Learn how to stand out online as an aesthetics practitioner, analyse competitors, understand customers deeply, explore untapped markets, highlight unique selling points, and enhance the customer experience for lasting success.

In this Article:

• Learn about your Competitors
• Who are your Customers?
• Untapped Markets
• Unique Selling Points
• Improve the Customer Experience

Standing out online can feel like an uphill battle. After all, how are you supposed to attract clients and solidify your position as a successful business online when there are so many people trying to do the same thing? This article looks at how to gain a competitive advantage as an aesthetics practitioner, and how to stand out online against so many others.

Learn About your Competitors

Before crafting your strategy, analyse your competition. By understanding the competitive landscape, you can identify gaps and opportunities to differentiate yourself and stand out from the crowd.

What do you need to know about your competitors?

• What services do they offer?
• What are their strengths and weaknesses?
• What market segment do they target?

So, how can you find this information out?

To gather information about your competitors and understand their services, strengths, weaknesses, and target market segment, you can employ a combination of research methods. Here are some effective strategies:

Online Research:
Utilise search engines (like Google) to explore competitors’ websites, social media pages, and online reviews. This can provide insights into the range of services they offer, their unique selling points, and how they interact with their audience.

Analyse your Competitors Websites:
Thoroughly examine your competitors’ websites. Look for any dedicated information on their services. Look at their about us pages, and any information regarding their strengths or unique features. You should also pay attention to the language and tone used in their content!

Let’s say you’re a skin care company, and you’re evaluating your competitors websites to gather some insights. You notice that one of your competitors is covering everything from products used to combat dry skin, to step-by-step procedures along with before and after photos. In contrast, your site lacks any of this information.

By not including this information you may as a result miss out on potential customers who require detailed information before committing to a service. This then prompts you to update your website to include some more detailed information to better showcase your services and attract those clients.

Social Media Analysis
Monitor your competitors’ social media channels to understand how they engage with their audience, what content they share, and if they have any promotions or events they participate in.

This can reveal aspects of their marketing strategy and target audience, as well as any gaps in the market that you could target.

Reviews:
Explore review platforms such as Yelp, Google Reviews, social media or industry-specific review sites. Customer feedback often highlights both positive aspects and areas for improvement, providing valuable insights into competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. This is also a great way to find any pain points that your competitors’ clients are having. With this knowledge, you should consider how your business might solve these.

Who are Your Customers?

Understanding your ideal client is paramount and needs to go beyond knowing their demographics.

Instead, consider what are their anxieties, motivations, and desired outcomes? Understanding what motivates your customers as well as what their pain points are will help you to understand why that customer might so elsewhere, and therefore help you to improve your services.

To find this information you can conduct surveys, track customer feedback, and actively engage with them online. By truly understanding their needs, you can tailor your offerings, messaging, and overall experience to resonate with the more deeply.

Consider finding a niche within your industry. Focusing on a specific niche allows you to become an expert and attract a devoted clientele, of which your competitors might not be targeting.

Untapped Markets

Don’t just compete for the same clients everyone else is chasing: consider venturing into untapped markets. Are there specific demographics or niche interests you could cater to? As an example, an aesthetics practitioner might focus on men’s aesthetics, or, offer specialised treatments for specific skin conditions that your competitors don’t treat.

Unique Selling Points

Unique selling points (USPs) are crucial.

So, what is a unique selling point?

Simply, a unique selling point (USP) is a distinctive feature or benefit of a product or service that sets you apart from competitors and appeals to customers. For example, ‘our skincare products are made with 100% organic ingredients’, this promotes sustainability and might be the turning point for a customer’s buying decision.

When creating your unique selling points, you should try your best to avoid generic claims. Don’t just say you’re “the best”; demonstrate it.

• Do you have specialised training or experience?
• Do you offer cutting-edge technology?
• Do you provide exceptional customer service?

Highlight what truly sets you apart and make it tangible and relevant to your target audience. If you have a website or social media page, be sure to highlight these selling points there!

Improve the Customer Experience

Every touchpoint matters, from the initial consultation to post-treatment follow-up, make the customer experience exceptional. Offer personalised consultations, utilise advanced technology effectively, and prioritise patient comfort and safety. Remember, it’s not just about the treatment; it’s about making them feel valued and cared for.

Here’s some top tips for a great customer experience:

Before Treatment:

• Warm welcome: Offer a comfortable waiting area, friendly greetings, and efficient scheduling.
• Personalised consultations: Actively listen to concerns, assess individual needs, and tailor treatment plans accordingly.
• Clearly explain procedures, risks, and expected outcomes in understandable language.
• Pre-appointment reminders: Send friendly texts or emails with preparation instructions and confirmations.

During Treatment

• Patient comfort: Offer blankets, music, or other amenities to enhance comfort and relaxation.
• Clear communication: Explain each step of the procedure and address any concerns during treatment.

After Treatment

• Detailed aftercare instructions: Provide written and verbal instructions for recovery and expected results.
• Follow-up check-ins: Schedule follow-up appointments to monitor progress and address any questions.
• Personalised aftercare support: Offer readily available communication channels for questions or concerns.
• Gratitude and feedback: Express appreciation for their trust and encourage honest feedback to improve your services.

Improving your customer experience might be what turns the tide in whether clients will use your services again. Which is why every step of the experience has to be considered.

Not to mention the fact that a happy customer is likely to talk about their experience, this could lead to word of mouth referalls and result in you gaining more clients.

Bonus tips for building loyalty

• Loyalty programs: Reward repeat clients with discounts or special offers.
• Personalised touches: You might offer treatment anniversaries with a warm message or small gift. Or send out discounts to clients during holidays

Final thoughts

Consistency is key. Continuously monitor your efforts, adapt to evolving trends, and strive to exceed client expectations. With dedication and strategic thinking, you can gain a competitive edge and thrive in the dynamic world of aesthetics.

By implementing these strategies, you can move beyond generic marketing and competition, carve out your unique space in the market, and attract a loyal clientele that values your expertise and personalised approach.