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Marketing a New Business

Although I have plenty of ideas, it's harder than it seems to get in touch with the right people or find out about the closest events. My main strategy is to get out there and do chair massage at events, I'm even considering doing a few talks if need be, but the issue is how to contact the right places and people to get out there and do these things.

So, I was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips that they used or still use to drum up some business. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Stacy on December 23, 2011 at 5:23am

Hello Kimberly,

I recently moved to a new state. I really wanted to get the news out that I was here and I really wanted to share some of the benefits to receiving massage. I find that it is difficult for me to take off the massage therapy hat and place the business hat on, or at least I did. First, as I arrived in my new area I joined the Chamber of Commerce, they often are very passionate to support small businesses. From joining I got the opportunity to meet a lot of business people. Always keeping in mind that the people that you meet are not going to be the people that you serve but rather someone that they personally know. The COC informed me of the networking groups in the area, both free and membership ran. I made a decision at the beginning that I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, if you aren’t making it, spending as little as possible was an absolute must for me. In addition to that I wanted to use any extra money to completely ready my space for massage. From the networking group I not only met people but had the opportunity to talk about what I do, why I do it, and who it can help. It has all been about building relationships.

My most recent venture in marketing was the use of the radio. I signed with them to do a ‘Deals of the Week’ similar to Groupon. They advertised for me to get people to buy gift certificates. My business was announced, they shared information of the benefits of massage, and I gave some of the staff massage and they talked about it on air!! This advertisement was free so if there were no purchases of the gift certificate, I paid nothing. Here’s the catch, the GC had to be purchased online so there was a processing fee, the radio station took half of the remaining, so my portion was not large. I will tell you that over 90 people bought GC! People that were in my area dropped by to get a GC but the deal wasn’t running at my location so they paid full price! It has by far be the best win in networking/marketing for me! Really the only thing I am out was time. People say that you should be doing what you love even when the money isn’t there, it will come later. Now my greatest feat will be to retain those GC clients!! Good luck!!

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Campbell on December 23, 2011 at 12:56pm

Thank you very much. I hope you continue to have good fortune as well.

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Permalink Reply by Bethany Ingraham on December 23, 2011 at 7:35pm

Depending on where you're located, consider doing some foot work: take your marketing materials and go door-to-door to local businesses that may be related to massage or health and wellness. I once went into a tanning salon -- while I don't believe tanning is healthy, I still had the chance to introduce myself to the employee working that day and pinned some business cards on the bulletin board. I know of at least one local hair salon that was open to the idea of coming in as an independent contractor and giving chair massages to their clients. I've worked with two businesses to provide corporate chair massage to their employees.

I liked the idea in the last issue of ABMP's magazine where it was suggested that, as we go door to door, we could give out gift certificates for free 30 minute massages, with the option to upgrade to a full hour for a price. A friend of mine is planning on doing that.

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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on December 25, 2011 at 6:53am

Visit the Massage Learning Network. There are dozens of free business-building videos from myself and other experts on the site. Good luck to you.

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Campbell on December 28, 2011 at 2:42pm

Thank you for the great ideas! I've already begun to do raffles for a 1/2 hour massage gift certificate at the WOW where I'm doing chair massage as an advertisement. It was a great idea built upon an idea a friend gave me!

Bethany Ingraham said:

Depending on where you're located, consider doing some foot work: take your marketing materials and go door-to-door to local businesses that may be related to massage or health and wellness. I once went into a tanning salon -- while I don't believe tanning is healthy, I still had the chance to introduce myself to the employee working that day and pinned some business cards on the bulletin board. I know of at least one local hair salon that was open to the idea of coming in as an independent contractor and giving chair massages to their clients. I've worked with two businesses to provide corporate chair massage to their employees.

I liked the idea in the last issue of ABMP's magazine where it was suggested that, as we go door to door, we could give out gift certificates for free 30 minute massages, with the option to upgrade to a full hour for a price. A friend of mine is planning on doing that.