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Marketing for Non-Marketing types?
Hello everyone! I'm new here, so happy to finally have a bigger group of other professionals to bounce ideas off of!
Anyways, here's my story: I started up my own private practice. I am doing well, have a few clients that are good and come regularly. I am thrilled with that, but I want more!
I would like more new clients, but I am just simply horrible at that end of things. I've come to accept the fact that my strengths lie in other places, marketing, and advertising myself is just simply not one of them. I've spent years trying to improve that, and I feel like it's been a waste, that I could have spent that time doing something I'm good at!
Now, here's the thing, I am confident in my massage, I truly am. People that come, do come back. And of the people that come, they do refer other people to me. All this is something I definitely appreciate, but I would still like more clients!
I've read so much marketing stuff out there, and while I think it's awesome that other LMT's can walk up to prospective clients, hand them their card, and tell them to get a massage, I just simply can't. It's not my nature, and if I did, it would probably scare the people! =)
So anyone here like me? Any ideas? I am thinking about running more referral programs since that's worked well for me in the past, but something along those lines, I'd rather other people talk about me than me talk about myself! Has anyone hired someone, like an "agent" for themselves?
Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom!
Views: 111
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Batac on
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Yes, I am like you! I have tones of ideas. I have hired an "agent" of sorts for myself!
comforted yet?
I love massage. that's what I want to do forever, nothing else. So, I don't have originality of massage marketing ideas myself, i get them from books, sorry, but thats why they write them and we follow! Chere sohnen-moe is my favorite so far.
My agent was my brother the first year. i told him for every person he got to come see me, he would get $10 their first visit, then $2 every visit after. This kept him motivated, my table time filled, and nobody knew!
My second year, I was freaking busy! I had to tell my brother to shut-up!
If you do this with a client, it would be considered more of a referral program, im sure. But that's why I started with people who knew me well, and could talk just enough about my skills.
I am now at chiro offices where they do evreything, so that makes life easier. I still do a little marketing for myself, but they pay for it in postage, printing, everything, cuz that is our agreement. I just send notecards out to everyone, saying my hours, new modality, ect. I also, send postcards for birthdays and anniversaries. even still, i will ask for referrals there at the office, before they leave by just handing them a card that says, referred by_______ I know i will receive $10 off my next 1 Hour massage from ____________.
I sure hope that helps you out a little.
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I read that too! It is pretty good!
Jenny Good said:I really like this article, "Shoestring Marketing," which provides ideas that are easy to incorporate into your practice.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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The thing is to find something that you do feel comfortable doing...like teach stress reduction or couples massage classes, talking to doctors or others, or what other hobbies or interests do you have?
Thats why I like my website. I can just write about massage and you don't have to be directly pushing massage. Your website can educate them as to what it is and what you do enough so that people will just call. It has to show up on the top of the first page of results for the words 'massage your city'.
That would be a good idea to hire a marketing agent.
I also knew a guy who had a really bad one page website and just used google adwords (paying for ad placement) and hes is booked for a month out and is a really good medical massage type of therapist.
I am also curious as to what kinds of marketing you have done that does not work for you. Marketing is just telling people what you do- that is all. It isn't this exact science or scary thing. Just find the most places where you can tell people what you do.
Here is my ton of marketing ideas...and yes some of it is coming up with your own idea that will work for you and that you will feel comfortable doing.
http://massagepracticebuilder.com/massage-marketing-tips/
Julie
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on
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Hi Sasha. The key to good marketing is knowing your target audience(s) and then having specific marketing materials that speak to them. Let's face it, the marketing piece that will catch a male, athlete, in his 30's is not the same piece that will catch the stay-at-home, stressed mom who works a full time job in an office. A lot has to do with the imagery and wording. If you're marketing to mom, you're gonna have a more soothing, relaxing type of piece that talks about the benefits of massage on stress, etc. If your talking to the athlete your image is going to be more masculine, perhaps more medical and will talk about how massage will benefit their training.
I am fortunate to be a graphic designer as well as a therapist. And have also started my own group on this forum for anyone looking for marketing/graphic help. In the end, you need to figure out the type of work and clientele you want to attract and then market to them. And to do that all it takes is a decent postcard where you can leave or pass out, at various targeted locations.
