How do I get People in the door? Cheap 1st Visit or Keep the prices High!

That's a good question, and one that I've struggled with quite a bit. I end up doing so many "promotions" in which I give away flower arrangements hoping to get business from it...but I question whether or not I should just keep the value high to set the tone that the flowers I create are worth that amount. It's not that I think giving away flowers attracts cheapies, I just think it caters to grateful, yet unpurchasing looky-lous. Your place sounds interesting...is a float tank a sensory deprivation tank? Where are you located?

Are some of your services something that can be offered or demonstrated at Lunch & Learn type events for companies, or employee health fairs? Like 5 minute chair massages, or interesting talks about some of the other services you offer.

Fall seems to be a time when organizations and companies do health fairs and they look for exhibitors with real info. I've got at least five 30-minute fitness demos scheduled for Sept and October. The demos are free (unless they opt to pay a price per employee for take-home materials) but it gives me great exposure to promote my regular fitness classes and workshops. This is my first time but I'm already getting a lot of interest which hopefully will translate into new students and clients...

Jacob - good question and I've tried both methods. I've offered free services and received a small amount of conversion - in hindsight, the hours spent doing the free work compared to the money brought in by the conversions was too high. But it's not the same for every industry.

As a person who loves massage and anything remotely related :), I can say that I am willing to pay high prices because it's a luxury.

No use in trying to market what's really a luxury item by giving it away or selling it at really low cost.

I would focus on networking, doing demos/giving talks (like Ondine talked about), and maybe trying to secure some financing so you can market this high-end product to the people who can afford it.

I would also try as best as I could to use the internet: local business directories, SEO and low-cost online advertising methods, AND make sure you submit a press release about the Wellness Center - it's free and could absolutely work out well for you.

Tia

Another thought, triggered by Tia's comments: I attended a small business class (free at my local community college) and the director gave great examples about businesses getting free publicity by tying into educational and community events, things that newspapers want to cover. For example, there is a little town nearby whose claim to fame is white squirrels.... they have a white squirrel festival every year. A local bakery partnered with the wildlife service to have someone come to the bakery and talk to kids about white squirrels and then the kids would decorate a free squirrel-shaped cookie. They sent out a press release (free!) and had such a great response they had to book an overflow date, and then did it again with black bear cookies. Of course the adults bought lots of other stuff! I love the win-win-win of this example!