With the ever-changing world of Instagram, I know it can be hard to stay on top of the feed changes, the evolving platform features, and the trends, but here’s the good and the bad news…

(I’m always a fan of bad news first, so let’s jump right in.)

Bad news: there are a few key mistakes that I see a TON of aestheticians making on Instagram and these are mistakes that are making it hard for your ideal clients to find you or if they do find you, hard to connect with you. 

The good news: these few mistakes have simple solutions that you can fix starting today. 

And the bonus good news is that if you fix these mistakes pronto and stay consistent, you’re likely to see an improvement pretty quickly. 

In fact, I hesitate to even call these mistakes because the reality is, they’re “areas of opportunity.”

I know it can feel frustrating to keep up with the fast-paced nature of social media, but I want you to think of social media and platforms like Instagram as a huge opportunity rather than as a chore. 

Instagram is a free marketing tool that allows you to directly connect and engage with people who live in your immediate area. It’s pretty powerful to say the least. 

And while I’m a huge proponent of running Facebook/Instagram ads (something you know well by now if you’ve been around here for a little while, and if you’re new, you’ll learn!), you have to get the basics down first. 

It’s these areas of opportunity that I see 90% of the aestheticians I connect with missing the mark, and they’re all tied to the basics, which is why improving these areas is going to provide a quick boost in your engagement and overall efforts on the Instagram platform. 

So let’s get to fixing them, shall we?!

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• The 3 biggest mistakes you might be making on Instagram and how they’re holding you back from connecting with your dream clients
• How to remedy those mistakes aka “areas of opportunity” to start gaining traction on Instagram 
• My top tips for optimizing your profile and creating a variety of content, plus an example of how to craft captions for conversions

References Mentioned in Episode #111: The 3 Biggest Mistakes Aestheticians Make On Instagram

• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — for every 25 reviews we receive, we’re sharing a new downloadable resource to help you grow your business 
• Use Linktree to house multiple links in the single link allowed in your Instagram bio
• Learn more about Post With Purpose, our monthly membership for learning how to post to social media purposefully with a process. 

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community. 

Thinking of giving Groupon a shot at your spa? 

Maybe you just read that question and thought, “you’re kidding?!” 

Now hear me out, Groupon is not your answer to becoming a successful spa, it is merely a tool in the journey to get there. 

Just like we use Facebook ads to drive traffic and leads, Groupon is just another advertising channel and a client acquisition strategy. 

However, like Facebook ads, you can’t just throw up an offer and expect it to go off like gangbusters.

There are strategic pieces involved and you need to understand the foundation of the platform, not to mention your financial foundations. 

In this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, I’m breaking down the step-by-step strategy for leveraging Groupon successfully so that you can effectively build up your brand awareness and your clientele while seeing a benefit to your bottom line. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Groupon can be a powerful client acquisition strategy
• The key difference between Groupon and Facebook Ads
• The process of setting up a successful Groupon deal and the one thing every Groupon deal should have 
• When to use the Groupon strategy in your business and what your sales goals should be 

References Mentioned in Episode #107: The Strategic Secrets of Using Groupon the Right Way

• Join the Spa Marketing Made Easy community for free marketing trainings, tips, monthly goal-setting sessions, and to be a part of our Aesthetician Book Club. 
• Click here to get the Scale Your Business Bundle featuring our Groupon Tracker.
• Read our current Book Club pick, Superfans: The Easy Way to Stand Out, Grow Your Tribe, and Build a Successful Business by Pat Flynn
• Listen to Episode #084: 10 Ways to 10X Your Revenue with Facebook Ads with Tara Zirker
• Click here to learn more about running a deal on Groupon and to connect with a rep

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…especially for spa owners and aestheticians, because we are in the swing of the holiday season!

Now’s the time to rock out the last quarter of the year, and to help you do it, I’m pulling one of my favorite lessons inside Spa Retail Rockstar out of the vault. 

Consider it my token of gratitude for having you here in the Spa Marketing Made Easy community, which by the way, this has been a very hot topic of conversation as of late. 

I’m talking about the “Buy $100, Get $100” spa gift card promotion, which has the potential to double your gift card sales from previous years (or more). 

So fire up your notes app and tune in, because this is going to be the year of your top-grossing gift cards sales yet. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What the Buy $100, Get $100 promotion is, how it works, and the step-by-step process of preparing for the promotion so you can knock it out of the park. 
• The key elements you need to have in place for the promotion including materials as well as policies and explicit directions. 
• My tips around the logistics of running the Buy $100, Get $100 promotion so you can track your gift card sales success and replicate it for the next big gift card holiday, Mother’s Day!  

