FEATURED THREAD: How do YOU market for new clients???

[Little Miss Missy]

Well, now that I'm in my new digs, I can finally start some more marketing/advertising techniques, but being on virtually NO budget I'm stumped for ideas...one thing that has me kind of sad is that the few clients I did have as house clients have not called, for a home or office massage, but I have learned not to take that so personally and they'll come back when they're ready too, besides, I'm going to do a holiday mailing soon with my specials (buy 3 gift certificates, get one free!). I did a grand opening special ($40 for a one hour massage) which expires on 11/15/04, price then goes up to the regular $55/hour...I am a member of BNI, been a member since august and that seems to be going well, just about everyone I've seen in my office (6 total this month) have been as a result of that, but does anyone have other ideas as to what I can do to try to increase business? The bodywork biz course really hasn't helped me too much, which I am a bit disappointed about since everyone else seems to have such great success, although I am going to go through and try some of the tips again, but now that I am primarily doing this on my own (only working 2 weekends a month at the spa) I'm becoming nervous that things aren't going to go well...I'm trying to keep a positive attitude though!!!

 

[Veritas]

How do YOU market for new clients???

Remember...patience.  If it were so easy to build a clientelle instantly, we wouldn't need this board!Keep working on the bodyworkbiz course.  Are you using "fill your Practice 101" or the other one "260 ways to increase your business"?  Personally I think the first one is more important for you right now.Remember how important it is to:Encourage referrals with discountsFollow up with new clientsReminder mailings to those you haven't seen in a while.ASK FOR HELP!  There are many clients who would love to take you on as a project to help bring you as many clients as they can.  Find them, and treat them like GOLD!Advertise "EMERGENCY appointments available" to help snag last minute appointments.Be available AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE... this includes evenings and weekends, and sometimes Holidays.  When you get enough business, you can create your ideal schedule.Get in touch with local schools...my daughter is in Kindergarten, and every couple of weeks there is a flyer of some sort of business sent home with her school work.  That's 500 sets of parents potentially looking at my flyer, with low or no investment.  I offer a discount for services with an expiration date, and the calls come in.It will happen, don't give up.

 

[Nikolai]

How do YOU market for new clients???

Kneadful, I'm doing the 101 ways...I really like the idea of the flyers going to parents, may I ask how you did that?  Did you just call the school to see if you could post some flyers or what?  I know that it takes patience and persistance, I'm just stuck in a rut right now, but the funniest thing happened yesterday after I posted this...I got a call from a client I saw once and he booked an appointment for friday!  Also, when I wigged out before about it, I finally told myself to shut up and calm down and that same day, I booked 3 appointments

 

[[//anti * twilight//]]

How do YOU market for new clients???

For the flyers, I called the school and spoke with the administrative assistant and told her what I wanted to do, and it just went from there.  Sometimes it goes home with the students, sometimes it goes in the teacher's mailboxes, it all depends.  Defenitly worth the phone call.  The worst they can tell you is "no".Remember...you are what you think you are.  Tell yourself everyday you are successful.  Another thing to keep in mind when people/clients ask you how your business is doing...ALWAYS respond you are doing great, and you are excited by how quickly your business is growing.  Always.  It doesn't matter if you are having the worst week...it only matters how you present it to others.  It leaves a positive impression on them, and they leave your conversation thinking you have a thriving business.  That then becomes one more person putting positive thoughts out there that will help you create a thriving business.Same goes for when someone calls for an appointment.  If you do not have a single appointment on the book, and they say to you..."what do you have available for appointments today/tomorrow/next week, etc"  NEVER say "well, I'm wide open, you can have your choice."  Two things happen.  1) They wonder why you aren't busy and subconscioulsy question your ability   and 2) they may get very accustomed to your always available schedule and start to resent when you fill up and are not at their disposal (this has happend in my practice many times).    SO... how you answer is simple.  If they want an appointment today, tell them you have a couple of available appointments, and ask them what time did they have in mind?  Try not to give them the exact time they ask for...if they want 1:00, offer 12:45 or 1:15.  If they balk, then say you think you could shuffle some things around to make that time work.  If they ask you the times you have available first, say, "were you looking for morning or afternoon?"  when they respond , you say "I have a 10 open, will that work?" and go from there.Use the same thing for someone calling for an appointment sometime that week, just substitute days for times and then narrow it down from there. Get them to give you an idea of a time frame, but do not give them freedom to pick and choose when they want to come in.  You may come across as being desperate and too accomodating.For example, I wanted to switch the hair salon I had been going to for a while.  Some of my clients were coming in with fabulous hair cuts, and I found out they  went to this new salon up the street from me.  When I called to get an appointment, she was booked out 6 weeks!  That sold me instantly, and I booked that appointment.  Any hair stylist that is 6 weeks booked out in the summer must be awesome, and therefor worth the wait.  She is awesome, but I also found out that part of the reason she was booked out so far in advance was because she went on vacation!  See, it is all in the presentation and interpretation!In case you haven't notice from my previous posts...I love to talk shop.  I am passionate about my business and somewhat obsessed!  Sorry for the long posts (and typos!), but I love to share what I have learned!

