Do you remember what you were doing at 21 years of age? At 21, I was working as a cocktail waitress and searching for “Mr. Right Now.” I wasn’t motivated to make something more of myself at that time let alone having thousands of people look up to me or aspire to be like me.The same can’t be said for Lana Wyer of Lux Uncut.
Lana Wyer is just 21 years old and has already accomplished more on her entrepreneurial bucket list than many of us could ever hope to achieve.
She’s not only a very successful lash artist, but a lash educator with a social media presence that has helped grow her business into what it is today.
She has inspired thousands with her driven and ambitious personality, and she’s broken the mold for our industry in how we brand ourselves online.
So, as you can imagine, I jumped at the chance to have a chat with Lana about building a brand and reputation on social media. She was happy to share valuable insights about how she uses social media to engage with her audience, attract new clients and scale her business.
{If you want to listen to the podcast episode on this topic, click on the player at the top of the post. You can watch a video trailer below, or read on…}
Using Social Media to Build Authority and Trust
Social media has played a key role in growing Lana Wyer’s business and brand.
“Social media was everything in growing my lash business and still is to this day.”
But what I was even more curious about was how Lana Wyer used social media to create a meaningful connection with her audience. After all, social is all online. You can’t see the person you’re speaking to.
So, how can you create a real connection with somebody you’ve never met?
Lana emphasized the importance of being sincere and genuine with your audience.
Don’t forget that they’re people too and the best way to talk to them is to simply be yourself.
Interact with their content too and drop a few comments to show your genuine interest in their lives. Now, this doesn’t mean you can drop a few heart emojis under a post and call it a day. It takes a lot more effort to build authority and trust as a brand online.
So many people get caught up in the illusion of social media. Using social media to share a polished version of yourself won’t get you anywhere. You need to be human. Talk to people like a real person and seek a connection that goes deeper than the depth of your iPhone screen.
How Lash Artists Use Social Media “Incorrectly”
While there’s no right or wrong way to use social media, there are some things you might be doing as a lash artist that’s not very beneficial for you or your business.
First up is a lack of sincerity. People can see through that, even if they are on the other side of the world.
As Lana Wyer says, “People don’t buy from companies, they buy from people.”
Another mistake that Lana talked about was when lash artists focus too much on getting recognition and notoriety from other lash artists. After all, clients put money in your pocket, not other lash artists.
If you’re working too hard to attract other lash artists and connect with them, you’re attracting the wrong people.
Unless you’re an educator, your main priority should be to attract potential clients, not other artists in the industry.
Being Taken Seriously as a Business Owner
Since Lana is just 21 years old, she’s faced her fair share of discrimination. Mainly, people haven’t been shy about letting her know that she’s too young to run a successful business.
Although the industry is very supportive, it can be difficult for young artists to break through and feel accepted by others.
The hardest part for Lana has been the business side of things. She’s in the process of getting a storefront and her age is seen as a red flag by many.
“They think I’m lying about what I’m doing. And, they don’t believe the success…it’s been a struggle, but I’ll prove them wrong. I’m gonna work harder and I’ll be the one laughing at the end because I proved them wrong.”
If you have family or friends doubting you too, Lana’s advice is to show not tell. What she means by this is to show them what you’re doing. Show them the potential of what your business could become and If they don’t “get it,” then don’t tell them everything.
Give them a taste but leave the rest for yourself. The last thing you need when starting a new business is being surrounded by negativity that’ll only make you doubt yourself even more.
Sharing Career Advice with New Lash Artists
If you’re just starting in the lash industry, Lana advises that you go easy on yourself. When she first started, she focused so much on the business that she didn’t stop to take it all in and really enjoy herself.
“I was really hard on myself at 16. But I should have been at football games and parties, I was so hard on myself. I wish I told myself to enjoy the process and smell the roses because what you’re doing is awesome.”
Her next piece of advice for beginners is to not follow the rules so much. Sometimes, it can seem like the way it’s always been done is the only way to do it.
But when it comes to lashing, you CAN be creative.
You CAN make your own stamp on the industry, if you’re brave enough to stray away from the rules.
Lashing is an art form. And, it’s safe to assume that great art was never made in a board room. It’s made when we’re creative and not afraid to let our imagination lead the way.
“I got caught up in ‘I have to do this, I have to do that,’ and once I broke out of that, my Picture Perfect course came to fruition and my social media came to fruition in a certain way because I was finally like…you know what, I’m going to what I want as an artist and that’s what’s been the most fulfilling and rewarding.”
Connect with Lana
If you would like to find out more about Lana Wyer and the amazing work she’s doing, you can visit Lux Uncut and follow her on Instagram at @luxuncut.
To find out more about Lux Uncut’s Picture Perfect course, click here.
Have a Good One!
Tara Walsh
The Lashpreneur
