[DoomaYula]

I am only exagerrating a little! There are 30 local doulas, and Charlotte, NC, isn't that huge. So I'm constantly interviewing -- and typically the potential clients are also interviewing 5-10 other doulas. How can I stand out? I do give all potential clients a packet of info containing the pregnant patients bill of rights (I think, psychologically, its important to know that we HAVE rights!), the CIMS induction fact sheet, the short version of "what every woman needs to know about c-section," info about ppd, etc.

I try to dress nicely when I have a meeting, I'm always on time, I listen attentively.

Is there anything you all can suggest? I realize that statistically I'm not the only doula in town who gets 1 client for every 5 interviews, but I kind of feel like a loser!

 

[SalmonBayDoula]

Everyone goes through cycles or slumps, where it feels like you are interviewing a ton and getting very few clients. this will turn around and soon you will be on the other end.

let other doulas you know and respect that you are available for their overflow! Screen your potential clients on the phone to make sure you are in the ballpark for what they are looking for, before you meet, to reduce the number of "not quite a good fit" interviews you do. Let everyone you know that you are available for back-up and last minute clients. offer former clients a small "referral rebate" for every client who hires you that was referred by them.

Drop by some cookies at the local midwives and ob offices with your cards!

Good luck and keep at it, things will swing the other way soonest!

Sharon

 

[gemasita]

Well, a couple of things. First of all, take a look at your skills and interests and see if there is anything that you can learn or offer that make you stand out. I have become a Hypnobabies instructor so I love working as a hypno-doula. I know some other doulas that have a lot of experience with VBACs, or rebozos, or TENS machines. Not just a "gimmick" but something you really enjoy and have experience in.

Secondly, I try to emphasize my personality. We have tons of doulas in the Triangle, NC and we all have very different personalities, which is great for our clients. I just am very upfront in interviews about what I am good at (and even not so good at in case they are looking for something different) so that the people who hire me will be a good match with me. Several people have hired me because they felt comfortable with my personality and doula style after I really started making a point to emphasize it in interviews.

I agree with the pp too to let other doulas know if you have availability so they will know who to send people to if they are booked. We all do that around here and it is so helpful!

 

[amyfarr]

I am not much help. I am one of about 30 doulas in the Pittsburgh area and I am not even getting the interviews. I need someone to tell me what I am doing wrong because people are checking out my site but not contacting me. I think what you are doing sounds good. I agree about finding something you specialize in and then advertise that you are doing that. I am offering breastfeeding classes and consults as I am taking a breastfeeding counselor course. I hope things start looking up for you.

Amy

 

[Sage.Naissance]

I am a doula in Portland Oregon where there are really a gazillion doulas and midwives. I am working on this myself. Just be awesome, I guess....

:

 

[Defenestrator]

I've been a doula for six years now. For the last three I've been practicing as a midwife as well, so that has added something to my resume that a lot of other doulas don't have. Even before that, though, I was getting hired about 80-90% of the time and felt like I had the work I wanted. We have many, many doulas here, though there are only maybe 10 or so who cover my area and make it their main job.

Some of the things I did that seemed to help: I stopped bringing packets to my consults -- many women will still want that stuff later, but I found that my hire rate went up when I stopped giving out *anything* at the consults. People are drawing conclusions about you on very little information and if you are flexible about the role that you are going to perform then backing off on the "doula as educator/advocate/fighter" impression might help you. I don't know how to be articulate about what I'm trying to say here, but sometimes women feel a little bit unsure about taking on any battles when they are pregnant or about making big changes and presenting yourself as the person who will change their birth experience might be a turnoff.

I also stopped bringing my "doula bag" to consults. I used to bring this big duffel and show them all the stuff I would use to help them at their birth -- all the standard doula toys. I don't carry that kind of stuff at all any more. My doula bag is a small tote with copious snacks, canned coffee, knitting, and a toothbrush. I just found that most women didn't want/need any of the stuff that I was bringing. They just wanted someone who knew what was going on to help them and make sure that they didn't get run over.

Marketing myself directly to women never worked for me, except in one way: I got on as many internet listings as possible. I also found it helpful to offer to visit natural childbirth classes as a guest speaker and talk about doulas.

