The Phenomena That is GUMTREE

[COFFEEEE]

Well now, I would like to invite ya'll to share any experiences you may have had advertising on gumtree.

I presume everyone reading this is a genuine massage professional, so if you have had any experience with gumtree, like me it is to advertise your massage services.

Gumtre is a weird one in that it has been tremendous in getting me off the ground in terms of finding clients at the start of my career, and the advertising was always free (until now...) and the best of any advertising I have ever done (besides now getting onto google).

However, the number of unsavoury (shall we say) guys that it attracts, and that then call you up asking for all manner of services you do not provide, sometimes detracts from it, devaluing your professionalism.

Gumtree is like a full spectrum, ranging from on the one hand the professional skilled therapists, to the other end of basically prostitutes. So by assocation your lumped in with all of them...

And also, gumtree policy can be rententive in terms of taking off your ads and taking ads to reply to your emails of complaint.

How have other professional massage people out there experienced advertising on the gumtree???

J

 

[lxjuywfg]

Well Gumtree's the only place I've had any responses from - and for the massage ads they've all been cranks! However I do get good response for my Reiki courses on there.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I've not advertised on gumtree as I was worried about getting dodgy calls. The wording on some ads even from whal appears to be a geniune therapist sometimes looks a bit suspect. Those offering more than massage are quite obvious so it must be annoying to get calls from clients looking for extras.

 

[eplarods]

I advertised on Gumtree when I was looking for work and I did have some genuine responses although nothing came of them. I've also advertised on there, looking for new friends and luckily, I've not had any unsavoury characters respond. I think you just have to try it and see what happens.

 

[Robert Haydn]

Hi,
I advertise on there because I do end up getting quite a few clients from there - admittedly it's always males but the ones that I do see and treat are genuine enough. The downside is that for the amount of clients I get, I also get the same amount of pervs and weirdos, asking for lots of different (and weird) extras. It does get annoying but at the moment it's still worth it for the business. I've now got to the stage when I can tell within about a minute of a phone call whether the caller is genuine or after something else. And it does annoy me when there are extremely blatent and sexual adverts on there- Gumtree do nothing about this so you can sort of see why some stupid people might think that you offer the same things - even though my own, and I'm sure many other therapists' ads are extremely professional. There was one woman in Manchester basically spelling out word for word all of the sexual services she would offer- I couldn't believe it!

 

[soo stoned]

I advertised on Gumtree a couple of times when I first started my business (and many other free ad sites) and the only calls I got were dodgy ones so I stopped advertising on there. I did put an ad on there specifically for Reiki but didn't get any clients from it.

 

[No Requerdo]

I still advertise on gumtree (free listing), on and off. Used to get loads of dodgy calls and still get the occasional e-mail, but hardly any since I have started working at a practice and the phone number is that of reception and no longer my mobile.

I struggle to get the ads on there though, and they have been removed a few times: you can't have any photos (which in my opinion only makes it less clear what kind of massage you offer!), you have to state that "this is not a sexual service", and you have to mention your qualifications. And a couple more conditions that I can't remember right now.

I have now got an ad format that seems to be ok, however it usually takes half a day before it appears as I think they are manually checking all the massage ads. When I place a second ad on a different topic at the same time, that appears in the list hours before my massage ad does.

I don't think I have ever got any business from gumtree directly, hard to say. I get quite a few clicks from gumtree through to my website though, I think because when people do a google search then the gumtree ad link comes up quite high. So people click on it and then go through to my website.

 

[O-baa-ma]

I had my first call which was one female client from gumtree then nothing at all but at least this person is coming back which I am delighted about.

 

[aPhopiep]

I advertised my therapy rooms on Gumtree and all I got was contacts from sales people who had visited my website - insurance, crafts and the like. Made some interesting contacts but can't say it generated any business.

Always with love,
Amber

 

[I win]

I've had quite a few genuine clients off of gumtree including a couple of female clients, however i have also had several dodgy male callers.

I have to say though that gumtree has been great for boosting my business as clients i have gained from gumsite have gone on to recommend me to other people.

I think its a shame that quite a few men see it as a way of finding a service of a different kind, especially as i feel that in some ways it makes me more weary towards men, when in fact there are so many genuine guys out there.

 

[kathryn3808]

Hello Andan
The trouble is Gumtree has ads for sexual services mixed in with ads that are genuine,I have found some really excellent massages but have also found therapists who are qualified are also offering massage under the sensual banner.

 

[The Dark Artist]

Oh i totally agree Whitesnake, i have checked out some of the ads myself and seen what services they provide! The bit i really hate is that you read a great title and especially round where i am based, they appear more discreet at the service they are offering until you click on their website and see there is a lot more to it.

I have had some dodgy calls from people who have found me on there, however gumtree was great for boosting my business. I have had at least five excellent new clients from there, with three being men all of whom have become regulars. I know that a lot of people my age use gumtree a lot in my area and so i have had to weigh up the pros and cons.

