Spa Marketing in a Tough Economic Climate – Part 3

Advertising Options To Reach Your Target Market

It goes without saying that as an aesthetician, it is critical to maintain your existing clientèle, keeping them happy to ensure they remain loyal, long-term customers.However, to continue to build and grow your business, it is always necessary to seek out and acquire new clients as well.

Never Scrimp on Quality – Even in Tough Times

By offering quality, diverse services at fair market prices, maintaining the existing ones should come easily (not to mention the new business accomplished by referrals). However, it is presumptuous and dangerous for your business health to assume clients will recommend you to friends, regardless of how satisfied they were, or how often they return.  Therefore, attracting new customers should be given the same priority and attention and keeping the existing ones.

If you run a small practice, you know how costly traditional forms of advertising can be! So, how do you go about attracting new clients without breaking the bank?

There are a few things that you can do which won’t impact your bottom line at all.

Spa Coupons and Discount Offers to Get New Clients in the Door

One such means would be teaming up with a real estate agent who sells homes in your demographic area. Supply them with discount service coupons to give to people who buy homes in the area. This will benefit both parties, especially the spa who would likely be the first spa with whom the new resident becomes acquainted.

Packages that Attract a Crowd (or at least a group!)

Offer a 2 for 1 promotional day, where your client comes in with a friend, sister, daughter, husband or colleague and has a lighter treatment. This introduces the guest to your services, and perhaps secures a new client. You may also want to run a girls-only or mother & daughter promotion, to introduce the younger generation to the wonderful world of skincare and aesthetics.

Spa Promotions In House

Another means of advertising can be accomplished in-house. Place an album or a booklet with services and products which clients can look at while they wait. They may become familiar with a service they might not otherwise have known about. It is also a good idea to ask long term clients for handwritten references about services they have received, and include these within an album.

Branch Out into Spa Parties

One other way is to offer injectable parties on site (or go mobile!). Tell current injectable patients that they can have, for instance, a Botox party for a minimum of five people. To make it more enticing, make the offer such that the organizer will get free or discounted Botox for themselves, or to be spread around. If that is not possible, offer discount coupons for discounted services in the future for attendees.Gift Certificates and Services Cards

A final means of accomplishing low cost and creative means of reaching your potential clients is to offer gift cards and/or certificates to clients who visit your business during a slow period (December or January for example) receive a $10 dollar gift certificate for every $100 they spend. Leave the name on the gift certificates blank and intentionally make the gift certificate elegant and exclusive looking in nature. This will encourage your client to cherish it and use it, or be proud to give it as a gift to a friend, colleague or family member.

Word of Mouth Advertising is More Powerful than Ever

Word-of-mouth advertising is undoubtedly the most powerful form of advertising, not to mention inexpensive! Yet, sometimes the words need a push to get out. Offering incentives to bring in new clients is an effective means of doing so. It may cost a few dollars initially, but in the long run, it is money well spent.