In this post, I’ll be looking at how you can get people to sign up for your newsletter. Once again, it’s important to know what your aim is. Are you looking for new clients, referrals, or repeat business? Is your newsletter a way to say thank you to your current clients? Your goals for your newsletter, will help you decide how to distribute it.

Reaching current clients

Start off by asking your current clients if they’d like to receive a newsletter from you. Make it a habit to ask new clients when you take down their personal details at the first appointment - or add it as a question on your client history form. Launching a newsletter can also be a great way to rekindle a relationship with old clients. If you’ve been neglecting those follow up calls, a newsletter can provide the excuse you need to give them a call or send them a letter.

Helping your website visitors to become clients

If you have a website and are sending an email newsletter, make sure you include a sign up form on your website. On a first visit, people will often gladly hand over their email address in return for receiving a useful newsletter, but they might baulk at booking an appointment straight away. Once they’re on your list they’ll start to trust you, and then they’re much more likely to become a client.

Be very careful not to spam people

A word of warning, don’t just add everyone you contact to your newsletter subscriber list. In many countries it’s now illegal to add people to an email list without asking them first, not to mention impolite!

You need to make it easy for people to get off your list as well - just a simple line in each newsletter explaining how to unsubscribe is enough. In addition, it is best practice to add your contact details in each email, so they know the email is from a genuine source.

Reaching other prospects

A paper newsletter can be distributed around town in shops and related businesses. I’ve seen this idea used well by a massage therapist in Katoomba in Australia’s Blue Mountains. Visitors to the town who’re interested in health are very likely to see this lady’s newsletter and pick up a copy. They start to trust her because they’ve heard of her through the newsletter, and if they want to book a massage whilst in town, guess who they’ll go to?

Asking people to pass it on

If you’re looking for new clients, then it’s always worth explicitly asking people to pass on your newsletter. A personal recommendation like this counts for a lot. Make sure to tell the final recipients how they can get their own copy in future. Something like “Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and family. Drop me an email to me@myclinic.com if you’d like to receive your own copy,” works well and provides a way for people to add themselves to your list. There’s more about what to write in your newsletter in my last post.

Summary

We’ve discussed how to find subscribers for your newsletter. If you’re looking for referrals and repeat business then you need to reach current clients first and foremost. If you’re trying to attract new clients, then you should also look at using your website or asking local businesses to distribute your newsletter; and don’t forget to ask people to pass on your newsletter.

By now you should have an idea of whether a paper-based newsletter or an email newsletter is more suitable for you. Next time we’ll look at how to set up an email newsletter.

Happy marketing!

Catherine Doyle

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Founder, Soothed - web design & online marketing for natural therapists
Editor, natural bloom - sharing the inside story on holistic health

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