"
3. In e-commerce marketing, you will profit only if the customer buys from you 2nd time. Read it Again
I hope you understand these things, if not you can read this and emphasize on these metrics. I wish you the very best of luck
Congrats on launching your personalized hair care guide! It sounds like you’ve done a fantastic job so far. Here are some tips to help you with marketing and scaling your business:
1. Influencer Strategy
Upfront Payments: Try offering a small upfront payment along with the profit-sharing model to make it more appealing to influencers.
Micro-Influencers: Focus on micro-influencers who have smaller but highly engaged audiences. They might be more open to profit-sharing.
2. Social Media
Content Creation: Make engaging content like tutorials, testimonials, and behind-the-scenes videos to showcase your product.
Ads: Invest in targeted ads on Instagram and Facebook to reach your ideal customers.
3. Collaborate with Salons
Partner with local beauty salons and hairdressers to promote your product. They can provide valuable feedback and help spread the word.
4. Email Marketing
Build an email list and send out regular newsletters with hair care tips, product updates, and special offers to keep your audience engaged.
5. Funding and Partnerships
Crowdfunding: Use platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to raise funds and gain exposure.
Grants: Look for business grants for women entrepreneurs or small businesses in the beauty industry.
Partnerships: Reach out to other brands or businesses that complement your product for potential collaborations.
6. Customer Reviews
Encourage your customers to leave reviews and testimonials. Positive feedback can build trust and attract new customers.
7. Networking and Mentorship
Join entrepreneur groups or forums to connect with other business owners who can offer advice and support.
Look for mentorship programs that can provide guidance and resources.
Would you like more details on any of these strategies or help with creating specific marketing materials?
Hi there,
Well done! I think you've done a great job so far, but there's still a lot to do if you want to make this a profitable business.
I used to run a chain of laser hair removal clinics in Chile and Colombia, so I've been dealing with negotiating the incorporation of different beauty and appearance products into my portfolio.
My best advice for you is to not try to do this alone. Building a brand from scratch around a specific product is a big investment of time and resources.
First things first: focus on your differentiation. What's the capacity of your products? What makes them stand out? What makes you stand out from the competition? Next, focus on your niche based on what you've learned so far. If you have an outstanding product for blond people, forget the others and claim that you are the specialist in hair products for blond people. That's what your product is all about, and you are a specialist on this topic.
Once you've got those two steps nailed, it's time to think about volume. This will come from partnerships with distributors in different channels, either online or physical. Finding the right people to talk to in those channels is really important.
And lastly, be consistent. Stick to this strategy for at least two to three years, without moving away from it at all. You'll see results.
Once you have enough volume for production, for marketing, and a stronger brand, it'll be time to sell your products on your own.
If you need help with any of the steps above, just ask. Thanks!
Nowadays, launching a product so that it becomes a self-seller is hardly possible anymore. I assume your product isn't a cheap one. Higher prices require a marketing strategy. From my own experience, I first had to position myself as an expert and build myself as a brand. I sell my expertise and experiences, which is somewhat different from your product. If you have enough followers on all the channels where your potential customers are, you can always put your product in focus. Before that, just circle around. If you are your brand, show the effect of your product, not the product itself. For example, show women with results due to your product. Make potential customers curious. Find test clients on the condition that they share their experiences. Eventually, you might find an influencer who helps you promote the product with an affiliate program, etc.
India has a huge market for hair care products, as all other markets are competitive you will face similar situation here as well. Do let me know if you can market or sell in India I can support.
Thank you
Nelson Cordeiro
Your personalized hair care guide has potential!
With a strong foundation in product creation, eCommerce, and influencer outreach, you're well-positioned for success.
Consider these strategies:
Revisit your influencer approach: Explore alternative partnerships like content creators or beauty bloggers who align with your brand.
Focus on your unique selling proposition: Highlight what sets your guide apart from others on the market.
Leverage social media: Create engaging content and run targeted ads to reach your ideal audience.
Build an email list: Offer incentives to collect email addresses and nurture leads.
Seek strategic partnerships: Collaborate with complementary businesses to expand your reach.
Let's discuss how I can help. I'm interested in learning more about your guide and exploring potential partnerships or marketing strategies. Please feel free to contact me to discuss further.
To market your hair care product effectively, start by defining your unique selling proposition (USP) and understanding your target audience. Build a professional online presence with an SEO-optimized website and leverage social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to showcase your products with engaging content. Collaborate with influencers for product reviews and tutorials, and use paid advertising on social media and Google to reach a wider audience. Utilize email marketing to keep customers informed about product launches and special offers, and encourage customer reviews to build credibility. Participate in startup contests for additional exposure and explore local partnerships with salons or beauty stores. Lastly, monitor your marketing performance using analytics tools, adjust strategies as needed, and ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR to maintain customer trust.
