When I made a blog post about business cards, I briefly touched on having things simple and having your name on your email and websites. Perhaps I was a bit too vague because I'm still running into emails and websites with "foo foo".
Your email should always be your name. I cannot express enough how important this is. If you're starting out and can't get or afford a domain name that will let you have your name as a dot com you're allowed to temporarily have a gmail or yahoo or whatever makes you happy.
Acceptable:
janesmith@gmail
jsmith@gmail
janes@gmail
janesmithbeauty@gmail
janesmithmakeup@gmail
And so on...
UNacceptable:
sparklesofglitter@gmail
ghettoliciousmakeup@yahoo
Anything that isn't your name is absolutely just a NO!
Your name is not sparklesofglitter. If it's not on your birth certificate, it should not be used in your email or website.
Some may have free websites where you can't help but have that particular websites name all over it. I personally have a bridal site through wix.com but guess what's in between all that? My name! (It's http://yisellsmakeup.wix.com/yisellsmakeup). I can't help that "wix" is in there but I made it a point to implement my name in there so clients can remember.
If you already have a domain name that allows you to have your name as a dot com, then that's fantastic! You're on the right track. My pro site is www[dot]yisellsantos[dot]com along with my pro email which is contact[at]yisellsantos[dot]com.
Acceptable:
info@yourname.com
contact@yourname.com
yourname@yourname.com
The point is, your name is on it!
Please always keep in mind that this is how your client will always remember you. Don't think that just because you're starting out that this is ok. That you can probably just change it later. 2 things can happen, you either don't ever change it because now all your clients have this particular email and to change it now will be a pain in the behind OR you do change it and have to email every single client that you've changed your email and we all know that sometimes that doesn't work. You'll have no choice but to keep the old email just in case someone emails you there. If you disable it, you could possibly lose jobs and/or clients and no one wants that. So now...you're managing two emails. If you ask me, that's just way too much work and your client will forever know and remember you as ghettoliciousmakeup. This is not professional in any way, shape or form.
If you want to be treated and paid like a professional, you need to conduct and handle your business like a professional. I find it difficult to take anyone seriously who doesn't have a professional email or site.
Moral of this story:
Act as a pro
Be a pro
Conduct business as a pro
And please, I beg you, stop with the ridiculous email and site names.
Professional E-mails & Websites
Clean: Brush Shampoo
For years I've been using Dial Soap to clean and disinfect my brushes. Sometimes I'd even use dish washing soap for my lip brushes because it's the only thing that cuts the sticky/greasy gunk that remains after you've applied lipstick/lipgloss.
I've tried different kinds of brush soaps out there within my years of doing makeup and none of them have really met my expectations. They were too scented, not scented enough, the scent was bad, left a residue, made my brushes not pick up pigment, had to wash more than once to get them really clean...I can go on and on. I eventually gave up and just stuck with Dial Soap. And I love it, I do. It works and cleans my brushes nicely but its not a brush soap. It's a hand soap.
Yesterday I received a package from Clean: Brush Shampoo to try out their product. Now, I have to be honest, I was already skeptical because I've been down this road before. I knew this package was on its way so I let my personal brushes sit unwashed for two weeks (I clean them every week). After 2 weeks of using them daily and letting the makeup accumulate, I went ahead and washed them with Clean.
 |
| I got both types - Olive Oil & Goats Milk |
All I have to say is...Oh my...!! I was so impressed! Finally an actual brush shampoo that does the job and leaves my brushes feeling soft. There are two types of shampoo, one with the main ingredient being Olive Oil and one with Goats Milk. Now, personally I couldn't really tell the difference between the two. Then again, what matters to me is that my brushes are clean, that a film or residue isn't left behind, picks up pigment the way it's supposed to and it smells nice. The samples I received were Unscented which is nice for those with a sensitive nose but not to worry, there's Lemon & Lavender scented shampoo as well. Another thing that I love is that it's Organic! That's right, no extra fluff and gross chemicals. Even the scents are organic oils. Check out the ingredients:
Olive Oil:
Olive Oil, Glycerin, Palm Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Coconut Oil, Safflower oil
Goats Milk:
Glycerin, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Goat’s Milk Powder, Titanium Dioxide, Tea Tree Oil
Where can I buy this awesomeness you ask? Clean: Brush Shampoo officially opens its online store on Monday, May 13, 2013. Shop here and get your Brush Shampoo. I promise, you won't be disappointed.
You can also visit them on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cleanbrush
Instagram: @cleanbrush
Is That a Soccer Ball Under Your Shirt?
I never post personal things in my blog. I'm a very private person and really only share with those very close to me. Though, once we're close and you really get to know me, I'm quite the foul mouthed, no holds barred kinda girl ha! I'm from NYC, whatevah!
Many people who follow me of Facebook , Twitter and Instagram (@yisellsmakeup) know that I'm...wait for it...PREGNANT! Yes! I've created life and am now carrying a human in me! WOO HOO! I've kind of sneaked in some hints and even posted pictures here and there. Some noticed my growing belly, some didn't. I didn't exactly publicly announce it (again private person), but I've decided that since the time is soon approaching for me to take a break from work, I'd go ahead and make it really public.
Mid to ending May marks the beginning of my 8th month (I'm 32 weeks now and due June 30th / July 1st) and man I gotta tell ya, I'm starting to feel it. I was doing just great - taking jobs, getting up early to answer emails, help other artists with their sites etc. But lately, my poor little legs and ankles are starting to yell at me if I stand for too long. Tho, this doesn't impair my work in any way. I just go home and complain to my husband, he tells me to relax and stop working so much but of course I don't listen and he ends up rubbing my footies for hours. WIN!
 |
| My little guy at 27 weeks sucking his thumb |
I love my job and can't ever quit completely. I know the work flow won't be the same again (for a long while) and I'm ok with that. Traveling for now is out of the question. I was raised to love being with family and that's what I'm going to do. After almost 10 years in this business, now it's mommy time. I started out doing weddings, worked damn hard to get where I am, moved up and did lots of print work and even some TV/Film work. I've been very fortunate and so grateful to the people I've met along the way. I've had one hell of a good run. All I wanna do is make people pretty and be with my family. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do! I'm back to concentrating only on bridal (for now) which would only really take up a couple hours of my weekends and the rest of the time I'll spend with the hubby and cuddling with my son.
Now this doesn't mean that I won't post here anymore, share my beauty finds, update on the social networks or give anymore advice. It just means that I might not be able to respond to your lovely comments and questions as fast as usual. Please, please do keep commenting and emailing me. I love to hear from you guys and I love with all my heart to help you and give any advice I can. You guys are a big part of why I love to do what I do. Without you, a piece of me would be lost.
And now I leave you with some pics of my belly lol!
 |
| Me & BFF of 20+ yrs College BFF giving the belly some love Me and the Hubby |
I love you all, seriously!
Biggest hugs and kisses to all. XO!