Nothing beats positive word of mouth when it comes to spreading the good word about your aesthetic practice. Whether it’s a long-time client sharing their experience with a friend or a new client telling their spouse how great they felt after receiving your services, personal referrals and great reviews go a long way. Repeat business is invaluable; the cost of acquisition goes down each time a repeat customer purchases from you again. Savvy business owners harness happy customers’ opinions to attract new traffic.
So, how can you leverage your current customer base to help you get more clients? Great question. Astanza has pulled together a few top strategies on ways you can create partnerships with existing and potential clients to help you fill up your appointment books.
Find the Influencers in Your Circle
The word “influencer” gets thrown around a lot these days and is often associated with the likes of Kim Kardashian or Justin Bieber. However, every industry has its own crop of influential people, so don’t overlook the micro-influencers in your community. Whether they’ve got 3,000 or 30,000 followers, their opinion and content are valued by many.
Partnership opportunities are everywhere, so be on the lookout for influencers in your local market. You can even treat your most loyal customers like influencers and let them do the marketing for you.
For example: If you’re a MedSpa looking for people who fit your demographic, search hashtags such as #facial, #skincare, #microblading, #skinresurfacing, or #botox. Don’t forget to narrow your search by location to ensure you partner with local influencers and pages.
If you’re a tattoo shop interested in expanding your laser tattoo removal business, consider looking up #lasertattooremoval, #tattoo, or #tattoolife. Again, add some city hashtags, such as #dallastattoo or #DFWtattoo, to help narrow your search.
Whether you partner with a prominent influencer or team up with trusted customers, always be on the lookout for partnership opportunities.
Reward Your Clients With Special Discounts
There are plenty of ways to slice a pizza, so they say. The same goes for establishing partnerships with your current customers to help you attract new clients. For example, consider offering a repeat customer who’s active on social media a free or discounted service in exchange for a shoutout or post online. Maybe they’re a trusted laser tattoo removal patient who’s never missed an appointment and is halfway through their removal process. You could ask them to promote your business or post a treatment video in exchange for a free laser session or a different service as a special thank you.
You could even take it one step further and give them a unique referral code to share with their friends. For instance, you offer them a free service and then give them a personal code that gives each direct referral a special discount (even if it’s simply 10% off). People love incentives!
Creating and Continuing the Partnership
When scoping out local influencers with big social media followings, don’t be afraid to reach out to them first. Be upfront and let them know what special discount or free service you’re offering in exchange for posts and shoutouts on their social media pages. Give them a follow, like their most recent post(s), maybe even leave a comment, and then send them a direct message. Doing so will send them several notifications and get their attention quickly and effectively.
Pro tip: Once you’ve started communication, put the partnership details in writing; even an email works. You’ll want something concrete so that both parties understand the agreement and can refer back to it if necessary.
Whichever way you spin it, partnering with influential people will go a long way in helping you grow your business. Consider rewarding current loyal customers and also look for your local online influencers. Positive word of mouth will always be king, and referrals are crucial for expanding your aesthetic practice.
Contact Astanza today if you’re looking to launch your laser business or add a service to your existing business aesthetic practice!
