A couple of weeks ago, massage business expert Julie Onofrio handed out some great tips on making the most of gift certificates. She basically advised that if you are in your first years of practice, selling massage gift certificates can be essential to building your practice. What’s more, there’s no point in having them if you don’t promote the heck out of them.

Autumn is upon us

Although it’s a painful fact for those of us in the Northwest who have had only THREE days over 80 degrees this summer, fall really is around the corner. So there’s reason to start thinking about how you’re going to promote those pretty holiday gift certificates.

Four great ideas

1. Begin with your family and friends. When they are making their gift lists, ask them to think about who might enjoy a gift certificate for your services this year. Offer them package deals if they buy a quantity. Let them know that if the recipients don’t schedule within the year, buyers can use the gift certificates themselves.

2. Promote packages to clients, offering them a free half-hour for themselves if they buy more than two or three.

3. Think about who might be a good prospect for a future client. Old friends and co-workers, neighbors, your sister’s best friend? Give these folks free 1/2 hour gift certificates with the option to upgrade to an hour for a fee you can live with.

4. Trade with neighboring businesses. Haircuts for gift certificates. Advertising for gift certificates. Oil changes for gift certificates. You get the idea.

Other ideas, anyone? It’s time.