Revive Launches Marketing Master Class Series for Small Business Owners

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! With 2010 just around the corner, I'm pleased to announce that Revive has launched a series of marketing master classes that will run in Brisbane and the Gold Coast throughout 2010.

The affordable three-hour master classes are designed for holistic therapists and other small business owners who need to better understand marketing and how to use low-cost online marketing tools to grow their business. The new classes include:

Increasing Revenue in Your Small Business - This master class provides a high-level overview of marketing in which we'll help small business owners to clarify their business vision, understand how to segment the market and identify the most lucrative clients, find new clients and keep existing clients coming back. It also covers the importance of tracking marketing activities.

Marketing Your Business Online - Getting Started - This master class provides an overview of the exciting world of online marketing. It covers why having an online presence is critical, what makes a good website, how to go about creating and structuring business websites, how to make websites visible in the search engines and how to launch a website. It also covers webhosting, domain names and setting up email.

Creating Low-Cost Online Marketing Campaigns - This master class outlines how to build an online presence and take advantage of many of the free and low-cost marketing techniques that the Internet has made available. It covers the importance of targeting an audience, how to build a client database, how to plan marketing campaigns, what landing pages are and why they're critical, and how to track and measure marketing activities. It also looks at some low-cost online advertising options.

Promoting Your Business with Social Media - This master class is about the growing phenomenon of social media and how small businesses can make the most of it. It covers what social media is and outlines some of the many low-cost marketing opportunities this medium makes available. It also covers blogging and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as the opportunities and risks involved with social media. This class looks at several case studies of small businesses that are successfully using social media to attract and retain more clients.

Many small business owners have recognised the need to get their business online and take advantage of low-cost marketing tools and techniques, but still find the whole arena of websites, online marketing and social media daunting. We developed this series of master classes to cater for holistic therapists and other small business owners who want to learn the fundamentals of marketing and then develop their skills over time. The classes provide entry points for businesses that do not yet have a website through to those that really want to give their online marketing activities a boost in 2010.

Revive's master class series kicks off on 3 February 2010, with classes running regularly at Teneriffe in Brisbane, and Nerang on the Gold Coast. Each master class costs $85 and can be booked separately. Further details are available on Revive's master class page, with dates and bookings available via our calendar.

Wishing you and your business much success in 2010!

Creating Communities: Quantity vs. Intensity?

It’s fascinating to watch how different companies attempt to harness social media to create what Seth Godin describes as tribes.

Clearly there are many benefits to organisations creating online communities and engaging with their customers and potential customers via social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter – the most obvious being that communication is interactive, direct and instant.

I recently wrote a blog post in my role as a part time report writer in the Dow Jones Media Lab, about how a small Australian photography training company, Blue Dog Photography is using Facebook to create an enthusiastic, highly interactive tribe.

Are you using Facebook or social media as part of your marketing strategy? I'd love to hear if you are (or would like to!).

Revive launches Website Promotion Packages

Struggling to attract visitors to your website? Overwhelmed about how and where to start your online marketing activities?

Revive Holistic Marketing has just launched a series of Website Promotion Packages to help you get the word out about your business.

Our Website Audit Package offers an objective review of the structure, content and overall look and feel of your website, by a professional marketer and writer who'll then make recommendations about how to improve the site's chances of being found and understood.

Our Website Optimisation Package gets your website in tip top shape for the search engines, where we review and improve your keywords, lodge your site properly with the search engines, list on some of the high-ranking, high-traffic directories and set up Google's tracking software so you can see exactly where your traffic is coming from, and which of your online marketing activities are working effectively for you.

Our Website Copywriting Package offers content written specifically for your business and website in a way that sounds like you've written it.

Overhaul your website and online marketing initiatives and jump start your business for 2010! Feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.

New networking events for complementary therapists on the Gold Coast

As the dust from our first Brisbane networking event settles, I'm thrilled to announce that our networking events for complementary therapists will run each month on the Gold Coast from August 2009.

Revive launched The Therapy Exchange networking events in Brisbane in May 2009. Since the first event in early July, additional sessions of each event have been scheduled to cater for the growing interest in the opportunity to network with fellow therapists.

