Need ideas

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Comment by Dr. Noah H. Kersey on December 20, 2008 at 11:32pm

Sounds like everyone is here and ready to help with suggestions or helpful questions. I started my private practice 15 years ago, and I just got out and made friends with as many people as I could. I joined the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and did offer my advice to columnists whever possible. Now, all I do is just pray under my appointment book and the referrals just keep rolling in.

Also, post a big sign in your space and on your business cards "We Love Referrals!!!" in stead of "New Clients Referrals Are Appreciated". Funny, but it does make a difference in folks being willing to pass along word of your services.

If you will send me some of your brochures and cards, I will display them in my reception room.

Good luck!

Noah

Comment by Michelle Treloar on November 11, 2008 at 10:29am

Hi Kristi,
I am a non-practicing esthetician, which goes very well with massage...we were actually trained in massage in school. I am licensed but haven't practiced in awhile, have been concentrating on other businesses but I am kind of in transition right now and always looking for new opportunities. I live in Greenwood too....where did you open your business? Maybe we could put out heads together and come up with some good ideas!
Hope to hear from you!
Michelle

Comment by Rae Kridel on November 5, 2008 at 10:46am

Definitely go meet with a business counselor at Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana. It's a non-profit for people just like you who need some help and their services are SBA funded. Counseling is completely free, and workshops are either free or very inexpensive. A counselor can help you with some marketing ideas, as well as help getting your finances straight, filing as a legal entity, taxes, projecting your cash flow, all the things you'll need to know to make it. 917-3266 ext. 100. Bob will set you up with a counselor, and appointments can either be done in person or over the phone. www.businessownership.org.

Comment by Kyle Lacy on November 4, 2008 at 6:34pm

Get on Smaller Indiana.
Oh wow. You did it and look at the response! :)
Social media works. You should try that.

Comment by Mike Tarak on November 4, 2008 at 6:02pm

Kristi...I would suggest direct mail...perhaps a cooperative like Valpak, Money Mailer or Great Deals. Not sure if you have an office you work out of, do site visits or what. I will tell you that budget wise, the 3 cooperative mailers I listed are in order from highest to lowest price.

Decide on what you can invest and then look at how many new clients you would need to get from those ads to make it worth your investment.

Another thing you might do is network with Chiropractors and see if you could market your services within their site. You may end up with a nice little partnership that way. Contact me if you would like to talk direct mail further. I'm not in the biz anymore but may be able to steer you and provide you contacts.

Comment by Stephen James on November 4, 2008 at 4:46pm

I'm guessing you are in the higher end of the market. If you aren't, there's always coupons items, like bring a friend for half off. If it's higher end, maybe other business referrals. Give a kickback to the other business--maybe partner with a salon? That way you can end it without raising your prices. Maybe you add something for promotional means. You might try new movers via neighborhood associations. I tend to think of massage similar to a hair salon in that you just don't try anywhere/anyone since its your body. Reputation would be important. You get referrals mainly. You need some social sneezers certainly.

Comment by Kristi Watson on November 4, 2008 at 2:58pm

I just went to a rainmaker event on Oct 31, and it was really kool, I did meet alot of nice people there. That was my first time going. They gave me so good ideas, They are also the one who gave me this web site.

My massage practice is very new. I just got done with my intern not to long ago. Thats why I am kind of lost on where to go. I want to reach people in the stress world today. Peope that wants releive from stress, depression, anit. ect. with out having to take medication. Massage therapy does a world of wonder and becoming huge in todays medical field.

Comment by Jim Brown on November 4, 2008 at 2:51pm

Hi Kristi - Newspapers don't work... sorry.

You should consider attending several Rainmaker meetings. Go to www.GoRainmakers.com for details. Tell them I sent you and you can attend for free. Also, consider some of the complimentary businesses that are around you and see if you can put fliers in their offices.

Jim

Comment by Emily Myers on November 4, 2008 at 2:49pm

Ok- math isn't my strongest subject...you don't double your client base- you multiply it by 5x (which is even better!); unfortunately it means I have to own up to my math-challenged brain.

Comment by Emily Myers on November 4, 2008 at 2:47pm

I don't know anything about you or your particular business, so I'm going to ask a lot of questions to get you thinking.
Did you come from a spa before this? who were your clients? I don't mean names, but what did they represent? I know how much I converse with my stylist, so I imagine you learn something about your clients- what do they do, what walks of life are they from? This can help you identify where to target them.
For example, brides. A lot of brides are stressed during wedding planning (really?!?) and often get spa packages before the big day- what's a great way to go after this group?
Bridal Shows
Bridal Magazines
Websites (theknot.com, etc)

But still your biggest will be word of mouth (WOM). Tell all of your clients (send them a card or email) that they will get a free 15 minute neck/shoulder massage if they refer a new client. Or one free upgrade to their next service, something like that. Then you can up the ante, if they refer 5 new clients, they get a free 1 hour massage or treatment- something like that, you follow? If you have 5 clients who each talk to 5 clients- you've doubled your client base and cost yourself not much more than the time to reward those faithful clients...
In that, you've done 2 things at least, reached new clientele and further retained existing clients.

Ask all of your clients to "grade" you on Angies LIst

Perhaps you can team up with some sales people here on SI, and as an incentive for them- if they sign a new client, they can give that client a short back/shoulder massage coupon to use with you as a thank you for their business. serves 2 things- they thank their client, and you get a new referral.

hope those help you get started!

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