New neighbors discount?

[Ashley]

May seems to be a big moving month for us on MassagePlanet. I am also moving into a new office in May. I met several other tenants in the new building. They seem like nice, genuine people. Some seem interested in receiving massage. I'm thinking of giving them a gift certificate of 30 minutes; with the option to upgrade to an hour for $30.  What do you think?Do any of you give some kind of ongoing "in the building" discount?

 

[iAdore]

New neighbors discount?

Hi jdcan,Having just recently moved to a new building, I found myself making the same kinds of decisions. I had some biz cards printed with a special offer on the back (thank you Eric Brown @ BodyworkBiz for the idea!). I chose to go "Receive an additional 30 minutes FREE with the purchase of a One Hour Customized Therapeutic Massage. Limit one per person." I hand write an expiration date & sign my first name. At first I only gave theses to my clients (for their 'repeat booking', and a few extra to pass on to friends & family). Recently I started to give them to my building neighbors. Everyone seems to be doing my marketing for me right now. I am so pleased with the results & even more pleased that BOTH they and I see value in the offer. I am much more happy with doing a 90 minute session for the price of 60, than any other offer/discount I have come up with in the past.I have now given away all 250 cards that I had printed. The rate of 'takers' has tripled over my previous efforts to do direct mail, pre-paid series, etc, etc. In March alone, I did 16 massages on that offer. 8 of them were brand new clients (the cards that got given away by my regulars or neighboring businesses). Even one of the Fire Inspectors took me up on the offer for his wife as a birthday gift!As for a special price for my new neighbors, 2 of them have rebooked already & I told them that if they would like to make regular therapeutic massage a high priority, I would extend the offer to them as a form of 'family & neighbor rate'. My only stipulation would be that we make an agreement about really trying to do this regularly (I know life happens & its necessary to be flexible).I'm wishing you great success, jdcan. I hope your new biz neighbors become true advocates of your work, and good clients as well as good neighbors.Jill/Sagetherapistda-da-da-da, dah.... I'm lovin' it!

 

[B.E.inspired]

JD congrats!! And best of wishes in your new digs.That's a great idea. Especially with the early interest in your work already shown. They'll be thrilled, and it will be a reminder of how accessible you are when a good massage is needed. I've never done an "in the building discount", but that could be a fun idea, too. Maybe a special lunch hour "open house" in your first week just for your building neighbors?  I'd think of some way to reward referrals, too.Is there a chance to intro some chair work for any of those businesses? Lunch hours are always up for grabs, in anycase.  You've got an added plus that you can do it from your office or on-site there. Once they are hooked they don't have to go far to travel to be regulars....lucky ducks!  

 

[mike1942f]

New neighbors discount?

I chose to go "Receive an additional 30 minutes FREE with the purchase of a One Hour Customized Therapeutic Massage.

This is a great idea! I like that you will still be giving an incentive to get a massage, but you also make income at the same time.

IMO, this is much better than marketing with coupons for a free half hour massage.  

 

[Henry T]

*lol* Everyone loves the 30 minute extension, I think its a good idea too. You can use either one...or both?   Honest, I did free 30's for a promo (with upgrade offer)and it kept me booked up with sales and regulars like no therapist had seen before. Had to ask my employer to hire two more MT's! It got that busy. They weren't held to my terms, did not offer the same and got no work.  Whined and cried but never learned...Free intros will always bring people in the door. Its absolutely no risk to them, they get a yummy!! sample of your touch and are left wanting more...

 

[WTFYW?LDG!]

New neighbors discount?

Thanks for your responses.I think I'll do the 30,30 for first timers so I don't feel like I'm just selling. I'll probably get some"only if it's free" people; but, at least then I'll know who they are.  I think for my in-building discount, I'll offer them my regular 3 for 30 package deal, without the usual pre-payment. 3 for 30 is buy 3 one-hour massages, get an extra 10 minutes for each one. This works well for me since I leave a half-hour between clients anyway.

 

[WebD]

New neighbors discount?

I'm not big on doing that sort of thing. In a way, that's like playing favoritism. It's not fair for those businesses/people who aren't next door to you. Why give discounts to one group of folks and none to another? I'm all for providing a general discount to promote your new location (I'm doing that right now myself) but I would extend it to any/all who are interested and not just an elect few.Be well,Jen

 

[Jenna Bee]

New neighbors discount?

I am also giving a discount to my non-neighbor clients as a Moving In Special. My 3 for 30 special would be the same dollar amount, just without prepaying. I'm thinking if they are in the building they will be less likely to no-show.I am also thinking about the "neighbor helping neighbor" concept.I read another post in another thread (Seforum.xxxg's?) about buy one half-hour, get one half hour free! I'm considering changing my new neighbor offer to that. What do you fellow MTs think? I don't want to come off as just a salesperson. I don't want to come off as devalueing myself. Opinions, please :-/

 

[COOL FOR CATS]

Not sure I've read it yet, but sure, that seems like the perfect mid point of both approaches? I don't see where it would harm. The risk to the client is only for a half hour price. The client recieves the yummy knowledge of how a WHOLE hour feels. That would convince them to book hours, I think. There really is no right or wrong here, everyone has his or her own approach, and the only thing you must do is what works for you.*lol* In a full book, I did get one client who only came in each year for his half hour. A rich lawyer too, geez! But he ONLY got his half hour. He didn't get the rewards my regulars got, which was some extra time whenever I had it, and they wanted it...but that was my style. I don't think you are "devalued" by giving extra attention when it could be done, in my experience people don't feel less about you, but more about themselves...happy to feel very pampered and adored. But again, that's my style, not something I strictly advocate...though I was always rewarded in kind with a very devoted crowd.(I always checked first though, because most of my clients were busy professionals on tight schedules!)My take on Mr. Freebie was this: few people who take advaneforum.xxxe do so without crowing to someone about it. And he came back year after year, so he must have been happy with the work on some level. He probably brought in many other club members, who definitely wound up being not as cheap as he was once they got their massage...I know that because for years he remained the only one who did that! *lol*  

 

[Rasmah.com]

New neighbors discount?

Update:  I ended up giving the new neighbors 30 minutes free with the purchase of 30 minutes. About 30% booked (2 1/2 out of 8 or 9). The 1/2 was a gc purchased by someone with contraindications. I have also gotten rebooked from that group. So, it worked out well. Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I'm glad I didn't just give away half-hours to the "only if it's free" people. It feels better to be valued. People do have a choice to eat out a lot or get a massage.

 

[Namibnat]

New neighbors discount?

Hey! Congrat JD! That worked out great. Okay, I'm starting to appreciate the value of the 30/30's. The freebies do work great for a kick start.