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Advertising is the biggest issue I’ve run across in my short experience in Massage. We have tried the local newspaper, phonebooks, Fliers, gift certificates and various signs. I know word of mouth is the Best of all but how do you get to that point? Any advice ?
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I moved into a studio location in December 2008 after a year providing seated massage and reflexology at Vitamin Cottage. I had very few people become regular clients either as house calls or at my home studio.
I offered specials in the local newspaper for Evergreen Colorado and that's how I got started. I ran ad for January and February and tapered off in March. I ran another offer for reflexology in April and May. I tried running ads again from October 2009 through March 2010 with very little success. I put out my A-frame at the road side and garnered at least a dozen clients who saw it in the past year. Give out business cards with specials for other businesses in my neighborhood has been helpful. Certificates in December were a big hit with my active clients and has brought in many new clients in the past three months. I have my website. No ad in yellow pages, Leafletting cars was a bust (1 client from 300 leaflets). Though I initially used massage therapist locator websites, I only had one response in two years. I have done free 10-minute reflexology sessions at evening events with local businesses and initially that worked; may have been saturation factor that diminished return on time invested (attending an event for first time in 3 months on March 19). Over the past 15 months, the momentum on referrals has built and it is decidedly the most important source for clients. I continue to book at least 14 days out and by the end of the month I have booked over 90% of my available appointments.
Just keep on trying. You'll eventually find what works in your market.
I moved into a studio location in December 2008 after a year providing seated massage and reflexology at Vitamin Cottage. I had very few people become regular clients either as house calls or at my home studio.
I offered specials in the local newspaper for Evergreen Colorado and that's how I got started. I ran ad for January and February and tapered off in March. I ran another offer for reflexology in April and May. I tried running ads again from October 2009 through March 2010 with very little success. I put out my A-frame at the road side and garnered at least a dozen clients who saw it in the past year. Give out business cards with specials for other businesses in my neighborhood has been helpful. Certificates in December were a big hit with my active clients and has brought in many new clients in the past three months. I have my website. No ad in yellow pages, Leafletting cars was a bust (1 client from 300 leaflets). Though I initially used massage therapist locator websites, I only had one response in two years. I have done free 10-minute reflexology sessions at evening events with local businesses and initially that worked; may have been saturation factor that diminished return on time invested (attending an event for first time in 3 months on March 19). Over the past 15 months, the momentum on referrals has built and it is decidedly the most important source for clients. I continue to book at least 14 days out and by the end of the month I have booked over 90% of my available appointments.
Just keep on trying. You'll eventually find what works in your market.
Do what they said- plus
One thought:
Get a "local business listing" on google. It's free. http://www.google.com/local/add/analyticsSplashPage?gl=US&hl=en-US These work when someone types in a service/product and a town/city for a search. IE " Massage in New York" Set up a couple different ones based on keywords people might use. avoid the common ones if you are in a densely populated area of massage providers. Instead of just "Massage Therapy" list your service as "sports massage, deep tissue massage, pregnancy massage" It works best when you have a website but you can use just a phone number too.
Set up a business page on review sites like YELP.com. Have a client or two write a review on them for you.
There are so many effective ways to market yourself- but first you need to be able to let folks know what you do. Not "I'm a massage therapist"... nooooo, too boring. How about, "I get people out of pain!" or "I help women with their pregnancy through massage", or "I provide stressed-our office workers a way to relax and get rid of their arm and shoulder pain with seated massage i their office"... Create what I call, your "Target Market Commercial".
Once you have this rolling off your tongue, you'll have a much easier time when you are speaking with people and shaking hands turning them into clients.
Good luck!
~ Irene ~
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