repeat clients?

[Altrissa]

For you guys that have repeat customers can you tell me what the average legnth of time between massages are. Anyone have anyone that likes a massage a week

Thanks
Mike

 

[Chase]

I just have one weekly client, and she is 93. My bi-weekly clients are all seniors, too - about 14 of them, and another 6-8 of them also over 90. My only monthly client is late 30's to early 40's. The rest all just call when they decide they need a massage!

I don't think the key is REALLY to wait for them to hit 90 years old to be regular......but that's what worked for me! They just have the time, at this age, they have the undeniable aches and pains, they are beyond the pride of thinking they don't need massage, and they are no longer afraid of running out of money before they die! So you need a population of people who can admit they need you and don't mind spending the money.

Good luck!

 

[Shannen Shenanigans]

repeat clients?

Most of my regulars are monthly, a few are more frequent. The only regulars that are weekly or less are pregnant ones. If someone presents with a particular issue, I may do a up to a month of more frequent bookings to get over the issue, but after that, the maintenance is usually fortnightly or monthly.

Plus there are a lot of repeat clients that I wouldn't call regulars - the ones that just ring up every now and then when they think they need a massage, I've got few of those that are once per year..... one just has a massage every birthday.

 

[guvnor]

I have a M.D. that I have been going to weekly (outcall) for 5 and 1/2 years. Yeah question not where I am every Wednesday night... LOL She started out at 8 AM... the massage now starts at 8 PM... so the Doctor can go upstairs and go right to bed. It's a standing appointment, the only exception would be if she was on vacation... which happens a couple times per year. She keeps telling me if she wins the lottery she's going to have massage every day. I tell her that's fine... but then the table is going to live at her house... LOL

I also have a client who sees me at the health food store I work out of, and we make her appointments for every other week. I think she has a nail appointment for the same time on the weeks she doesn't see me.

I have a husband and wife couple (outcall) who are big fans of my work. The wife only makes appointments every once in awhile, but her husband has now taken to making the appointments. I've finally got him trained to call once every 3-4 weeks. LOL The funny part is he'll go into the health food store I work out of and gush to the staff about me and how I've helped their family... and they don't know him from Adam. :

Most of my clients call as they feel the work is needed. I DO try to encourage them All to book regularly (at least once per month) and in advance, but my clients tend to resist commitment that way. LOL Even when I am just "pencilling in the time slot for them." So I have a good number who I won't hear from for months and then suddenly they need me and they want to get in within 24 hours... sad, I know.

 

[Nancy M]

I have 6 people who see me every week, about 4 every other week, and several montly clients.

 

[mo ree uh]

At any given time I have between 4 - 8 weekly clients. I also have quite a number of clients who come in every 3 - 4 weeks depending on their schedule.

Personally I encourage all of my new clients to come in weekly for the first month or two. Then we re-evaluate how they are feeling and whether they have noticed how much better they are feeling with regular sessions. The majority sign back up for either weekly sessions or buy a prepaid package so they can come in as often as what works for their schedules.

 

[ComaGrorrymef]

I've been in private practice for about 17 mos. I haven't put much into marketing or advertising other than my website and listing myself on a couple of legit free MT listing websites. So my business has seen slow but semi-steady growth.

I have 2 clients that come every 3-4 weeks and rebook before they leave, one that comes every 6-8 weeks, one that comes every 2 mos, some that just come when they "really need" it (more the pain management type that I love), some that come see me for a series of about 10 appts (once a week) and then disappear for about 9 mos, only to come back and start rebooking again, and some that see me for a series of 3 lymph drainages 2-4x per year. I guess, it really varies.

However, I started offering the "get $5 off your NEXT appt if you rebook today before you leave" incentive, and THAT is when some started catching on and rebooking more regularly. Works great! Fills my schedule in advance, doesn't hit me too hard in the discount department, and gives them a break as well. (Note: Don't give the discount on the CURRENT appt if they rebook, give it on the NEXT one. Some have made that mistake, only to have the clients no-show for the appt they got the discount for booking, and it left the therapist without as much money as they should've gotten.) Didn't mean to hijack the thread here; just wanted to give part of the reason some of the abovementioned clients started rebooking as often.

Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[Doctrine Man]

Hello jyoti,

I love this idea! I've got to try this, if only I can remember to always have my appointment book with me, which I tend to forget at home. I always want to have it with me when I'm out of the office because my phone number is my cell number too.
Have a nice day!

Heather


jyoti wrote:However, I started offering the "get $5 off your NEXT appt if you rebook today before you leave" incentive, and THAT is when some started catching on and rebooking more regularly. Works great! Fills my schedule in advance, doesn't hit me too hard in the discount department, and gives them a break as well. (Note: Don't give the discount on the CURRENT appt if they rebook, give it on the NEXT one. Some have made that mistake, only to have the clients no-show for the appt they got the discount for booking, and it left the therapist without as much money as they should've gotten.) Didn't mean to hijack the thread here; just wanted to give part of the reason some of the abovementioned clients started rebooking as often.

