essentialsforhealth.co.uk

This weeks blog digresses from the A-Z of business, as I have some important and useful information that you can use on your websites and in your flyers, to persuade, employers, doctors etc to refer their staff and clients to you for a massage.

Did you know that the following research shows:

C.B.I. (Confederation of British Industry)

175 million days are lost to sickness costing £13billion

Department of Health

80 million workdays are lost each year through emotional difficulties

International Stress Management Association

70% of GP surgery visits are for stress related complaints

Two- thirds of trade union health and safety reps said that stress was their biggest concern when surveyed by the TUC in 1996

Some other facts;

A 2002 study carried out at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, found that men who work sixty hours a week are twice as likely to have a heart attack as men who put in forty hours. That risk is trebled for those who sleep less than five hours a night at least twice a week.

Loss of productivity through presenteeism – people being ill but still at work is costing the UK employer £15 billion a year

Alcohol related deaths have doubled in last 20 years

2/3’s men and ½ women are overweight

Only 20-25% of the population each 5 portions of fruit and veg each day

Good luck with spreading the healing power of touch. The UK workforce needs you!

Warm wishes, Gill

In all my experience of running efh over the last 16 years my experience is that advertising particularly in magazines and newspapers can be a waste of money. (Sorry to anyone working in the advertising industry!). I just think that for such a personal and intimate service people may respond to an advert but they are far more likely to respond to word of mouth referrals, meeting you in person at an exhibition or show or open day.

When I first started my massage career, what I found useful was hiring poster sites in my local gyms, particularly where I had clinics, articles in local papers and things like parish magazines and having stalls at local school fetes where I would give seated back massages. Sounds a bit too cottage industry?

When I placed a credit card size advert in time out magazine however which by the way cost £300 back in 1992, I got 3 phone calls and no bookings.

When you start in business it is likely that you will have not much money but plenty of time. Time to meet people, network, exhibit at shows and give talks.

Two pieces of research indicate that if people are touched they are more likely to part with some money.

The first was where a researcher would leave a £5 note in a telephone box. When ever a person went to the box, they were asked on exiting, whether they has seen the money, and 50 percent of the time the researcher would also touch them. The frequency with which the researcher got their money back was increased significantly by touching the strangers.

The second piece of research was looking at waiters and waitresses and how they would increase their tips if they brushed past their diners.

The language of touch is subtle and very persuasive. By far the best way to sell massage is to meet with people, through a talk for example and ensure they all get to sample your touch even if only for a few seconds.

Many more ideas can be found on my marketing dvd which is available free to you, if you click on the freebie link on our website www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk

Until the next blog

B will stand for business plans and branding

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