References Mentioned in Episode #103: The “Buy $100, Get $100” Spa Gift Card Promotion

• Gift card resources mentioned in this episode include: Plastek, Canva and Vistaprint 
• Listen to Episode #062 with Amanda Whelband where she shares her experience with the Buy $100, Get $100 promotion and how she doubled her holiday gift card sales from the previous year in just 2.5 weeks
• Have questions or want to share your wins? We want to hear them! Come join us inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Facebook group. 

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community.

Whether your business is stuck in a vicious paycheck to paycheck cycle, or you can’t seem to climb out of credit card debt, or the thought of digging deep into your business financials scares the pants off of you, this is an episode you literally can’t afford to miss. 

And if you’re thinking to yourself, “Paycheck to paycheck? I’m happy if I even get paid at all!”

Then you definitely need to tune in because if you aren’t paying yourself, we need to get you there NOW. 

But regardless of the size or scale of your aesthetic practice, here’s the reality: you have to prioritize your business’ profit if you want to hit your financial goals and hit them in a timely manner, and in a way that’s not riddled with stress, but instead, strength. 

Believe it or not, finances can be incredibly exciting and empowering, and as my guest today shares, when her clients and students understand the cash flow of their business, they accomplish huge goals in timeframes you may have only thought were a pipe dream. 

In this episode, I’m so excited for you to hear from my guest Amber Dugger, who is a cash flow expert for entrepreneurs and founder of the program “Profit For Keeps,” where she is on a mission to help business owners go from just making money – to actually keeping it so you can spend it on the things that make your life awesome. 

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time educating myself on business finances over the last few years, I can tell you that hearing what Amber has to share can be business- and life-changing for you if you open yourself up to move past your money blocks. 

Remember, knowledge is power. 

And when it comes to finances, your power lies in your profits. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to navigate through the emotion of money and reframe your mindset so that money doesn’t feel scary to begin digging into or learning about
• Why it is vital to your business’ success to understand your cash flow and the primary financial framework that makes money management easy to understand and, yes, exciting 
• How Amber classfies debt into two categories, how they differ, and when it’s okay to take out a loan or line of credit to help your business scale 
• Where to begin with prioritizing profit first in your business and why this system works to help you achieve your business and life goals 

References Mentioned in Episode #102: Prioritizing Profit in Your Spa with Amber Dugger 

• Tap into Amber’s free Profitability Calculator by clicking here.
• Join Amber’s Facebook group, Sweet Life Purposeful Money. 
• Connect with Amber on her website, on Facebook, and on Instagram. 
• Read Profit First by Mike Michalowicz (affiliate link) 
• New to the Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast? Download our Quick Start Guide to learn more about tuning in, where you can connect with our resources, and how to leave a review. 

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community.

The 2020 Aesthetic Marketing Seminar is going VIRTUAL! 

Save the date (and your FREE seat!) for August 24-25 for the 2020 Virtual Aesthetic Marketing Seminar, which will feature top experts in the spa industry speaking on today’s most effective marketing strategies to build, grow, and scale a successful aesthetic business.

[ Click Here To Save Your FREE Spot Today ]

EP 099: Survive on Services, Retire on Retail

At this point you might think I’m a broken record about retail, but I don’t care, because if you read the title of this episode and are even the slightest bit intrigued about the prospect of retiring on retail, well, my dear, the opportunity is yours for the taking. 

With the way our industry is moving (research from Statista shows that the aesthetics industry is expected to grow 14 percent faster than other industries between 2016-2026), and the way consumers are shopping (hello, online, on-demand, and one-click), the truth of the matter is that if you want to be seen as the go-to expert in your area and compete with the Amazons of the world, you’ve got to compete on their level. 

 And if you’re thinking, “How in the world do I compete with Amazon?!” 

You’re in luck because that’s precisely what I’m going to be covering in this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy. 

In this episode, I’m sharing the seven revenue streams you can capitalize on within your spa, and yes, you bet that retail is woven into a few of those, and I’m giving you my step-by-step breakdown on how to build out one of those revenue streams so you can get it up and running in as little as a day. 

