getting more clients

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone

 

I could really use some advice on how to get more clients other than

the usual yellow pages advertising. Any tips would be welcome

 

Thanks

 

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Dear Shirley,

 

This is a reprint of an article from our community archives I wrote

several months ago. I hope this helps:

 

 

 

The Business of Healing

 

I often get questions every week about how to run your business as a

healer.

 

As I was a professional dancer for 15 years, I would constantly see

and work with some of the most brilliant artist in the business!

They were great at their art but when it came to balancing a check

book, most of my friends could not even do that! Let alone negotiate

a contract or work with any type of financial undertakings.

 

As a healer, I see the same pattern. Many healers are amazing at

the " art of healing " but have trouble when it comes to the business

aspect of our art.

 

As healers, we all tend to be empathic and many times feel what the

client is experiencing.

We are often swayed by this empathy and feel guilty for asking for

money when healing others.

 

You are a professional and this should justify any doubts in your

mind. You have spent probably a small fortune for schooling. Not to

mention a great amount of time in learning your craft. Learning how

to heal is a life time of experiences. Clients come to you BECAUSE

you are professional and this brings up other issues as well.

 

Professional mannerism. Professional presentation. Professional

space. Professional demeanor. Do you have this in order?

 

Your ideas about what you are doing are very important as to what you

portray to your client. The " Alternative Medicine " practice has many

stigmatism's attached to it....good and bad. If you don't believe in

what your doing, why should your client.

 

Getting clients

 

This is an age old question for a massage therapist, naturopath,

chiropractor any therapist for that matter. Once you get your

degree or certification how does one get clients.

 

Well, the adage " It pays to advertise, " really is the best way to get

clients. Advertising and the way you word your ad, how it gets

attention, and the competitive price can give a therapist their

advantage. This leads to referrals.

 

Many therapist choose to work part time in a spa or gym, others will

leave flyers, business card or invitation in stores, gyms and health

facilities. There is no right or wrong way to do this....the fact is:

 

You must let people know you are out there!

 

Offering barters to fellow friends or practitioners may be another

way to get them to

talk about you and your service. Talking to hotel conceierges,

office mamagers or going

to websites and filling out their " Practitioner Listings " is another

way. Depending on

your particular expertise, will depend on the different ways you can

market yourself.

 

 

The subject of what someone should charge for a healing session comes

up often in my seminars. This always comes down to two concepts:

 

Self worth and Competitive price.

 

Competitive pricing is, of course a very logical concern. Pricing is

confined to individual regions. It is always considered a good idea

to find the price range for which your service is being provided. If

the highest rate is $120.00 per session and the lowest rate is

$80.00, it is always good to fall at either end or somewhere between

these guidelines when coming up with a price for YOUR service.

 

Which leads me to Self Worth. Your self worth. I often find that

healers will charge BELOW what they feel they are worth. Simply for

their reason of " lack of self worth. "

 

I always hear comments like,

 

" No one will pay for something as ethereal as that... "

 

" I don't want to out price myself... "

 

" I don't think people will pay me for that... "

 

" I'm not good enough to charge those prices... "

 

If you do not charge for what you love doing and feel will make you

happy, then eventually this regret will effect your drive and love

for healing. Effect how you treat your clients and effect your

overall performance as a professional. If you are not happy, no one

else around you will be either.

 

Often time, you have two extremes. You will find clients who will

pay a high price for your service because they feel a high rate

equals the best quality. The other end of the spectrum is always the

bargain hunter who will always go with the practitioner with the

lowest price.

 

Where are you in this scale? That depends totally on you and where

you see yourself in the scheme of things. It is a reflection of who

YOU want to be.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk LMT, MT-BC, CA

Peacefulmind.com

Alternative medicine and therapies

for healing mind, body & spirit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, " s_lancet " <shirley_lancet@h...>

wrote:

> Hi Everyone

>

> I could really use some advice on how to get more clients other

than

> the usual yellow pages advertising. Any tips would be welcome

>

> Thanks

>

> Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Andrew,

 

Many thanks for your tips. I have just heard about a publication as

well that is (I am told) aimed therapists who want more clients.

Haven't found out the name of it yet or the author but will keep

trying.

 

Thanks again

 

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

 

Just to let anyone know if they are in the same position as me that

the publication I had heard about but didn't have any details of is

a book called 'Marketing for Complementary therapists - 101 to

attract clients' it is published by 'How to Books' and costs £10. I

think it is fairly new. I have just received my copy and it seems to

packed with great ideas. Will let you know how it works out !

 

Best wishes

 

Shirley

 

 

> Hi Andrew,

>

> Many thanks for your tips. I have just heard about a publication

as

> well that is (I am told) aimed therapists who want more clients.

> Haven't found out the name of it yet or the author but will keep

> trying.

>

> Thanks again

>

> Shirley