One thing that worked that was a surprise to me: I asked other local doulas to back me up. Sometimes there would be a small exchange of money, but often we would barter and what I found was that all of the doulas who were backing me up would ask me to back them up. In addition, they would often think of me first when they were booked. And the doulas around me get booked up really frequently. A lot of them are not really doing this full-time and so they will turn away a reasonable number of people once they get their one client a month or whatever.

If I had a provider who was at all decent or accomodating, I would send them a thank you note with some business cards. This has proved really fruitful for me because some women will ask about doulas at their appointments.

Lastly, consider raising your fee. Having a high fee, as long as you have a couple of years' experience under your belt, creates the impression that you are more experienced or more skilled than the rest of the pack. I know it sounds crazy, but I watched the midwife who trained me charge about $300 more than anyone else in town and get hired consistently by lots of women who thought she had some kind of special doula magic.

Good luck!

 

[kangaroomum25]

Move here, we just now got ONE!

 

[April422]

I agree about leaving the prospective client with a minimum.
I take a copy of my contract and brochure and a letter reiterating my services to a meet and greet.

I also take my prenatal binder that every client gets, but I don't really go through it, I just list off the topics that are included and use it as a "polished" presntation reinforcer.

When I actually do a sit down interview my hire rate is almost 100% so I'd say what I have going is working so far.

 

[memiles]

I'll agree with the others here:

My interview packet is simple: two copies of my agreement (one for me, one for them) with a postage paid envelope to mail it back if they hire me, a copy of my "how to reach Megan" sheet, two business cards, one of my brochures, and the DONA "Dads and Doulas" flier. I consider the interview a time to really listen to what they are looking for in a doula and demonstrate that I would be a good fit for them. I'm pretty flexible and can support women in what they really want for their birth and it's NOT my place to force my agenda on them. I also reserve the right to decline clients if I know I'm not the best doula for them. I then pick and chose the information I share with the ones that hire me based on their needs and wants for their birth.

I cherish my relationships with other doulas in the area (Hi Sharon!) . I'm about 40 minutes outside of Seattle (where you can find a doula on every corner). While I'm willing to drive in for the right client, depending on my other clients sometimes that doesn't work, so I pass those along to my friends. They feel the same about traveling out to my area, so I get great referrals that way.

Finally, I've found that being myself gets me the right clients, if that makes sense. I honestly believe there is a doula for every woman, but that I'm not the doula for everyone. My gut is usually right about which will hire me and which won't, and to be quite honest, I don't want to be hired in situations where I'm not the right doula for them. I've released that decision to the universe, and am much happier with the result since I've stopped worrying about it.

 

[dewi]

It is just a meet and greet, stop giving out packets at your initial interview for a potential client. Most clients have information overload and there is time for that if you get booked.
As the OP said it also might seem like you have some agenda.

It should be a short and sweet initial interview.
Keep it under an hour.

Don't talk the "politics of birth" on initial interviews. All that paper work you give out leads to that type of talk too early in the relationship.

The less detail about your point of view, your own birth, your own life, etc., no rambling on about anything the better. Let the client ramble on.

Meet in her home.
Discourage meeting in her office or a coffee shop to do the interview.
I discourage this vehemently in my service, it will be at the doulas inconvenience to fit the interview into the clients available time at clients home. It pays off.

Your personality, experience, talking about the rhythm of how you work, be authentically accommodating, talk positives only, and just plain clicking with a client.

 

[Mamabeakley]

I think giving out a packet - WITHOUT TOO MUCH INFORMATION - looks professional & polished. I give out a folder with a sheet "About me", a reference sheet, a 1 page description of what I do, a 1 page description of the childbirth classes I offer, and copies of my letter of agreement. Also business cards. They cost me about . . . $1 each to make (if I buy the folders in bulk) and they look "official".

 

[DoomaYula]

Thanks everyone! I have a meeting on Friday, and I feel good about it, armed with all this new info.

I'm also considering going for a CBE certification, but its so expensive...

 

[BrooklynDoula]

I fill every month in a city with a million doulas and I send all the overflow to all the amazing doulas I have relationships with (and they do the same for me). So, I think knowing other doulas is huge.

I give people one piece of paper - a double sided contract and nothing else. I would stop giving all that stuff for sure. Save it for paying clients.

