Think your next 10 clients are on Instagram? They might be—but they also might be at the local farmer’s market, bridal show, or brewery pop-up this weekend.

In this week’s Marketing Monday episode, we’re talking all about vendor events and why they’re one of the most underused yet powerful tools for solo estheticians looking to build relationships, boost visibility, and collect real leads.

• Why vendor events still work (even if you're not selling anything on the spot)

• The difference between sales-focused booths vs. lead-generation booths

• What to bring, how to show up, and what makes people actually stop at your table

• How to run a simple giveaway or spin wheel that gets people excited

• Real examples of offers you can use (that are low-cost for you but high-value to them)

1. Simple Setup
   → A small table, banner or sign, and a welcoming vibe.
   (Pro tip: Skip the chair if you tend to hide behind the table.)

2. Can’t-Resist Offer
   → A free giveaway or spin wheel with options like “Free brow wax,” “LED add-on,” or “$10 off your first facial.”

3. Lead Collection System
   → Clipboards (so multiple people can sign up at once), or a Google Form with a QR code. Keep it quick and easy.

4. Your Presence Is the Point
   → You don’t need fancy demos or full consultations—just say:
   “Hey! I’m a local esthetician. I specialize in [insert focus], and I’d love to help you with [insert common concern].”

🎯 Find one vendor event or local market happening this month. Reach out, book a spot, and make a simple plan using the tips from this episode.

If this episode gave you the confidence to finally try vendor events—tag @estheticiansinbusiness or DM me your setup plans! I’ll cheer you on and give you feedback if you need help prepping. You don’t have to do it alone 💕

Talked about links:

Bundle

Listener Question:
“I’ve been solo for a year but barely making enough to cover rent and bills. I don’t know if it’s my prices, the economy, or my marketing. I need help.”

Allyson unpacks why year one can feel like survival mode and shows you how to diagnose the real issue. You will learn how to check your pricing, simplify your marketing, and build retention so your calendar and cash flow stop riding the roller coaster.

• How to tell if pricing is the real problem

• A simple way to run breakeven so your prices pay the bills and you

• Why random posting is not marketing, and what to do instead

• How to get found locally and rebook the clients you already have

• Why the economy is not your ceiling, and how to pivot with purpose

• A 4-step action plan you can apply this week

0:00 Welcome and today’s listener question
2:05 Year-one reality check and why “being in the red” can be normal
4:40 Pricing audit 101 and the $5 lesson
8:30 Marketing that actually moves bookings
13:20 Local visibility, partnerships, referrals, and rebooking
17:10 The economy, positioning, and communicating value
21:00 Your 4-step action plan and quick wins

• Price for profit, not vibes. Know your breakeven, then add your income goal.

• Consistency beats complexity. Pick one or two channels and show up there.

• Retention is revenue. Rebook during consult, during service, and before checkout.

• Control the controllables. Skills, outreach, offers, follow-ups, and client experience are in your hands.

If a $95 service becomes $100 and you see 10 clients a week:
$100 × 10 × 4 = $4,000 vs. $95 × 10 × 4 = $3,800.
That is about $200 more each month without adding hours.

1. Audit pricing

   • List monthly business costs to keep the doors open.

   • Add your monthly pay goal.

   • Adjust service prices so the math works on paper and in practice.

2. Choose 1–2 marketing plays

   • Local Facebook groups, referral cards, and one aligned partnership.

3. Build retention

   • Normalize rebooking. Add a simple loyalty perk. Schedule weekly follow-ups.

4. Work the plan

   • Track new clients, rebooks, and revenue weekly. Improve one small thing each week.

• “Marketing is not being everywhere. It is being consistent in the right places.”

• “Your clients pay for your skill, your results, and how you make them feel.”

• “The economy is real, but it is not your ceiling. Pivot and position.”

• Coaching-call bonus for pay-in-full students is available until October 3. Details in the episode.

Got a question for the pod? Send Allyson a DM on Instagram and it might be featured in a future episode. @estheticiansinbusiess

Description:

Referrals are still one of the most powerful ways to build a booked-out solo business—but only if your clients know how to refer you. This week on Marketing Mondays, I’m walking you through how to use referral cards and conversations that feel natural, non-cringey, and actually bring in new clients.

Whether you’re shy about asking for referrals or just need a system that doesn’t feel awkward, this episode gives you the exact wording, tools, and simple systems to make it happen.

• How to casually talk about referrals without sounding salesy

• Verbiage you can use at the end of every appointment

• Why simple referral cards work (and what to include on them)

• How to use a QR code + Google Form to track referrals

• Why repetition is key—people need to hear it over and over again

1. Make it part of every service
   → Hand them a referral card like it’s normal: “If you have any friends like you—I’d love to meet them!”

2. Lower the pressure with humor
   → Try: “This is kinda awkward but I made these referral cards and I know you have friends who’d love this too.”

3. Use a Google Form with a QR code
   → Put it in a cute frame in your room, and say: “If anyone comes to mind, scan this and fill it out—it takes 30 seconds.”