 

[FL410]

How do YOU market for new clients???

in my area there are several independent HR bus.so just a thoughtcheck your phone book then you can call and offer them a limeted time special for their employes and famly members.only work with one company at a time cause you want to be the one benifit the others don't haveoh yea make a note if you want this to be a cash only offer or if you will take ins. as well

 

[jessnluna]

How do YOU market for new clients???

Be available AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

i have to second this, although for me the meaning is a little different.

i've just hired a woman to fwd the calls to her house for a few hours each day when i'm not available to answer the phones (we don't have a receptionist).

just being available by phone has brought us in about 4 new clients this week, when we usually have 1 or 2. so many people just go on to the next therapist if no one answers, so this has helped us out tremendously.

 

[Brainiest]

How do YOU market for new clients???

i have to second this, although for me the meaning is a little different.

i've just hired a woman to fwd the calls to her house for a few hours each day when i'm not available to answer the phones (we don't have a receptionist).

just being available by phone has brought us in about 4 new clients this week, when we usually have 1 or 2. so many people just go on to the next therapist if no one answers, so this has helped us out tremendously.

Here Here!! I totally agree with livingwell. Last night my mom took a call for me at 6pm for today. Then around 830am this morning a woman called and we were able to get her in for 1230pm today. The guy had a gift certificate and the woman paid with a check. The guy was very happy to be able to get in on short notice as was the woman. The guy had been here before, he probably would have left a message. But the woman client, iffy. Maybe maybe not.

One of the best things I did was forward calls to my mom. She is a peach.

 

[GabeMan]

How do YOU market for new clients???

i have to second this, although for me the meaning is a little different.

i've just hired a woman to fwd the calls to her house for a few hours each day when i'm not available to answer the phones (we don't have a receptionist).

just being available by phone has brought us in about 4 new clients this week, when we usually have 1 or 2. so many people just go on to the next therapist if no one answers, so this has helped us out tremendously.

Here Here!! I totally agree with livingwell. Last night my mom took a call for me at 6pm for today. Then around 830am this morning a woman called and we were able to get her in for 1230pm today. The guy had a gift certificate and the woman paid with a check. The guy was very happy to be able to get in on short notice as was the woman. The guy had been here before, he probably would have left a message. But the woman client, iffy. Maybe maybe not.

One of the best things I did was forward calls to my mom. She is a peach.

Okay, I know I'm resurrecting this post from way back when, but I've got a question: How do you coordinate your bookings with the person who takes your calls? Say you've hired a subcontractor to take forwarded calls, does he/she have a copy of your books, or access to your database?

Just wondering how that would work out, because it sounds like a marvelous idea!

Namaste,
Carole

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Some other marketing ideas that have worked for me:

~ Back-to-School teacher specials
~ Spa Parties for women's retreats at a couple church functions (Once they meet me they are more able/willing to come in for a massage).
~ Yellow page ad - I get more phone calls off this....*shrug*

What about you guys?

Angela