A lot of cents (photo by Darren Hester at http://www.imageabstraction.com)Things are starting to look ugly out my way. Unless you’re a tiny business, it seems.

With all the business news in Western Washington about Boeing, Starbucks and Microsoft laying off thousands, the media has been desperate to give a little good news (that in and of itself should be a sign of the End Times).

Every week or so, the local stations run a piece about neighborhood businesses doing well. At some point in each piece, the business owner has attributed their solvency to having invested in their marketing and continuing to do so.

Experts say it’s a knee-jerk reaction for businesses to cut marketing/advertising during economic hard times. They also say it’s a bad idea. Cutting out your “conversation” with your clients will remove you from your clients’ radar purdy durn quick.

Times like these are a great opportunity to focus your message and make every cent count.

Depending where you are in the country, you may have clients that truly are struggling to find work. You may have people that are not in financial crisis themselves, but are nervous about what is going on. Both of these groups want to come see you. You have to give them a reason. In my opinion you should be appealing to their “logical” side. Here’s a sample message. Feel free to tailor-make it to your practice.

Stressed?

Tylenol PM: $8 x 12 months = $96
Missed work (US avg): $277.58 x 5.62 days = $1560*
Generic Prozac: $30 x 12 months = $360
Self medicating with Pepperidge Farm Milanos: $3.40 x 48 weeks = $163.20
General malaise and grouchiness: incalculable
Total average cost of stress: $2152.†

One hour massage session: $60 x 12 = $720

Massage keeps you from going cents-less.

By the way, Experts also encourage small business owners to provide personalized service where ever possible and to develop loyalty programs to keep clients coming back. We all are aware that personalizing your service is a good idea. If you need any inspiration or a swift kick to your massage / bodywork marketing plan, Diana has written tons of articles and you can access them all at Natural Touch Marketing’s Article Archive.

All my best,
Eileen

*From High cost of missed work days: billions of dollars lost to illness and injury, pub. Industrial Engineer
†Most numbers from The Cost of Stress, by Jeanne Sahadi