Joint Marketing for the Holidays
It’s time to put on your thinking cap, let your creative spark
flare, go out on a limb.
You probably now have a plan to promote your gift certificates to regular
clients this season, a great way to introduce new people to your practice.
Today we’ll revisit another very effective way to reach out to
new people: joint marketing. Here are some new ideas for joint marketing.
Maybe you’ve been thinking you could do some great things with
a new spa treatment like a paraffin dip or steam table, although you
haven’t yet decided to invest in the equipment. But you know
there is someone out there who is already doing this treatment and
wants to build his or her business, too.
Let’s say you have
room at your business where this practitioner could practice one
or two days a week. Great! Bring the practitioner in. Promote the
heck out of this new service, and attract new clients into your practice
while providing more healthful services for your clients.
If you don’t
have room in your own practice, then go for a joint promotional effort.
Sell packs of gift certificates for the holidays that include both
yours and theirs. Or send a joint promotional mailing, offering a
discount when your services are purchased together.
Here’s a different challenge. Look around at your business neighbors.
Just for the exercise, choose one that’s either next door, across
the street or around the corner.
Now rack your brain for ideas for joint
promotions, or how you could promote your service in their place
of business in exchange for gift certificates they can use themselves.
We’ve talked to therapists who have partnered with salons, health
clubs, drug stores, tea shops, auto shops and more! See what you
can come up with.
Write down your ideas, and put them away for a week or
two. Then get your list back out, and — here’s the challenge — choose
an idea to follow through on, or come up with an even better idea.
Now make a list of steps it would take to make it happen, and tackle
the first one.
If you approach one business with your idea and they
are not interested, look at it as an opportunity to establish rapport.
Leave them with a discount coupon, for example. Then move on to your
next idea. Persistence really does pay off.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that you now stand out from the
crowd! More people are talking about you, and your name is sure to reach someone
who will give your services a try.
Have you tried a different approach to marketing your business? What
is working, or not working? If you are willing to share your experiences,
we would love to hear from you!
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