What has been your best marketing tool so far?

[bkylyt990]

 I have so many ideas and areas to expand but so far I have found flyers have worked really well.  I go to my local post office and have them delivered to a targeted area.  I always include a $10 off massage coupon, people like a deal  

 

[Gregg]

By far my best form of advertising has been my clients, but second has been my magnetic cards.  I have a magnet the same size and general look of my business cards, Only they don't have anyones names on it (I have a clinic with 4 full time therapist) so we all use the same magnetic.  We put them in grab bags at different events.  Look at your fridge--how many do you have.  I get calls from people I havent seen 6 years.  Or people that have never been in, but got a magnet years ago and its been holding up the kids artwork since then.

 

[ladypam60]

I think magnets are great although haven't used them enough.  I have given out a few here and there in the past but wish to start using them more for sure.  I actually stuck a few up on a cooler at a local store here, glad I had them on hand.  They used the side for posting brochures I didn't just pick a random cooler.. ;D

 

[melissa r]

I rent from a chiropractor and we refer each other (I am "his" massage therapist, the one he suggests) so even though I have my own hours by appt, I sometimes spend time in his waiting area talking to his patients.  

 

[Jedi Sapiens]

What has been your best marketing tool so far?

Jill, How do you get your mailing list to have post office mail your flyer? Or do you just pay to have a service take flyers around? I'm stumped! ???

 

[cocoa butter]

lovely-day,  There are lots of ways to get mailing list.  But if you have a target area you can have the post office mail to just a certain zipcode or numerous zipcodes.There are lots of organizations out there that sell their members contact info, chamber of commerces for example will sell the list of members or contact the members for you.  My chamber will do mailings, faxes, etc for a fee.  Other local groups will do it also.

 

[Ante]

Hey lovely,I just go to the post office and I آ tell them what areas I want targeted and they get out their little map and find out what "zone" it is. آ I can't just pick a street here and there, I have to stick to an area. آ I am in Canada so your postoffice may have a different set up. آ I am thinking about changing my focus on hand delivering to businesses and outreaches. آ I am going to be brave! آ I agree on what آ a lot of you are saying on here about ppl responding more when they actually see you. آ I know once i get my massage chair and start getting out there to do presentations...that will be my best marketing tool I realised I wasn't very thorough on my mail delivered flyers.  Once we have the targeted area figured out, they tell me how many residents, I go out and have that many photocopied and folded and return to the postoffice to have them deliverd by their carriers.  The cost was under $200 in the end for over 700 residents.To be honest it's been quite awhile since I used the postoffice and i only used it twice.  I had started a business right out of school (this is the business I had great luck with the flyers) and then we moved(husbands job) and now we are back and I am starting over.  Word of mouth has been my biggest builder so far...but I have to get my butt in gear and build up my clientel, I am so glad I found this site.  It can be lonesome working on your own and here I feel like I get support and great ideas from all you great ppl.

 

[rrrrrrrrr]

What has been your best marketing tool so far?

Thank you to all.......That explains everything to me now! ;D

 

[momokins]

I'm having pretty good results with my website too.  I put it up in October and linked it to the local Convention and Visitors Bureau site as well as the Chamber of Commerce site and another area site.  I get on Average 2 hits per day, usually through the convention and visitors bureau site and have had quite a few calls as a result.  This weekend we are seeing 3 couples as a result of them finding my site...that's $390.  I think in another year I'll be able to say that the internet has been my best marketing tool.  It's cheap and allows me to build a prescence for my business without having to be present...my $.02Cassandra

 

[Lucas (2nd account)]

What has been your best marketing tool so far?

While I too am trying to start a website, (there's just so many choices!!!) and I would like to do the magnet idea as well, I found this website for everyone who would like to save a few $$$.  I've found that it can cost anywhere from $100 and up to have a company print your business cards on magnets, but why not just affix your own cards onto magnets?  I'm going to try it just because I don't have a lot of disposable income to spend on marketing supplies right now...but here's the website and the page for business card magnets that they have.  It's the only website I found so far, but maybe Office Depot or Staples would have something similar?

http://www.themagnetmall.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=34

 

