Clinic Conversations: Recent Episodes
Elissa O'Keefe and Cate Scolnik
We get asked this question a lot. And the truth is that telling you what laser machine you should buy is like telling you what make and model of a car you need.
There are literally thousands of devices available, and each meets a different need.
The best machine for you depends on your needs. Do you need a basic model or do you need something with all the bells and whistles? (Heated seats and rear parking sensors if we are still going with the car example)
What treatments are you planning to do both now and in the future? What are your customers asking for? The list of needs goes on…
All of these questions come into play when searching for ‘what laser machine to buy’.
That’s why we turned to Brett and Alanna from Cutera, who are sharing the key things to consider before making a purchase.
You don’t want to miss:
- Where To Get Practical Experience Of Laser And IPL
- How Combining Treatment Modalities Can Boost Your Business
- How To Choose A Partner, Not A Supplier
- The Most Effective Wavelengths
- How To Give Your Customers What They Are Asking For
Resources
- What Laser Machine Should I Buy
- How Do I Choose the Right Laser Machine
- Cutera Australia and New Zealand
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties)
While some of you out there may dream of being on television (we know we have), one show we don’t aspire to be on is A Current Affair… for laser burns!!!
There are several ways we can make sure we don’t end up there, and we cover all of them.
We also discuss how to help your client if there is an accidental laser burn, and when to report a burn to your doctor after a less than perfect laser or IPL treatment.
No one wants to have to deal with these issues, and we hope you never do. But we're all about prevention and we want to share how to prevent burns, and how to manage them if the worst happens in your clinic.
You don’t want to miss:
- How knowing and adhering to the standards prevents problems
- How to deal with burns in your clinic
- Why it’s critical to brief your whole team
- How to apologise without accepting responsibility
- What equipment will void your insurance
Resources mentioned in this show:
- Vanessa Van Edwards talking about a study where doctors record 10 seconds of voice clips that can predict rates of malpractice lawsuits in the US
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties), for ongoing community and education
- Episode 11 on Insurance with Sue Sparrow
- Reputable second-hand laser dealers in Australia: Laseraid and Lasertrade
- Beginner Laser Course with Standard Operating Procedure
You might not know this, but Cate has worked with some of the biggest bloggers on the planet, including Jon Morrow (who is like the Stephen Hawkings of blogging).
After completing Jon's course, she was invited to become one of three editor instructors and help other people get onto big sites like Huffington Post. So she knows her stuff, and she's going to share it.
You also know Cate loves making things easy so we'll give you simple frameworks so you can start taking action immediately.
A great blog is a business asset. It can grow your audience, drive sales and create a strong bond with the people who read it, so this is a must-listen episode!
You don’t want to miss:
- How to Create an Enticing Headline that Captures Attention
- Why The Writing Rules You Learned At School Aren't Applicable to Writing For The Web
- How to Create 12 Months of Social Media Content For Every Blog Post, Without Lifting a Finger
- How to Craft an Opening That Makes Yoru Audience Think You Can Read Their Mind
- Simple Headline Hacks That Will Supercharge Your Content
Resources
- MissingLettr: a platform that turns your content into engaging social media posts
- Lumen5: Easily make videos for content marketing in a snap.
- Grammarly stops Cate from putting her foot in her mouth online
- 801+ Power Words That Pack a Punch & Convert like Crazy
- SmartBlogger
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): support, community and training for laser clinic owners
Carol has successfully built a national franchise network in the facial aesthetics industry from the ground up, so she knows what it takes to back yourself, create a dynamic team and how to hurry slowly when it comes to planning and strategy and execution.
Throughout her 30+ year career, Carol has transitioned from leading teams, creating and implementing strategic initiatives, overhauling archaic systems and managing large-scale, organisational change management projects in both private and government sectors
Having held C-suite positions Carol is a natural leader who is a strong advocate for her people, which encompasses customers, patients, her teams and suppliers. Businesses grow based on relationships, which Carol is a master at.
As a qualified therapist, Carol recognises that changing gears in her daily life allows her to recharge and better juggle her business and personal life demands.
In her spare time, if Carol isn’t running a home-based counselling practice, you’ll find her enjoying time practising yoga, meditation and swimming laps and having precious time with loved ones.
You don't want to miss:
- How to structure your business for success
- What a Director’s personal guarantee is and why you should never give one
- How to hurry slowly, and why you should
Resources
- Episode 11 on Insurance with Sue Sparrow
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties)
Hair reduction has become one of the most popular beauty treatments requested by customers, and lasers and IPL are the best way to permanently reduce hair.