I talk honestly about my own experiences, my philosophy about my work, and how I feel I can be of use to them (after asking them what they want from a doula and their birth experience). I am calm and confident and SO SO SO many of my clients tell me afterwards that being confident and calm was central to their decision.

Because I always fill, I feel no reall need to sell myself. I tell them there are tons of fabulous doulas around and that I can give them other names if they like. I tell them so much of it comes down to personality and that I want them to have someone at their birth who they feel they can trust and who they want to share this moment in their lives with. I talk about my role and how that works with dad's role and I answer any questions.

BUT, I also make a point not to go see people who are interviewing a ton of people. I do phone calls with everyone before making a meeting. If they tell me on the phone that they are going to interview several people, I encourage them to call me AFTER they meet the others. I tell them they should go with the person who feels right to them and if they meet that person in their initial interviews, I am thrilled for them. If they still feel they have not found the perfect person, then I am happy to set up an appointment. I don't really like being one of 5-10 (one of 2-3 is fine and I am happy to do that, but 5-10 is a bit much imo).

Anyhow, I hope you find things pick up for you. Let us know how it goes.

 

[DoomaYula]

I tried to set up a meeting at client's home, but her dh is studying for exams or something, so she suggested a coffee place. I'm going, armed with NOTHING but me!

 

[Awaken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dewi Meet in her home. Discourage meeting in her office or a coffee shop to do the interview. I discourage this vehemently in my service, it will be at the doulas inconvenience to fit the interview into the clients available time at clients home. It pays off.

Can you explain this a little more? I think I understand the point you're making, but not quite!

This is a great thread- I've gotten a lot of good ideas. I am also one of many postpartum doulas in my area. It's hard b/c I am not as experienced, and there are several experienced doulas who are "in" with local breastfeeding centers and get first crack at those clients. But I totally agree with the referral thing- we all have such different personalities and life experiences, that I think it's great to be able to share business with the other doulas and vice versa, if they are more of the right personality or in a better location to be able to serve a family.

To the OP- let us know how the meeting goes!

 

[beansricerevolt]

:

great info!

Yes OP, keep us updated

 

[azjen43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooklynDoula I fill every month in a city with a million doulas and I send all the overflow to all the amazing doulas I have relationships with (and they do the same for me). .

Sorry if this is a highjack, but as a (very) part time doula considering expanding in a very doula-rich area, (as a Bradley teacher, I do belong to the area Birth Network, and have good relationships with many other doulas) I have questions, too.

How many clients do you usually book in a month? What is the ratio of birth/postpartum work that you do? How long have you been doing this work and is it a full-time profession for you?

My apologies the the OP. Thank you for starting this thread, and best of luck to you on your interview.

 

[dewi]

I Discourage meeting in her office or a coffee shop to do the interview.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awaken Can you explain this a little more? I think I understand the point you're making, but not quite!

The work a doula does is so intimate, and you work in their home with them before you accompany them to the hospital. It is more comfortable and informal to be in her home when you first meet. They get to show you the baby's room and talk about the baby!
The home visit also gives the doula an opportunity to check out the commute, and the parking situation, safety, and the home.

The intimate language about her body and emotions when meeting in the women's place of business does not let her be the "pregnant" part of her self, but her professional worker self and she interviews you like hiring for a business interview, instead of a soft interview for her personal care.

It could be just me, I like going to their home, and clients that are serious seem to really like and appreciate meeting at their home.

Coffee shops are okay in a pinch. I do love the coziness of some Starbucks and it's better than a women office.

Remember that I live in NYC and meeting in a women home is not that inconvenient. If i lived in the suburbs maybe my pov would be different if i had to drive an hour.

 

[nancynance]

Another reason for interviewing in their home - and this was told to me by a very experienced doula - is that you can kind of judge their economic situation if they ask for a discount. Hope that doesn't sound too mercenary, it's just that she was unpleasantly surprised to find that she had agreed to a sizeable discount for a couple who were living the "good life."

 

[Amydoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancynance Another reason for interviewing in their home - and this was told to me by a very experienced doula - is that you can kind of judge their economic situation if they ask for a discount. Hope that doesn't sound too mercenary, it's just that she was unpleasantly surprised to find that she had agreed to a sizeable discount for a couple who were living the "good life."

I've had this happen as well. Now fees are not negotiated until after the interview and I never interview anywhere but their home.