I was reading a marketing column today about the recession and realized that we, as alternative healthcare providers, should potentially be recession proof. It’s true that the economy may not be doing particularly well, but in the scheme of things, it’s not all that bad. It’s sustaining itself, and so should we be.

In the times of a “bad economy,” our patients, their family members, and friends, may not be doing particularly well, and I am not just talking about financially. I am referring to physically and emotionally. That’s why it’s a great time to be a practitioner of Chinese medicine.

Why? Simple. We are in the business of making people feel better! We are trained to address physical and emotional problems, and today there is a high level of emotional stress that translates into physical aches and pains. The overall emotional breakdown with people in the country and around the world, is expressing new and exacerbated ailments that we have a solution for!

So why aren’t people breaking down your door and lining up at your clinic? Good question!

First of all, people’s perception of acupuncture mostly is that it treats pain, they may not be aware that acupuncture can help them be calm and relaxed. Most people are not familiar with the powerful emotional support that acupuncture can offer. That’s why it’s important to shift that paradigm, and I know of no better way to do that than through the powerful benefits of Ear Shen Men, Point Zero and Yin Tang!

That is why I started holding an Happy Hour. I started doing it for a couple of reasons, 1) it’s a great way to quickly show people how quickly acupuncture can reduce stress and anxiety; 2) it’s a great way to break the “I’ve never had acupuncture and am afraid of needles” ice.

On the first day we had it, six people showed up and three of them opted for further treatments. The next time I did it, 10 people showed up and four of them opted for more care.

So, in two days, by just putting our flyers (and not doing much more than that), I got seven new patients. Not bad for a few hours of business canvassing with flyers.

It was sweet and simple. Not only that, but it helped everyone to drop their stress levels down a few notches, and what a wonderful thing to offer people in at this time.

Here’s what I did:

• I created a flyer
• I went to local businesses within walking distance and told them about the event and invited them over
• I asked local businesses if I could place a few flyers near their cash register where they would be easily seen
• I had a local massage therapist stop by to give chair massages
• I had the Acupuncture and Stress PowerPoint playing in the treatment rooms

Through education, marketing and holding an Happy Hour you will be able to help shift the paradigm and provide a calmer, more peaceful world, one patient at a time!

In health, prosperity and practice growth!

Jeffrey