Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone help?

[Stef Elke]

So I'm noticing that I'm in a slow spot, my website isn't getting as many hits as it usually does and my appointment book is pretty lack too. I've been in business since last May/June and started out with heavy marketing (Craigslist, fliers & brochures at health food stores, etc...), and really big discounts (up to 50% off). August was my biggest month (client-wise) but most of my clients were paying 40 or 50% off. I am still making the rent and am covering most of my business expenses - i.e. phone, student loan, office supplies and lotions and such.I am just in a slump I guess. I have given demonstrations at a local health food store, kept my website up and pretty high in the search engines, distributed discount coupons, and passed out the occassional flier. I offer a referral discount to my clients and I am a member of a holistic practitioner collaborative (think BNI). I have also offered free sessions drawn as a monthly raffle, though I stopped doing that after several months (five I think).Can anyone help me figure out if I'm not aggressive enough or give me some ideas about marketing that I may not have thought about before? Or am I just being impatient? I haven't offered a lot of discounts in the last two months because I'm trying to wean my clients off the "half-off" or "30% off" sessions.Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[Exemplify]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Those are some big discounts.  I am glad that you are getting away from them.  The largest discount that I give is $10 off.  I occasionally do a drawing for half off at open houses or a random mailing.The one thing that I have found to work well is to offer maintenance plans.  I offer a small discount to my clients and they agree to maintain regular appointments.  This has eliminated the usual slumps.  I treat it as a reward to the client for taking regular care of themselves.I have one plan for clients that come once a month (save $5 a visit) and another for clients that come twice a month or more (save $10 a visit).I also offer maintenance plans for my prenatal clients.You might want to give it a try.

 

[Emma Rose]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

You can get lots of new ideas and learn more about marketing massage at

http://www.bodyworkbiz.com/

Make sure to sign up for the newsletters, lots of FREE tips! I have learned so much and my business is picking up!  

 

[OG LOC]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

For us, the end of Dec., Jan., Feb., March, and April are slower months, or at least have been for a few years now.  It sort of gradually moves up from Dec. to April.  So, what I have found, is that I try to utilize this time to take on anything that takes the extra time I normally don't have avaliable.  Helping someone out with chair massages, doing a little more hotel work than I normally would, working on the taxes, getting the business ship-shape for the rest of the year, catching up on CEU's or a class at a school somewhere (art and cooking come to mind!), travelling if I am going to have to do it, and working on some practice building.  

I think with our profession, we have these waves, and once we figure out when they are for our particular business, then we can plan out a little better what to do the next year.

Of course, I guess we have plenty of people on these boards who also don't have slow periods.  But that is my personal experience.

Hope it helps some!  

 

[SMILE!]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

I believe the standard line is that it takes up to 5 years to really build a solid business. The things you have done are great, but you need to keep doing them. The more you market, the better the return. When I started my own contracting business it took me a while to realize that I needed to market. As soon as I did, I noticed a difference. It helped legitimize my company, as well as getting the attention of potential clients who would have gone to someone else with more exposure.I also made the mistake of undercharging, a really tempting thing to do when you first start out. It took me a few years of barely breaking even to realize that I didn't have to be the cheapest, as long as I provided good, consistent service. I raised my rates several times over the next few years, becoming more competitive with other shops doing the same type of work. I lost a couple of clients in the process, but was finally able to take a paycheck that felt worthy of the hours I put in.Oh, and the ebbs and flows were pretty consistent; busy as all get out in the spring and early summer, slow in the middle of summer (people out on vacation), picking up again in late summer through fall and winter right up till the holidays and then the bottom would drop out until end of February. Obviously in construction there are some differences in what drives those patterns, but I have to figure that they can't be that different in other businesses. Like Texas-Gal says, it's a great time to catch up on the things you don't often have time for when you are busy...if you can get past the anxiety of not having work!

 

[Please Answer]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

That's a big discount...I usually give people 10% off or $10 off for their first visit.  I am a member of BNI (it's been okay for me, since August) and I just joined the Chamber of Commerce in the city that my office is located, and I think that is going to be a good thing.  I offer all of the active Chamber members 10% off and I just saw my first client.  I've been in my office since October 2004 and have been fully on my own since August 2004 so it hasn't even been a year yet.  Things are okay, could be better (I'd like to be doing double the volume I do now, which I'm doing about 5 a week for now).  I know how frustrating it is to be stuck in a slump, but I would try offering your clients now some sort of referral bonus, say $10 off for each new client they send you.

 

[aaaa15]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Check out the site:

http://www.spamarketing.ca

Sign up for the weekly newsletter you will get a ton of ideas.

But I'm not a spa.

 

[ChrisPark]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Doesn't matter the information is relative to the industry and massage therapists etc.

I'm not a massage therapist either. And I checked out the site and didn't find anything within the first few pages that didn't deter me from closing the browser. Sorry, but it looked like a gimmick site. Are you sure you gave me the right address?

