My new strategy...

[Samuel]

Well, after getting some great ideas off this and other boards, reading marketing books, and just looking around  for ideas, I have decided to take a look at other methods of advertising. I have a $200 a month budget for advertising.  In August, an estimated $47 of that will go to paying the Yellow Pages ad.  So, that's $150 per month left.  I have pretty much decided that after 3 years of advertising in one weekly paper, with very slow response as of late, that I am going to bail out, #1 because it is no longer working like it was in the beginning, and #2, because they are buttholes.There are 3 other papers with which I can advertise, but I don't think I will go this route.  The last time I ran in a monthly paper, it yielded me one response in 3 months.  I need to do better than that  The weekly paper I have been with only produces a few hits per week, not all of which become clients.  I have decided to get vehicle lettering for my car window (it's back from the shop now, looks nice), and advertise that way, along with sending postcards to inactive clients, carrying business cards with me to leave here and there, wearing MT shirts as a "uniform" of sorts, and of course, the yellow pages.  All of these require a one time investment, with the exception of the postcards, which will be $23 per 100 whenever I mail them, but what else do you think I can do with my remaining $125 per month budget that will yield good   results? I am not opposed to more *free* advertising ideas, either  ;  I am open to your suggestions!

 

[corinthians]

Sounds like a good plan so far.  Especially leaving the paper you had been with.  No sense in giving them any money.  As far as ideas:I work with one hair salon that lets me advertise a little with flyers.  Plus if anyone calls and inquires about massage they send them all my way.  Would it work to cross market with a tanning salon?  They can add a massage certificate to tanning packages and you could have tanning packages you could sell for them in return.  Have thought about this with florists during Valentine's and Mother's day.  With florists it might take paying them a set fee or a perceneforum.xxxe for each one sold to compensate for their efforts.  Hope this is some help to you.

 

[church]

I have a website and send a monthly e-newsletter that has yielded great results, it costs me about $35 a month to keep the website.  Also, I have started sending out b-day cards with a discount in the card, and also always sending out a thank you for referrals, and sending out a welcome to my practice letter to each person that comes through the door.  Hope that helps.

 

[Sweet n Sour]

Yes, I definitely need to get a website going soon.  I have an AOL Homepage, but that's just not enough.The e-newsletter is a great idea.  I do the referral thank-yous with a $10 reward, and it will become easier for me to do the birthday cards when I choose a software package.As for cross referrals, I have begun to talk something up with the girl across the hall from me, who does airbrush tanning.  We will see what that can yeild!

 

[kshollywood]

I don't know if you offer scrubs, but maybe you could do something along with her.  Do the scrub first and then she does the airbrush tanning, since the tan lasts longer if you exfoliate.  Also, I used massage on the web for my website, and have been very pleased.