Shiatsu Practice Development

Talkability

Standing in line at the healthfood shop with my basket of miso, brown rice and onions I overheard the customer in front of me ask the checkout lady "Do you know a good therapist?"

Checkout waved at the notice-board crammed with flyers and rang up the sprouts. "Yes," persisted the customer, but there's so many. Can't you recommend any?"

I first heard this half-conversation when I started doing Shiatsu and racking my brains for ways to find new clients. I was surprised to be hearing it over twenty years later - where are we all?

Obviously we can ask to put our card or flyer (more later on how to write one) on their notice-board along with all the others. But why not treat the finding of clients as important to our Shiatsu practice as the giving of treatments? Why not use the same principles - you remember last week I wrote about the unique relationship between Shiatsu giver and receiver - why not develop a personal relationship with people who can help you? Talk to them.....have you ever had shiatsu/? what do you think of it? would you like to try it? Give them a free-sample treatment -session. Just sit them on a chair or stool and do it, right there and then. (And even if its only a 5-minute session, apply the Rule of 3.)

I did this, the manager saw, said that looks great! and asked if I would mind offering seated-shiatsu treatments to customers, one lunch-time a week "...it will attract business, and generate enquiries for you."

Would I mind? Wow! We agreed I could charge a modest £10 for a 15-minute treatment, with half going to the shop. When customers started to book private treatments my practice grew.

Even if you don't get the gig, you will certainly be the one that Checkout remembers when customers ask about therapists.

Visit the shop/restaurant every 2 or 3 weeks. Talk to the people. Give treatments to new staff.Wherever your enquiries come from - follow up every lead immediately.

Something to be - so far I've focussed on things to do. Here's something to be, that will help you find and keep clients more than any other single quality - - -
* BE ENTHUSIASTIC *
focusing your enthusiasm on your client/potential client as much as on yourself or your shiatsu.

This is the latest in the series of articles on Shiatsu Practice Management or 'How to find Clients - and keep them coming back' by Kris Deva North, Master of the Zen School of Shiatsu. You can read the whole series with a click here, including the audio-version, completely free.

NEXT WEEK: The Popsy Principle
© Kris Deva North