For instance, you may want to put mom's postcards in places like the local schools, but you'd put your athlete's postcards at the local gyms.
So take some time to figure out who you want to attract and then get the right materials for the job.
And I can't stress enough how important it is to have a well thought out web site!!!
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Permalink Reply by Heide Metzger on
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I remember my early years as a new massage therapist and I wanted to massage everything that came within reach! I still feel that way but now 24 years later, have fallen in love with the marketing side as well. Back when I was first starting out, I found out that the local tanning salon had and empty room in the back for rent and asked to rent the space. WE worked out a deal where they got paid per massage so they would actually help promote me since they would earn more.
I also hung a very simple sign with theirs that simply said "Therapeutic Massage". My Dad made the sign for me and I sitll have it in my garage! I worked their part time to build clientele while keeping my full time job. Actually 2 clients from their are still my clients to this day!
After that I accepted a position at a chiropractor's office and a massage clinic. I worked 2 days a week at each place since I loved the variety of being in different places and each attracted different people.
Through the years I have been blessed with having word of mouth be my best resource. I also love to give a 5 minute massage if I see someone rubbing their neck and they usually ask for a card. I love to read other people loving massage so much that they want to do it all day!
I am so happy for your new career path and know that "if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life!"
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Thanks Michelle! I love the idea, it's great! I will give it a shot, and I love the idea of putting a spot for clients to write in their names and hand my cards out to others and getting discounts.
Not to mention that I am thrilled someone else is like me! I feel like such a freak sometimes! ;-)
Jenny, Thanks! I'll check it out!
Julie, I like that. Writting is easy for me. I've been thinking about writing more interesting topics for my website, I never really thought of it as helping, but now I've been given the push to do it! I haven't really did much for marketing yet, just some little discounts and referrals, but I've been thinking about doing a Google ad. I was never really sure if it would help much (I mean, I don't pay attention to the ads!) but it might be worth a try.
Lisa, also great advice. Thank you, I'll try putting out more post cards, and I never really thought about making them look more specific to the location they are at. Wonderful, simple concept that would make a world of a difference!
Heide, I do love what I do, I just currently hate the marketing side! Hopefully I will become like you and enjoy that side of it too! Thanks!
Thanks everyone for all the help! I really appreciate it, now I am motivated and off to do something that hopefully helps!! ;-)
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Hi Sasha!Just wanted to let you know some other things that have brought me results through the years are pens and keychains. They are passed to more people than a business card at times. On the pens I had printed "Relaxation Experts" with our name and number. On the keychain was printed "You deserve the BEST, get a massage and have a rest!" Corny, but catchy and people called for years after I stopped using them!
Don't ever forget the simple act of sending each of your clients a birthday card witha discount coupon.
Another great thing I did was to send out mailings on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Thanksgiving, offering my current client a discount on their massage if they bring a friend. Lots of fun little things!
Hope these help!
Heide Metzger
Sasha Compos said:Thanks Michelle! I love the idea, it's great! I will give it a shot, and I love the idea of putting a spot for clients to write in their names and hand my cards out to others and getting discounts.
Not to mention that I am thrilled someone else is like me! I feel like such a freak sometimes! ;-)
Jenny, Thanks! I'll check it out!
Julie, I like that. Writting is easy for me. I've been thinking about writing more interesting topics for my website, I never really thought of it as helping, but now I've been given the push to do it! I haven't really did much for marketing yet, just some little discounts and referrals, but I've been thinking about doing a Google ad. I was never really sure if it would help much (I mean, I don't pay attention to the ads!) but it might be worth a try.
Lisa, also great advice. Thank you, I'll try putting out more post cards, and I never really thought about making them look more specific to the location they are at. Wonderful, simple concept that would make a world of a difference!
Heide, I do love what I do, I just currently hate the marketing side! Hopefully I will become like you and enjoy that side of it too! Thanks!
Thanks everyone for all the help! I really appreciate it, now I am motivated and off to do something that hopefully helps!! ;-)
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