The Gold Coast events will be held in the Board Room of the Nerang RSL and Memorial Club on the second Tuesday evening of each month. Each event will focus on an aspect of marketing or business development related to the holistic therapies industry. The theme of the first Gold Coast event on 11 August 2009 is The Value of Marketing for Holistic Therapists.

Subsequent events will feature expert speakers and group discussions, and will showcase new products and services related to the holistic therapies industry.

The Brisbane networking events have demonstrated a strong desire by therapists of all modalities to connect with other practitioners and discuss the business challenges they face.

Therapists typically work in isolation, and these events provide a forum to discuss issues such as marketing, business development, practice administration and management, customer service, industry trends and developments, and many other issues that can determine their success.

Date & Time:
11th August 2009
6.45pm for a 7.00pm start – finishes at 9pm.

Cost: $20 per person

Venue:
The Board Room, Nerang RSL and Memorial Club
69 Nerang Street, Nerang QLD 4211

CPE Points:
AAMT members earn 5 CPE per networking event.
Other associations may recognise the events for CPE purposes.

Upcoming Events
8 September - Promoting Your Holistic Therapies Business Online
13 October - Expanding Your Business: How to Find New Clients
10 November - Love Thy Client: Keep Them Coming Back for More

We welcome the complementary therapists of the Gold Coast region to our upcoming events. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any queries about our networking events.

Revive's marketing workshops accredited by the A.R.M

More accreditation news! The Expedition to Success - Marketing Your Holistic Therapies Business workshop has been accredited by the Association of Remedial Masseurs (ARM).

ARM members who attend our two-day or 5-session workshop are eligible for 12 CPE points. In order for ARM members to remain on the Health Fund Provider's lists, they must earn 20 CPE points a year.

Our workshops are running in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Sydney in 2009, with more locations planned for next year. Check out our calendar for details and dates of a workshop near you.

We came, we saw, we networked!

The first of The Therapy Exchange networking events ran in Teneriffe this week, themed: The Value of Marketing for Holistic Therapists.

Such a diverse group of people brought an exceptionally diverse a range of skills - massage therapists, reiki practitioners, counsellors and beauticians. The range of business experience in the group ranged from people just starting out in their own business to those who had been running their business for a few years.

Some of the common business challenges the group members currently face, include branching out from a full time job to grow a business from scratch, understanding how to get the best “bang for buck” from limited marketing dollars, how to find new clients and how to retain existing clients.

Throughout the explanation of some of the key elements of marketing – product, place, price and promotion – a lively discussion ensued. Group members were happy to share what had and had not worked for them, and everyone agreed that it was valuable to mingle with other therapists and learn from each other.

Discussion moved onto a common desire for the various holistic therapies association to do more for their members – provide more business-based advice; more lobbying to raise the awareness of certain modalities and to gain Government recognition for particular modalities. It was valuable to hear of everyone’s experience with their respective associations.

It felt like the discussion could have kept going all evening! It was very much my intention in running these monthly networking events, to inspire discussion and sharing amongst therapists across all modalities. There is some reassurance in knowing that although we may work mainly in isolation, we have many colleagues in the same boat. I would like to thank everyone for participating with such enthusiasm. I can’t wait for the next event!

The theme proved to be so popular that we’ve scheduled a second event on 15 July. This session is filling up quickly - please register quickly if you’d like to attend. Bookings are essential. August’s event is themed Promoting Your Holistic Therapies Business Online. The 5 August session is booked out, but there are still a few vacancies for the session on 20 August.

Members of the AAMT can earn 5 CPE points by attending Revive Holistic Marketing’s networking events. Members of other associations may also be eligible to earn CPE or CPD points by attending networking events. Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries about our networking events.

Don't forget that we also offer online networking opportunities for complementary therapists at http://thetherapyexchange.ning.com/. Check it out today. It's free to join!

Revive Holistic Marketing Recognised as an AAMT Approved Provider

Great news this week! Revive Holistic Marketing has been recognised as an Approved Provider by the Australian Association of Massage Therapists (AAMT).

Revive’s recently launched marketing workshops for holistic therapists are now accredited under the AAMT Approved Provider program, allowing AAMT members to earn 20 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points. The AAMT requires that Massage Therapists and Remedial Massage Therapists accrue a total of 90 and 120 CPE points respectively, over a three-year period, in order to retain their AAMT membership.

