Why Retention Marketing Beats Acquisition (Every Time)

New clients are great. But loyal clients—the ones who keep coming back for Botox, laser sessions, or skincare treatments—are where your med spa builds real, long-term profit. There are a lot of overlooked retention strategies for med spas, and you’re leaving money on the table every day you skip out on implementing these.

And yet, most med spas pour their budgets into ads and social media, forgetting about the highest ROI tactic of all:

Email and SMS reminders.

When done right, they:

• Re-engage past clients automatically

• Drive repeat bookings without ad spend

• Keep your calendar full—especially for high-margin services

This post will show you exactly how to use email and SMS to keep your clients engaged, booked, and loyal.

Why Email & SMS Work So Well for Med Spas

Here’s what the data says:

• Email open rates (when segmented): 35–45%

• SMS open rates: ~98%

• Retention marketing delivers 5–7x ROI compared to new client acquisition

• SMS has a 10–25% click-through rate

And the best part? It’s automatable. With the right setup, you can stay in touch without lifting a finger.

Retention Strategies for Med Spas

One of the most effective retention strategies for med spas is leveraging email and SMS marketing to stay connected with clients between visits. These channels offer a direct, personalized way to remind clients about upcoming appointments, promote exclusive offers, and share valuable skincare tips or treatment updates.


Regular communication via email and text messages helps keep your med spa top of mind, encourages repeat bookings, and builds lasting relationships. With the right segmentation and timing, email and SMS campaigns can significantly increase client loyalty and lifetime value—making them a powerful and cost-effective tool in your overall retention strategy.


More Reading: We also recommend using local SEO, but you can read more about that here: Local SEO for Med Spas

High-Converting Email & SMS Templates (Copy/Paste Ready)

Botox Maintenance

SMS: “Hi [Name], it’s time for your next Botox session at [Med Spa Name]! Book now: [Link]”

Email Subject: “Smooth skin doesn’t last forever 😏”

Email Body:
“Hi [Name],
Botox typically lasts 3–4 months. You’re due for your next session—and we’d love to see you.
[Book Now Button]”

Laser Hair Removal Series

SMS: “Your next laser session is coming up—stay on track for best results! Book now: [Link]”

Post-Consultation Follow-Up

Email:
Subject: “Next Steps from Your Consultation with [Provider Name]”
Body: “Thanks for visiting us! Based on our consultation, here’s your recommended next step…”

Lapsed Client Reactivation

SMS: “We miss you, [Name]! Come back this month and get 20% off any service. Book here: [Link]”

Segmenting Your Audience = Higher Retention

The #1 mistake med spas make with email and SMS? Sending the same message to everyone.

Here’s how to segment your contact list for better performance:

Pro Tip:
Use tags or automation triggers in platforms like HighLevel, Klaviyo, or Mailchimp to segment your list dynamically.

Compliance Tips for Med Spas Using SMS

Marketing in healthcare is heavily regulated—especially for text messaging. While not all med spas are bound by all of these, you should be aware of your state and federal regulations and be sure to comply with the best practices.

To stay compliant:

• Get explicit written consent before sending marketing SMS

• Always include opt-out instructions: “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”

• Avoid personal health details in messages

• Use HIPAA-compliant platforms (e.g. GHL, Twilio, Klaviyo for sensitive data)

• Keep separate consent records for transactional vs. marketing messages

  
  

Transactional = Appointment reminders (OK with basic consent)
Marketing = Botox promotions or win-back texts (require opt-in)

KPIs You Should Be Tracking

If you’re not measuring, you’re just guessing. Here are the most important metrics:

Email KPIs

• Open Rate: 35–45%

• Click-Through Rate: 3–8%

• Unsub Rate: <1%

• Revenue per Campaign

SMS KPIs

• Delivery Rate

• Click-Through Rate: 10–25%

• Opt-Out Rate: <2%

• Conversion Rate (appointments booked)

Tracking Tip:
Use UTM links in all messages. Connect to Google Analytics or HighLevel to track ROI.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

❌ Not getting opt-in before sending texts
❌ Using only a monthly email newsletter
❌ No segmentation—everyone gets the same message
❌ Not automating post-treatment follow-ups
❌ Not tracking what’s actually working
❌ Ignoring unsubscribes or high opt-out rates

Avoid these, and your reminder system becomes a revenue machine.

Final Takeaway: Build Relationships, Not Just Campaigns

Marketing isn’t just about getting attention—it’s about building trust, delivering value, and staying top of mind.

Email and SMS let you do all of that—automatically, affordably, and at scale.

If you’re not using them to retain your med spa clients, you’re leaving money on the table. At The Med Spa Agency, we help med spas set up fully automated retention funnels that feel personal, perform consistently, and generate real revenue.

Want to Build a Reminder System That Works While You Sleep?

👉 Schedule a Free Strategy Session
We’ll review your current follow-up flow and show you exactly how to optimize it.