Deciding where to go for hair removal can be daunting and incorporating it into your clinic is also challenging. It seems like a simple thing, but there’s actually a lot more to it, both for clients and for clinic owners!
You don’t want to miss:
- Whether Home Laser and IPL Equipment Works
- Whether Dying Blond Hair Allows You To Have Laser Hair Reduction
- What Creams Actually Work for Hair Reduction
- What Skin Types Can Have Laser Hair Reduction
- What Age You Need to Be To Get Laser Hair Reduction
- How To Get The Best Out Of Your Laser Treatment
- How To Choose The Right Person To Do Laser Hair Reduction.
Resources
- Episode 1 of Clinic Conversations: How to Integrate Laser Into Your Existing Clinic
- How to Become a Laser Hair Technician
- How to Care for Clients Undergoing Hair Reduction
- Specialist Laser Hair Reduction Training
- Advanced Online Laser Training
- Laser Regulations for Specific States
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties), for ongoing support for clinic owners
Can you believe that Christmas is looming on the horizon already? Yikes!
Knowing that we're coming into spring and you're all getting busier, we wanted to share some marketing magic with you.
Particularly ways to set yourself up now to save time in silly season!
Cate has been looking at laser clinics that are marketing online and there are a few simple things that most people aren’t doing, so we thought we'd share them with you.
You don’t want to miss:
- How your competitors can help you market your business
- Two easy frameworks to make posting quick and effortless
- Places to find content ideas when your mind draws a blank
- A simple but effective hashtag strategy for Instagram
- How AHPRA can impact your social media
Resources:
AHPRA New Social Media Guide
AHPRA Advertising Guidelines
Buffer for scheduling content. Their free plan allows you to set up 3 social profiles (ie Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). Great for small businesses and people wanting a free tool to get started.
Grammarly prevents grammatical mistakes, not just spelling errors, but typos. It stops me from putting my electronic foot in my mouth all the time! It’s a Chrome extension that checks your typing while you’re on Facebook, or while you’re creating a new webpage – anywhere online.
Aesthetic Advisor the Australian trusted online resource to research procedures, find a skilled practitioner, read real reviews and have questions answered.
Creating Crazy-Good Content: Cate’s online course
Places to get great ideas when your mind draws a blank:
Easil is similar to Canva and is your DIY Design secret weapon. A drag-and-drop tool that helps you create visual content so fabulous it looks like a pro did it
VistaCreate (previously Crello) is similar to Canva and their templates are great for inspiration.
Animoto allows you to make great videos easily and their templates are great for inspiring ideas.
Biteable is a great video animation tool with plenty of templates to choose from.
Wave Animation has templates that are fabulous for sparking ideas.
Answer the Public pop your topic into the machine and have it churn out all the questions people ask Google
Recognised for her entrepreneurship within the cosmetic industry as a recipient of a Telstra Business Women’s Award, Suzie Hoitink, RN, established the Clear Complexions Clinics in 2005.
From a single clinic, Suzie grew the company to a network of six premium medical skin clinics across Sydney and Canberra with a highly skilled team of 70, including 40 medical professionals.
The company attracted the attention of ASX listed Vita Group Pty Ltd, which purchased Clear Complexions in 2017.
With the unique experience gained from starting a medical practice, scaling and then selling to a publicly listed company, Suzie has become an in-demand authority in the business of healthcare.
Her expertise lies in establishing, profitably scaling and then selling businesses. She is driven to coach and assist business leaders to achieve their potential and develop high performing, productive teams.
You don’t want to miss:
- Suzie's Recipe for Creating a Successful Business
- What are some of the biggest mistakes you see people make when it comes to starting and scaling their clinic?
- How to Create a Successful Brand
- The Biggest Challenges People Face in This Industry And How to Overcome Them
- The Truth About What A Consultant Can Really Do For Your Clinic
Resources mentioned in this show:
- Contact Suzie Hoitink, RN FACN, Co-Director & Senior Consultant at HTNK Consulting:
- p. +61 477 577 233
- e. suzie@htnk.com.au
Interesting isn’t it?
The number of people looking for tattoo removal. One in five Australians have a tattoo.
Thirty-four per cent of Australians who have a tattoo regret it, and one in seven of this group are considering removal.
This is a cohort of 1.2 million people wanting their skin clear of their current tattoos. That doesn't include those who'd just like to lighten what they have to put a new one over the top.
In this episode, we dive deep into the science involved in laser tattoo removal, how to assess a client and what qualifications you need to offer these services.
