Need Marketing ideas for first time chair massage gig

[proudmommy]

I am a recent grad from a shiatsu program and will be doing my first solo chair massage gig at an art fair this December. In addition to having business cards out for the fairgoers to take, I was wondering if anyone here has had success with more creative marketing tools to bring in more business after the event. What works and what doesn't? Thanks!

 

[Mad Tinkerer]

Chair Marketing Ideas at Art Fair

Jessika,

Your most wanted response is for people to schedule. So have your scheduler there and ask them to book after you work on them. You could offer some form of discount, or better yet, an added value like a free 15 minutes if they schedule today.

But your next most wanted response is to be able to keep talking to these people that you have had your hands on. So develop some enticing method of getting their contact information so you can send them your newsletter or other offers later. Maybe have a drawing, with a nice prize, and everyone who enters gives you their email address or mailing address. Then you could let everyone who entered the drawing win. That would get the most amount of them in your office!

And if after you have asked them to schedule, and got them to signup for your newsletter, then also hand them a coupon or other piece of literature that may entice them to learn more, or schedule later.

Finally, make sure you have gift certificates available for sale. After you work on someone, they will always think of someone who would like to receive this work. Sell them a gift certificate.

And to make all of this work well, you need to draw some attention. Do what ever it takes to grab attention to your booth. Have someone walk around the festival for you handing out a free shiatsu treatment coupon, or some other promotion to get them to visit your booth. Get colored balloons, etc.

And finally, make sure you follow up with those folks you have touched. People often need to hear from you a couple more times before they will schedule.

Have lots of fun!

 

[Thong Man]

I would also add a display of some sort, with general information about you and what you are about.

It has been suggested before to have a friend go with you and when you get into a lull, work on them so that you continue to bring attention to yourself. They can also act as your scheduler - as Galen suggested.

So develop some enticing method of getting their contact information so you can send them your newsletter or other offers later. Maybe have a drawing, with a nice prize, and everyone who enters gives you their email address or mailing address. Then you could let everyone who entered the drawing win. That would get the most amount of them in your office!

I make sure that on the form they fill out it reads that I will not distribute their personal information - that way they are more likely to fill it out without feeling like they will get a bunch of junk mail for doing so.

Good luck!

 

[BPDguy]

Welcome nearly neighbor...

Galen has a lot of good information which I will not contradict. I'll say that I've had some success in having a drawing for a free massage, which gives you address, phone number and sometimes email address. I then call everyone that registered to tell them that they won. When/if they call back to schedule, I let them know that I'm more than willing to upgrade the free half hour to an hour for $20.

What you take will be determined byhow much help you have how much space you have, and how far you have to carry it all. I can do it with either my pickup, or with a duffle bag. (good thing my chair case has wheels!)

PM me if you want to meet for coffee someday...mick