Every business needs a way to reach potential customers.
Your marketing strategy needs to get your Coaching, Healing or Service-based Business in front of the people who want what you have—and who want it now.
Nowadays, most people think of social media as a viable way to market and grow their coaching, healing, or transformational service-based business.
But the truth is that relying on social media for clients isn’t tenable for most businesses because social media trends come and go.
Do you remember MySpace? Tumblr? Periscope? Google+? Yeah, me, too. But no one is using them now.
Social media platforms make their money by keeping people on the platform NOT by sending their users elsewhere (like your website services page).
There are creative and effective ways to market your coaching or healing practice that don’t require much social media.
While the market has shifted considerably in the direction of social proof for businesses, maintaining a strategy that works for you is key….but that doesn’t mean you have to jump on every trend bandwagon or go viral to get clients (and remember, there are other forms of social proof for your business. You’re getting testimonials, right?).
Your marketing strategy needs to get your business in front of the people who want what you have: and who want it now.
That doesn’t require a million followers on social media (or even 1,000). It does require some higher-order thinking, market research, and creativity. In other words: YOU GOT THIS, brilliant one!
When I first started a business in 2007, having a website was a novelty, and a social media presence wasn’t required.
But a business card? Absolutely.
Local networking events? You betcha.
Print advertising and PR: even better.
Back then I didn’t have the budget for glossy paid ads in the local style magazine.
I had to get creative!
Below are 25 things I did to market my Yoga Studio and Coaching Practice, that are as relevant now as they were back then. In fact, when I quit social media for a few years, I relied on these exact strategies to fill my calendar with long-term consulting gigs.
25 ways to attract clients without using social media:
Print business cards and give some to friends, family members, and colleagues. Ask them to keep a small stack in their car or purse and hand them out to people that might be a good fit for your services.
Host pop-up demonstrations or mini-classes in local parks, botanical gardens, downtown areas, or during large events (ask permission).
Collaborate with local partners, such as dance teachers or salons, to create joint events or performances.
Develop a signature workshop, training or course and deliver a free mini-course to local businesses or offices during lunch breaks.
Print glossy postcards or business-card size passes with your class schedule, website, and discount codes, and distribute them at local gyms, fitness centers, and coffee shops.
Offer referral fees or commissions to local health professionals or complementary service providers for sending clients your way.
Pitch your training, course, or programs to local colleges, vocational centers, or educational institutions to secure contract gigs.
Send personalized emails to people in your network and ask for referrals or introductions to potential clients.
Host seasonal special events and open houses or sample classes at your studio and offer exclusive membership packages.
Add your Training, Workshops, Courses or classes to Google and share them on local networking and events websites or print publications.
Advertise at local farmers' markets, craft fairs, or events that attract your ideal clients.
Join your local Chamber of Commerce, municipal business association, or business networking groups and share your elevator pitch during their monthly events.
Offer complimentary mini-sessions or exclusive discounts to local service providers that also serve your ideal clients (stylists, estheticians, etc.) in exchange for referrals.
Collaborate and co-promote with other practitioners or businesses in your niche or local area for special events.
Send thank-you postcards or free class cards to clients, friends, and colleagues to express appreciation and encourage repeat business.
Print mini-cards or flyers with your business information and a QR code to a complimentary download (valuable content) and distribute them locally.
Organize a charitable fundraising event or sponsor a charitable event in your community.
Order custom promotional items, such as water bottles, yoga mats, tote bags, or T-shirts, with your business name and website. Give them to friends and clients. Use them as raffle items or gifts during events. Sell them on your website.
Offer special packages and customized classes to members of local churches, community organizations, or neighborhood associations.
Teach a series class, signature workshop, or specialized training at a local church or community center and offer their members a special rate for private sessions.
Print neon flyers or posters with your business information and distribute them strategically in town and at events (ask permission).
Wear branded T-shirts or ask family and friends to do the same to raise awareness about your business.
Keep business cards handy for networking events or other opportunities to share your contact information or get one of these nifty cards.
Book a booth at local health, wellness, or education events in the area to showcase your business.
Order or make special swag that showcases your brand and advertises your business. Then hand out around town or at events. Examples: custom herbal tea sachets with handstamped tags, Wildflower seed paper business cards, Hand-stamped leather cards (upcycled leather, of course).
Ok, and because I can’t stop myself, here are 4 more ideas that do require social media, yet allow you to be more strategic in your use since content on these platforms performs well in driving traffic to your website and has a longer shelf life than Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
*Want even more? Here are 20 more marketing ideas to grow your coaching, healing or helping practice that don’t rely on social media.
For a “stress less” approach to social media marketing:
Start a YouTube channel and create content optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to drive traffic to your website.
Start a Substack, Vimeo, or Patreon account to monetize your content, then share bits of paid content to your social media channels to increase your subscriber base (pre-schedule the posts for even less stress).
Write and publish a book, e-book, audio book or podcast, sell it on Amazon, Etsy or your website. Promote it everywhere you go.
Craft a public talk or presentation. Contact local organizations to invite you to speak at their events. Promote your book and / or services when you do!
I’d love to know—what are some non-social media ways you attract clients?
If you liked this post and you want to learn more about scaling your business for more influence and ease, join me every week for LIVE workshops to make growing your business more fun (and less stressful).
With gratitude,
~Kellie Adkins
Business Alignment Coach + Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)
Founder | Wisdom Method School of Yoga