Will i keep using gumtree? I'm not sure, now that business is growing and i am getting more regular work and recommended more i may stick to other forms of internet advertising. I just feel its a shame for the guys who are out there who are genuine who prefer to use the internet. Even though my ads and hopefully my site don't make people feel like i provide any extra services, dodgy males still get in touch. I most definitely feel they should keep dodgy services and ligitamate massage service seperate and i feel this would help a bit. I also feel it would be of benefit to male clients and sort the genuine ones from the dodgy kind.

If people prefer not to use gumtree, what other forms of internet advertising are they using and do they feel they are still hitting a large target?

 

[none]

Hello Andan,
Some might say the key is how you word the ad,however i have found alot of ads say 'this is not a sexual service' however when you email or call this service is on offer under the sensual banner.Some are more obvious than others but unfortunately if you advertise on a mixed site i think you will always have the minority trying their luck.

 

[g_pierce95]

I've advertised my courses on gumtree and have had a good response from it, and some therapists have re-booked.

All my massage ads have led to dodgy calls, here is a text book call

"um, are you the one that does massage?"
and I reply "yes".
"oh right, so what TYPE of massage do you offer?"
and I list them.
pause
longer pause
"and what else?" they ask
"oh, I also offer reiki, crystal healing, and facials" I reply.
"well, I want a relaxing massage, can you do that?"
"Yes, I am a trained aromatherapist so once I've done a consultation to find out what oils I will use...."
they usually interrupt
"right, well can I book an appointment for today?"
"no, I'm fully booked today"
"oh right, I'll ring back".

one man stated that he wanted just his buttocks and groin massaged.

so, I don't advertise massage on gumtree anymore. I have advertised facials and haven't had any response whatsoever.

 

[Let it be]

thats because gumtree state they have to say that otherwise the ad will not be accepted.

 

[Lore]

I've had a lot of success via gumtree. Mainly because the ad titles appear high up in google searches -which is the holy grail of finding clients. I put my website link near the top of the ad, which prompts people to click through and this has definitely cut down on the dodgy calls. also, after you've been up there for a while the people who want other things get to know your ads and the calls decrease.

I also NEVER answer calls from witheld numbers, so I don't get many dodgy calls. In short - I'm a big fan of Gumtree and am prepared to take the rough with the smooth, as in the long run they've got me loads of clients.

 

[bite,me]

Quote from GuruHolistics (sorry I don't know how to do quotes properly):

"All my massage ads have led to dodgy calls, here is a text book call

"um, are you the one that does massage?"
and I reply "yes".
"oh right, so what TYPE of massage do you offer?"
and I list them.
pause
longer pause
"and what else?" they ask
"oh, I also offer reiki, crystal healing, and facials" I reply.
"well, I want a relaxing massage, can you do that?"
"Yes, I am a trained aromatherapist so once I've done a consultation to find out what oils I will use...."
they usually interrupt
"right, well can I book an appointment for today?"
"no, I'm fully booked today"
"oh right, I'll ring back".

one man stated that he wanted just his buttocks and groin massaged."

HA HA This made me laugh so much as it is EXACTLY the same as what I get - makes me feel sooo much better knowing I'm not the only one. On a positive I had a really nice male client today who got my details from Gumtree and told me he was relieved to find a professional therapist for a proper massage as the previous ones he'd called from Gumtree were all offering sexual services and he just wanted a massage! It's nice to get the opposite for once

 

[landinwaldrip]

Erm... that one could lead to some odd calls too!

I tried Gumtree in the past but only got timewasters (including one who woke me up one night to ask what time I closed!) so I gave up. Maybe I should try again.

 

[mynameismud]

Perhaps it is more to do with location as well?? I am in hampshire and like i said i have had quite a few clients from gumtree.

I think i will copy you yoga yoga though and put my website address further up in my ad.

I may have a play around with my ad this weekend and change the title slightly, i did change the title from a previous one, but am thinking the other title was better and less ambigious!

 

[rockylad_75]

I use Gumtree a lot and did post a few guidelines for those using it on another thread. It is a pot pourri of the genuine, alternative and the sex industry. The key is knowing how to use it. It is a HUGE potential resource, but you need to cut through the weirdos. Sadly the hassle from them is sometimes sufficient to stop people using it, although in my experience much of the sexual massage has been migrating to Craigslist.

A few ground rules for those responding to adverts:

(1) Stay away from those advertising "tantric"/"sensual" massage as their services are generally directed elsewhere. There ARE a few genuine tantrika, but they rarely advertise on such fora. Similarly "tip to toe" seems to be code for more than you might bargain for. Anything about "putting a smile on your face" almost certainly is!

(2) Generally avoid those therapists who describe themselves by reference to their appearance and/or other personal data which is irrelevant to the service they provide (eg "oriental" or "attractive" etc).

(3) Google the telephone number to check against multiple different adverts and/or against someone with no internet history. Take care if the telephone number if interspersed with dashes or stars- this is generally to prevent googling.

(4) Anyone who works very late into the evening or who offers only one hour services at a very high hourly rate is generally offering something else.

(5) Take care if the therapist does not at least post her/his first name on any advertisement. If they only take calls on mobiles and do not want emails, that is often a contrary sign.

(6) Emails posted early in the day seem to be a better resource than those placed in the evening.

Hope helps .....