What’s Keeping You Up At Night? Loyalty Memberships To Grow Your Practice


Your clients and patients look to you to enhance their well-being; you offer the path to improved quality of life. Yet, behind the serene facade, owners and practitioners in the health and wellness industry often find themselves wrestling with concerns that keep them awake at night. From the perpetual challenge of drawing in new clients or patients to the anxiety of retaining existing ones, the worries are relentless. But amidst these sleepless nights lies a powerful solution—a single marketing tool capable of addressing all of these concerns... loyalty memberships.

At Salt Marketing, we’ve helped health and wellness practitioners not only sleep better at night but grow and scale by leveraging this one strategy. Ready to learn how? First, let’s learn what’s keeping wellness practitioners - particularly Med Spa and Salon owners - awake at night!

12am to 1am ... "Why don't we have more new clients?"

Wellness practitioners in general, and salon and spa owners in particular often find that in place of dreams they have personal brainstorming sessions on how to attract new clients or patients effectively. If that’s you, one of your primary concerns probably revolves around devising marketing strategies that actually work. In an industry saturated with advertisements and promotions, it's challenging to stand out and capture the attention of potential clients. You may worry about investing time and resources into marketing efforts that might not yield the desired results, fearing that failure to attract new clients could stagnate your business growth.

These anxieties about marketing extend beyond your individual business and speak to broader challenges within the wellness industry. With paid social media and online advertising, consumers are bombarded with promotional messages every day. This oversaturation makes it increasingly difficult for your marketing efforts to cut through the noise and reach your target audience. Competing with larger establishments or chains that have bigger marketing budgets adds another layer of complexity. It’s no wonder you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure about which marketing channels and strategies will be most effective in bringing in new clients.

Peace of Mind Better than a Sleeping Pill.
First, focus on targeting your ideal clients or patients through helpful and useful content. Create original videos, articles, graphics and posts that educate, inform and entertain your ideal clients. Then, amplify that content by leveraging the power of social media and partnerships with complementary businesses to extend your reach and attract new clients. Invest in great search engine optimization (SEO) advice to understand your audience’s specific needs for information and improve your online visibility. By sharing your expertise, experience, expertise, authority and trustworthiness, you can identify what resonates with the people most likely to become your clients, allowing you to rest easy, knowing that your marketing efforts are paying off.

1am to 2am ... "What if my clients leave?"

If you’re a wellness practitioner, particularly a med spa or salon owner, you may often find yourself tossing and turning at night, consumed by worries about retaining your clients. This concern revolves around the fierce competition in the beauty and wellness industry. With new establishments constantly popping up and existing ones offering enticing deals, you may fear losing your loyal clientele to competitors. Additionally, the ever-changing preferences and trends in treatments and services means you’ve got to worry about staying relevant and meeting the evolving demands of your clients - failure to do so could result in the loss of your best clients.

These anxieties about client retention extend beyond individual businesses and speak to broader challenges within the wellness industry. As consumers become increasingly discerning about where they spend their money, practitioners must work harder to differentiate and provide a unique value proposition. The rise of digital marketing and online reviews further intensifies the pressure, as negative feedback can quickly tarnish your reputation and drive clients away. 

Let’s Get Some Sleep.
Cultivating meaningful connections with your clients by offering personalized experiences is paramount. Take the time to understand each client's needs and preferences, and tailor your services to create memorable interactions that foster loyalty. Investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems can also help you track client preferences and behaviors, enabling you to provide targeted promotions and incentives. Moreover, prioritizing exceptional customer service and ensuring a clean, safe environment can instill trust and confidence in your clients, encouraging them to return time and again. By proactively addressing these challenges and focusing on building lasting relationships with your clientele, you can find peace of mind and finally sleep soundly at night.


2am to 3am ... "How can I get more (and better) reviews?"

In the wellness industry, a primary concern is the impact of online reviews on your reputation and business success. You may worry about the lack of reviews or negative feedback overshadowing the positive experiences your clients have had, potentially deterring prospective clients from choosing you. Plus, it's only natural to fret over the difficulty (and awkwardness) of encouraging satisfied clients to leave reviews in the first place, even when you know that positive online feedback is crucial for building trust and attracting new business.