{Did you know that the average millionaire has seven streams of revenue? Something to think about.}

Even if you’re already a retail rockstar within your treatment room, I bet you anything you’ll have a few lightbulb moments while listening to this episode. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How events like the Beauty Business Summit can be instrumental in your growth and development as an aesthetic professional 
• Why retail is a critical component of your business model and how you’re leaving money on the table by not capitalizing on it 
• 7 ideas for expanding your revenue streams and increasing your cash flow and market share
• My 4 steps to e-commerce success to take your retail sales strategy to the next level 

References Mentioned in Episode #099: Survive on Services, Retire on Retail 

• Click here to download the free Revamp Your Retail Guide and Workbook
• Learn more about the Beauty Business Summit and get an early bird ticket to the 2020 Summit
• See more spa industry stats from Statista, iSPA, and MedEsthetics
• Check out ecommerce platforms including Shopify, Volusion, Magento, and WooCommerce 
• Learn more about the aesthetic experts mentioned in this episode: Skincare by Alana, Grafin Skin and Beauty, and Savvy Skin Spa  
• Join the Business Book Club inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy community
• New to the Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast? Download our Quick Start Guide to learn more about tuning in, where you can connect with our resources, and how to leave a review. 

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community.

The 2020 Aesthetic Marketing Seminar is going VIRTUAL! 

Save the date (and your FREE seat!) for August 24-25 for the 2020 Virtual Aesthetic Marketing Seminar, which will feature top experts in the spa industry speaking on today’s most effective marketing strategies to build, grow, and scale a successful aesthetic business.

[ Click Here To Save Your FREE Spot Today ]

Everyone has a story to tell. 

Yes, even you, the one who thinks their path doesn’t have any exciting tidbits worth sharing. 

Or the one who thinks that their bumps in the road are just like everyone else’s, and you don’t have a remarkable triumph to share…yet! 

Or maybe you fall into the other camp. You’ve got no shortage of a backstory, but you have no clue about how to begin sharing it. 

You question whether it fits with your brand or relates to your business. Or maybe you’re scared to share it because let’s be honest, some stories also hold pain, and sharing them can feel scary. 

As a naturally private person, sharing pieces of me publicly (both the bright and shadow-y pieces) is something I’ve had to work on and through, but from it, I’ve discovered that opening up to share my stories has not only been empowering, but incredibly connective with those I hope to help and make an impact with (that’s you!). 

And here to help us open up, dive deeper and discover our stories in this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy is Celinne Da Costa, who among being a coach, writer, and speaker, is also a globetrotting storyteller who helps her clients master their story to build a premium brand. 

In this episode, she’s sharing her insights on how to begin sharing your story with confidence and conviction so you can connect with more of your dream clients. 

It doesn’t matter what your past holds; you have a story to tell, so let’s learn how to share it with those you aim to serve. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Celinne’s biggest piece of advice for where to start when discovering your story and the questions to ask yourself to uncover the elements that emotionally connect 
• Why your story is one of the best tools you have to leverage in your business 
• How to begin working through your history to find the compelling pieces of your story 
• Celinne’s tips on how to weave storytelling throughout your content marketing strategy and finding the various opportunities for storytelling inside your business

References Mentioned in Episode #093: Mastering Your Story and Sharing It Confidently with Celinne Da Costa 

• Learn more about Celinne’s work 
• Learn more about Celinne’s Master Your Story program
• Connect with Celinne on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Continue the conversation after the episode inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy community, click here to join

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community. 

[ Subscribe to Spa Marketing Made Easy on iTunes ]

Alright, I’ve got a challenge for you…

I want you to open another tab on your browser, key in Google, then search for spas or aestheticians in your area. 

Where do you fall on the page of results? 

Are you on the first page at all?

Whether you’re at the bottom of the page, or if you’re nowhere to be found, settle in and pull up an earbud because this is an episode you can’t miss. 

(And if you happen to already be a search engine rockstar and you’re number one, still listen in because the world of Google is always changing, and I know you’ll still get some new tips to put into action for your biz!)

Now, if you’ve been around for awhile, you know I’m a big proponent of social media, especially Facebook Ads, but more often than not, your ideal client will find you on Google first, then they’ll check you out via your website and/or social media to see if you’ll be a good fit for them. 

But it all begins with Google, it just depends on where you land on the results page and what your potential client finds when you pop up. 

And joining me today to spill their top tips for snagging that coveted number one spot is Alana and Jared Mitchell. 

You may know them from Episode #078 where we discussed their journey of building and growing a seven-figure e-commerce empire, Alana Mitchell Skincare, but let’s face it, that’s a lot of info to pack into one episode, so I had to have them back! 

