15 Med Spa Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

Med spas face a unique marketing challenge – they need to promote their credibility while balancing lifestyle and beauty branding.

They can’t be a dull brand that focuses solely on treatments. They also can’t be too promotional because that makes them look untrustworthy. They have to use messaging that builds their credibility while distinguishing themselves from competitors in their industry. 

In this post, I’ll share a list of marketing ideas for med spa companies. These strategies will help promote your brand while increasing trust with your audience. I’ll also include a simple marketing plan so you can execute each tactic over time. Let’s get started.

Med Spa Marketing Ideas

Here are 15 marketing ideas for med spa companies.

1. Be mindful of healthcare advertising laws.

Before planning a marketing campaign, you should know your industry’s advertising laws. Healthcare brands are subject to different rules and regulations from other companies because they sell medical products and services that may significantly impact someone’s health. You should ensure your business is covered in case one of your advertisements is misunderstood or criticized. 

You can learn more about healthcare advertising laws on websites like the American Med Spa Association and your state’s local medical board. For example, California’s medical board provides resources specifically for med spa brands.

While you should absolutely check your state’s rules and regulations for a complete list, here are some general practices that most healthcare brands follow: 

• Avoid any false, misleading, or deceptive claims.
• Don’t promise or guarantee results (e.g., “eliminates wrinkles” >> use “helps improve the appearance of wrinkles”).
• Use disclaimers when making claims about effectiveness, downtime, or comparisons.
• Clearly distinguish medical advice from promotional content.
• Get permission before posting client testimonials.
• Ensure testimonials reflect typical results and experiences.
• Mention FDA approval only for approved uses (e.g., Botox is FDA-approved for frown lines, not lip flips).
• Include risks, side effects, or consultation requirements when discussing procedures.

2. Build your social media presence.

Social media is a great place to show products and services in action. For med spas, this means before-and-after content and visuals that show real customers getting real results from your brand. 

For example, here’s a med spa in Boston that posts lip filler pictures on its Instagram. 

Notice how the nurse posted this content and tagged the company’s account. That makes her caption more genuine because the nurse is proud of her work. It also shows customers that you stand by your services and helps establish a more personal connection with your audience. New or existing customers at this med spa will know to ask for Katie because they’ve seen her treatments online. 

3. Invest in local SEO.

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization,” which affects how often your brand appears in searches on Google. Local searches are phrases or keywords that relate to a specific area. For example, “laser hair removal in San Francisco” would be a local search because Google only finds results in San Francisco.

Local SEO is critical for service-based brands like med spas because most people use Google to discover new businesses in their area. If it’s someone’s first time getting a treatment, they’ll likely Google businesses close to them and choose a top result. Your brand needs to appear in that search, which is why you should invest in local SEO.

This post provides an in-depth breakdown, but here’s where I recommend starting: 

• Claim and optimize your local listings.
• Add local keywords to your website.
• Create area and service pages. 
• Ask customers for reviews.
• Stay active on social media.

Pro Tip: Use this free online presence scanner to evaluate local SEO for your brand. 

4. Use email and SMS to drive repeat customers.

Most med spas offer recurring services, such as Botox or acne treatments. Customers return and get the same service to keep up with their treatments. 

But how do you keep people loyal to your brand? What’s stopping them from trying a competitor or even forgetting about the treatment altogether? 

With email and SMS automation, you can drive repeat purchases for your brand. When a customer is due for a procedure, your marketing software should automatically send a message reminding them to book an appointment. You could even add a special discount or offer that incentivizes them to purchase. 

This is a timely way to re-engage customers who might have forgotten about your business. If you include a limited-time offer, they’re more likely to act quickly and book your services.

Tip: Thryv has marketing software designed specially for med spas. It can help you book more appointments, follow up with customers, and rank higher in search results. 

5. Record before and after videos of your services.

When establishing your credibility, most people need to see it to believe it. That’s why videos are so effective for med spa marketing. By showing before-and-after videos of your services, you can showcase your brand’s quality and value to customers.

For example, here’s a med spa brand that interviewed a customer about their haircare journey. The video shows images of his hair before and after the treatment and includes his product testimonial. It’s a great way to see the brand in action and a customer who experienced positive results. 

6. Share customer reviews and testimonials.

Customer feedback is incredibly valuable for med spa marketing. Since most brands need to build trust with their audience, reviews and testimonials help establish credibility. 

Reach out to customers after treatment and ask them to leave a review online. Send them a link to your Google Business Profile or social media pages, and ask them to share their experience with your company. Most people will leave a review if they’ve had a good experience with your brand.

Pro Tip: Use this free Google Review Link Generator to direct customers to your Google Business Profile. 

7. Experiment with paid advertising.

If you want to reach new customers, I would recommend trying paid online advertising. Whether through Google or social media, these platforms boost your brand’s visibility and drive more traffic to your website.

For example, if I Google “Botox near me,” here’s what shows up. 

The first result is an ad for a local med spa business. This company likely outbid other brands for this ad space, hoping I would click through to their site. This strategy is worth it if you target the words and phrases your customers use on Google. Keep in mind that the more common the phrase is, the more competitive the auction will be. 

You can also advertise on social media. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Reddit all have built-in ad platforms. They can help you grow your social media following and promote your products and services.

