Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/460894
Create your free business website! www.ascpskincare.com 35 interacting with all kinds of people, including some you may not have realized were potential clients. Charity events are usually stacked with good-intentioned people who will appreciate and recognize you as a caring individual who made time to give back. It's just good business to volunteer. How to Get Started The best place to start volunteering is right in your own community where your current and potential clients live. Ask everyone for inside information on what may be coming up. Your friends and colleagues may have insight into events you may not know about—book clubs, meetup groups, or social functions. Churches and schools are constantly organizing seasonal events, fairs, and fundraisers you may be able to be a part of, whether or not you are a member of a church or have a child in school. Don't overlook your clients. Tell them you are looking to volunteer and ask them if they know about any local groups or charity events that could use your services. Armed with a little information, start making calls. Don't rely on emails or texts at this stage. You'll need to speak to someone and get a feel for what's needed and how you can help. Need more ideas? Online, you will fi nd all kinds of local opportunities. Visit www.volunteermatch.org to get contacts for events that have already been coordinated and need people to fi ll certain roles. Another site, www.meetup.com, is a way to fi nd groups in your community based around a specifi c interest or activity. Sign up to see what's happening around you and contact group administrators to see how you can volunteer your services at a meeting. Suggest a demonstration, a short how-to, or a quick talk to reveal the myths and facts on skin care, antiaging products, or whatever you specialize in. Who to Serve When considering a charity effort, start with a basic question: who will you serve? Most of your clients are probably women—this is just the nature of what you do—but remember, potential clients come in all varieties and all ages, from the very young to the elderly. Who will be most attracted to take advantage of your services? Think about what each group would most like to learn or experience. Extend this line of questioning to include others at your business. Who will go with you? Can you afford to volunteer yourself and others at your business? Will your employer allow you to go and represent the business? What to Do The best scenario, from a business perspective, is to offer your skills. That might mean anything from doing a skin care or spa demo, to a talk on the latest antiaging ingredients, to free hand massages or makeup lessons for a deserving group of people. You know your stuff, so spread the wealth of your knowledge. Take samples, your business card, and spa menus, and be prepared to use your hands. Don't forget to wear your uniform or spa logo—let people associate your skin care practice with your volunteering. However, this isn't a time to sell. It's a time to connect and learn about people in your neighborhood. The promotion of your business is an unspoken thing that happens on its own when you're caring and connecting, rubbing some cream into people's hands, and talking to them about their day. Don't be afraid to volunteer for things that aren't associated with what you do at the spa or skin care salon. Volunteer your time if you can't volunteer your professional services. There are always a hundred ways to get involved and many needs go unfulfi lled every year. When to Do It Timing is everything, and this is no different for volunteering. When you decide to join an event, be sure your schedule can handle it. Busy times of the year for your practice are not the best times to volunteer. 10 Ideas to Grow On 1. If you have school-age children, join your local PTA or help in the classroom. 2. Sign up for a local church's newsletter; they always are involved in charitable endeavors. 3. Inquire about the needs of local food banks. 4. Schedule time to help at a women's shelter. 5. Sponsor a family in need. 6. Organize a local litter or graffi ti cleanup. 7. Collect books for poor children. 8. Ask each client to donate $1 for a charity you've chosen. 9. Offer $2 off any treatment if the client brings a canned item to donate to a food drive. 10. Provide a makeover to help disadvantaged or homeless people who are seeking work.