The Cost of Scrolling for Ideas. Free Marketing Isn't "Free" Marketing
For many entrepreneurs, especially estheticians, spa owners, and beauty professionals, social media feels like the ultimate free marketing tool. But if you’ve ever spent hours scrolling for content ideas, you already know – free isn’t always free.
Imagine this: Instead of aimlessly searching for inspiration, you invest $597 a month (or less) into a marketing plan that generates consistent leads, books real appointments, and builds a loyal client base. That’s not just a marketing investment – it’s financial peace of mind.
Now, let’s get real. Viral videos are fun, but they don’t guarantee clients. A million views might get you comments, but comments won’t put secure income on your books. Appointments do.
Suppose you charge more than $100 for facials, skincare treatments, hair services, or coloring. In that case, there’s zero reason why you shouldn’t have a team like Your Marketing Team at Facets of Hospitality managing your digital efforts.
Why Social Media Isn’t “Free Marketing”
Social media is often marketed as a free, easy way to grow your business. And while posting is technically free, the time, energy, and strategy required are anything but.
Here’s the kicker – if you’re running your business, providing services, and managing your team, how much time do you realistically have left for effective marketing? Random posting without a clear plan rarely leads to measurable growth.
Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Many estheticians and spa owners tell themselves they’ll handle it all – only to discover that piecing together DIY strategies takes more time than it’s worth.
The $597 Reality Check
I know what you might be thinking: “$597 a month for marketing? That’s a big chunk of my budget!”
Let’s flip that mindset.
Most entrepreneurs charging $100+ per service need just six appointments to break even on a $597/month marketing plan. Beyond that, it’s pure profit. There are 30 days in most months and many of our estheticians and spa owners are booked weeks in advanced full-time.
Now, if $597 feels out of reach, I get it. We compete with high-integrity marketing teams that say they deliver consistent results, they often charge 3-4x more and many times, their clients come to us after a few months to get some help.
However, if you're just starting out, jumping to that level can feel impossible.
Here’s the good news – there are effective DIY strategies that can take your current marketing efforts to the next level, bringing in enough appointments to eventually justify outsourcing.
Why DIY Can Work – Temporarily
If you’re in the early stages of your business, you can absolutely handle your own social media – with the right guidance. The goal? Max out your bookings until you’re too busy to keep doing it yourself.
At Facets of Hospitality, we don’t just do the marketing for you – we teach you how to reach the point where hiring a marketing team feels like the next natural step, not a financial stretch.
**See Business Hero Coaching for an affordable monthly plan that's basically an expert in your pocket.
Why “Post a Reel” Isn’t a Marketing Strategy
Let’s address the elephant in the room – the belief that “anyone can do social media because it’s free.”
Here’s the truth:
Social media isn’t just about posting – it’s about strategy.
Posting randomly won’t attract loyal clients.
Consistency beats creativity when it comes to engagement.
When someone tells you that hiring help is a waste of money, they probably haven’t experienced what it’s like to outsource a task they dislike – and it shows.
If you’ve ever felt that frustration of juggling client work and marketing, know this – it’s not because you’re failing. Marketing is an entirely separate skillset.
Build the Bridge to Growth
So, what’s the next step?
Audit your current marketing.
Are you posting consistently?
Are your efforts resulting in booked appointments or just engagement?
Focus on high-return strategies.
Prioritize email marketing, SEO, and Instagram scheduling.
Shift from passive scrolling to actively creating content that resonates with your audience.
Get help – even if it’s part-time.
If hiring a full team feels too big, start small.
Consider coaching, templates, or mini-courses to strengthen your skills.
At the end of the day, free marketing isn’t really free. But with the right approach, you can transform social media from a time drain into a lead-generating machine that works for you – and then pay someone to keep that machine running for you. It's time to stop working for the social media platforms and doomscrolling for inspiration.
Ready to grow? Let’s get started.
FREE THINK TANK - The hype squad session you need to align your path!
BUSINESS HERO- A Regularly Scheduled 60 minutes per month to align your goals, efforts, and strategies- get tips, fix hangups, and find inspiration to keep on keeping on!
SOCIAL HERO- A monthly management plan that includes post design, reel design, copywriting for posts & 1 email campaign, and engagement tips & assistance.
OFFLINE HERO- You stay offline and we manage your entire web presence... This includes Social Hero + Website Updates, email campaign management & ad campaign management fee (ad spend extra.)
Find our plans and Work With Us Here: https://www.facetsofhospitality.com/work-with-us
Schedule your FREE THINK TANK with no strings attached. Use THE NERD's Calendar here: https://calendly.com/facetsofhospitality/freethinktank
Comments