How not to lose motivation in PMU Business

Videos

Procedure

Preparation, mapping, pigmentation, aftercare...

Business

Lip business, pigmentation industry, competition...

Techniques

Lip blush, Aquarelle lips, Lipstick effect, styles...

Marketing

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, campaigns...

Practical Tips

Guides, Tips, Suggestions, Walkthroughs...

Branding

Brand name, Domains, Trademarks, Differentiation...

Getting started

Starting artist adivce, practical first steps...

Articles

Procedure

Preparation, mapping, pigmentation, aftercare...

Business

Lip business, pigmentation industry, competition...

Techniques

Lip blush, Aquarelle lips, Lipstick effect, styles...

Marketing

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, campaigns...

Practical Tips

Guides, Tips, Suggestions, Walkthroughs...

Getting started

Starting artist adivce, practical first steps...

Branding

Brand name, Domains, Trademarks, Differentiation...

Basic facts

Pigmentology, Colorimetry, Client psychology basics...

Pigments

Organic, Inorganic, Hybrid, Colorants...

Tools

PMU machines, cartridges, accessories, needles...

Powder Brows

Powderbrows.com related bonus content...

Pricing

1. The Background of “Quitting”

Is Lack of Motivation and Quitting a Relevant Topic?

Absolutely, the issue of losing motivation and quitting is highly relevant in the lip blush, powder brows, and microblading sectors. Numerous studies show that only a small percentage of new artists make these skills their primary source of income.

Consider a comprehensive study tracking the career paths of 1,820 students from various academies. The data reveals that only 19% remained active in the field 18 months post-training. However, "active" does not equate to financial success. Many artists performed procedures only when natural demand indicated they hadn't completely abandoned their skills. Among the active ones, just about 18% reported these skills as their primary income source.

This data underscores the importance of addressing motivation and persistence in this profession.

The Most Important Factor for Success

Another study highlights motivation as a critical element for success in the lip blush, powder brows, and microblading industry. About 3.5% of students enrolling in these courses achieve exceptional success, with "motivation" being the key factor in 71% of these cases. Trainer experience (59%) and small group settings (41%) also contribute significantly.

The lesson is clear: lack of motivation is a major obstacle to success. Many who left the industry cited a loss of motivation. Since motivation is crucial for top earners (3.5%), occasional practitioners (15.2%), and those who quit (81.3%), it forms a solid base for the upcoming suggestions.

Practical Lessons Learned

Now, let's explore practical strategies to sustain motivation as a PMU artist. These strategies aim to encourage continuous improvement over considering leaving the industry. They highlight the stark differences in attitudes and beliefs between top earners and those who eventually quit.

To specifically focus on lip blush procedures, it's crucial to understand that this field requires technical skill, artistic flair, and a deep understanding of color theory. Staying motivated in lip blush artistry involves continuous learning and adapting to new trends and techniques. For instance, staying updated with the latest color palettes and blending techniques can greatly enhance an artist's repertoire and client satisfaction, ultimately contributing to sustained motivation and success in the field.

2. Assess Organic Demand Accurately

One of the most significant motivation-diminishing factors for new artists can be traced back to a misalignment between their post-training expectations and the reality they encounter. The larger the gap between expectations and reality, the greater the decline in motivation. Many artists learn, often painfully, the contrast between their expected level of organic demand and the actual demand.

Artists who quit often do so due to dwindling motivation, driven by exaggerated and unrealistic market expectations. These predictions often rely solely on intuition, without empirical evidence or comprehensive market research.

Practical Suggestion Before enrolling in any training program, conduct primary market research. Start with a Google search, posing as a potential client to gauge the availability and pricing of services in your area. Inquire about the earliest available appointment slots to understand vacancy levels. Some successful artists even feign urgency for appointments due to a supposed upcoming trip, revealing more accurate vacancy rates than social media advertisements suggest. Negotiating prices or asking for discounts can also provide insight into market rates.

How to Estimate Probable Organic Demand Accurately Once you've gathered data on pricing and availability, consider two key aspects: the following.

When starting, can you offer the same quality of service at a significantly lower price (by 40% or more)?

Can you provide a noticeably higher quality of service that clearly differentiates you from competitors?

Avoid counting on organic demand in your first year's plans if you can't confidently answer "yes" to at least one of these questions. Viewing any business as a bonus, not a necessity, helps manage expectations and calculations realistically.

Remember, the presence of other artists in your region suggests life will continue with or without your services. Unrealistic expectations based on inflated demand only lead to disappointment and financial strain.

Be Cautious with Verbal Promises

Exercise caution with verbal promises, especially from clients of your other beauty services. If they claim they'll book your lip blush, powder brows, or microblading services, issue an invoice with a booking fee and special rate. Payment of this fee indicates some level of organic demand.

However, project this demand conservatively in long-term plans. Initial business from loyal customers may dwindle over time. In the brow business, sustainable client flow often comes from new customers.

