Partnering with Hair Salons, Day Spas, and Massage Therapist - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Has anyone used a "referral program" with these three occupations?

I am starting one and am paying $25 for each new client that the Hair Salon, Day Spa, or Massage Therapist bring my way.

I'd like to get a good idea of the "Terms and Conditions" of such a partnership.

So if you have a referral system in place such as this let me know:
1) How it is going?
2) Was it well received?
3) How often you pay commissions/referral bonuses?

I've used print ads 3 times in the past year (To the tune of over $1000) and only netted 2 paying clients. So I'm going to redirect my advertising/marketing funds to a referral system.

Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

Thanks,

Dave

[Sandy]

I am considering a "referral program" with Chiropractors in my area. Many Chiropractors tell their patients to try Pilate's and since that is my area, thats where I'm starting out.

Sandy

[jguerrieri]

Hello,

We do a sponsorship with a local chiropractor, massage studio, and a salon. We put their logos on our website and t shirts, and we distribute any promotional materials to our clients in exchange for advertising our services in their respective businesses.

So far, it's worked out great. Neither one of us actually "pays" the other - we just refer each other.

Josh

[Sandy]

Hi Josh,

I think thats a great idea! And I think there is nothing better than just having someone refer you to someone else.

[megfit]

Hi Dave!

A cross-referral program is a great way to generate more visibility. I do know of other health and fitness professionals who set up such a program, and outside of the medical profession, there's no real problem with this. Grin; just don't advertise the payment plan...

Any kind of collaboration of this kind should include a contract that spells the entire relationship out. It would be at that time that you would indicate when you (or they!) would pay you. I have one client who pays all her referral sources at the end of each month. Also, i have a few collaboration projects with other dietitians, offering home study continuing ed programs, and although we're friends, we still drew up a contract that spells out the entire agreement. Just good business and maintains that healthy and happy relationship.

Great comments about ads. In marketing, they say that a person has to see an ad eleven times in seven different formats before they'll contact you! I remember when I used to run ads and I literally would have people call me who would say (more than once!), "I've had your ad on my refrigerator for a year, now, and I just saw your ad in the paper today and decided it was time to call." Amazing!

But, what really generates more interest, and actually gives a more credible perception, are articles! So, if you can convince the editor of that paper to allow you to run a series of articles (he/she will want to see samples of your work), it will not only increase your visibility (not everyone READS ads), but also serves as free advertising, because what comes along with running a column is a free bio at the end of the article.

Also, do NOT discount what you're doing online! Writing simple articles for your target market and submitting them to article submission sites REALLY can increase business! I have had many clients who were drawn to one of my sites from an article of mine that showed up here or there (or EVERYWHERE!). Even locals now use the internet to search for help.

Margie

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Hey Margie,

Thanks for your input. I was already to send out my letters of proposal and then a lawyer friend stopped me. LOL

So now I am working on agreements. While I know this is an important part as we've become an extremely litigous society, it is really delaying my roll out of this referral program.

Glad you are posting again!

Dave