Offering a free consultation (either in person or over the phone) is one of the best acupuncture marketing strategies you can use. It effectively takes all the risk away from prospective clients and means they have nothing to loose by paying you a visit. It also shows willingness on your part and builds trust and rapport.

I offered a free consultation on my website and the number of enquiries tripled overnight. At another acupuncture clinic, we brought in free telephone consultations and again the number of inquiries skyrocketed. I have found that 90% of people who come for a free half hour consultation in my clinic sign up for a course of at least 5 treatments. Now you may think that offering something for nothing is a waste of time and money but I guarantee you that people will be much more willing to make a financial commitment, once they have met you and sampled what you have to offer. In the therapy world, more than anywhere else the rapport and trust between the practitioner and the client is vital, and people know this. You can even be very upfront about this in your website and say that this is a chance “to find out if I am the right practitioner for you”.

The key is to offer something of real value that you would normally charge for. When I give a free consultation I simply give a shortened version of my diagnosis session. I ask the person about how they would like the acupuncture to help them and give a realistic evaluation of the benefits they can expect. I also offer any advice that they can implement straight away. By asking questions and really hearing the person, I am almost always able to gain rapport and trust. At this point, the person will be more than happy to book a full session. Do not attempt to push your services, instead focus on giving and listening. You will immediately set yourself apart from the crowd.