How do you advertise for your pp business?

[tlcdoula]

I am curious how you ladies advertise for you pp business? I have not focused on pp work, but am thinking that I would like to do more of it, so it got me thinking about how you ladies advertise.

[heidi]

I may actually have a referral for you. I had an interview last night with a family, and I think they could use someone with more experience/qualifications. They're expecting twins. I'm pming you now with my phone number incase you want to call me about it.

[ctowndoula]

Most of my ppwork I got as referrals from labor doulas, my web site (add it to your TAG lines), listing it on all the web sites I could, and actually got a lot from a hb mw practice here in town.

[Amydoula]

When I initially started almost 3 years ago I did a ton of advertising but since word has gotten around I haven't had too. I actually get many referrals right off the DONA website as well as from birth doulas. I make sure that I have brochures at all the practitioners offices but I haven't done any official marketing in awhile.

[PostDoula]

These are some of the things I've done:
*Posting on multiple websites
*Baby fair at Babies R' Us
*Presentations at childbirth Ed. classes
*Dropping info. (business cards/brochures/etc.) at OB/GYN offices

A fair amount of my business seems to come from people finding my website.
However, I don't think you can underestimate the importance of networking. (i.e. one of my first long-term clients came as a referral from an LC I was doing volunteer work with). Another was a referral from another childbirth professional I met at the baby fair. While I've only had 2 prospective clients from the childbirth classes, the nurse who teaches it has referred me several times.
At this point (at least in my area) I feel it's as important to help get the concept of Postpartum Doulas into the mainstream as it is to promote my own practice. How will people know to look for a Postpartum Doula if they do not know we exist???

[elang99]

I am just promoting it with my Labour Doula advertising - I have had just as many inquiries about PP work as Labour work, so it seems to be working out. All I have done so far is free advertising on the web, business cards, brochures and my website. Most of my inquiries come from people who come across my listing on a free website or a DOula listing website.

[deew]

The first step I will do is order lettering for my van window; http://www.autolettering.com/ is a good source from what I hear. Probably just my website.

[heidi]

After getting yet ANOTHER job via Craigslist today, I thought I would come here and mention it.
All of my jobs so far, save one, have been from Craigslist.

THANK YOU CRAIGSLIST for your free advertising!

[sacredma]

well i think i need to do some serious marketing. most of our business is word of mouth and referals. we do advertise on a local parenting webgroup that has about 800 memebers. we get hits off of our website and my doula partner is a dona member, so we do get calls from there as well.
we have a brochure and cards that are out around the community.

[FarmingtonDoula]

I ran a non-doula babywearing biz for a short time and craigslist got TONS of biz off of it. I plan to advertise there once I complete my DONA workshop next month!

[tlcdoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by heidi After getting yet ANOTHER job via Craigslist today, I thought I would come here and mention it. All of my jobs so far, save one, have been from Craigslist. THANK YOU CRAIGSLIST for your free advertising!

Heidi - I finally posted on Craigslist and like a dork I put it in the wrong category. I tried to change it, but it wouldn't let me so it looks like I will be listed in the wrong spot for the next 40 some days!!!!

I also posted my massage stuff - what a mistake. i had all the weirdos crawling out of the woodwork. Thankfully after a few more this morning they seem to have stopped. I am hoping that they stop calling or else I might just pull that ad (hey, I wonder if I pulled the ad that I placed in the wrong spot and started over - wonder if it would let me do that???)

[PostDoula]

I never thought of Craiglist....It makes me a little nervous! Have all of your responses been legit?