 

[IntenseDesire]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

آ Some ways to promote yourself, well most of these it helps if you have a chair. آ set up chair/table massage at weekend farmer's or artisian markets. آ contact a department store that has a makeup/perfume counter, offer to bring in your chair (if you have one) and give a free five minute massage to anyone who makes a purchase at a certain amount. آ I have done this at the Parisians here several times, I keep track of the minutes of massage and at the end of the day, the manager reimburses me $1/min آ  offer to do chair massage for conventions going on at hotels in your area. آ  approach floral departments and set up where someone receives a mt gift certificate when buying bouquets for mother's day or whatever. آ Sell the floral shop several at a bulk rate to include in their arrangements. آ join your local BNI, some people don't have luck with those, but I have and it can work آ become a member of the chamber of commerce in your city and you will be able to display your brochures in their office and will be listed in their directory آ  contact botanical gardens and offer to give a talk about the benefits of mt, bring plenty of business cards and brochures! آ  give a talk at the library and even a bookstore about mt for pain relief. آ  offer to do chair/table massage for charity events, you don't make money but can pass out lots of cards and brochures! آ I also read the business section of the local paper and they will post when their are networking events and I also get ideas to apply to my business from reading this section.Also, along with what else has been mentioned, I've been in business for four years and there were a couple slow times the first couple years. آ Keep track of when clients come in and you will be able to figure out when your slow periods are.  As you get your name out there to the public, you will notice less slower periods over the year. آ  آ 

 

[friendlyadvice]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

I really noticed a difference when I offered "specials" and contracted the local gym and my favorite salon to sell gift certificates .  The" special" is  3 massages for a reduced price.  One summer, many moons ago, I sent a postcard to my client base advertising  a summer special 3/$99.  They could purchase the pkg in the month of June,July and/or August. They had 6 wks to use the massages from the time of purchase.  You can leave the postcards with the gyms, salons,and florists in your area too.As for the gift certificates, I approached the owners first by sending a letter of introduction and then followed up with a personal meeting.  I provide the gift certificates, tracking record and display and their employees sell gift certificates and get a small commission.

 

[e l i z a ?]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Dragonflies, I'm confused, you're not a spa or a massage therapist?  what's your business.  Perhaps, targeting what you do might help us determine some ideas for you.  You seem to be in a related field, yes?  This I gleaned from your posts.  Thanks, Joe E.

 

[Greedy Pirate]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Dragonflies, I'm confused, you're not a spa or a massage therapist?  what's your business.  Perhaps, targeting what you do might help us determine some ideas for you.  You seem to be in a related field, yes?  This I gleaned from your posts.  Thanks, Joe E.

Hi Joe - I'm a foot, hand & ear reflexologist.

 

[MayDay Parade (3]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Duh, I guess I should have gotten that from your quote - sorry about that.  One more question.  Do you have an office/brick and mortar location or are you mobile (going to clients' homes)? Thanks, Joe E.

 

[David D]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

I looked around for some reflexology boards - but as I am sure you know, they are few and far between.  I know our group is "the best", but maybe...

I appreciate that. The best reflexology group I've found so far is a yahoo group. They are excellent when you're asking about "client presents with multiple sclerosis, which points to emphasis..." but not with a lot of marketing suggestions.

I struggle putting some of the massage-type marketing things in action with my business because I can't offer a "15 minute neck massage" or many of the massage-specific ideas. However, this thread has been very helpful and I am now accepting credit cards and will be implementing "summer specials," and reflexology packages, just like the massage therapists here. You guys have been tremendously helpful!

 

[RudyGal]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Duh, I guess I should have gotten that from your quote - sorry about that.  One more question.  Do you have an office/brick and mortar location or are you mobile (going to clients' homes)?

Thanks, Joe E.

I have an office. Rarely make outcalls. I do some promotions with outcalls. A couple of Tuesdays ago I did a reflexology talk for a group of 30 women. I am finding the more I can get my name out there the better off I am.

 

[bluasakura]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

I appreciate that. The best reflexology group I've found so far is a yahoo group. They are excellent when you're asking about "client presents with multiple sclerosis, which points to emphasis..." but not with a lot of marketing suggestions.

I struggle putting some of the massage-type marketing things in action with my business because I can't offer a "15 minute neck massage" or many of the massage-specific ideas. However, this thread has been very helpful and I am now accepting credit cards and will be implementing "summer specials," and reflexology packages, just like the massage therapists here. You guys have been tremendously helpful!

Maybe that means this board should add a Reflexology section with 1. Business and Marketing as a sub-category and 2. Technique and Ideas as a second sub-category.

Since there isn't much out there for your profession.  Do you think some of your yahoo group would come on board if there was something like that here?

 

[Snake]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Maybe that means this board should add a Reflexology section with 1. Business and Marketing as a sub-category and 2. Technique and Ideas as a second sub-category.

Since there isn't much out there for your profession.  Do you think some of your yahoo group would come on board if there was something like that here?

I would be delighted with a reflexology section. I would do my best to bring on new members but wouldn't be able to make any promises. How would I go about getting a section added for reflexology?

 

[K K]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

Best way, from what I can see, is to contact Intuitouch. آ She seems to be able to actually talk to the massageplanet guys and has had pretty good results at getting things done! آ And, I'd provide her with this thread too.  For backup.Hope, I'm not gonna make her mad by sending you in her direction, but she really is the only person I've seen so far, who actually has talked to and met the massagewarehouse people.  If I am leaving anyone else out there out, please feel free to jump in and tell me!

 

[Leone]

Running out of marketing ideas, can anyone hel

here is just a thought and it may not work in your areabutin my area there is a company thats called something like welcome new neighbor and what they do is send out welcome notices to people that are new to the area and they pack it full of the best place to eat - best gym-best place for a massage and so on.so maybe if you have one of those places where you live/work you could get in on their mailing.just a thought

 

[Ron.Chae]

Bump

Dragonflies, how is business since this post?