REFERRAL PROGRAMS W/ Maria Fontana

Maria Fontana Show Notes: **Introduction** - Host introduces Maria Fontana, a 30+ year salon owner turned online coaching consultant, who shares her wisdom on mindset and success in the beauty industry. **About Maria Fontana (00:00:54 - 00:02:36)** - Maria Fontana is a veteran salon owner, hairstylist, and online coaching consultant. - She emphasizes the diverse avenues in the beauty industry beyond traditional salon work. - Maria highlights her journey, including hardships, success, reinvention, and the importance of inner healing and mindset work. **Getting Started in the Salon World (00:02:36 - 00:03:37)** - Maria started her career after attending a vocational school with the goal of making money quickly. - She opened her first salon at 19 and emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and staying true to personal values. - Maria shares her experience of losing everything in a divorce, reinventing herself, and the value of resilience in the industry. **Adapting to Changes in the Industry (00:04:00 - 00:08:17)** - Maria discusses the transformation of the beauty industry over the years. - She emphasizes the significance of personal branding, especially through Google Business, as a million-dollar secret to growing a salon brand locally. - Maria advises stylists to simplify their online presence and marketing strategies for consistency. - The importance of knowing your ideal client and specializing in a niche is discussed. **Engaging Clients for Referrals (00:08:52 - 00:10:56)** - Maria emphasizes the importance of personal development in building a successful salon business. - She shares strategies for engaging clients in conversations about referrals and how to offer value without discounting services. - Maria highlights the significance of mindset and inner work to navigate challenges and criticisms in the industry. **Finding Your Niche (00:11:52 - 00:16:49)** - Maria explains how one's niche may change over time and suggests finding what feeds the soul and feels authentic. - She encourages stylists to be clear about who they are talking to, focusing on specialized services. - The importance of collaborating with salon leaders and being in the right salon environment is emphasized. **Being Featured in Salon Today (00:17:14 - 00:20:36)** - Maria shares her experience of being featured in Salon Today and how it felt like a dream come true. - She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to touch more lives and help others with her message. **Books and Charity Work (00:20:36 - 00:23:48)** - Maria discusses her books, including "Love and Light," her journey of healing, and two bestsellers written with other authors. - The books focus on personal growth, creating joy, and making a positive impact. - Maria emphasizes her mission to give back to communities and charities through book sales. **Motivational Quote (00:23:48 - 00:24:23)** - Maria shares her motivational quote: "What you think of me is none of my business." - The quote encourages focusing on personal growth, intuition, and forward-looking goals, rather than external opinions. **Next Steps and Mission (00:24:49 - 00:26:58)** - Maria's mission is to expand and help beauty and wellness professionals create additional streams of income. - She emphasizes the need for professionals to think bigger, offering examples like private labels, online courses, coaching, and consulting. **Closing and Where to Find Maria (00:26:58 - End)** - Maria provides information on where to find her online, including her website, podcast, and various social media platforms. *Note: Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly.*