Should I make fliers for my CB class?

[Luv2bemommy]

Just wondering what you all thought about this.. The CB class I attend has about 15 couples in it, I really need those 3 births in so I was wondering if its ok to hand out fliers even though I'm not certified yet? If you had done this before what all did you put on it?

I'm not planning on charging yet since I need these 3 births in, after that who knows what I'll charge... Opinions please?

[Stacie]

Yes, yes, and yes! Are you attending because it's required? Who is teaching it? Have you taken the training yet?

[Luv2bemommy]

Yes I am taking it cause its required.. I am going through DONA, this weekend I will be taking the doula workshop(training) with Ann Tumblin..

Sooooooo... Since I'm not offical yet what should I put on it? I never made a flyer before.

[tlcdoula]

I would create something. Plus brochures are nice to have to hand out to perspective clients once you become a doula. I have some that I made up that highlight the things I offer and I would give them and my business card to each family when I would interview with them. If you don't do brochures I would at the very least careat business cards to hand out, but make sure you check with the CB educator as you wouldn't want to insult her.

[MothertheMother]

Just my opinion but I think the best way to start is with business cards and a website. You can put so much information on a website and I have heard in all service businesses that having your picture available is a must. People feel like they kind of know you if they can see what you look like. They are more likely to call or email you. My client right now said my website made all of the difference. I have not yet made up a brochure of a flyer but it is a priority. I am kind of holding off since I am about to do the CBE training. I don't want to have to change everything around when I want to add that.

How long have you been in the CBE class and how long is the class? I just printed up one sheet on Dads and Doulas and another what is a doula sheet and gave those two to each couple along with my card. I didn't want to hijack the class with how a doula can help etc so I gave these out the last day. The instructor was wonderful, though, and even asked our (me and another doula in training) perspectives and experiences on some things.

I would suggest that you don't sign up three couples for free right away. You might find that once you attend one couples birth you are not so willing to do it for free. I thought I would do my first one free but put on my website that I would charge anyway, just in case. A new doula in my area would charge $300 to $350. I put on my website that upon certification I would charge that but until then I would charge half. I have not even attended that first birth yet (any day now) and I think I will raise it already. You quickly learn how much time, energy and how much of yourself you put into this and feel like your time is worth more money! It is not so much about the money as it is confindence in the service you are providing.

I also have prospective client #2 on the calendar for a meet and greet. She came because I represented OSD at a military childbirth talk. I can't say it was a class, that would be giving too much credit. Anyway, one of the ladies asked me if I was just with OSD or also private and asked for my card. She called the next day and we will be meeting soon. Volunteering does pay off!!

Sorry to go on so long...good luck!

[Stacie]

I think having a website is great, I love it, but I think brochures go more distance. When I look at my hit counter, I know not a lot of people take the time to check it out, but if I can have my brochures in the offices of midwives, doctors, etc., I know they are getting looked at more than my website, lol.

Do you have cards yet, Candice? I do agree that would be the best way to go at first. I also don't recommend charging "nothing," I personally had an experience where one couple really didn't value me and they only wanted a doula because it was free (but I didn't learn this until they were at the hospital getting the epidural, and they said it in front on the nurse, too! Nice, huh?). I would recommend charging even $50.00 to cover your gas, if anything.

Christy, not to hijack but I still will email you those things you sked for -- do you have PowerPoint, or shall I arrange it into a word document?

Candice, I have a lot of good ideas for simple brochures if you need some help, let me know.

[Luv2bemommy]

Yes Stacie I would be interested!!!

See I'm scared if I charge being new that I won't get any clients and for some reason I'm afraid that I wont be accepted to the volenteer program and then there I would be! I guess I'm so nervous and excieted over it all I am willing to do anything to jump in, kwim? I haven't made cards either cause again I didnt know if I should jump to that cause I'm not certified, would I put CD beside my name and I havent became offical yet? Our CB class is every week for 5 weeks, next week will be my last week.. So I guess tonite when I go I will talk to the instructors about maybe passing out something about myself next week? I do have a website made through tripod and have bought a domain but havent bought a hosting place yet.

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luv2bemommy Yes Stacie I would be interested!!! See I'm scared if I charge being new that I won't get any clients and for some reason I'm afraid that I wont be accepted to the volenteer program and then there I would be! I guess I'm so nervous and excieted over it all I am willing to do anything to jump in, kwim? I haven't made cards either cause again I didnt know if I should jump to that cause I'm not certified, would I put CD beside my name and I havent became offical yet? Our CB class is every week for 5 weeks, next week will be my last week.. So I guess tonite when I go I will talk to the instructors about maybe passing out something about myself next week? I do have a website made through tripod and have bought a domain but havent bought a hosting place yet.

You cannot put CD on your cards until you are officially certified, but you could just put doula. You wouldn't be lying - you are a doula, but it just wouldn't say certified doula.