According to the AAMT’s Approved Providers Program Guidelines:

“Ultimately the creation and support of quality continuing education courses is AAMT's goal. CPE activities should promote professional goals related to the massage therapy industry in order to increase competency and excellence in the AAMT membership. The CPE approved provider courses should be programs that cannot be obtained from initial or foundational massage therapy courses. They should be characterised by program designs that offer newly emerging concepts, principles, theories and research in massage therapy, bodywork or health care.”

Revive’s 2-day and 5-session workshops are scheduled to run in 2009 in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Sydney. Throughout my own massage studies in the UK and Australia, I identified a need for therapists to receive specific, thorough and affordable training on how to market their services and position their businesses for success.

I share the AAMT’s goal of increasing competency and excellence in the AAMT membership, and I'm very pleased that our workshops meet the rigorous quality standards of the AAMT National Education Committee.

I'm passionate about supporting holistic practitioners to launch and grow their businesses ethically and profitably, and remain committed to providing high quality, practical programs that teach them how to do this.

Feel free to contact me with any queries about the workshops.

New online networking community for holistic therapists

I'm pleased to announce The Therapy Exchange, a free online networking community for holistic therapists.


Complementing Revive’s recently launched series of networking events, The Therapy Exchange aims to help therapists connect online and provide a general forum for discussion about industry issues such as business development, marketing and continuing education.

Networking with therapists from various modalities not only helps to generate referrals, but can also provide valuable insights into how other practitioners are attracting and retaining clients.

We envisage that The Therapy Exchange will grow into a valuable resource for therapists, with an ever-growing collection of articles, event listings and resources. We look forward to welcoming holistic therapists from all modalities to our online community.

Adding value for your massage clients

As consumers tighten their financial belts, it is the businesses and therapists that add that little more value and provide that extra, unexpected dash of service, who will prosper.

I loved the tip in this month’s Massage Mag about using add-ons to deliver more value to your massage clients.

The article outlines how to do a lovely foot massage, spa style, either on your massage table or a chair in your treatment room.

Such a simple idea, yet I can count on one hand, the number of times I’ve actually been offered this sort of treatment when I’ve paid for massages.

Speaking of hands, you could do a similar treatment on your client's hands.

It doesn’t take much effort or cost a whole lot more to add value to your clients. How have you added value to your clients recently?

Launching The Therapy Exchange - Networking Events for Brisbane's Holistic Therapists

It's all go at Revive Holistic Marketing! We've just launched The Therapy Exchange - a series of networking events for holistic therapists in Brisbane.























The Therapy Exchange aims to help therapists network with like-minded people, and to keep abreast of industry developments and the issues that impact their business.

Held on the first Wednesday (or Thursday) of the month, each event will focus on a particular theme related to the holistic therapies industry. As well as networking with fellow practitioners, we'll:

- Learn from an expert presenter and each other
- Participate in a group discussion related to the theme
- Discover new holistic therapies products

Above all, we'll have a great time and meet some fabulous people over drinks and nibblies!

All events are run at Revive's premises at Teneriffe from 7.00pm - 9.00pm and cost $20 per person. Check our networking calendar for dates and to book your place at our next event.

The series kicks off on 1 July 2009 with an event themed The Value of Marketing for Holistic Therapists.

"The Australian natural (complementary) healthcare industry has domestic sales of over $1 billion per year...the popularity of natural healthcare products is increasing with a growth rate of 7% year on year."

Even in today's economic climate, there are huge opportunities for holistic therapists - so why is it that the average weekly earnings before tax of massage therapists is $600, compared with the average weekly earnings of all occupations of $940?

Marketing is critical for any business - and holistic therapists are no different! Effective marketing can not only help to improve this large discrepancy in earnings, but can help therapists to create and grow successful businesses.

This event will focus on the value of, and need for, effective marketing in the holistic therapies industry. As well networking with fellow therapists, you'll receive valuable tips for your business and loads of information about the range of marketing resources available. Click here for more information or to download the flyer.

Places are limited - book online or call us to secure your place!

