Those first few clients

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by docregal.com on November 29, 2011 at 12:41pm

Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started.

Permalink Reply by Hypno-Jay on November 29, 2011 at 12:47pm

hello AJ thank you for your response, yes i have tried offering freebies but i found that people were taking the proverbial a little bit, wanting stopping smoking and then wanting this that and the other and whilst i dont mind to a degree it was starting to get to the point where people were having hundreds of punds worth of treatment. it all worked and they were very happy but they cant just refer people who dont need me,  What perks would you suggest  ?

 

the problem is reaching people to offer the perks etc

Permalink Reply by docregal.com on November 29, 2011 at 12:52pm

I have bartered for many things. Yet, you seem concerned about making funds. Start out charging what your market will bear. It might be less than your posted fee, however getting a bunch of success stories under your belt is a good thing. The money gets better, the longer you are a working professional. Just get paid or reimbursed somehow with something "meaningful" so the client thinks it's worth it. Best.

Permalink Reply by Hypno-Jay on November 29, 2011 at 12:55pm

thats good advice, thank you for that. In regards to the money I am not expecting to make a living straight away but would like a little something for my efforts. As i said its more that people are willing to keep taking and taking without giving anything back.

Thanks again for the advice though. taken in !!

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 29, 2011 at 12:56pm

Hi Jonathan,

 

I respectfully and strongly disagree with AJ. Giving freebies in exchange for testimonials is considered unethical by most professional organizations.

 

I highly recommend giving free talks about the benefits of hypnosis as a way to begin your practice. Check your local library and see if they will allow you to give a free talk. Talk to your Chamber of Commerce about a free talk.

 

Best of luck!

 

AJ said:

Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started.

Permalink Reply by Hypno-Jay on November 29, 2011 at 12:58pm

Michael i had never thought about that ! thanks for the advice i will certainly be actioning that soon.

I have after xmas got an appointment with the health improvement officer from my local council which is looking hopeful. I am starting to worry that I will forget everything if i dont get clients soon !!

Permalink Reply by docregal.com on November 29, 2011 at 1:09pm

LOL, huh? A testimonial is valid ONLY if the services received are. (I never said "in exchange for".) The conservative mindset here is irksome.

Michael Ellner said:

Hi Jonathan,

 

I respectfully and strongly disagree with AJ. Giving freebies in exchange for testimonials is considered unethical by most professional organizations.

 

I highly recommend giving free talks about the benefits of hypnosis as a way to begin your practice. Check your local library and see if they will allow you to give a free talk. Talk to your Chamber of Commerce about a free talk.

 

Best of luck!

 

AJ said:

Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started.

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 29, 2011 at 1:36pm

Hey -- AJ-

 

Speaking of irksome -- You did say in "exchange for"

 

I quote you:

"Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started." Or perhaps some poster was impersonating you...

AJ said:

LOL, huh? A testimonial is valid ONLY if the services received are. (I never said "in exchange for".) The conservative mindset here is irksome.

Michael Ellner said:

Hi Jonathan,

 

I respectfully and strongly disagree with AJ. Giving freebies in exchange for testimonials is considered unethical by most professional organizations.

 

I highly recommend giving free talks about the benefits of hypnosis as a way to begin your practice. Check your local library and see if they will allow you to give a free talk. Talk to your Chamber of Commerce about a free talk.

 

Best of luck!

 

AJ said:

Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started.

Permalink Reply by Janet Boursier on November 29, 2011 at 2:50pm

I have found advertising to be a waste of $$.  I have had several referrals through attending Chamber of Commerce activities and finding people who know people that I can help. I don't try to sell the other Chamber member, I find the way that what I do will benefit the people they are also helping.  The internet has been my primary source of non-referred clients. 

I'm sure it could be better (if only I had time to work on marketing <grin>); but I googled "anger management" and my town and saw what came up. I then advertised with those referrals services that came up in the first 5 spots. I then repeated the exercise with the various 'specialties' that I like to focus on. Since anger management clients often end up in the court system, I contacted the city and county attorneys and am now on their referral list for those who end up with court-ordered anger management therapy. Hmmm, I should contact the defense attorneys to refer clients who could head off a court order! My town's hospital has a Wellness Depot storefront that provides referrals to information and services related to wellness. I give presentations for them (at no charge) several times a year. Their coordinator and I have established such a great relationship that she actually "sells" my services and packages to people coming through her door!

The other effective thing I did was to go to every single massage therapist, chiropractor and doctor's office in town and leave brochures and gave the ones who would meet with me a 30 second spiel on what I can do for their patients and clients. That has resulted in dozens of referrals.

In short: network, network, network. And when you get tired of networking.....network some more.  If you don't like networking, do some self-hypnosis! LOL!

Oh -- another benefit to networking is that as you make professional friendships, they will share their greatest marketing strategies with you and save you from making unsuccessful marketing decisions.

Other Oh -- I don't give freebies. Ever. My current rate is double what I started out charging.  I increased my rates 3 times in the first 4 months that I went into practice. I found that the more I charged, the more clients I had.  People figure you are as good as your rate. If you are free or cheap, you must not be very good and appear to be desperate. The perception is that if you are really good, you couldn't possibly be desperate! I do occasionally do a sliding scale rate for low income clients and professional discounts to those who are likely to refer clients. 

