Way To Reward Regular Clients!

[SweetasanAngel]

does anyone have any ideas? The ones that are faithful , still coming in despite the economy etc??

 

[Doorstop]

I love the perspective I saw elsewhere around here that our regulars aren't being loyal to us as much as loyal to themselves and their self-care!

Do you keep track of dates of sessions, how many times you've seen a client, etc? Could be a fun way to approach them... "Congrats on your 50th session, you get some extra time"

If nothing else, I did like your idea to send out cards. Maybe something acknowledging their commitment to themselves, and your commitment to be there through these times. Gah, somebody please word that better.

I'm interested to hear what others think!

 

[sambaxter2007]

Way To Reward Regular Clients!

does anyone have any ideas? The ones that are faithful , still coming in despite the economy etc??

go back to the other thread and stop with the "despite the economy" doom and gloom.

I am sorry to hear your husband was laid off. That is hard.

But remember, 93%+ of the population are still employed, and unless your customers got laid off keep to the positive thoughts.

Give them a reason to keep coming back. After 3 appts, get an upgrade to aromatherapy on all appts through the rest of the year. After 5 appts get a 30 minute add on. After 10, etc...you get the idea. Cumulative rewards. Costs you very little -- when you are slow your is free.

 

[Trini-HaitianGrl81]

Relax,
My post have stated that my clients ARE INDEED getting laid off..I have had several that are trying to find jobs as they have been let go. So I assure you I am NOT trying to be gloom and doom I am just facing a temporary reality...and wondering what would be a good way to handle this at "this time" till we get over the hump..

This new thread is nothing about gloom and doom. we just started this thread as a POSITIVE thing to reward our regulars who have come in for so long..

go back to the other thread? what? this is a totally different topic..

I am glad your business it thriving and you are not dealing with this..

and..I like the ideas you have posted to reward them..thank you

and Joshua..I really love the idea to make mention of how long they have been coming in..etc..thats great, I bet they would appreciate that.. :

 

[The Dude]

Hehehe... try not to trip over R&R's post... I think they are saying much the same things that have already been said.

In fact, I think we should edit my suggestion to leave out anything about "these times". IGNORE the supposed bad economy. Do NOT mention it. ACT like it's not there. Focus on the people who are employed and are still coming to you.

I don't mean don't care about others who are in bad situations right now. Simply that unless our services can help the unemployed find a job, then our businesses are not the places to be focused on the unemployed.

So, let's keep this thread on track: how are you all focusing on and putting energy toward your regular and new paying clients these days?

 

[GopBLissIgnorance]

:iagree:

 

[Pompal 09.]

I think I've seen this discussed in other places around the forums, but I have a "rebooking discount." Here's how I word it in my "new client" letter that I send about a week after each new client's first visit (where I also tell them about my referral rewards program):

Schedule your next massage appointment while you’re here, and take $5 off the regular rate when you keep the appointment.

Then below that I list my rates w/rebooking discount. It's a great incentive to encourage return clients!

It also makes it easier to encourage NEW clients to rebook at the end of their first session. It comes out sounding like you're just trying to be helpful! As I'm taking care of payment after the session with them, I say something along the lines of, "I also want to let you know that I have a rebooking discount, if you'd like to book your next session now", then leave slight pause to gauge reaction -- sometimes I'll get an immediate YES, without even telling them what the discount IS! LOL Or they'll look at me with interest to know what the discount is, in which case I'll proceed. Or they'll immediately say, "I want to wait and see how I feel in the next few days blah blah blah" in which case I say something like "I wasn't trying to pressure you, I just wanted you to know the discount is available."

Nobody ends up feeling uncomfortable, and it often ends up leading to a rebooking!

 

[jimbot]

Schedule your next massage appointment while you’re here, and take $5 off the regular rate when you keep the appointment.

Then below that I list my rates w/rebooking discount. It's a great incentive to encourage return clients!

Nobody ends up feeling uncomfortable, and it often ends up leading to a rebooking!

Do you usually have to have the booking within a certain time limit - like a month or so and what if the person calls in a week to reschedule? Do they still get the discount?

