a community of practitioners

What is the best way to advertise a workshop?

I am ready to start teaching my workshops on my own ( I was affiliated with BCMT till now) and looking for some advice on how to market my workshops-
From your experience, is buying mailing lists worth the expense? If yes, any good tips about how to do it?
Are email lists available for sale?
Other ideas?

Eeris Kallil www.bodyworkwisdom.com

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on August 1, 2009 at 1:39pm

Hi Kalli - You are always welcome to teach at the Festival.

Permalink Reply by Eeris Kallil CMT on August 1, 2009 at 1:56pm

Thanks Mike!
Just got an email from Cindy Michaels. Sounds like you guys are booked till 2013... let me know if you will get a cancellation.
Eeris (pronounced like Eerie with an S)

Mike Hinkle said:

Hi Kalli - You are always welcome to teach at the Festival.

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on August 1, 2009 at 10:20pm

Hi Eeris,

Start teaching! As for how to market - use all resources! I have seen that you get a little bit from everywhere.
Create a website. Connect on social networks, here, FaceBook etc. There are some mailing lists you can get from the states for FREE or inexpensively. You will find some outdated info, FYI. Press releases in local papers, post flyers. Have someone HOST a class for you in their area and earn a free class - they love to talk it up! Connect with other educators that may be wiling to share your info at their classes and offer a reciprocal networking favor. I do it all the time! E-newsletters are ok, but I find if you do them too often, people don't open them. Byregion.net offers affordable listings, CraigsList, Back Page, Event Brite and on! Feel free to contact me at massageproce@gmail.com if you'd like to chat more.

Tell me what you do/teach? I'll make you a short video for www.MassageNetworkNews.com
Oh and Mike Hinkle is a great resource to list your classes too.
Oh and ABMP , CEU Compass- gosh I could go on.

I always ask students how they found out about a class. # 1 response - a friend- word of mouth, #2 - all of the above!

Good Luck

Permalink Reply by Noel Norwick on August 2, 2009 at 4:06pm

I suggest you simply create a single page flier that you take around to all of the biggest (that hire the largest number of massage practitioners in your area/near where you plan to offer the workshops) massage businesses (spas, clubs, etc). Ask to speak with manager about seeking permission to post your flier in his/her break room and if possible give a brief presentation to his/her staff.

Permalink Reply by Mitzie Ladd, RMT LMT RM on August 21, 2009 at 9:08am

When I advertise for a workshop, I always start with word of mouth through exisitng clients and students. You can email or drop off a flyer with the local schools, and local community centers; most communities have adult learning or community events calendars and course materials you can advertise in and offer through them also.

There is always online advertising: facebook, and other social networking sites, adding it to your own website, and sending a notice to all your friends, family, and professional contacts through email works well too.

Enough can not be said also, about positive thinking.... I decide on the date and times for classes, and assume they are going to run regardless!

good luck with your class!

Mitzie Ladd LMT RMT RM
Boston MA

Permalink Reply by Eeris Kallil CMT on August 21, 2009 at 10:32pm

Thank you all for the great input and loads of information!

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on September 3, 2009 at 1:12pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmCRD7tlkC0

FYI - Inspired by your questions to me. :)