 

Good wishes!

Janet Boursier, RN, CHt

 

Permalink Reply by docregal.com on November 29, 2011 at 3:18pm

Oh, jeesus...do I have to spell everything out? Michael, I can read what I friggin' wrote. Can't you interpret it?

Keep going (no extrapolating words out of context, please): in exchange for "testimonials and word of mouth exposure" OR "other perks"-->That means (implies may be more precise a term, however it may be too complex or complicated a word usage for some to comprehend) that the work conducted is bonafide not bogus. Sheesh!!

Michael Ellner said:

Hey -- AJ-

 

Speaking of irksome -- You did say in "exchange for"

 

I quote you:

"Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started." Or perhaps some poster was impersonating you...

AJ said:

LOL, huh? A testimonial is valid ONLY if the services received are. (I never said "in exchange for".) The conservative mindset here is irksome.

Michael Ellner said:

Hi Jonathan,

 

I respectfully and strongly disagree with AJ. Giving freebies in exchange for testimonials is considered unethical by most professional organizations.

 

I highly recommend giving free talks about the benefits of hypnosis as a way to begin your practice. Check your local library and see if they will allow you to give a free talk. Talk to your Chamber of Commerce about a free talk.

 

Best of luck!

 

AJ said:

Presenting a few "freebies" in exchange for testimonials and word of mouth exposure or other perks is one way to get the momentum started.

Permalink Reply by docregal.com on November 29, 2011 at 3:41pm

I agree, that once your game is on, you can raise rates, network and so forth. This post, though, is about getting the first paying client!

Yikes. Perhaps no one likes to read what is "really" posted or requested here.

BTW regarding advertising, I have done fine, however one must understand that the benefits are medium to long term not immediate. ;-)

Janet Boursier said:

I have found advertising to be a waste of $$.  I have had several referrals through attending Chamber of Commerce activities and finding people who know people that I can help. I don't try to sell the other Chamber member, I find the way that what I do will benefit the people they are also helping.  The internet has been my primary source of non-referred clients. 

I'm sure it could be better (if only I had time to work on marketing <grin>); but I googled "anger management" and my town and saw what came up. I then advertised with those referrals services that came up in the first 5 spots. I then repeated the exercise with the various 'specialties' that I like to focus on. Since anger management clients often end up in the court system, I contacted the city and county attorneys and am now on their referral list for those who end up with court-ordered anger management therapy. Hmmm, I should contact the defense attorneys to refer clients who could head off a court order! My town's hospital has a Wellness Depot storefront that provides referrals to information and services related to wellness. I give presentations for them (at no charge) several times a year. Their coordinator and I have established such a great relationship that she actually "sells" my services and packages to people coming through her door!

The other effective thing I did was to go to every single massage therapist, chiropractor and doctor's office in town and leave brochures and gave the ones who would meet with me a 30 second spiel on what I can do for their patients and clients. That has resulted in dozens of referrals.

In short: network, network, network. And when you get tired of networking.....network some more.  If you don't like networking, do some self-hypnosis! LOL!

Oh -- another benefit to networking is that as you make professional friendships, they will share their greatest marketing strategies with you and save you from making unsuccessful marketing decisions.

Other Oh -- I don't give freebies. Ever. My current rate is double what I started out charging.  I increased my rates 3 times in the first 4 months that I went into practice. I found that the more I charged, the more clients I had.  People figure you are as good as your rate. If you are free or cheap, you must not be very good and appear to be desperate. The perception is that if you are really good, you couldn't possibly be desperate! I do occasionally do a sliding scale rate for low income clients and professional discounts to those who are likely to refer clients. 

 

Good wishes!

Janet Boursier, RN, CHt

 

Permalink Reply by Cindy Locher on November 29, 2011 at 4:35pm

Hi Jonathan, Don't lose faith!  What are you doing now?  Things that worked for me for those "first few clients":  my website (if you don't have one, get one up, and learn how to optimize it for local search); posting flyers at local coffee shops and SNAP Fitness, etc.; and BNI.  I wouldn't have time for it now, but back in the day when I had more time than clients, I belonged to BNI, which is Business Networking International.  Google it in your area, find a few local chapters and attend as a visitor (they LOVE visitors).  When you find a group you click with, you may want to consider joining.  It really disciplined me that first year because they meet weekly, and it helped me to craft my marketing message.  If the cost of BNI scares you away (I think it's like $400 to join), then look for free networking groups in your area. Basically its about getting the message out there.  I like your idea of hypnotizing a group, but there are considerations there:  do you have the right kind of liability insurance to do that? Would the shopping center allow it?  etc., etc.  Better than that, and much less complicated--find Rotary groups, Lions clubs, etc. to speak at.  Hypnosis makes a fascinating 20 minute lunch talk and they need speakers EVERY week! 

 

If you do these things and don't end up with "those first few clients," I'll be amazed!

 

Message me if you have more questions, I've been there and am always happy to share.

 

Cindy

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