8. Incentivize first-time buyers. 

The med spa industry is filled with first-time buyers. People are curious about trying new procedures or are referred by healthcare professionals. They might hesitate to trust your brand and need some motivation to proceed. 

You can incentivize these buyers with “first-time buyer” purchases like “10% off your first treatment” and “buy two products, get one free.” For example, my favorite podcast advertises “For Hims,” a telehealth company that sells men’s health products. They’ll give you a discount if you use their special promo code to buy the first month’s subscription online. 

If you pick the right marketing channels, this is a great way to get new customers interested in your brand and willing enough to try it.

9. Consider a subscription or membership model.

If you expect customers to make repeat purchases, you should offer a subscription or membership model at your business. That will commit them to multiple purchases rather than having to re-engage people for their business. It will also free up some of your advertising budget, allowing you to promote more to new customers instead of existing ones.

For example, this brand offers a membership for body treatment services. Members receive special discounts on recurring services and are eligible for free treatments depending on the location. 

This is good for your business financially because you’re getting paid for these services upfront. It lets you use that capital immediately rather than waiting for customers to make future purchases.

10. Leverage client loyalty for referrals. 

Another way to improve your reputation is through customer referrals. You can leverage brand loyalty to attract more people to your business, and customers referred by a peer are more likely to buy from you. 

Referrals are very valuable for med spas because customers are making big decisions. If they know their friends, family, and coworkers trust you, they’ll be more likely to do the same. 

In this blog post, our CMO, Tami Cannizzaro, shares some great tips for creating a customer referral program. 

11. Bundle products and services. 

Bundling products and services is one way to increase sales and move inventory faster. The key is finding the right items to bundle and presenting value to the customer. For example, if I offered hair replacement services, I may also include a discount on my haircare products. That would encourage new buyers to try my services and help me sell more physical products. If they like those products, they might become long-term buyers. 

12. Sponsor a community team or event.

Plenty of sports teams, community events, and festivals are looking for sponsors. You could become the “Official Med Spa of the [Insert Team Name Here]” and display your logo all over a stadium. 

You could also sponsor a local event and look for activities related to your brand. For instance, if you offer laser hair removal, consider sponsoring a beauty pageant, bodybuilding show, or swim meet. Consider people who may use your services and look for events they might attend. Chances are, there are sponsorship opportunities you can use to grow your brand. 

13. Partner with local influencers.

Social media influencers can significantly expand your brand’s reach. And don’t worry, you don’t have to spend millions partnering with a national celebrity. Instead, look for influencers in your industry whom your customers might follow. 

I’m not going to show you a gross pimple-popping video, but there are plenty of doctors and nurses like this one who will review medical procedures and post their opinions online. These are good influencers to target and can be more affordable to work with than you think. 

You can also look for local celebrities, such as athletes, actors, and musicians, who are willing to try your services. Getting their endorsement as customers can greatly lift your brand’s reputation. You might also be able to partner with them on ad campaigns and promotional events, like the example below: 

14. Create print ads for your business.

Offline marketing is still very effective for local businesses. It improves brand visibility and lets you advertise directly to people in your area. Local advertising is huge for small businesses. If you don’t sell online, you rely on customers in your community to drive sales and make repeat purchases.

Print ads come in the form of benches, billboards, and signage. You could advertise in public parks or public transit, like buses and train stations. Think about places where your customers might visit and see if there’s ad space you can rent for your business. 

15. Offer virtual consultations. 

For new customers, med spas are typically quick experiences. You usually need consultation and meet with a medical provider before you can actually schedule a procedure. That’s challenging for some people and may deter them from visiting your business. 

That’s why more med spas are offering virtual consultations on their websites. It makes the customer experience more convenient because people can meet with you from the comfort of their homes. That allows you to establish a real connection with your audience and build trust through a 1:1 format. It’s much easier for people to trust your business if they speak with someone who leaves a good impression. Even if it’s online, this connection is key to closing sales.

Med Spas Marketing Plan

Here is a marketing plan template that you can use for your med spa business: 

Market Overview Use the space below to complete your industry analysis, competitive analysis, and target audience research.
Industry Analysis:	Outline market trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Competitive Analysis:	Identify key competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
Target Audience:	Define your ideal customer profile, including demographics, behaviors, and pain points.

Marketing Strategies: Marketing strategies are ways to connect with customers. You don’t have to use every one, but this will help determine what channels to use and the resources needed for each.
Outline the key strategies and channels you’ll use to reach your target audience:
Content Marketing:	Blog posts, SEO, video content, infographics, etc.
Social Media Marketing:	Platforms, content strategy, engagement tactics.
Email Marketing:	Campaign types, segmentation, automation strategies.
Paid Advertising:	Google Ads, social media ads, retargeting.
Public Relations & Partnerships:	Press releases, influencer collaborations, networking.
Referral & Loyalty Programs:	Incentives for customer referrals and repeat business.

Marketing Your Med Spa

If you want to grow your med spa, you have to invest in your marketing strategy. These ideas help you attract more customers and bring more sales opportunities to your business. Test a few and pay attention to customer feedback. If one strategy isn’t effective, pivot and switch to another. Eventually, you’ll discover what works and can scale those efforts for your business.