How do you REALLY find clients??

Jackie7183 · 02-28-2006, 06:12 PM

Hello Ladies. I have seen and heard many different ways to get clients. I have tried some of the ways, but I had planned to quit my job in June to be a doula full time, but I couldnt find the clients to support my practice.

What is the number 1 way you get clients (besides word of mouth, because since I havent had a birth yet, I dont have any mouths)?

Let me know, I am sure other new doulas would appreciate it also.

THanks a bunch!!

tlcdoula · 02-28-2006, 07:25 PM

Honestly I started out volunteering, and I did lots of volunteer births especially in the beginning. I volunteered to help teen and low income mothers. I got in good with a few social workers. This was how I started my "word of mouth." Unfortunately though the word of mouth really got me more free births for the most part, but I persisted.

When I was at the hospitals I would make sure that I was very kind to all the staff regardless of how nasty they were (not all but some) because I wanted to make a good impression, which can help again get referrals.

I also made sure that I spoke with anyone that would listen - i.e. anytime the subject of jobs/work came up I made sure people knew what I did. When I was waiting for my children to get out of dance and other parents were complaining about their job and would turn to me and ask me what I did I would tell them. I had business cards on hand and handed them out whenever I could. I made sure that my family members had business cards as well and that if the opportunity came up they could hand them out.

Before I stopped taking private clients I was averaging 1-2 clients consistently per month which I thought was awesome.

Now, as far as making a booming business - I think that takes time, and I think you really need to consider how much money you will need to make in order to quit your job. When I first started I thought I could get a booming business and could make a ton of money as a doula - how unrealistic I was LOL. I know for me, I could have NEVER made as much money as a doula as I was working my other jobs. It just wasn't possible when you consider the fact that you are very limited by the number of clients you can have.

Kim Trower · 02-28-2006, 10:43 PM

when I first started I called all the midwives and said I'm available basically so I could get the experience and they could get to know me and refer me for paying clients. I also did some inservices...I also taught CBE classes so that got me some clients. Seriously, it took 2 years and now I absolutely do nothing. I don't even have business cards (and haven't for 6 months) and I am plenty busy. But I am active in the community, president of our Birth Year Network, member of C.E.L.A. (childbirth educators and labor assistants), I keep in touch with midwives, CNM's, hospitals and word of mouth is my main advertisment right now. Oh and I have listed myself everywhere that will do it for free online.
A good thing to do is search anyone you know in your area that provides a service for the birth year...and then list yourself there as well. good luck

loveslabor · 02-28-2006, 11:14 PM

Offering my services for free right now. Place an ad about once a month on Craigslist.org.

Last ad I placed 2 weeks ago, I got 14 inquiries. I'll be working with about 3-5 of them.

Jackie7183 · 03-01-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loveslabor

Offering my services for free right now. Place an ad about once a month on Craigslist.org.

Last ad I placed 2 weeks ago, I got 14 inquiries. I'll be working with about 3-5 of them.

WOW! I placed an add and got NO response.

Thanks ladies, I know I cant expect it to happen over night. It is good to know that once you start, things kind of keep going with not as much searching for clients.

DL · 03-01-2006, 02:26 PM

If there is a group of doulas associated somehow in your area, sometimes getting involved with them can be a great way to get your name out. I belong to Birthworkers of Central Ohio (click here to view website); we're an association of doulas, midwives, message therapists, chiropractors, etc. We have a website that has a referral list (our names, ph #s, emails, & websites). I get many inquiries just from being listed on their website! I've also gotten referrals from other doulas in the group who couldn't take a potential client for one reason or another. If a group similar to this is available to you, I highly recommend networking with them!

Everything else I have done: networking with midwives, passing out business cards (both personally and setting info in waiting rooms & businesses), and the usual word-of-mouth. Just so you know, my first client was a good friend of mine, but after that.....the majority of my clients have been referred from my first client's midwife after she had seen me work.

My advice would be to try several avenues of marketing. The other posters have given some great advice. Be stubborn & persistant, allowing your passion to drive you!

It's often slow to start, but if will happen!!

heathenmamaof5 · 03-01-2006, 02:56 PM

Jackie,

Have you looked into the Valley/Foothill Doula Collective? Their phone is (888)Doula-4-U or their web site is www.doulacollective.bizland.com Most of the local doulas are members of the collective and that is how we get referals for births.

I have to tell you that I have yet to get a paying client yet. I'm concentrating on marketing right now. Creating a website, doing tri-folds, half sheets and business cards. Once I get all that done I will start actually going to Moms Clubs and OD offices and introduce myself. I also am going to contact as many of the child birth educators as I can.

My only other peice of advice is to contact the small business administration. They off free/low cost classes on starting or expanding your own business. I've gotten a lot of help from them.

I hope this helped.

Jackie7183 · 03-01-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathenmamaof5

Jackie,

Have you looked into the Valley/Foothill Doula Collective? Their phone is (888)Doula-4-U or their web site is www.doulacollective.bizland.com Most of the local doulas are members of the collective and that is how we get referals for births.

I have to tell you that I have yet to get a paying client yet. I'm concentrating on marketing right now. Creating a website, doing tri-folds, half sheets and business cards. Once I get all that done I will start actually going to Moms Clubs and OD offices and introduce myself. I also am going to contact as many of the child birth educators as I can.