You don’t want to miss:
- How To Become a Tattoo Removalist
- What Treatments Really Work and What’s Just Fantasy
- What to Expect When You Have A Tattoo Removed
Resources
- Tattoos in Australia, by McCrindle
- Specialist Tattoo Removal Training
- The Best Method for Removing A Tattoo
- Kirby-Desai Tattoo Removal Scale
You've probably heard of people who've used Facebook ads to create massive growth in their business.
And others who say, "Facebook ads don't work". The truth is that both of these things are true.
Facebook ads can be a costly waste of time and effort, but they can also grow your business, if you know what you're doing!
You don’t want to miss:
- How much new business you should really expect when you boost a post
- Why you need to go an inch wide and a mile deep if you want your ads to bring in business
- How to choose the best images for your ads
- Why you need to consider your business assets and goals when you're advertising
- What to look for when you outsource your advertising
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Cate's business, Sane Social Media
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties), for ongoing community and education
Sue Sparrow never planned to become an industry leader in specialised beauty, cosmetic injectables and medical insurance. Following a tragic accident, which left her a widow, Sue landed professionally in beauty insurance.
Sue found many people making poor choices that cost them professionally, emotionally and financially. Too busy taking care of clients, she found those working in the beauty industry weren’t good at taking care of themselves.
It inspired a mission: to educate and empower people to make wise insurance choices.
You don’t want to miss:
- How Your Experience And Qualifications Impacts Your Insurance Costs
- How to Ensure You’re Fully Covered As A Business Owner, Or A Contractor
- How to Find A Great Insurance Provider
- How to Understand Your Insurance Needs Without Knowing Legal Jargon
- Steps To Ensure You’re Legally Protected If You Offer a Refund
Links and resources:
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): support, community and training for laser clinic owners
- Sparrow Insurance: A Leader in Beauty, Health and Small Business Insurance in Australia
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!
Embarrassing, isn’t it?
Having pigmentation you wish wasn’t there. Whether it’s freckles that are no longer cute, a discolouration that people keep pointing out or a birthmark that attracts too much attention.
The good news is that there’s a lot that can be done to care for your skin and reduce pigmentation. It just comes down to the type and depth of the pigment.
In this episode, we dive deep into topical treatments, cosmeceuticals and laser treatments for people struggling with pigmentation.
You don’t want to miss:
- How to Find The Perfect Clinician
- What Treatments Really Work and What’s Just Fantasy
- Where to Find Elegant Treatments and Support
Resources
- Cosmetic Sunscreens
- Pomegranate Power Pack: including a powerful exfoliant that firms, calms, decongests and reduces pigmentation
- Science Skincare: leading-edge skincare that fuses technology and nature
You might think you need to ignore your competitors and forge your own path.
You may think you need to know their pricing so you can undercut their prices.
But these strategies cause stress and neither of them helps you get ahead in your own business.
Instead, you can take a healthy approach to competitors and use them to learn about your audience and customers.
In this episode we give you clear strategies you can implement immediately to “spy” on your competitors to improve your own marketing, and grow your business.
You don’t want to miss:
- The Different Ways You Can Compete (hint: It’s Not Only On Price)
- How to Clearly Identify Your Competitors
- Why Great Artists Steal And How To Do This Ethically
Resources
- Clinic Conversations Ep 1: Creating a Charismatic Brand
- Clinic Conversations Ep 8: How to Start a Clinic in a Pandemic
- Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPR)
- AHPR Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service
- AHPR Social Media: How to meet your obligations under the law
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): Community and Support for Clinic Owners
Would you have the courage to start a clinic during the pandemic?
Our latest guest, Kylie from Cosmedic Collective in Orange did just that.
In late 2021, right as Australia was going through its second major lockdown, Kylie opened her clinic.
She had planned to open her own clinic in a few years, but her timelines were brought forward when opportunity knocked.
Faced with a “Now or Never” decision, she jumped in. But her business journey has not been without its share of sleepless nights, and terrifying moments.
Here’s her story.
You don’t want to miss:
- The Best Advice For Anyone Starting Their Own Clinic
- How to Create Your Own Support Team
- How To Carve Out Work-Life Balance When You Run Your Own Clinic
- How to Stand Out From Your Competitors
- What To Research Before Opening Your Doors
Links and resources:
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): support, community and training for laser clinic owners
- Kelly George Aesthetics
- Boots And All Consulting
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!.
Ever wanted to know all about acne?
Elissa and I share our personal challenges and embarrassing experiences in this episode!
Elissa also explains all the clinic treatments available including diagnosis, treatment and support.
We look at at-home treatment options and in-clinic treatments options, Doctors, Dermatologists and everything in between.