[mudpuppie_80]

are you trying to get new clients with magnets or get existing clients to return?  I think the refrigerator magnet idea works best for the existing client...a little perk...IMHOOne of my clients just opened up a sign printing business and gave me a great deal on a car magnet which fits across the length of my husband's tailgate on his Dodge Ram Truck.  It has our business name on the left in relatively small letters ,Massage therapy in the middle in larger letters, and our phone number on the right in really large print.  My husband says that he sees people jotting down the phone number at stop lights all the time.  No calls yet, but it has only been a week.  The door magnets are nice, but if you have a large tailgate, advertising on the back is like having a roving billboard.  Another magnet idea which was given to me by a client is to have the magnetic bumper stickers printed up to give to satisfied clients.  That way they can do some advertising for you...or when they don't want to they can remove it easily from their car.Has anyone ever contracted with someone to put your advertising on their vehicle?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well, I just picked up 100 business card size magnets on ebay for 7.99!  I plan on giving them to existing clients and new ones, but people I meet on the street, etc., will just be getting the regular cards.  I do like the idea of magnetic car signs, but because I do in-home visits, I don't want a bunch of strange folks calling looking for something else, you know?  I think for now I'm just going to stick with my clients for marketing, let them earn free massages, etc., for referrals.

 

[josh k]

One thing I think needs to be mentioned.  If you want more clients, ask your existing clients.  When I first started I told clients "I really want to make this business a success.  You can help me out alot. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please give them my card and ask them to call.  For every five referrals I get scheduled you will get a free massage."  In about 3 months I was busier then I ever thought I could be.  People feel good when they help out someone.  All we need to do is to remember to ask.  Good Luck.

 

[:: G e r r y ::]

I really thought this would bomb , but it turned out to be a decent eye catcher--t-shirts. At first it was basic with name , MA#, massage,  phone # , etc. then I added the kill--TIE-DYE.....I know it sounds crazy but the bright colors attracted people and it shows that people pay attention to other's appearance. So far the most inquiries have come when going to the gym......don't really know what that means but just thought I'd throw in my .02----p.s my best publicist(my wife) wears them out and about too with good response.....

 

[~ Jenni ~]

So far, it is advertising a small ad in the local weekly free paper.  My ad runs with about 8-14 other therapists at any given time, and I still get a good response... around 4-6 or so new callers every week, but I find my established clients still refer to that publication for my number.

 

[Dick Buttkiss]

Has anyone tried making a media or promo kit to sell thier business to potential customers, newspapers, etc?I'm moving to a new area, and I would like to hit the ground running when I get there.Thanks!   ;D

 

[BigAl]

I have not personally tried this, but I am going to.  To eforum.xxx on to the magnet idea, I recieved a magnet with a calendar on it.  The magnet part was like a business card and the calendar was mini calendar sheets for each month.  It was a politicians magnet, but I thought it was a great idea and I keep mine in my car dashboard.  It is only ablout 4 in by 4-5 in and very handy.  I have also placed a little calendar on the back of my business card.  

 

[CindyComesBack]

mine would have to be my website - as critiqued before, i have a LOT of information on our website, from service info, to g/cs, to class schedule, to online scheduling, to nutritional info, etc. the website is the best.

coming in at a close second, though, is the enewsletter. it's so cool to be able to track who opens it, what links they click on, forward to and how many times they open it. let's me know what the favorite topics are.

i've bought the magnets but that hasn't worked for me. what's the best tool for you?

 

[Mother Amethyst]

website, it's the only non-word of mouth advertising I do, and it is worth it. (oh, I do have links from online directories, but it's still web based)

 

[roger_in_oly]

Websites

A website is by far the easiest way to get clients and get clients continually.
You need to have a website so you can put the address on any other marketing pieces you do or else it is a waste of time in my opinion.

I have become somewhat of a massage website specialist.

A website is the best way to reach people as they basically are finding you when they search for massage, your city. They are already looking for massage so you have a better chance of getting a client rather than blindly sending postcards or brochures or advertising in newspapers.

They are also a great way to make additional income for your business or even create a second income stream.

It is important to have multiple streams of income so that when you want to take a vacation, you are still making money.

I actually am making so much from my websites I am now only doing massage 2 days a week and have most of the month of Sept off (it's my favorite time of year.)

Julie
http://www.massagepracticebuilder.com
http://www.thebodyworker.com