The Secrets of Spiritual Marketing

Lawrence Ellyard, CEO and Founder of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists is launching a new book called The Secrets of Spiritual Marketing, A Complete Guide for Natural Therapists to Making Money doing what they Love.

I've had the privilege of seeing a pre-publication preview of the book, and can't wait for it to be launched.

As therapists, we spend much time and money gaining and maintaining our holistic therapies qualifications, but receive little guidance about how to market ourselves and our services.

This book should be incorporated into all holistic studies courses as a recommened text - its down-to-earth, practical advice - written in plain English, provides a great overview of how therapists can develop a successful business.

For therapists requiring further information about marketing, Revive Holistic Marketing offers 2-day or 5-session marketing workshops throughout Queensland and NSW. You can also earn CPE/CPD points as you learn!

The importance of marketing can never be underestimated. You can be the best therapist in the world, but if your potential customers don't know about you, or if your service does not match their expectations, it may be a short career!

Keep an eye out for The Secrets of Spiritual Marketing!

Free talk on the Value of Marketing to New Therapists at Q Academy

I'm very excited to be speaking about the Value of Marketing to New Therapists at the Q Academy's (Brisbane Campus) Careers Evening this Thursday from 7.00pm - 7.30pm.

Prospective massage students are welcome to attend this free event. Please contact Q Academy on 1300 20 40 80 for more information about the Careers Evening.

Hope to see you there!

Revive launches innovative new marketing workshops for holistic therapists

I'm very excited to announce that Revive Holistic Marketing has launched its marketing workshops and marketing services for holistic therapists.


Revive Holistic Marketing was created in 2009, after it became clear to me that there was a need for further training for massage therapists and other holistic therapies practitioners. Nationally accredited courses such as the Certificate IV in Massage Therapy, Diploma of Remedial Massage and Diploma of Aromatherapy, provide excellent technical training, however therapists often do not receive specific and thorough guidance on how to market their services.

The Expedition to Success – Marketing Your Holistic Therapies Business workshop provides therapists with a solid overview of marketing, and offers practical tools and templates to help them launch or grow their businesses, and attract and retain clients.

Designed for newly qualified and practising massage therapists, aromatherapists, reflexologists, Chinese medicine practitioners, naturopaths, homeopaths, astrologers, numerologists, energy healers and virtually any holistic therapies practitioner, participants require no previous experience in marketing.

Workshops are currently scheduled to run in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Newcastle and Sydney, with more locations to be added throughout the year. The workshop fee is $385 per person and includes course materials, a complimentary listing on the searchable global therapy directory, Local Therapy, a 50% discount on a custom 6-page website (this offer is valued at $125) and more.

Revive’s workshops can also be customised for, and delivered to, natural therapies colleges, holistic therapies associations and other related organisations throughout Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

I’m passionate about holistic therapies, and my vision is to help holistic therapists grow successful businesses, while raising awareness of the benefits of holistic therapies in the community.

Therapists invest substantial time and money in gaining and maintaining their holistic therapies qualifications. By better understanding how marketing can drive sales and revenue, therapists who attend our workshops will also learn how to convert that investment into profit quicker, while earning continuing professional education points (CPE points).

Feel free to check out the site, or to contact us if you have any queries about the workshops.

A business in incubation

Happy new year! Can't believe it's practially mid-January 2009.

My soon-to-be launched business, Revive Holistic Marketing, is bubbling away in the background, while I sort out business stationary, websites, course material and venues for a series of workshops for holistic therapists.

The paperwork - and costs - associated with starting a new business seem to mount at a scary pace... business name registrations, bank accounts, business cards, letterhead, brochures, printer and fax for the home office, filing stuff, deposits here and there... and the list goes on.

It's been a fascinating exercise doing all of this on a shoe string budget. I'm used to working with a substantially bigger marketing budget and simply having the resources of a full working office. Now, when my printer needs new ink, I have to go buy it, install it and ensure that its ready when I need to use it.

I've also been somewhat shocked and amused at the quotes I've received for all manner of services - web and graphic design, corporate identity and branding etc...no wonder so many small businesses fail! We'll cover all of that and more in the workshops.

Stay tuned for the launch of the website and details of workshops around the country!