Get social and make the most of networking opportunities

One of the great things about the hairdressing industry is how social it is, offering loads of opportunities to promote yourself in person. Laura Glazebrook of top PR agency LWPR provides six top tips on making the most of those networking opportunities 1. Be bright, be seen The British Hairdressing Business Awards, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards are all great events, full of inspiration and celebration; but do you make the most of them to promote yourself?  These events are a great opportunity to introduce yourself to key industry figures in an informal situation. Make sure you know what events are on when, and get yourself a ticket. 2. Know your targets First off we’d recommend knowing the HJ team. Follow them on Twitter. Then when you’re at an event, be sure to keep an eye out for who's there and introduce yourself. Likewise, think about the areas of the industry that you are really interested in and research who the key people are. So if it’s State Registration, Chris Foster, Daniel Galvin and Andrew Barton are all Hairdressing Council ambassadors, for example. If the Fellowship for British Hairdressing floats your boat, you’ll need to hobnob with Bruno Marc Giametti, Karine Jackson and Anthony Licata. Adam Reed and Zoe Irwin are session styling legends, and if you’re angling for a spot on TV, Jamie Stevens and Leo Bancroft would have some great advice. 3. Don’t be shy Introduce yourself! It can be a daunting prospect, but this is one of the friendliest industries to work in and our high flyers are always happy to share their wisdom and advice. Be brave and say hello. 4. Be knowledgeable When you’ve plucked up the courage to approach someone, know what you want to say! If you’re stuck for conversation, a little bit of flattery goes a long way. Why not reference a feature that a journalist has just written, or a collection that hairdresser has just had published? You need to show an interest to get the conversation started. 5. Get a picture Get a picture of yourself with them and tweet it, Facebook it or put it out there on Instagram to encourage comments and engagement. Don't forget to tag the other person! Building on these relationships is key but - a word of warning here - go slowly and carefully! Too over the top or aggressive and it could be counter-productive. 6. Keep it local This advice isn’t just for making waves in the hairdressing industry, it all applies on a local level too. Getting to know the local dignitaries and influencers can lead to significant opportunities for your local profile and business building. Our client Barrie Stephen in Leicester made it his local mission to get to know the Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, directors of the shopping centre and the city’s theatre managers. As a result, he has created some fantastic experiences for himself, the team and the salons.