How do you feel about not charging for the ENTIRE first session?

[Vanessa H]

It's quite comforting to go to a first session (of any sort) knowing that you will not be paying. Clients might not feel out of pocket if they don’t like you/your technique. This is especially true for councillors as you really need to ‘get on’ with them, so first session free is ok as they are coming with the intention of continuing therapy.

But as a massage therapist, if we say first session is free, are we in danger of doing lots of free session and being taken for a ride with one-offs?



Thanks in advnace for your imput

 

[asoogevism]

Hi Lollo

Are you a new therapist looking to establish your business? Are you up and running and looking for more clients? Difficult to answer your question without knowing your motivation for wanting to offer free treatments.

You'll find other threads regarding discounts, freebies and how to get started etc. on the Business and Marketing Forum.

To the best of my knowledge counsellors and life coaches don't call it a "free" session but an assessment.

IMO the way to go would be to offer taster sessions [keep them short 10-15 mins] and not use the word free at all. You will attract people who are more drawn by the idea of a free treatment than a serious client.

Remember you've studied, you're qualified and skilled and are offering a VALUABLE service. A service which you should charge for. If a client for some reason doesn't like your style or they don't gel with you then so be it - move on, don't take it personally - but at least you've got paid for your services.

 

[Rli R]

I guess it depends on where you work - but if I'm paying out a fiver per client for the room, plus the costs of travel (room is 17 miles away, due to rural location) and costs of washing - I have no interest in offering my services for free - I would be making a loss, and I would think there would be a lot of takers.

 

[Symnkayakex]

Thanks for your responses.

Yes, I am just starting out and looking to get more clients. I had considered doing first session free, decided against it and then heard about someone else doing it so was just reassessing. I was just wondering if it would attract more clients to just be a waste of time. I think I’ll stick with the decision I made the first time round and not think about it again.

YogaJoga: thanks for pointing me to the marketing forum and tasters sounds like a good option. Although would take some mastering...also, surely
it lands up to over 45 mins of your time getting them in the door, pleasantries, on the table, massage, off the table, more pleasantries and questions and then out the door.

But I guess if that get you’re a client its worthwhile!

Trow: point taken ;-)

 

[sndMan79]

Why not tell them you will refund the cost of the first treatment after their 3rd, 6th ?? session - that way you get the money, they get mmoney back and you might even have a regular client thereafter

 

[Happeh Gurl C:]

Hiya

I'm in a similar position, and what I've decided on is, if the client really wants therapy, to have a free initial consultation which will take about an hour. During this time I will take all the details needed including meds, and talk in more depth about the therapies I can offer and what they entail. Then I can offer them either one-offs of the therapies, or 6 sessionsfor £200. This works out at 6 treatments for the price of 5. I can then decide what is needed for these sessions. The client can try a session of each of my therapies if they want before deciding which they like, or I can offer 4 reflexology and 2 reiki... whatever seems best for the client's needs.

The rationale for this is that I am only sacrificing the cost of the room (about a fiver) and a proportion of other costs for this first session. I'm not offering any resource-hungry therapies like aromatherapy, but I am giving the client a chance to decide if they like me, which is important.

Hope this helps.

 

[ChivaChiva]

There are several threads in the Business and Marketing forum that discuss this as well as lots of other ideas for attracting new clients.

Offers like the one Chris mentioned and the free consultation are quite common and make more sense than free or heavily discounted sessions. Free and heavily discounted sessions are likely to attract the kind of people who have no intention coming to see you again, they will just look for a similar offer elsewhere the next time they want a massage.

 

[florayg]

I personally wouldn't bother about the first session free, there are too many one timers out there, that you would be innundated with them. When I have done buy one get one free offers, I have had clients come, but only for those two sessions and then they have been off.

For many, complmementary therapies are for a bit of pampering and as such, there is little incentive to continue long term - this is where the beauty and pampering side comes in.

As professional practitioners we do understand the benefits of regular treatments for preventative healthcare, as do our longer term resgulars - and they do enjoy those benefits. Plus - these are the clients who will respond most fully, which is, after all, what we are about.

As has been mentioned, look at the business and marketing forum, there is a lot of information on there. Don't sell yourself short and make sure you are looking for the right folk.

 

[Udde]

What you could do is offer a 10% discount off their first treatment. Or maybe something like £5.00 off. It may make a hesitant client more likely to book with you. Good luck!

 

[*Dazed and Confused *]

Thanks all for your ideas and input.
Much appreciated!