This picture is from Eagan’s, a local burger drive through.

Eagan’s has been around approximately a million and twelve years … give or take. Last Thursday was the first time I have seen any new signage of any sort outside their business.

Last week the board read: Make Your Burger Better for Only a Buck!

I liked that message. Short, sweet, to the point. I knew they sold burgers and I could make mine fancy for a dollar more.

This week their sign reads: Make Any Burger a Meal! and follows with a large “$1″ and “$2″ so a driver can quickly see how little a “meal” will cost.

(The sign’s impact falls apart a little after the headline. They list what foods/drinks can be added for $1 and $2 but you can’t really read it from your car. A different color ink would have been better. The information is good, but the presentation is not suited to its intended audience, i.e.: drivers-by. But the point is that the headline is a strong one.)

I’m not telling you to get a sandwich board (though you should have good, easy to spot, easy to read signage) for your massage / bodywork practice. However, as you write your marketing messages to your clients, you can write something that makes a similar impact.

This approach can apply to postcards as well as headlines for a letter or a newsletter.

Women’s History Month (March):
Toughness Doesn’t Have to Come in a Pinstripe Suit
Take a well-deserved break from your labors while honoring Women’s History month
25% of all March’s profits will go to local Girl Scout troop/Safeplace/NWHP/etc

Earth Day (April 22):
Go Completely Green
Add a full body seaweed wrap onto your one hour session for only $30

Mothers’ Day:
Give Mom Her “Just Desserts”
Add a chocolate and almond oil treatment to Mom’s one hour session for only $15 more.

Surround Mom with Flowers
Add a rose petal foot soak and premium geranium/orange blossom oil to Mom’s one hour session for only $15 more.

So there are the First Thoughts. The idea is to keep the “headline” short and compelling. The second line should briefly explain your offer or intentions. What I did not include in my rough examples was the third line.

The third line should be the call to action, e.g.: Call to learn more. Call to make an appointment. Visit my website for details. Call soon and I’ll mail the gift certificate to you. Stuff like that.

All my best,
Eileen