Utilize gift certificates as an income-enhancing opportunity to bring new clients into your practice.
You can market gift certificates year-round as well as seasonally (Christmas, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day). Keep the design of the gift certificates consistent with your other marketing material by utilizing your logo, typeface and color palette.
Take advantage of the ease of utilizing the electronic highway by offering gift certificates via Web sites and e-mail. Selectively donate gift certificates to silent auctions for charitable organizations, such as the American Heart Association.
Display a framed gift certificate at eye level in your massage therapy office, right by the front door, so people can see it as they leave. Offer your clients 15 extra minutes of massage for every gift certificate they purchase. If you feel inclined, you could consider offering complimentary gift-certificate delivery to facilitate the clients’ ease of purchasing.
To encourage sales, set up a system to take credit cards through your business account. Gift certificates can increase your name recognition in the therapeutic community and expand your client base.
Ariana Vincent, L.M.T., M.T.I., N.C.T.M.B., is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapy Instructor and workshop leader based in Austin, Texas. Learn more about her at www.arianavincent.com.