 

[airforcewife64]

I have 4 weekly clients, 5-7 that come every two weeks clients, two chair massage jobs that are every two weeks, and the rest of my clients are once a month.
I have only a very small amount of clients that are not on a regular schedule with me or come less than once a month.

The maintenance plans that I set up work great for me.
Give a discount for their commitment. Prepaid packages and jyoti's discount are very similar. I am sure they all produce good results.

 

[Torch-Bearer]

Just thought I'd chime in again

I, too, offer prepaid packages and I just thought of something...I think I like the "$5 off next appt for rebooking now" idea and I may promote that over my packages because of a couple thoughts:

First, what happens if I encounter some accident or illness? This leaves me with mounting medical bills, and I lose all my income. I also lose any money anyone has paid for the packages, ks I have to go into Refund Mode, so I lose what little I WOULD have. With the "save $5 for rebooking now" idea, I wouldn't be out much if something happened.

Second, there's always the possibility of ppl stretching out their packages (unless there's some kind of stipulation in place), to the point where they're coming in several years later at antiquated prices.

Third, there's the concept of when everyone has already paid up but now comes in to redeem their sessions, it FEELS like you're doing the work for free. Sure, you already have their money and you're just rendering the service that was paid for, but many have expressed feeling as though they're doing all this work and not seeing any return.

I DO still like packages, though, because they ARE a way to get clients to commit to ONGOING care and think way ahead. It does allow us MTs to schedule more efficiently and with a bit more stability. This way, you know what you'll be doing next month, or that you have an appt even 4 mos in advance. They're more of a long-term deal. You're not as tied down, but then, neither are the clients.

Just pros and cons and random thoughts.

 

[Tayman]

In the last quarter, I had 9 weekly clients. Some disappear for a while, are replaced by someone else "filling in their spot." In the beginning of my practice it was just 1, then just 2 for a while.
I leave at least 1/2 hour b/t clients.

 

[Captain Jean-Luc Picard]

I have found that the maint. plan similar to Masthera is what has attracted regulars....(my work, personality, and relationship building skills has kept my regulars)....right now I have 4 weekly 1.5 hr clients and 3 more weekly 1 hr clients, 5 biweekly clients and 4 triweekly clients. Still more that I don't really keep track of right now for once a monthers. Some of those are ones who try to stay on a maint. plan but cancel and reschedule a couple of weeks later, stay on the maint. plan for a while, cancel and reschedule etc. Others are just once a month or every 5-6 week reshedulers.

I don't push my maint. plan but when people indicate they want to come back I'll mention it to them or if someone indicates that they have been going regularly to someone else and are looking for someone new then I'll tell them about it. I describe it in my brochure so people will see it anyway. I really like and enjoy my regular clients. They are a good match for me.

edit: 5 months ago I had one biweekly client and one weekly client. So I think there really is something to be said for the maint. plan

 

[Liv]

5 months ago I had one biweekly client and one weekly client. So I think there really is something to be said for the maint. plan

I agree. I was up to what I needed to quit the DC in only a few months (I did have some clients established at home already).
Things have stayed steady with nice increases since then.

 

[Raider3]

On this point, I'll say what I ALWAYS say...GET OVER THAT REAL QUICK. I've talked to many MTs in the past who don't sell gift certificates for this same reason. IMO, I don't care WHEN I get paid for the session as long as I'm getting paid by the time the service is being rendered...I have the occasional day where ALL of my clients are either GCs or packages and it doesn't phase me because I have plenty of days too where I'm making a lot in GC sales and package renewals. It all balances out in the end.

That's my take on it, too, and to my MT friends that say that, I express the viewpoint you presented above. I tell them, "remember, though, you already HAVE the money. You didn't work for free, even if it FEELS like it." Cuz you're totally right, it DOES balance out in the end, and I wouldn't want it any other way. (I just posted what I posted for those who DID feel that way and couldn't help it, to offer them an alternative. )

 

[Miss Information]

The majority of my clients are returning clients. Many of them are covered by insurance and workmans comp. These clients tend to come in weekly, bi-weekly or as often as they are allowed under there coverage plan. My returning cash clients generally come in once a month. I am trying to make an effort to increase the number of cash clients.

 

["Kh a a a a a n n" ! !]

I've got one client that comes in every week for a 90 minute hot stone massage...I love her Another set (husband and wife), I go to their house usually once a week or every 2 weeks, and a majority of my clients are once a month people. I did have some more weekly clients, man, I should give them a call...