One more week to get in your best massage marketing (or spa marketing) question.

We had so many excellent questions. It is going to be hard to find the best. Here is what we had so far:

• What is the biggest difference between spa marketing and massage marketing? by Lorraine Bloom
• We plan to move out of the city into a rural area in the next 6 months, is it worth trying to build up my practice before that, and learn some skills (not to mention, building my confidence) that will make it easier for me to build my practice again once we move? by Catherine
• Practice management software? Any ideas on what to choose? by Jodie
• What is the best way of attracting new business (apart from word of mouth)? How do I go about promoting myself? by Gizelle
• Do you think it’s worth running a natural health ‘open evening’ to discuss health issues and as an aside promote my practice? by Hannah Hempenstall
• How do I develop a relationship with health care practitioners who may not be familiar with the modality I practice? by Jocelyne Chevrier
• A common problem is smoothing out the peaks and troughs where one week is very busy followed by a very quiet week. What do you suggest for achieving or a more consistent workflow? by Krishna
• How can you build credibility in a massage practice? by Peppy Burmer
• How can I build a practice quickly? by Eva
• What should I focus on? by Roland Myers
• I’m no good at selling myself. by Katherine
• How can I discipline myself to contain my treatment times and not overrun allocated session time? by Peter
• I’m about to take on my first staff member - how can I best ensure their loyalty to me, as well as maximise client loyalty to my business, rather than the new therapist (and any other therapists that follow!)? by Paula
• New practice - unsure of repeat biz as yet. by Rodney
• What am I responsible for? by Amanda
• What is the best way to advertise? Reuben Gill
• How can I make money without reaching burn out? by Michelle
• Working from home - a lonely existence? by Tara Jonson

If you’ve got anything to add, ask away in the comments (or send me an email). I will answer your question and you have the chance to win a Passionate Training.

If you have not yet received my free report: The 7 Biggest Business Mistakes Health Practitioners Make, just enter your name and email and I'll send it to you. Name: E-Mail: I respect your privacy and will never sell, share or pass on your details.

Any more questions anyone?

It does not just have to be on massage marketing, it can also be spa marketing or marketing for any natural health modality. Just enter a comment with your question and I’ll answer it (and you get the chance to win one of the massage marketing trainings).

On a different note, I want to share with you something from another project I am working on: a website for freelance writers. Why am I sharing that now? Because I have just entered a competition with a short piece of writing. Nothing fancy, just to be part of it. Here it is:

And if you are into writing as well, have a look at www.freelance-writing-career.com for all the details.

Do you think it’s worth running a natural health ‘open evening’ to discuss health issues and as an aside promote my practice? I’m a massage therapist, reflexologist and Reiki practitioner.

Hannah, that is a great idea and it is very much worthwhile.

Here are some things to think of:

• Plan it on an ongoing and consistent basis
  Running evenings like that as a once-off might not bring the results you are looking for. Over time, people get to value them and tell their friends.
• Give your participants value
  They need to leave, blown away by what they have learned and how that has positively impacted on their lives. (Could just be emotional support to deal with a specific long-term problem, does not have to be a quick fix).
• Target your market well
  Choose topics that you can help with and let the people you want to treat know. As an example if you work with older people, hold the evenings in retirement villages.
• Invite your friends
  A bigger group is always more exciting for the participants. The networking they do can be a benefit as well. Also, having the support of people who love you helps.
• Invite other complementary health practitioners
  Guest speakers can deepen the conversation.
• Use it for PR
  Remember the post about creating newsworthy actions.

Something else to consider is whether to charge for these evenings or keep them free. Free might bring more people, but they might not value it as much.

I ran events like that for health practitioners, talking about different marketing topics. I charged $5. Looking back that was too little, because it did not translate into direct sales and gave a lot of what they wanted already.

With a harder sales approach (e.g. offering a discount if they purchase something that evening) it might work. I don’t use that because I do not think that it builds positive long-term relationships.

So if you do not expect quick sales, but want to build your network long-term, it is a great way of achieving it.