Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Marketing Agency for Your Med Spa or Cosmetic Practice

Many med spa and cosmetic practice owners get messages from marketing agencies every week. Most of them sound the same. Choosing well can bring in new clients; choosing badly can cost months and money, and can put your practice's reputation at risk.

Here are the questions worth asking before you sign anything, and what a good answer sounds like.

What exactly will you do, and what will I need to do?

Ask for a plain list: which ads, how many, on which platforms, which landing pages, and how often things change. Then ask what they need from you, such as photos, approvals and someone to answer new inquiries.

A good agency gives you a clear answer you could repeat to your team. Be wary of answers full of jargon or "it depends" with no specifics.

What does it cost, all in?

There are usually two costs: the agency's fee, and the money spent on the ads themselves, which goes to the ad platform. Ask for both, in writing, and ask whether there are setup fees, minimum terms or extra charges for changes.

How do you handle the advertising rules for my type of practice?

Cosmetic and aesthetic treatments are among the most closely watched areas in advertising. Your professional body may have rules about claims, before-and-after photos and testimonials, and ad platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have their own rules for cosmetic procedures too.

Ask how the agency checks each ad against those rules before it runs, and who has the final say. A good answer includes you reviewing and approving every ad. Be cautious of any agency that promises it can "guarantee" compliance or results; your practice remains responsible for what goes out under its name.

Who owns the ads, the page and the data?

Ask who owns the ad accounts, the landing pages, the photos and videos, and the list of people who inquired. Ask what happens to them if you stop working together. You should be able to keep your own accounts and your own patients' contact details.

How will I know if it is working?

Ask what they report, how often, and in what words. Useful reports show how many people inquired, how many booked, and what it cost. Be wary of reports that only show "reach" or "impressions" with no link to actual inquiries.

Also ask how quickly a new inquiry reaches you. An agency can bring in interest, but if it sits in an inbox for two days, it rarely turns into a booking.

How do you treat my clients' privacy?

People asking about cosmetic treatments expect discretion. Ask what the inquiry form collects, where that information is stored, and who can see it. A good agency keeps forms short, avoids asking for medical details up front, and can tell you where the information goes.

What if it is not working?

Ask about the minimum term, how to cancel, and whether there is any kind of guarantee. Get the answer in the contract, not just on a call.

For example, at Horizon Acquisition Group every first purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee: if you are not happy in the first 30 days and tell us in writing, we refund our fees in full. Money spent on the ads themselves goes to the ad platform and is not refunded. Whoever you choose, make sure you understand their terms before you start.

The short version

• Get a plain list of what they do and what you do.

• Get the full cost in writing, fees and ad spend separately.

• Ask how every ad is checked against the rules, and make sure you approve each one.

• Make sure you keep your accounts, pages and inquiry list.

• Ask for reports that show inquiries and bookings, not just reach.

• Understand the minimum term and what happens if it is not working.

Want to ask us these questions?

Horizon Acquisition Group runs ads and builds landing pages for cosmetic and aesthetic practices. If you would like to put these questions to us directly, book a free 30-minute call. There is no obligation.