As far as volunteering and doing births for free - I started out doing this and found that people do not appreciate it as much and it was also very hard to get moms to sign on. I believe the issue with saying free is that they feel you are not worth it or that what you are offering isn't quality. You need to set a price for your time - even if you are not certified your time is still valuable.

Also remember that there are some women who choose not to certify and these women charge full price for their services because they know that they are valuable. Sometimes when someone sees free they become leary of what you are offering.

[Tiffany]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula Also remember that there are some women who choose not to certify and these women charge full price for their services because they know that they are valuable.

That would be me--I'm one of those who chose not to certify. I'm DONA trained, and I feel I'm no different knowledge or experience-wise than someone who has handed in their paperwork except that I haven't been through the certification process.

I also think Michelle has a good point about people not appreciating something that is free. You should charge $100 at least. That will cover some of your time and expenses. Plus, parking at a hospital is always 9 bucks a shot and if you go during labor, then go to visit after, it's already almost $20.

Anyways, I think flyers are a good idea. I always use the term "birth doula" but that's just because I like it.

[Luv2bemommy]

Thanks everyone!!!!!

Tonite the couple that I had talked to last week didnt show so I wasnt able to give them the print outs or anything. I did stay after and had about a 30 min chat with the CB instructor we went over tons of positions and massages techniques they had talked about in class.. She showed me, then I got to demstronate on her.. I had told her about being shy and all so next week when I attend that teenage CB class she is doing she will mention me to them and see if she can help me get clients.. I know teenagers won't be able to pay but thats really ok! The hospital they will be delivering at isnt far from me at all and there is no fee for parking so its not a big concern.. I just REALLY want this expierence.. I think between now and next Thursday I will throw some kinda flyer together and charge a small free, and I guess I will see what happens!

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luv2bemommy Yes Stacie I would be interested!!! I haven't made cards either cause again I didnt know if I should jump to that cause I'm not certified, would I put CD beside my name and I havent became offical yet?

If you're not certified, but have completed a doula training, you might want to consider this title for yourself: DONA Trained Birth Doula or CAPPA Trained Labor Doula, etc. Some people don't care if your certified or not, but almost everyone prefers to know that their doula is trained, and better yet... by a reputable organization. Giving yourself such a title looks more professional, IMO, than just "doula".

[arwen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula_Lori If you're not certified, but have completed a doula training, you might want to consider this title for yourself: DONA Trained Birth Doula or CAPPA Trained Labor Doula, etc. Some people don't care if your certified or not, but almost everyone prefers to know that their doula is trained, and better yet... by a reputable organization. Giving yourself such a title looks more professional, IMO, than just "doula".

That was just what I was going to say. I state I am a DONA trained doula, which I am, just not yet certified. Also I want to back up what another person mentioned. I did my first birth for free, it cost me nearly $75 in the end in photocopying, gas, phone calls, car parking, not to mention that there was a lack of value in the amount of time and effort I was giving this lady. I gave her information that was of great use and she never used it until it got so desperate that it was too late!! So for my next birth I charged $100 to cover my expenses (and then they tipped generously so that was really nice!)

I think it is important to decide how much things will cost you and ensure you cover these. Putting a small charge on also ensures they call you if they go into labor as I have heard stories where free services meant the mother never called the doula!!

Just my thoughts

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arwen That was just what I was going to say. I state I am a DONA trained doula, which I am, just not yet certified. Also I want to back up what another person mentioned. I did my first birth for free, it cost me nearly $75 in the end in photocopying, gas, phone calls, car parking, not to mention that there was a lack of value in the amount of time and effort I was giving this lady. I gave her information that was of great use and she never used it until it got so desperate that it was too late!! So for my next birth I charged $100 to cover my expenses (and then they tipped generously so that was really nice!) I think it is important to decide how much things will cost you and ensure you cover these. Putting a small charge on also ensures they call you if they go into labor as I have heard stories where free services meant the mother never called the doula!! Just my thoughts

I saw that you wrote that you did lots of photocopying for your clients. I used to do that too, and then came up with another idea. I created "binders" with all the information that I was handing out to parents. I made them pretty and then I borrow them to the parents during their pregnancy. This way I have created about four binders, borrow them out and then get them back and don't have to do as much photocopying. I have only lost one and then the mother paid me for it.

[gemasita]

Candice - when I took my CB class, the instructor introduced me as a doula-in-training and even though she was a doula, she wasn't looking for clients at the time (plus, she wasn't doing them for free like me either so it's not like we were in competition) and I had two couples come up to me and talk to me and I just gave them my email and phone number.

You could do very cheap business cards through vistaprint.com and just put "doula" and not CD like the pp said.

I didn't get my website up til a few months later. So you don't have to go crazy with getting your marketing materials together YET but having a business card is a nice thing.

I know it's kind of hard to figure out the order in which to do things sometimes! It'll smooth out quickly!

Jamie