You don’t want to miss:
- The Only At-Home LED Mask that's Approved to Treat Acne
- The Dangers of Self-Diagnosis and Choosing Your Own Treatment
- How Well-Meaning People Can Set You On The Wrong Path
- When You Should Get a Referral to a Dermatologist
- The Myths We've Bought Into and The Terrible Treatments We've Experienced
Links and resources:
- Medical-grade products by Science Skincare, created by Adjunct Associate Professor and Nurse Practitioner Elissa O’Keefe that includes home care ranges and a professional line of treatment products
- Bye Bye Blemishes Kit
- Carbon Cleanser
- Omnilux Clear LED Mask, The Only Medical-Grade, Home-Treatment LED Available
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!.
We've all been hit hard the last couple of years but there are things you can put in place to build a stronger business now, and into the future.
You don’t want to miss:
- How to create a strong business by having different streams of income
- How to create enticing membership offers
- Examples of membership packages that are too good for your customers to pass up!
We know that starting something like a membership package can be overwhelming so we make it super easy for you!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Science Skincare: leading edge skincare created by nurse, Elissa O'Keefe
- Lvly: Stylish, thoughtful gift and flower delivery same day across Melbourne, Sydney & Adelaide
Two other great resources for busy clinic owners are:
- Our International Laser Safety Day®celebrations - loads of free training and giveaways!
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties), for ongoing community and education
Attracting and retaining great staff is a specialist skill which is why we're lucky enough to chat with Lizzie Boots of Boots and All Consulting in this episode!
Lizzy is an experienced human resources professional specialising in recruitment, retention and training strategies for the medical, health and beauty industries.
Lizzy started Boots And All, the premier agency for HR and recruitment in the medical health and beauty industry, in 2006 in response to the growing demand for specialised placement.
Her motto is 'recruit train and retain' as part of the service is a personal guarantee for staff that fit the role in every respect.
You don’t want to miss:
- The Great Resignation: what it is and what it means for business owners
- Lizzies top three tips for business owners
- Updates to requirements for contract staff
Links and resources:
- You can find more about Boots and All Consulting
- PCC Lawyers
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!.
We're all overwhelmed, overworked and overstressed so instead of ignoring it, we're going to tackle it head-on.
Let's look at the signs of burnout, how to fix it and how to prevent it.
As business owners, WE are the most important part of the business. Without US there is no business, so self-care is critical.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Andrew Johnson Relax. Change. Create meditation app
- The Resilience Project
- The Calm app
- 10 Minute Solutions
A couple of other great resources are:
Effortless by Greg McKeown
Our International Laser Safety Day® celebrations - loads of free training and giveaways!
And another great resource for busy clinic owners is Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties), for ongoing community and education
Cherise Duffet from Cryomed shares what to consider before choosing a machine.
Cherise is the Clinical Training Manager at Cryomed Aesthetics.
Cherise has over 10 years in Clinical Education in the medical and aesthetic device industry and is a certified trainer for many manufacturers.
Cherise is extremely passionate about sharing knowledge on results-oriented treatments to empower confidence in patients and practitioners alike.
You don’t want to miss:
- The six steps to purchasing equipment
- Pathways to integration and where lasers fit into cosmetic practice
- Motivations for purchasing equipment, and risk assessment
Links and resources:
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): Support, community and training for clinic owners
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!.
So you have an existing clinic or salon and want to start offering laser too?
We've got you covered!
Integrating laser into your clinic can be a minefield of expensive mistakes. We're sharing how to prevent those mistakes, and giving you the information to make smart decisions for your business!
You don’t want to miss:
- Key Considerations and Where to Invest First
- The Dangers of Buying Bargain Equipment
- How Reputable Manufacturers Support Your Path To Success
Links and resources:
- Download your free Standard Operating Policy and Procedure template
- 3 Essentials To Comply With Laser/IPL Standards, including a Free Compliant Door Sign
- Laser Regulations for Specific States
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): Support, community and training for clinic owners
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!.
Creating a brand is tricky because it's a key part of attracting and retaining clients. But what if you could create a brand that was magnetic, so it attracted people to you?
You don’t want to miss:
- The two key character traits that create charisma, so you can use them anywhere (online or in person!)
- How to use these traits as a simple framework to create any content
- The simple way to choose brand colours for your business
Links and resources:
- Vanessa Van Edwards and the Science of People
- Laser Focused the free audio mini-course available from Bravura Education
- Bravura Business Incubator (previously Bravura Beauties): Monthly membership to boost your business
Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any future episodes!.