4. Ask in the moment
   → If they mention a friend: “Omg, write her name down! I’ll follow up and let her know you sent her.”

5. Repeat it often—don’t assume they’ll remember
   → Talk about your referral program in services, stories, emails, and follow-ups.

🎯 Choose one way to bring referrals into your business this week:
✓ Create a simple referral card
✓ Print a QR code that links to a Google Form
✓ Try the new verbiage at checkout
✓ Add your referral program to your next client email

If this episode helped you feel more confident asking for referrals, tag me @estheticiansinbusiness and share it with another estie who needs it! Let’s help each other grow 💕

This week on Estheticians in Business, we’re talking about one of the most common benchmarks estheticians set for themselves: hitting a $5,000 month.

Here’s the secret — it’s not about hustling harder, saying yes to everyone, or staying late every night. It’s math. Once you know the formula, you can apply it to $5k, $10k, or even $20k+ months.

In this episode, I share:

• The simple formula to calculate how many services you actually need each month

• What hitting $5,000 looks like at different service price points ($75, $100, $150+)

• How retail, upsells, and memberships make your income goal so much easier to reach

• Why retention is your best friend (and how fewer new clients = less stress)

• Real examples from students who hit and surpassed their goals with small shifts

✨ Remember: $5,000 is not magical. It’s mathematical. And once you see the numbers, it feels so much more doable.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• [Free Webinar: 3 Steps to Be Booked Without Losing Your Mind]

• [Estheticians in Business Marketing Course – updated FB group + website audit lesson inside!]

• Building a StoryBrand 2.0 by Donald Miller (for clearer copy + branding)

Tune in and let’s make the math work for your business goals.

Description:

If you’ve ever had a client say, “I’ll check my schedule and let you know…” and then disappear—you’re not alone. This week on Marketing Monday, we’re talking about how to confidently rebook clients before they leave and boost your retention without being pushy.

I’m giving you simple strategies (and exact phrases) to set the expectation early, create a treatment plan, and make rebooking feel natural and necessary—not salesy.

• Why retention starts with the experience, not just the checkout

• How to create a simple treatment plan (even if you’re not doing facials)

• The exact wording to use at the end of the appointment to encourage rebooking

• How to handle “I’ll check my calendar” clients without chasing them

• Bonus rebooking incentives that don’t require discounting your services

1. Create a 5-Star Experience
   → Retention starts from booking to checkout—ask yourself: Would I want to come back to this?

2. Set the Standard Early
   → Use phrases like: “Most of my clients come every 4 weeks for the best results.” (Say this during the consult!)

3. Don’t Ask Yes or No
   → Try: “I have Tuesday or Friday available—what works better for you?”
   Not: “Do you want to rebook?”

4. Use a Booking Incentive
   → Offer a reward (like $10 off, free add-on, etc.) only if they rebook and don’t reschedule.

5. Talk About What’s Next
   → Example: “At your next visit, we’ll be doing a peel to calm inflammation.”
   This gives them a reason to return.

🗓️ Practice rebooking every client this week before they leave. Use the new verbiage and test what works best for your audience. If they don’t rebook? Follow up with intention.

If this helped, screenshot the episode and tag me @estheticiansinbusiness—or better yet, send it to a beauty bestie who’s struggling with retention. Let’s help more esthies stay fully booked 💕

Quick Links

• Free Webinar: How to Get Fully Booked Without Posting Every Day → [link]

• Estheticians in Business: Marketing Course Bundle → [link]

Description:

Do you really need to be on TikTok and Instagram? Or is one platform enough? In today’s quick Marketing Monday, I’m giving you the clarity you need so you can stop overthinking and start focusing your energy where it actually counts.

We’re breaking down the difference between visibility vs. bookings, where your clients are hanging out, and how to know what platform is best for your current season of business.

• Why you don’t need to be everywhere to grow

• The difference between TikTok and Instagram (and how each serves your business)

• How to decide where your ideal clients are hanging out

• What to do if you're already overwhelmed with content

• The real question you should be asking: “Am I here for visibility or bookings?”

• TikTok = Discovery, virality, fun, broader audience

• Instagram = Trust, local visibility, consistent bookings

• Facebook/Offline = For many estheticians, real clients still come from referrals, vendor events, and FB groups!

Pick one platform to focus on this month based on where your dream clients are AND what you can realistically manage.
If you’re a local esthetician needing bookings—master Instagram first.
If you’re growing a national brand or selling digital offers—start playing on TikTok.

Still unsure where to start? Screenshot this episode and tag @estheticiansinbusiness. Let me know what platform you’re choosing and I’ll help you stay consistent!

Episode summary:
Allyson breaks down why social media feels so loud right now and shows you how to simplify your marketing so you can stay booked without living on your phone. You will learn a repeatable system that blends simple content, smart batching, and offline strategies that actually bring clients in.