My only other peice of advice is to contact the small business administration. They off free/low cost classes on starting or expanding your own business. I've gotten a lot of help from them.

I hope this helped.

Jill,

Whats funny, you sound like the same boat I am in. I have given my cards to all of my friends and family, created postcards(which should be comming any day now). I have lists of Drs., Midwives, and birthing centers here locally to which I will be sending them to. At least I know I am not the only one.

But my problem with joining VFDC is that you have to have 3 births, which I do not have yet. But I do plan on going to the meeting in April.

Also I have been to the SBA and they helped me get my ideas together for a business plan, which helped, but I have yet to finish it. Hopefully when I can focus more effort into it, I can get things off the ground.

THanks for all of your suggestions.

capandcradle · 04-06-2006, 11:02 AM

I believe it depends on a good many things. First of all, how popular are doulas in your community? Are you a newbie coming into a community with established doulas?

You'll find a lot of doulas do free work to "up their numbers." I think this is good and bad -- all at the same time. I mean, if the most experienced doula is $400 and she's attended 200+ births and the next doula is $350 and she's attended one birth, what is going to make the doula behind Door Number Two stand out?

I advise people to *find their niche*. Building your own business, doula-ing or otherwise, is really, really tough. You've gotten good advice -- be nice as pie to everyone you meet and try to meet a lot of people. Cover any visible tattoos, wear something nice, look the part.

There is a lot of good reading out there in the business world that you might find helpful. I like GUERILLA MARKETING and anything from www.48days.com

HTH,
Anne

MothertheMother · 04-08-2006, 04:23 PM

Wow, I just took a quick look at 48days....it seems like great information. Since my husband is about to retire from the army and start another career path I am going to sign him up for the free newsletters also. Thanks for the tip!

Bree · 04-08-2006, 04:54 PM

I notice that you are in the the Central Valley like I am. I find it very difficult to find clients, Things are so backwards here. Did you know that in the Valley the C/S rate is over 50%? And it doesn't help that many hospitals will not allow a mom to attempt a V-Bac anymore due to insurance and liability crap.

I have placed my cards at midwives offices and have put ads on www.bellywomen.net and other sites like that one. I have been lucky enough to assist several women in their labors (all were done last year), but I have yet to have a paying client. I also volunteer at a pregnancy center and co-teach CBE once a week, but haven't gotten any clients through those venues. I tell everyone what I do and have also placed cards at my other p/t job.

I guess all we can do is try to spread the word about Doulas & hope that someday it will catch on in our area. Good Luck!

heathenmamaof5 · 04-08-2006, 06:04 PM

Our market is pretty well saturated in and around Sacramento. I'm going to focus on the North side of Sac, as well as Roseville, Granite Bay, Auburn, etc. We're pretty well treated by the staff at local hospitals. I've heard that the county/teaching hospital doesn't like doula's much. Nobody seems to know why though. Bree, where are you at? I think in the Stockton/Modesto area it's toughr to gewt clients.

Bree · 04-11-2006, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathenmamaof5

Our market is pretty well saturated in and around Sacramento. I'm going to focus on the North side of Sac, as well as Roseville, Granite Bay, Auburn, etc. We're pretty well treated by the staff at local hospitals. I've heard that the county/teaching hospital doesn't like doula's much. Nobody seems to know why though. Bree, where are you at? I think in the Stockton/Modesto area it's toughr to gewt clients.

I am in Modesto. It is VERY tough to find clients in my area. There aren't too many doulas here & the ones I have contacted never return my emails! I think I have a better chance teaching in my area. Even the nurses look at me like I have bugs crawling out of my ears when I show up at a birth & call myself a Doula.

05-07-2006, 11:06 AM

Hello. I too am just starting out. I am trying to get a few births under my belt so that I can get certified. What really helps that is that I am a volunteer doula with Operation Special Delivery (OSD). http://www.operationspecialdelivery.com/
You don't need to be certified, just have completed a doula training. You can get more information from the website, but in a nutshell, you provide your services free of charge to military spouses who are giving birth while their husband is over sea’s (usually in Iraq fighting). Most of these women are at an active duty military base, away from family and friends, and are having their baby (usually their first) alone. I live in southern Ca. and have been getting more clients than I can handle through this. I really suggest it to doula's who are trying to break into the doula world and get certified. I am a military wife, and I know that military families are usually young and are having babies. This is a good way to get your name out into the military community in your area. If you are in southern CA you may have Beal AFB around you or Travis AFB, and possibly a Navy and Marine and Army base too. Not sure. I also loved some of the other information on here. Thanks guys.

capandcradle · 05-09-2006, 06:45 PM

-Networking! talk to everyone you can think of, butter them up, bring choc chip cookies, and most importantly -- follow up!

-Generate press releases or send in columns for local parenting or alternative mags. CAVEAT: Make sure you have MEDICAL evidence for anything you mention, ie, Cochrane, WHO, med/nursing journals **not** websites or books for the lay public. You might want a second set of eyes to look it over because sometimes innocuous things can get you raked over the coals.

- Put original articles on your website and cite them!

-Give talks or organize them, with snacks.

-Pull together a nursing inservice for hospital staff. PM me for outlines if you need one.

- Price your services competitively but within reason considering your experience level and saturation on the community. If you need to up your numbers, volunteer for charitable groups.

- Don't forget www.48days.com has tons of tips and ideas.