need marketing techniques

[Pompal 09.]

Hi Ya'all, well I am almost finished with school. Seven more school days left, but who's counting, lol.
I need help with a few final projects, I will post each request seperately.
I need at least marketing techniques that works. Please help!
Thanks bunches.

 

[tarynx24]

Here are a ton of threads that you can look through.

I am sure you will find some great information there - there is so much!

http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=461

 

[talefairy]

Hi,
My list of marketing strategies to get going would be :-

1) Be clear about your charges, duration of treatment, special packages and discounts
2) Implement a 'word of mouth' referral scheme
3) Keep your current customers happy. It is more cost effective to retain a customer than to find a new one
4) Draft some leaflets (A4 sheet folded to form 3 parts is good) so you can hand these out at schools (teachers, parents etc), libaries, work places and to your friends, family and colleagues to do the same
5)Form a referral network with other therapists such as hypnotherapists, acupuncturists, counsellors, reikie etc
6) Where do people with muscle ache and strains often go? Gyms, sports center's, tennis centers etc. Offer the center's members free massage trails for a day and gain new paying clients.

I hope this gets your creative marketing ideas steaming ahead.

Warm wishes

 

[fantabulousfatima]

Congrats, bibireb! Excited yet?

Promote, promote, promote We print up our own business cards in our home office with an ancient laser printer. Works great. Some go to vistaprint, which works well; the only problem is, they have a finite number of designs, and chances are your card might get confused with someone else's. Also, if we have to change anything or we take a new class or something, we can redesign/alter the cards on a moment's notice. And, we came up with our own custom logo that we can tack on there as well.

ALWAYS have the cards on you! You NEVER know when you're going to run into someone or strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, and thank your lucky stars you have some cards with you. We try to keep a bunch in our wallets & cell phone pouches.

You might want to consider having shirts or jackets made. Often, the first article of clothing they make will be very expensive, because of the setup involved; everything after that, though, should be more reasonable. Be careful, some places will want to retain the rights to YOUR logo design to prevent you from going elsewhere after you do business with them. Some places have an ordering minimum, and it varies widely. But you do NOT have to go that route. There's a guy in a nearby city who will custom-make your shirt, with your logo if you want, for $20, and that INCLUDES the shirt. I'm not aware of any initial setup expenses, either. Check out some ppl who avidly sew for a hobby. There are some awesome sewing machines out there with built-in computers that store image files. These ladies exist everywhere; you might want to pin up a notice on the bulletin board at the grocery store or ask around at your church or whatever With shirts or jackets, you have yet another medium of advertising that simply works for you without you having to say a word. Careful, you might find complete strangers running up to you and grabbing their necks and saying "omigod, I NEED you!" lol

One thing we did was to go to an office supply store and get these clear plastic display units that hold a flyer or something in them and prop it up. They're tough to explain beyond that, but they're a simple concept. They look professional. We have one on our front table, and we change out the flyer every month or so to reflect what new technique or neat promo we're running. Sometimes it just lists our full service menu and pricing, or a new pre-paid package or whatever. Other times it just says something like "feel better? Please tell others!" If it's strategically placed in your office, they'll see it and read it. I like it on our table, ks that's where we do our pre- and post-consultations, filling out new client paperwork, and also where the payment takes place.

Decals on your vehicle are a good idea, too. There are bunches; some are removable magnetic pieces. Others are more sticker-like and go on your windows. Depends on your preferences and vehicle shape. I have a pickup and I drive with the tailgate down all the time (visibility and gas mileage), so I'm relegated to the back windows Now you get to advertise to everyone on the road, too! Careful, though: you gotta behave behind the wheel!

Personally, at least in my area, I wouldn't join the chamber of commerce. Hopefully your area is different, but ours charges a lot $250/yr for the basic membership, $350/yr if you actually want them to include your link on their website. BFD. Our advertising dollars are best used elsewhere, like on the other stuff I mentioned above. That stuff goes a lot further and T-shirts/decals/etc don't expire in a year! lol

Having said that, DO become involved in your community. You will become known and trusted. Attend block parties, civil events, etc. Make use of free bulletin boards. Everyone is your audience, when it's appropriate to work it into the conversation--your grocery store checker is a potential client!

Hope that helps; everyone else has amazing ideas as well
Good luck!
~Jyoti

 

[lizi]

All good points Jyoti, I found I got a lot of comment when I wore t-shirts with "Massage Therapy" on them. Even if they don't have your "specific" name, logo and phone #, they can still inspire someone to talk to you.
Another thing that gets comments quite often is my checks... having the words massage therapy or massage therapist on them often gets comments from the cashier at any store I frequent! I then of course make sure to hand them a business card.
Of course, getting them to actually call and make an appointment is another matter. *sigh* I think that might take some sort of $$ coupon, at least in my area. *shrug*

 

[Bailey]

thanks for all the great ideas, please keep them coming. ...

 

[sweetest]

I found I got a lot of comment when I wore t-shirts with "Massage Therapy" on them. Even if they don't have your "specific" name, logo and phone #, they can still inspire someone to talk to you.

Yes, I have found that to be true as well. My logo clothing has my business name, as well as animal massage. I also have some with licensed massage therapist, massage therapist, and massage therapy. When I wear my logo clothing someone always asks about it. ***This is great for me because I'm a little on the introverted side. I need to remember to always have a business card on me when I wear my logo clothing.

I have created mine with massageplanetepress.com, there isn't a design/logo set-up fee. And, you can buy one item at a time. Quality has been very good so far (direct printing and heat transfer choices).

One of my favorite shirts says, "mind, body, spirit" on the front, and "massage, massage, massage" on the back.

 

[Randy F]

I have created mine with massageplanetepress.com, there isn't a design/logo set-up fee. And, you can buy one item at a time. Quality has been very good so far (direct printing and heat transfer choices).

One of my favorite shirts says, "mind, body, spirit" on the front, and "massage, massage, massage" on the back.

Great resource! And I LOVE the "mind, body, spirit" shirt lol That's GREAT.

 

[Pompal 09.]

And I LOVE the "mind, body, spirit" shirt lol That's GREAT.

I purchased that tee from Stress Away Systems.

 

[Osaka_L.A._Connect]

When I wear my logo clothing someone always asks about it. ***This is great for me because I'm a little on the introverted side. I need to remember to always have a business card on me when I wear my logo clothing.

Okay, so after I've blabbed-on here about remembering to always have a business card when wearing my logo clothing...well, guess what...I was out wearing my business name/animal massage sweatshirt this weekend and a couple of very interested prospective clients approached me at a local massageplanete, and asked lots of questions...yadda-yadda-yadda...do you think I had a card on me?

Right on cue, my husband comes out with our coffee and bagels. He says, "someone talking to you about the massage?" ..."did you give them your card?" hahahahhah...I was like, "nope, don't have one on me!" ...he, of course, had one and chased the people down the sidewalk. LOL. He says I need to throw some in the pouch of my sweatshirt. I know this, really I do.

So, the moral of my ranting is this: Logo clothing is GOOD marketing stuff! I'm telling you! But bring your business cards! :

 

[VisitorD]

I know a massage therapist who deliberately does not carry cards. When he gets a prospect, he tells them he is out of cards but tells them that if they want to give him contact information he can call them from his office the next day and set up the appointment.

Amazingly, it works well for him. I've used that once or twice when I've unexpectedly run out of cards, but I don't think I'd do it all that time that way because personally, I don't like to be put on the spot like that.