 

[Julianna]

Except if there's a scheduling issue (I'm really booked, and/or they have schedule stuff [I trust they're being honest]), most have a regular schedule, be it weekly, biweekly, or monthly. I haven't really had anybody 'push the limit' and try to schedule 3 months out and still get the rebooking discount. I think if it were a long-time client, maybe having surgery or taking a really long trip, I'd still honor it. If it were a new client, I'd simply say "you need to book at least monthly to get the rebooking discount."

I've also been fairly lenient if someone has something come up and has to RESCHEDULE that appointment -- my whole point in doing the rebooking is to encourage them to come back, not lock them into a rigid schedule, so as long as they're rescheduling, I'm okay with it. Sometimes they'll even say, as they're scheduling, "I have to go home and check my calendar [if they forgot to bring it or whatever], and I may call you back to reschedule." I'm okay with that too [and they've rarely had to call back to reschedule in those situations]. In my experience, a client is more likely to call to RESCHEDULE, than to call and set up an appointment just on their own -- heck I've been guilty of that with my OWN massage appointments!! A couple times I've had to cancel and couldn't reschedule at that point, and I ended up going way too long until my next massage, just because I didn't pick up the phone to reschedule. :irked:

But back to the issue .... Now if they cancel, and call back a few weeks later, I've let them know they won't be eligible for the rebooking discount on this next appointment. So far nobody has complained.

 

[P4wn4g3]

What about an "anniversary bonus" or something - give them a complimentary upgrade around the date of their first session with you. Or after they have been with you for a certain amount of time or so many sessions.

We also have World Kindness Week coming up after elections, might be a great time to brainstorm something for clients!

 

[Red Devils Lad]

What about getting your clients to donate to a favorite "charity" ...
bring in non-perishable groceries for a local food pantry and get a free upgrade or some additional time?

This to me acknowledges that times are tough for some and by working together you all benefit. "It's better to give than to receive..."

You could choose to do it again with a different charity, such as making the local humane society your cause... asking clients to bring in dog or cat food, treats, toys, etc.

Any homeless shelters or safe homes for abused women? What about donating personal care items to them? Soap, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

It may be a little more work for you in that you'll have to accumulate the stuff they bring in in a box or bag and then deliver it to the proper recipients (charity) ... but it might be really inspiring to see just how much a few people (you and your clients) can do when they set their mind to something!

And wouldn't all the donating make a great article in your newsletter if you have one?

 

[LQ_MASSAGE]

What about getting your clients to donate to a favorite "charity" ...
bring in non-perishable groceries for a local food pantry and get a free upgrade or some additional time?

This to me acknowledges that times are tough for some and by working together you all benefit. "It's better to give than to receive..."

You could choose to do it again with a different charity, such as making the local humane society your cause... asking clients to bring in dog or cat food, treats, toys, etc.

Any homeless shelters or safe homes for abused women? What about donating personal care items to them? Soap, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

It may be a little more work for you in that you'll have to accumulate the stuff they bring in in a box or bag and then deliver it to the proper recipients (charity) ... but it might be really inspiring to see just how much a few people (you and your clients) can do when they set their mind to something!

And wouldn't all the donating make a great article in your newsletter if you have one?

I really like this idea. I already give half my tips to local charities of my clients choosing and this would fall right in with that. Thanks!

 

[strawberristarz16]

"It's better to give and receive" -- that could be the 'motto' of the promotion!! I'm liking this alot. If I hadn't already set in motion my fall/holiday mailing, I might have gone with that, but I'm going to keep this in mind for a promotion in early 2009. Great idea!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

"It's better to give and receive" -- that could be the 'motto' of the promotion!!

How cool! I'm totally borrowing some of these ideas for myself.

And the inner marketer in me says this would make a fabulous press release for the local papers!

 

[Seema]

So, I know this may sound cheesy, and I may have even posted it on another thread recently, but sometimes it can be simple things that make a big difference in a clients life.

A few weeks ago we saw a client really late at night and she had not been able to eat all day... so, the other half of our office (my husband) went down the street and bought her a few breakfast tacos which were warm for her to eat on the way home (around 11:00pm) when I finished her massage.

Possibly you can just see what would help a special client that day when they come in, or find out what's going on in their life right now. Maybe something like a gift card for a coffee would even be nice. It doesn't even have to be an expensive gift card.

Just a few thoughts for what they are worth.