I am dissappointed in myself.
 

I just did a numbers crunch for the year compared to last years business.
I am down 5% from last year!
I worked 15 fewer days compared to last year.
The difference is 46 fewer visits made.
I feel like I need to get more clients but am afraid...sometimes I feel like I am just getting by...trying to stay afloat.
I was feeling good about getting paper work done but now feel depressed about the reality of the situation.
sigh
bizi

Dear Bizi,
You did do a good job getting caught up on your paper work. That is HUGE!

You did a lot of important things this year.
You can list them here if you want:
1. Fabulous trips
2. Fabulous diet and exercise program . . . . . .
3.
4.
5.

You can bring your business back up. You grew the business in the past and can do it again.

M.

thank you mari.
I should look at it that way...but the numbers crunch I did it for the past 4 years.....my income stayed pretty much the same until this year.
So maybe it is the economy, I am not doing anything differently. I think that I am losing clients faster than I am getting new ones.
I am afraid to really advertise as I don't want to be overwhelmed. I look at my schedule and it seems pretty full. I just need to get more clients.
I was thinking about using an advertising company on line. It is called www.seizethedeal.com I would be the featured company for the day and would offer my services at half off. I could put a limit on the number of vouches sold. I would be paid the half off minus a commision unknown what that would be...but it would be a way to generate more potential reccurant clients. But I think I would have to work on saturdays to accomodate the extra visits.
What do you guys think?
Jeff thinks it is a bad idea.
bizi

Bizi

I agree with Jeff. I don't think you need to exactly advertise that way.

I think maybe make some inquiries even with your present clients.
Letting them know that you are looking into taking on a couple
of new clients.

See if they know of anyone needing your service.


I personally think its the economy. I had been floating to keep my
massage therapist as part of my needs.

I can't afford her right now. And I am hoping soon to pick her back up.

Donna:grouphug:

I too think it's the economy !!!

I know this woman that used to sell 15,000 $ in purses and this year she sold only $3,000 or something...

I dont think it is a bad idea to advertise.... but maybe Im missing something about that advertising method ! :o

Dear Bizi

Find out how much the commission is.
Ask some more questions. Are there rules before you agree to the Internet ad?

With this kind of advertisement you would get people who would want your services once or twice and then stop. You need a certain number of first time clients before you get the right number of regular people you want. You would be busy in the beginning, but you might anyway -- no matter how you advertise.
Is there a time limit? Are the vouchers good for a year?
Are you obligated to make appts immediately or do you have 6 months to accommodate the request?

Here's what might be a stupid question.
Does that ad cover a large geographical area? Would you be expected to drive far to get to a client's home?
Right now, perhaps you already have people who are within comfortable driving distance for you.

M.

thanks blue, the seize the deal advertising company would sell vouchers to people for my services for half price so I would make less than half of a visit for no more than 100 people if that many buy them...don't know. I would want to limit it to 50 and give them a year to use the voucher.
I would word the information to specify that I specialize in working with the elderly and that these make great mothers day fathers day gifts....baby boomers will see this and hopefully think of buying the voucher for their parents. This is how I could get new regular reoccuring clients.
bizi

I think it is the economy, this year was pretty tough for many.

This is an excellant point mari!
thank you I had not even thought of that.
the system is set up to send the "deals of the day" to thousands of emails
so that is advertising right there, something for them to think about and discover my services.
I don't know about the geographical area....I think it is jsut for my town and the surrounding small towns that are not far.
I currently drive up to 30 miles away but for only a handful of people.
I would have to give them a limit as to what cities that I service.
I am thinking about it still. great points thanks again.
bizi

I'm sorry your figures for this year upset you :hug:
Don't be disappointed in yourself- there's a lot of factors at play here.

About the advertising, I'm just worried about how they will get the emails to people in your area (as already mentioned). Also, how many of your potential clients use emails?

Could you drop of cards/fliers to a senior center or elderly housing building? Could you run a small, limited ad in a local paper occasionally?

You'll come up with the solution that's right for you soon. I know it :)

Aw !!! now I get it !!!

Silly economy... I blame it !! totally !!

Dont be mad at yourself dear Bizi !!! it is not your fault, trust us !! :hug: Next year is gonna be perfectly fine ! and it is around the corner... :winky:

i agree it is the economy.

i read this thread yesterday but could not reply. i can't remember who posted about putting flyers in senior centers but i thought those were good suggestions also.

i also thought, i know you like to work with seniors, but wouldn't a lot of women appreciate your services... i am thinking of working women who are on their feet all day, sometimes in pointy squishy shoes... would you be interested in working with another age group? how might you tailor services to suit that?

don't get down on yourself hon. i'm sure you can find at least a few new clients. and 5% down is not that bad, really! :hug:

~ waves ~

what do you think about the seize the deal opportunity?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi (Post 722901) what do you think about the seize the deal opportunity?

Dear Bizi,
What is the worst that could happen? What are your concerns?
M.

i think it could get a certain number of people to try your service. i was very skeptical about it, but i read how they work at http://www.seizethedeal.com/businessfaq, and i don't see that there's much to lose. they only run you for one day, and you have a say in what the "minimum" number of customers would be. out of prudence, i would also ask them if it is possible to set a "cap" to the number of offers they sell, and how that would work. i don't think one day is likely to be a problem, but you never know. i see from other ads you can make the vouchers expire when you want.

one concern i had was of image, because i would be suspicious of a medical professional who chose to advertise like this. but you're not advertising heart surgery so, i think it would be ok.

i think what might come off really well would be to present your "deal" as a special Christmas/Holiday ]gift offer... younger ppl who use internet will see it, and it really would make a great gift for an older relative. :)

i would require ppl to act on it in some way, within a month or so. people forget after that. (you'd get paid, but not acquire a customer). you could simply require they make the appointment within that time.

if you wish, you could specifiy a longer time limit to actually receive services. eg:
- must call for appointment by 31 January 2011.
- session must be held by 31 March 2011.

~ waves ~

Thank you for your comments.
I am concerned that they will all call and try to make an appointment with in a short time frame...I would have to work on saturdays to not interfer with my regular clients. I don't want to get overwhelmed. I would do it after the holidays as we are leaving for 2 weeks. It could be a great mothers day gift idea...or even a younger woman to try me out then talk to her about possibly offering this service to her parents if they are living in the area.
I am liking the idea better as time goes on.
any income I generate would be more than I had before and the potential for new clients is great.
My time is what I would be losing/giving up some saturdays.
I would put a limit of 50 if they allow that and 100 if that is the min. number that can limit. and let them use it for a year. stretch it out.
the ad would go out to a thousand email addys so they can read about me even if the deal is done all day when ever they check into the site.
they might read all about me then find out the deal is done. I would put the limit on because some of the deals have had 500 vouchers sold!!!:eek:
It is a very effective way to advertise.
bizi

don't give up
 

Hi bizi, don't give up. I believe it can be done again if you did it before. Are you self employeed? I know you work hard just by what you have expressed.:hug: