Tips for Therapists:

Send Birthday Cards to repeat clients

Do you ask clients for their date of birth ? If so, why ? If you would just like to know their age, then you could simply ask for that.

Why ? : As part of your personal service. Everyone loves to be remembered and as well as the pleasure of an unexpected Birthday Card, they'll also be reminded of you and your services.

When preparing and updating your consultation sheet or questionnaire, ensure that you can explain your reasons for asking each of questions in no more than 1 or 2 sentences per question.

Why ? : Some day, someone is likely to ask. When faced with an uncomfortable question, many people would prefer to "question the need for the question" than to answer it. You will be more likely to get an honest answer and will certainly look far more professional if you can confidently offer a positive yet concise response in all cases.

Investigate any FREE help that might be available to you as a small business.

The value and nature of help available for small businesses varies from time to time and from place to place. Sometimes there are government funded initiatives to help small businesses. If there is free advice available it might prove useful, especially when you are setting-up your business and in the first few years.

Find a therapist uniform or appropriate work-wear that suits your body shape and makes you feel comfortabe.

Why ? : If you feel good about yourself and your appearance you'll also look and feel more confident. That in turn will reassure your clients and inspire their confience in you.

Concerning music or other sound during your treatments ...
If you visit clients at their homes do you mention in advance that they might wish to have their sound system or speakers ready near the treatment area and perhaps select some appropriate music ?

Why ? : Preparation and anticipation of all aspects of your time with the client helps to enable everyone to be more relaxed, facilitating effective treatment.

If you make your email address available to clients

• Choose a professional looking email address that is easy to remember.
  Use an email address at your website domain. That way people can be more confident that they are contacting someone associated with that domain and your email address alone will automatically let people know where to find out more about you - at your website.
• Check email to the address known to your clients daily.

Why ? : This is part of your business image.

If you do some or all of your treatments at a clinic or health centre find out if you can leave some of your equipment there.

Why ? : The less you have to carry with you to each appointment the less you can forget and the calmer you are likely to look and feel when you arrive to greet your client. If you can keep some items there you might save time too.

Is there something you can give away?
Businesses use "giveaways" as a form of advertising. That is, they give items to their clients and prospects - usually items that are useful and include their company logo and contact details. It is a useful way to remind customers and prospects who you are, where you are, and what you do.

Why ? : People usually appreciate having something to take away. It may also serve as a 'talking point' if they show it to anyone else such as friends, family, or colleagues.

If you would like to talk with your clients about products or other services that you sell but which are not central to your treatments (e.g. health-related MLM products and business opportunities), consider displaying information about these on your walls and/or in your literature area and by so doing, invite the clients to express interest to you.

Why ? : If you leave to your clients the option of raising the subject or not, you won't seem pushy or cause those who are not interested in your supplementary activies to feel awkward about expressing no interest.

Always make the effort to be cheerful. People visit a therapist to help themselves to feel better, not to cheer-up the therapist. Both clients and therapists feel better and gain more benefit from the treatments when the therapist acts in a confident, cheerful, and positive, manner.

Why ? : Cheerful people are pleasant to be around. Your warm friendly smile can make all the difference in such a people-focused environment.