Creative (low cost) marketing ideas

[petedose]

I like to use a punch card. Buy 4 massage and get 5th one free. However when I am handing out my cards to business i offer them the same. Refer 4 clients who book and receive a massage and they get the 5th one free. Helps their business with incentives also.

[kpolice85]

Dragonflies wrote:

An acupuncturist I know used the following trick... he would take one of his own business cards and write on the back "Sue, this was that acupuncturist I was telling you about" or a similar message. Then he'd "drop" the card in an ATM booth, at the post office, or other public places. Sure enough he told me that people would pick up his card and call for an appointment. They assumed that someone somewhere was pleased enough with his work to tell a friend about it, they might as well give him a try too. Might nudge that word-of-mouth process to kick in a little.

I'll try sticking them in library books, as if someone used them as a bookmark and then forgot it. : )

[JLWmassage]

I like using constant contact to send emails to my client list

www.constantcontact.com

[MaybeMobile?]

Awhile back I received a client education pack from Biofreeze that included hundreds of samples of Biofreeze, I took a bowl of these along with a framed 8X10 postersign and a stack of brochures to a fitness center and asked if I could leave them for their customers. Been there 4 days and 2 people called!

The client packet was extensive and free, they are a great company. Also, they will print your business name and phone number on the back of their brochures which the samples are stapled to. (My number came out wrong so I detached the samples and put them in a large plastic bowl. good enough. )

[cstbrian]

Been there 4 days and 2 people called!

Were the calls to book sessions or to purchase the BioFreeze?

Just curious.

[Amy]

Here's how I got started.

Out of school, I worked 2 yrs for a franchise. Over a year ago, I started to rent space in a local salon/spa (actually it was more a salon then spa, they just throw that word on their now)

The salon was a member of the Chamber of Commerce in the area, so I started going to all functions. They have 2 business events a month, one in the morning hours, where you get to talk about yourself, what you might having going on etc. The one in the evening, a bit more socialization then the morning event. These are all held at different chamber member's businesses.

I took advantage of the morning events. I speak at each and everyone of these events. I talk about what I can do, that massage is just not for relaxation alone. The many benefits from it. I have been doing this for over a year now. When I go to these events, I set a goal to introduce myself and give my business card to 5 new people.

I was then approached by the Chamber staff if I would like to become an Ambassador. This opened another door for me. Being an ambassador, we are the welcoming committee to new business members. Another networking event that I can hand my cards out at.

Now that I am completely on my own now. I became a member of the Chamber myself. I am the only Massage Therapist established on my own there. I am the one people from other businesses call to ask for a donation for an event. I donate a Gift Certificate to all of them. It gets someone new in my practice and I immediately send them a Thank You after their appointment.

People know who I am in town, I get approached alot asking if I can help with this pain or this condition. It's made a HUGE difference being in my new location too. I never advertise in the newspaper, I get the majority of my clients from word of mouth, my website and chamber events.

Amy

[wahanda]

Have you tried creating a FREE professional profile on Wahanda?

One of the biggest challenges for Massage Therapists is how do you market your services in a safe, legitimate and professional way. Which is why we created a therapist directory service on Wahanda.

You can include a picture, a description on how you work, your specialties and your qualifications and training. You can even create your own blog.

Everyday we have thousands of consumers searching for nail technicians... make sure you are there and they can find you. It only takes a minute

[JLWmassage]

One of the best promos I have done was to offer a 90 min. massage for the price of a 60 min. I ran this special for about 3 months. Now all of those clients are now pay my regular price for a 90 min.

I am also now trying new pricing in the office. These prices are based on a 60 min.

$40 if you come in once a week
$50 if you come in twice a month
$55 if you come in once a month
$60 if you come in once in a blue moon

These prices are new as of May 1 so I will let you know how well this is working

[mkat321]

bumping to see if there are any new ideas and what the results were from the ideas that were being 'test marketed' when this thread dried up.

[GreenDragonfly]

One of the best promos I have done was to offer a 90 min. massage for the price of a 60 min. I ran this special for about 3 months. Now all of those clients are now pay my regular price for a 90 min.

I am also now trying new pricing in the office. These prices are based on a 60 min.

$40 if you come in once a week
$50 if you come in twice a month
$55 if you come in once a month
$60 if you come in once in a blue moon

These prices are new as of May 1 so I will let you know how well this is working

This is an interesting pricing technique that I have not seen before. So how is it working so far?

[JLWmassage]

It is working out really well. I have been getting a lot of clients to come in once and some 2x's a week for that price. The sliding scale has been giving people a big reason to get massaged on a regular basis

[JLWmassage]

Another new idea I am trying. I love to get a deal and save some money and I also love to give a deal, so here is my new idea.I am really working on beefing up my equine massage part of my practice, so I have been offering free equine massge to the barn managers horse if he or she gets me 4 horse in the barn to work on. I am working on working smarter not harder

[kneadedLMT]

I just started renting a room at a Chiropractors office. Fairly new to the industry so I'm offering half price massages on first visits. And I've also got a punch card, buy 4 massages, get the 5 one half off. I know that the half off discount is bringing in new clients and the interested ones, rebook. The other ones probably just stopped by for a discount. We help refer clients to each other. I will let you know how it goes in the next few months.

[JLWmassage]

Just read an email from Todd Brown about using You Tub as a way to promo yourself. He claims potential clients are always looking for infomation about massage there now

[peacenut]

I have had good results sending special offers for new clients to businesses.

[JLWmassage]

I went and did chair massages at a trade show. And as a gift the booth owner bought all us MT a tote bag with her business info and it. The size bag is perfect to use as my pocket book

[JLWmassage]

I was just at a convention doing chair massage. And the booth owner gave all us MT's a tote bag with her business info printed on it as a gift for working at the booth. And the tote is the perfect size to be used as my everyday pocket book

[JLWmassage]

I just ran a special... Unlimited massages for $200 a month. Seemed to work out ok. I had 4 people sign up for it

[Rose of Sharon]

I just ran a special... Unlimited massages for $200 a month. Seemed to work out ok. I had 4 people sign up for it

How often did they get a massage, and how long was each massage? Do you feel it was worth it to you?

[JLWmassage]

I just ran a special... Unlimited massages for $200 a month. Seemed to work out ok. I had 4 people sign up for it

How often did they get a massage, and how long was each massage? Do you feel it was worth it to you?

All of them book 90 min. once a week. Clients could pick how long the session they want. I think it was worth it.

[palpable]

I just ran a special... Unlimited massages for $200 a month. Seemed to work out ok. I had 4 people sign up for it

Hmmm....how far away is your practice from me?

[JLWmassage]

I just ran a special... Unlimited massages for $200 a month. Seemed to work out ok. I had 4 people sign up for it

Hmmm....how far away is your practice from me?

LOL. I am in West Boylston, MA.

[Ding]

Wow, JLW! Surely you realize that means you're doing **90-min** massages for **$50**??? I guess if biz is really slow, massaging for $33/hr is better than not bringing in anything ......?

[JLWmassage]

Wow, JLW! Surely you realize that means you're doing **90-min** massages for **$50**??? I guess if biz is really slow, massaging for $33/hr is better than not bringing in anything ......?

The way I looked at is this. The last place I worked, I got $30 for a 90 min. and all my clients gave me a tip so I was really making $75 for the 90 min. and I only did this for the month of September. One of these packages paid my rent for the month of October. And I had other people that come in and pay the regular rate

[Ding]

Ok, it was for one month -- I thought it was an ongoing thing. I understand now :~)