How can my girlfriend build a massage clientele on the cheap?

[Danielle]

She just left an established salon at a major hotel to join a new free standing start up. She has only one regular client and very limited funds. This is her dream and I want to help her.

 

[Zork]

Well, if she did it topless, word would spread very fast and there would be line ups at her door.

 

[Adam D]

Her dream is to rub down dirty hairy men, and fat old ladies?

You can do what my friend did. She's not a masseuse, but she works at a high-end salon as a colorist. She would simply go to the mall, or to bars, or anywhere that is going to have a lot of foot traffic, and hand out little hand made fliers that she did on the computer, or business cards that she had made up pretty cheaply. She told them they will get 20% off their first visit, and any time those people referred a friend, they would get a discount, like $10 off for every friend they refer. Those friends would also receive the same 20% off and an additional $10 off for the next visit for every friend they referred. They only get the $10 off when those people book an appointment and gave the person's name that referred them. When that happens, you send an email, or letter or even just call and leave a message telling the person that so and so referred them, and they will receive an additional $10 off, or whatever you see fit, from their next visit.

Then, another thing to try is to simply ask all her clients for the names and addresses (or phone numbers) of 5 people to refer to her. For every 5 addresses, an additional 10% off, or whatever you think is a good amount. The average person knows 100 people.

I use to be a financial planner, and I would give free consultations to everyone, but I wouldn't leave a clients house until I got 10 names and phone numbers. I gave them great advice, and taught them how to better manage their money, and I felt that since I wasn't asking to be paid, that I should at least be able to offer their friends and family the same thing. I mean, why should they be so stubborn to deprive their friends and family of free financial advice?

When you get the addresses and numbers, you can call them, or mail them a personal letter, saying that their friend referred them to you. It's the same deal, if you performed a great service for someone like making their back feel better, why would they want to deprive their friends, family and co-workers the same satisfaction? And you'll take their enemies too... Just tell them, "wouldn't it be nice to get a discount or make a little profit off your enemy?" They give up the numbers pretty quick after that.