In this episode, we’re diving deeper specifically into the platform of Google, which is where Alana and Jared have found their sweet spot in exponentially growing their business, and now they’re breaking down exactly what you need to do to get your business to the top, too. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The current state of search and why it’s critical that you claim and customize your presence on Google 
• Why Google is one of the best places to focus your online efforts whether you’re brand new in business or looking to step your marketing up a notch
• The first step in ensuring that your ideal client finds you on Google and how to quickly get not just on the first page of rankings, but at the top of the page 
• Jared and Alana’s ninja tips for filling out your business listing, getting reviews, having your potential client spend more time on your business listing, and more to help give you on edge on Google

References Mentioned in Episode #089: Moving Your Results From Zero to Hero on Google with Alana and Jared Mitchell 

• Learn more about Alana and Jared’s e-commerce company, Skincare by Alana and Alana Mitchell Skincare
• Click here to enroll in Alana and Jared’s new Google My Business Mastery Course
• Connect with Alana and Jared on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Listen to our first episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy (Episode 78: The Journey of Growing an E-Commerce Empire)
• Create or claim your Google My Business listing 

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community. 

[ Subscribe to Spa Marketing Made Easy on iTunes ] 

It’s no secret that video has completely taken over as the dominant form of content on social media, but just because it gets superior results in terms of reach and engagement doesn’t mean that it’s any less scary to create! 

Video requires another level of vulnerability, but that’s precisely why it’s so valuable in connecting you with your ideal clients and creating greater impact. 

When your ideal clients can see you and hear you, and even interact with you in real time, it builds trust quickly and provides a tremendous opportunity for sharing your expertise in a dynamic way that both displays your personality and your brand so that you can command attention and stand out among the competition. 

In this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, I’m joined by Katya Varbanova, who is the founder of 20K Nation, and an expert at helping entrepreneurs become icons in their industry and stand out on social media through the power of live streaming. 

Throughout this episode, we not only discuss tangible tactical takeaways that you can run with to create high-impact video content efficiently…

Just wait ’til you hear her genius “Hamburger Method” for creating a month of content ideas within 15 minutes so you’re never left wondering, “but what do I talk about?!”

But we also discuss how to overcome your inner critic who’s keeping you fearful of facing the camera so you can breakthrough the chatter in your brain, and instead show up as the expert your clients want and need. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we fear live video and Katya’s personal journey with facing her fear of getting in front of the camera
• Katya’s top tips for overcoming the problem of “not knowing what to say”
• Her “Hamburger Method” that will help you create a month’s worth of content in 15 minutes 
• What showing up on video and live streams helps you to supercharge your marketing efforts and impact 

References Mentioned in Episode #086: Creating a Month’s Worth of Video Content in 15 Minutes with Katya Varbanova

• Connect with Katya on Facebook and Instagram 
• Learn more about Katya’s work helping entrepreneurs and video creators become icons in their industries at 20K Nation
• Continue the conversation, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers inside the Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community

The 2020 Aesthetic Marketing Seminar is going VIRTUAL! 

Save the date (and your FREE seat!) for August 24-25 for the 2020 Virtual Aesthetic Marketing Seminar, which will feature top experts in the spa industry speaking on today’s most effective marketing strategies to build, grow, and scale a successful aesthetic business.

[ Click Here To Save Your FREE Spot Today ]

EP 084: 10 Ways to 10X Your Revenue with Facebook Ads with Tara Zirker

What if you could have a system that operated as your 24/7 salesperson that brought in new, qualified leads even while you’re on vacation, or playing with your kids, or even in the treatment room with another client?


THAT is the power of Facebook ads, and they’re no longer a question of “should” you be doing them for your aesthetic business, but how should you be using them to maximize your marketing budget and get more of your ideal clients aware of your business. 

On this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, I’m joined by my dear friend and repeat guest, Tara Zirker, who I’ve dubbed as the Facebook Ads goddess because, you guys, she makes magic happen through the power of Facebook ads. 

In her career, she has worked with business owners in all industries, but especially owners of clinics in the aesthetic and wellness space, and has helped generate millions of dollars in profit.

And now through her membership, Successful Ads Club, Tara’s helping entrepreneurs like you harness the power of Facebook ads with top-notch education and strategies roadmaps. 

In today’s episode, we’re giving you ten time-tested strategies that we know WORK for spa and aesthetic business to help you get going with Facebook ads in as little as a couple of hours. 

