Where do your clients come from?

[Charmie981]

Okay, so I passed NARM (YAY!) and I'm willing, ready, and able to take clients. I have very limited funds for advertising, so I'm wanting to spend what I have wisely. Most people say their clients come from word-of-mouth or the web. I've got a friend working on a web page for me, but I'm trying to think of where I can advertise on the web. I think birthpartners.com would be a good investment, but where else? What has your experience been?

[Gray's Mommy]

I haven't paid for any type of advertisement except for my website. That normally runs about $60 a year for 5 pages. I have had most of my clients come from referrals from previous clients, referrals from a favorite midwife, through the DONA group which I am certified through & from other doulas.
I have put my name out there on several different websites, but I haven't gotten one client from that avenue...I've been a doula for 2 1/2 years.

Good luck in starting your new pathway.

Mary

[pamamidwife]

I would make some brochures...I use either the Midwifery Model of Care brochures from Citizens for Midwifery or one I made on my own....I put them at the library (sometimes in pregnancy books!), at bookstores, etc.

Stick with a small yellow page line to start with (the Yellow Pages is sometimes spendy, but if you have a website, you could put the web address in there and you won't need to print much else), rather than actual advertising.

I also like midwifeinfo.com and birthpartners.com. Other than that, it's mostly word of mouth or Yellow Pages. :)

[mwherbs]

put your name out there any place that has a bulletin board
in clinics that offer temporary care, or care for the un-insured and not elligible for medicaid...
the co-op and health food stores
homeschooling news letter and the co op news letter
think about offering a movie night at the library or a talk
health fairs, or the county fair
let the LLL leaders in town know you are around-- and if you haven't been to a league series I recommend going to a series to see how the local meetings are and it will also give the leaders a chance to see who you are
give all the local childbirth educators a call /visit and give them a couple of your cards,
contact any local homebirth support group
get a bumper sticker for your car and one for dh too