We recently connected with Shakaylane Rodriguez and have shared our conversation below.

Shakaylane , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

This is a funny questions because I often find myself thinking about the “what if’s”. In regards to my business, I sometimes wish I would’ve started my business sooner! I graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2018 with my Bachelor’s in Social Work. At that time, I had no idea that within the next few years I would be walking away from that profession to build my own business. Despite being passionate about what I did, I found myself getting burned out after the global pandemic that shook the world. One day I woke up and knew I wanted to shift into something different. I always knew whatever I decided to do, it would involve helping others and also being able to connect with people from all walks of life. That’s when I started to reflect on things I enjoy for myself. I have always been into “clear skin”. Prior to starting my research, I had no clear idea of what an Esthetician was or what exactly they did. Becoming an Esthetician was one of the best decisions I have ever made! Fast forward, I started my business in 2021 and I have not looked back! As I mentioned, I graduated from UCF and I lived in what I would call “college town” lol. I would like to say I should’ve started sooner, but I also know the things I learned along the way have really helped me. Would I have figured it out eventually? Of course! But I’m grateful for the knowledge and support that I had when it was my time! I’m a firm believer in everything happens when it’s supposed to, so I try not to harp on should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. I make sure to show up the best way I can not only for myself but for my clients as well!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Shakaylane Rodriguez and I am a Licensed Esthetician. I specialize in skin care treatments for ALL. I provide a range of services including facials, body waxing, vajacials, brows, lashes, and more! At Kaesthetics my goal is to help my clients achieve their desired skins goals, educate my clients on the best products for their specific skin concerns, and elevate their self-care. I am most proud of how I show up for my clients and the results! One day I had a client send me to pictures of her skin. She was shocked at how vibrant and clear her skin had gotten since starting her facials with me in 2022!

My personality and services are what sets me apart from others. I often have my clients who contact me outside of the treatment for advice! I treat everyone with the utmost respect! I even give my clients free “therapy” as they feel comfortable sharing life events with me! I don’t allow any negative self-talk in my treatment room! I am here to build confidence and help others feel their best however I can!

I love what I do, and I look forward to being able to show the world!

How did you build your audience on social media?

As we all know, social media can either help or hinder your business. As for me, I have found that being authentic and consistent has allowed me continued growth on social media. When you think about your audience, you have think about what is it that the potential client is there for. Booking? Education? Comedy? Product knowledge? ASMR? Through trial and error, I had found out that my audience enjoys being educated, before and after photos, product knowledge/reviews, seeing me work, and they enjoy seeing the face behind the business! This has allowed me to give them exactly what they are looking for through content. I would also recommend following some content gurus on Instagram as well! They post tips and tricks everyday that have helped me capture better content. For example, different editing tools, hashtags, and so much more! One last thing, DO NOT OVERTHINK BEFORE YOU POST! The fear of “what if they don’t like it” almost paralyzed me, but I was able to overcome that fear and I haven’t looked back since!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

For me personally, the best source for new clients are referrals! There’s just something very special about hearing how great a service was by someone you actually trust. In a world of so many options, having someone recommend my business/services has always yielded a great return! Let’s not forget SOCIAL MEDIA!!! Social Media has been a great platform for my business as well! I pride myself on my content and the way I approach my current, and potential clients. I recently added a question when booking that ask “How did you hear about me?” The main response is either Instagram or a referral.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Heykaesthetics
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kaestheticsllc?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kaestheticsllc?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
All photos are taken by me. Shakaylane Rodriguez