Setting low expectations for organic demand protects your long-term motivation. This doesn't mean you shouldn't seek more clients; it means being intelligent and realistic in assessing steady income prospects in this field.

Next, let us see how to assess if you need extra funding for procedures.

3. A Formula for Marketing Budget

It's beneficial to test campaigns on Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook to gauge your likely marketing budget. These campaigns allow you to determine the average cost to reach your target audience, set conversions, and receive inquiries. The key here is to understand the cost of reach by testing various ad sets targeting the same local demographic, regardless of the specific content of the campaigns.

Calculating Customer Acquisition Cost

Once you've established the cost of reach, you can estimate that approximately half of the warm leads from your campaigns will convert into paying customers. This information helps calculate the likely customer acquisition cost in your area.

Evaluating Procedure-Related Costs

After accounting for all other expenses, such as materials, equipment, and overhead, you can decide whether you need additional funding for the procedures. This understanding is crucial as it affects your pricing strategy and motivation in the Lip Blush business.

Concrete Example: Understanding Costs

To get a detailed understanding of your expenses, minimize fixed costs, including workstation rental, transportation, supplies, pigments, cartridges, communication, and a portion of ongoing fixed expenses. Suppose these combined costs total $50 per procedure. Add the marketing cost for acquiring a new customer, estimated at around $50 in our example.

Calculating Total Customer Acquisition Cost

Combining these costs gives a total customer acquisition cost of $100: $50 for operational expenses and $50 for social media marketing per client. This figure should be weighed against the promotional price you intend to offer new clients in your area.

Establishing a Profit Margin

Generally, your promotional price should be about 40% lower than the average for comparable quality work in your area. If top artists charge $250 for a procedure, a realistic profit margin during your startup phase might be $50 per procedure. Conversely, if the average rate is $150, be ready to invest an extra $10 per procedure for the opportunity to perform it. These numbers will vary based on your specific market conditions.

Preparing for Possible Expenses

Realizing that you might need to invest money to work can deter many newcomers to the lip blush or powder brows business. To avoid disappointment, consider setting aside additional funds for building your portfolio and covering procedure costs.

4. Establish Long-Term Goals

One of the defining characteristics of top earners in the PMU industry is their long-term perspective. Assuming you've prepared for minimal organic business and accurately estimated marketing costs, be ready for a journey that typically lasts at least a year.

The Importance of Activity Focus

New artists give up commonly due to the disconnect between their efforts and financial returns. They struggle to persist when they feel they're doing "everything right" but not seeing desired results.

Common Triggers for Giving Up

A typical scenario leading to giving up may involve performing procedures with little to no profit, often requiring subsidization through other work. The artist might be committed to rigorous content production and posting schedules. For example, a new artist aiming for growth might need to create and post seven pieces of content per week, performing model procedures that don't generate significant profit. This could mean taking extra work in another field to sustain themselves. Furthermore, spending considerable time daily seeking partnerships with local beauticians can add to this workload, often relying on savings or external financial support.

If the artist sees little or no return on investment after maintaining this intense schedule with significant effort, the decision to quit becomes understandable. There's a limit to everyone's endurance.

5. Conclusions

The statistics are sobering when considering students who embark on PMU (Permanent Makeup) training, specifically in lip blush, powder brows, and microblading: most quit within the first year. At the 18-month mark, only around 18.7% continue to persevere. The crucial factor that sets successful artists apart is the ability to sustain motivation.

Loss of motivation primarily occurs for three main reasons.

Unrealistic Expectations. Many beginners harbor naive expectations about organic inbound business. Successful artists often start with minimal expectations in this area, allowing them to view new business as a bonus rather than a necessity.
Inadequate Marketing Budget. Those who fail often lack a realistic marketing budget or sufficient research to understand the business's financial aspects. Successful artists invest time in researching and understanding realistic earnings in the initial stages and prepare for the possibility of needing to invest more in performing procedures.
Lack of Long-Term View. Successful artists maintain a long-term outlook, often of at least 12 months. This perspective lets them focus on building their portfolio and brand, even if these efforts do not yield immediate revenue.

Understanding these challenges and strategies to overcome them provides aspiring powder brow and microblading artists a better chance of sustaining their motivation and achieving success in the field.

For lip blush artists, it's crucial to integrate these insights into their practice. Recognizing that building a client base and establishing a reputation in the niche of lip blush artistry takes time and dedication is essential. Emphasizing quality work, consistent marketing efforts and patient portfolio development are key to long-term success. By setting realistic goals, allocating appropriate resources to marketing, and maintaining a long-term view, lip blush artists can navigate the competitive landscape more effectively and find lasting success and fulfillment in their craft.

How not to lose motivation in PMU Business

"This article focuses on distinguishing successful artists from those who quit: understanding the earnings per procedure in the initial months and the required investment for performing these procedures. It provides insights to help artists better grasp this critical issue. "

1. The Background of “Quitting”