Hello everyone,
My name is Valezina Summerfield. I have recently set up a new Holistic Massage clinic in Petersfield, Hampshire. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for the best way to market my clinic? I've been handing out flyers and that has had a bit of response but not as much as I was hoping for.
Any ideas would be very much appreciated,
Thanks!
Val
Hi, you might see from some of the other threads, some marketing advice but isn't it interesting how no-one's yet replied to you?! I think a lot of people who are in the complementary therapy area, work on their own from their own homes and I'm assuming you are opening an 'official' clinic in independent premises- maybe everyone's just taken aback by your courage, in these economic challenging times!
The area that you're in does have a lot of therapists in it and so you might ask whether you need to offer something unique to your own business, you might want to make contact with othersimilar businesses in Petersfield so you have a few connections, and maybe see if you can get some coverage in local papers etc. Also, some 'wholefood' shops or similar do take cards or advertsing materials from therapists-which are then picked up by customers....and don't forget that people will travel to you, so consider other adjoining areas to you.
The south coast is an 'enlightened' area (see the other recent thread re South Wales!) but the challenge might be to get people to part with their money!!
Good luck! HTH Hom
Hi Val.
I started my business in a unit in a Business Centre in the town where I live and have to say it was very slow going to start with!
I did hours of door-to-door leafleting and, though it is time consuming and exhausting, it did return about one client for every 100 leaflets.
I also put up posters in local shops at a small price and got a few clients from them.
Probably my best, or most effective client-producing marketing was giving gift vouchers for prizes to charities for raffles and auctions, etc. Some of the clients I got this way have turned in to regulars and, interestingly, these are the people that are best at referring their colleagues, family and friends.
And that is the crunch - word of mouth referrals seem to be best for building a business, but of course you need clients in the first place who will refer to you! That's why it can take so long.
Something else I did, was to stand in the local health shop (I already knew the owner) all day for several Saturdays handing out leaflets.. This was good as it gave me the opportunity to actually speak to my prospective clients.
And a friend and I went to see the owner of a local juice bar. I spent hours in there doing chair massage in the window (it was a very busy street!) and got a few clients that way.
What has NOT worked for me is:
Yellow pages - not a single call in two years
Local magazine/newspaper advertising - again, no calls
I hope this helps you some - get creative and adventurous!
Oooo I like the idea of giving treatments in local health shops, thanks Derek.
Thanks Derek, it's great to hear what has worked for you, as well as what hasn't.