Unique Advertising Suggestions?

[naveen a]

Hi out there!I just relocated to a new town and I'm wanting to find some interesting/ingenious ways to advertise/let people know of my services. The town is kind of small but growing rapidly. I've been in business for a few years but newspaper ads don't really take or are not accepting ones for massage therapy.Right now most of my clientelle has been through referrals or through the sign on my vehicle.Does anyone have any ideas for me that they've tried and have worked?  :Any suggestions would greatly help me!Thanks,Jen

 

[starrchylde_117]

Generally smaller markets have radio stations that are always looking for prizes to give away.  Some others here have done door hangers and mailing with some good success.  Search through some of the business and marketing threads for othe ideas too.

 

[Joss]

Hi Jen, This is just a suggestion, and it worked wonders for me as a  new therapist in a small growing community.  When I graduated school there were only a few therapist out where I lived.  So I started at the right time!  I went to visit every salon in the area and introduced myself and asked if I could leave cards, brochures,and a fish bowl for free giveaways.  I was giving away free 1/2 hr. massages.  This was a huge jackpot!!!  When I started this,I did not have any regular clientel.  This will take time on your part, but I built  nice size cliental in no time.  Do you have a place to work out of?  It will work best if you have an office or some professional space to work in.  Anyway, the fish bowls filled up fast, and I would go to the salons and grab a handfullof entries everyweek and call everyone of them.  Book them, get them in the office and offer them to upgrade to a full hour.  This worked about 80% of the time, not only was I advertising my business for free, building my cliental, I was earning money too.  Yes, you are gonna get people who take advaneforum.xxxe of the free massage, but you will also get many others that upgrade, return, or buy gift certificates.  This how I started my business a couple of years ago, and now I own my own office and have been very successful.  Anyway, hopes this helps in some way.  Like I said, this may not work for everyone and you have to visit the right places.  You want to put a free drawing bowl in a place where you think your target demographics would be.  I went to the more upscales salons.  Of course, now in my community there is a massage therapist on every corner.  So I got started at the optimum time.  Good Luck.http//:www. integrity.iwantamassage.comSandy O.

 

[formula72]

Hey SDbliss,You are from San Diego?  What part?  My favorite place is Pacific Beach and I would move there in a second if I could afford it.  I have been to a little massage practice there right off Grant?  By the Crystal Pier.  This little place was so nice, my visit there is what inspired and pushed me into having my own place!

 

[uncle meat]

Sandy/SDBlissh,Thank you for that wonderful suggestion. I'm anxious to give it a shot. I hope it works as well for me as it did for you.  -Jen

 

[Kelly V]

Jen - if you are an AMTA member, there are alot of good marketing ideas on their website.  I particularly like the sample press releases.  My dad used something similar when he opened his  business, and got alot of calls from it.  I think you'll find that most small town papers are scrounging for articles, and you won't have to pay for an ad! Sandyolmt - wow!  Thanks for the great fishbowl idea!Mimi - lots of great stuff!  I'm going to check out the massageplanetepress site!Vicky

 

[Beetlle]

Mimi,Thanks for all that wonderful advice...lots of homework for me...haha!  ;D-Jen