Online reviews have become a primary source of information for consumers seeking beauty and wellness services. With platforms like Yelp, Google, and social media being heavily relied upon for recommendations, the importance of cultivating a positive online reputation cannot be overstated. 

Sweet Dreams are Made of This.
First, provide exceptional customer experiences consistently to increase the likelihood of receiving positive reviews organically. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews by making the process simple and straightforward, such as including links to review platforms in post-service emails (highly personalized and automated through your CRM). Additionally, engage with reviewers, whether positive or negative, to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and resolve any issues publicly. By actively managing your online reputation and leveraging positive feedback, you can enhance your credibility, attract more clients, and ultimately rest easier knowing that your efforts are contributing to the success of your business.

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3am to 4am ... "Why don't they remember and recommend us?"

Let’s face it: standing out in a crowded marketplace is HARD. With numerous competitors vying for attention, you may worry about your brand getting lost in the noise and failing to be memorable enough to help you grow. Without strong brand recognition, you may struggle to attract new clients and establish a loyal customer base. But how? Should you update your logo, change your messaging, hand out shirts in your brand colors? Because your client’s attention is dominated by digital media and social networking, establishing a distinct and memorable brand identity is crucial for your success. Breaking through the clutter and making a lasting impression requires creativity and strategic planning. 

A BrandStory Better than a Bedtime Story.
First, focus on defining your unique selling proposition and communicating it effectively across all marketing channels. Communicate your value and what your brand brings to the marketplace. Develop a compelling brand story that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from competitors. Additionally, prioritize consistency across all marketing channels, ensuring that your messaging, visuals, and customer experiences align with your brand identity.


4am to 5 am ... "What if our revenue takes a dip?"

The unpredictable nature of revenue in any service-based industry can feel like a rollercoaster ride, with periods of feast followed by famine, making it difficult to plan and budget effectively. At any size, the uncertainty of not knowing whether you'll meet financial obligations or have enough to invest back into the business can keep you tossing and turning into the early hours of the morning.

The Covid era taught us the importance of finding ways to provide recurring revenue for service-based businesses. Lockdowns and restrictions highlighted the vulnerability of relying solely on one-time appointments or walk-in clients. The need for a more stable income stream has become apparent, as businesses strive to weather economic downturns and unexpected disruptions while maintaining financial stability.

To address the challenge of inconsistent income and finally get some sleep at night, consider implementing a membership program for your med spa or salon. Membership programs offer a solution to the feast-or-famine cycle by providing a steady stream of revenue from recurring monthly payments. Memberships can include a range of benefits, such as services, exclusive offers, and VIP perks, incentivizing clients to commit to regular visits. By enrolling clients in your membership program, you can achieve predictable income, improve profitability, and gain the freedom and scalability to grow your business. 

Loyalty Memberships: One Strategy to Quiet Them All

Implementing a membership program can be the solution to those sleepless nights. Not only can a VIP Membership draw in new clients or patients by offering enticing benefits and exclusive perks, but it also helps retain existing ones through the promise of ongoing value. Your membership program can provide a natural segue into requesting online reviews and testimonials from satisfied members, bolstering your online reputation and credibility. As members share their positive experiences, your business enjoys increased brand awareness and recognition, helping you stand out in a competitive market.

At Salt Marketing, we specialize in creating and improving membership programs tailored to your business needs. We ensure that it's a benefit to your clients or patients, with a built-in profit margin for you, enhancing your reputation as a trusted and valued provider in the wellness industry. With our expertise, you can finally find peace of mind and rest easy, knowing that your business is on the path to sustainable growth and success.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Orechwa

I love helping CEOs and business owners find innovative solutions to their unique growth challenges. Today, as a fractional CMO and agency owner, I offer clients over 20 years of marketing experience, from strategy to implementation to ROI and iteration to the next milestone.