• Why social media overwhelm happens and how to quiet the noise

• A mindset shift that pulls you out of the comparison trap

• A 2-hours-a-week content plan that you can keep up with

• Five offline marketing moves that still work in 2025

• How to build a simple weekly rhythm so marketing stops feeling like a second job

• 00:00 Welcome and why this topic keeps coming up

• 02:13 The industry is crowded and that’s okay

• 03:19 The comparison trap and protecting your peace online

• 05:46 Myth busting: clients do not only come from Instagram or TikTok

• 08:06 Trust beats trends every time

• 08:37 Simplifying social media without disappearing

• 10:47 Batching that actually saves time

• 13:06 Time-blocking a standing admin window

• 15:06 Offline marketing that still works: referrals, partnerships, networking

• 16:52 Where to find partners you already know and like

• 17:50 Networking options that fit introverts and extroverts

• 18:40 Google Business Profile basics

• 19:02 Pop-ups and vendor events the easy way

• 21:25 Blend online and offline into a weekly rhythm

• 22:10 Consistency over perfection

• 23:10 How the Fully Booked Framework supports this system

• 24:30 Wrap and next steps

1. Pick one platform your clients actually use

2. Batch in layers

   • Record short tips in one sitting

   • Edit in one sitting

   • Write captions in one sitting

   • Schedule everything

3. Repurpose smart

   • One 60-second tip → Reel, Story frames, TikTok, Shorts, email subject

4. Block a recurring admin hour on your slowest day

• Referrals: Simple “refer a friend” with high perceived value and low cost to you

  • Example: “Refer a friend and both of you get a complimentary brow wax with your service”

• Partnerships: Hair salons, gyms, bridal boutiques, chiropractors, nail salons you already visit

• Networking: Chamber of Commerce, BNI, local Facebook meetups

• Google Business Profile: Free photos and updates weekly or monthly

• Pop-ups/Vendor events: Apartment communities, farmers markets, bridal shows, breweries

  • Tip: Keep it light. Collect leads. Use a spin wheel for fun prizes

• Mon: Post one results or education piece

• Tue: Attend a networking meetup or visit a partner

• Wed: Follow up on referrals and partner leads

• Thu: Light social touch or rest

• Fri/Sat: Treatment-heavy days

• 1x month: Pop-up or vendor event

• Ask every client, “How did you find me?” Track the real data

• Choose one primary platform for 30 days

• Block your two-hour content window this week

• Launch one referral incentive

• Add or update your Google Business Profile with fresh photos

• Booked Solid: The Fully Booked Framework

  • My complete roadmap for getting and staying booked without burnout. Current bonus for pay-in-full listeners: a free private coaching session

  • link to bundle FRAMEWORK on Instagram and I’ll send you the details

• BNI and Chamber of Commerce for local networking

• Google Business Profile for local search visibility

• Instagram: @estheticiansinbusiness

If this episode helped you, leave a quick review and share it with a friend who is drowning in the social media noise.

Description:

Feel like showing up in stories is the first thing to go when life gets busy? Same. But if you want to stay visible (without burning out), this Marketing Monday is for you.

In this quick episode, I’m sharing 3 easy story slides that estheticians can post every week to stay top of mind, build trust, and book more clients—without needing to post all day long.

• Why stories are still so important for visibility and connection

• 3 go-to Instagram story ideas you can reuse weekly

• How to make your availability visible and book last-minute clients

• Why even one story a few times a week can make a big difference

1. 📅 “Here’s what I have available this week”
   → Post your weekly openings and cross out each one as it gets booked.

2. 🗳️ “Ask me anything” or poll
   → Use engagement tools to spark visibility (and answer your own questions if needed).

3. 💛 “Product or service I’m loving this week”
   → Share a quick video or photo of a product, retail item, or add-on service in action.

📲 Choose one of these story ideas and post it today.
Keep it simple. You don’t need to post all day—just stay visible a few times a week and build from there.

Tag me @estheticiansinbusiness when you post your stories this week so I can hype you up and share it! And don’t forget to tune in Thursday for a full-length episode.

Resources Linked

✅ Download the Business Plan Brain Dump (Free PDF)
✅ Watch the Free “Booked Solid” Webinar
✅ Connect with me on Instagram: @estheticiansinbusiness

Starting your solo esthetician journey can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin? In this episode of Estheticians in Business, I walk you step by step through the first things every new solo needs to focus on. From business basics and pricing to attracting your very first clients, I’ll help you cut through the confusion and set yourself up for success.

Whether you just got your license or you’ve already opened your doors but feel lost, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to take action.

✨ The mindset shift from service provider to business owner
✨ The essentials you need before taking clients (licenses, insurance, booking system)
✨ Why simple service menus work best when you’re starting out
✨ How to price yourself with confidence (and avoid the Groupon trap)
✨ Where to find your first clients when you don’t have a network
✨ The importance of rebooking and client experience for retention
✨ Marketing that works without burning yourself out
✨ Systems to keep your business running smoothly from day one

✅ Download the Business Plan Brain Dump (Free PDF)
✅ Watch the Free “Booked Solid” Webinar
✅ Connect with me on Instagram: @estheticiansinbusiness