Whether you’ve never ventured into Facebook ads before, you’ve already dipped your toe in the water and are ready for taking your ads up a level, or you’re a pro looking for fresh ideas, there’s a little something for every aesthetician in this episode! 

So pull up an earbud and a pen, and let’s talk strategy! 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why you need to leverage Facebook ads for your aesthetic business and how to approach getting started 
• The 5 things you need to have in place before running any of the VIP strategies in this episode 
• 10 strategic ideas for Facebook and Instagram ads that you can begin running today 
• Promotional ideas as well as out-of-the-box marketing ideas to help you stand out from the crowd and expand your market

References Mentioned in Episode #084: 10 Ways to 10X Your Revenue with Facebook Ads with Tara Zirker

• Click here to learn more and join The Successful Ads Club
• Watch my free training with Tara, “Turn $10 a Day into Steady Clients with Facebook Ads”
• Connect with Tara on Facebook and Instagram 
• Execute your Messenger strategy with a tool like ManyChat 
• Learn more about and become a Spa Retail Rockstar
• Read Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community. 

The 2020 Aesthetic Marketing Seminar is going VIRTUAL! 

Save the date (and your FREE seat!) for August 24-25 for the 2020 Virtual Aesthetic Marketing Seminar, which will feature top experts in the spa industry speaking on today’s most effective marketing strategies to build, grow, and scale a successful aesthetic business.

[ Click Here To Save Your FREE Spot Today ]

The 2020 Aesthetic Marketing Seminar is going VIRTUAL! 

Save the date (and your FREE seat!) for August 24-25 for the 2020 Virtual Aesthetic Marketing Seminar, which will feature top experts in the spa industry speaking on today’s most effective marketing strategies to build, grow, and scale a successful aesthetic business.

[ Click Here To Save Your FREE Spot Today ]

EP 079: The Spa Marketing Keys to Increasing Your Foot Traffic with Stacy Tuschl

Online excitement and engagement are nice, but at the end of the day, the marketing metric that matters most for your spa is…can you guess?

Foot traffic!

If clients and customers aren’t actually making it into your business, your online marketing efforts aren’t going to translate into sales, but then comes the question, how DO you get people to take that step through your door?

Well, that’s the million dollar question.

Literally.

In this episode of Spa Marketing Made Easy, I’m talking with my friend Stacy Tuschl, who in addition to being a business coach, marketing strategist, and best-selling author, also started a local business (a dance studio) that began in her parents’ backyard when she was just 18 and today is a 7-figure business with multiple locations that Stacy still owns and operates.

In this episode, we cover everything from client retention marketing to social media marketing to the crucial pieces of marketing you need to have in place to continuously drive foot traffic through your doors both from new clients and existing clients.

If you’ve been a long-time listener of the podcast, you know that I’m a huge advocate for focusing on keeping clients and not running on the hamster wheel that is constantly having to acquire new clients, which is why I love everything that Stacy is preaching in this episode.

Marketing isn’t solely for the people who’ve never heard of you before; it’s also for the people who have already decided to buy from you and still stand to be a massive source of profit for your business.

Tune in to learn:

• Stacy’s entrepreneurial origin story and her journey to growing her 7-figure local business empire
• The one thing she and her team do with every new client at her dance studio and what you need to be doing to bridge the connection between your brick-and-mortar and online presence
• How to choose what to focus on when it comes to social media and gain visibility using leverage
• The three points of Stacy’s Foot Traffic Framework and the power of PR and social proof for more sales

References Mentioned in Episode #079: The Spa Marketing Keys to Increasing Your Foot Traffic with Stacy Tuschl

• Learn more about Stacy and her work by visiting her website
• Connect with Stacy on Facebook and Instagram
• Listen to the Foot Traffic Podcast and join the Foot Traffic Community
• Listen to Episode #061  where we feature Gisel of Elevate Esthetics who was mentioned for obtaining local PR opportunities

To keep the conversation going, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded aestheticians building thriving careers, click here to join the free Spa Marketing Made Easy Podcast community.

The 2020 Aesthetic Marketing Seminar is going VIRTUAL! 

Save the date (and your FREE seat!) for August 24-25 for the 2020 Virtual Aesthetic Marketing Seminar, which will feature top experts in the spa industry speaking on today’s most effective marketing strategies to build, grow, and scale a successful aesthetic business.

[ Click Here To Save Your FREE Spot Today ]