You are so right about the advantages of collaborating with our ‘competitors’! The truth is, when we join forces, the pie just keeps getting bigger and there is MORE for everyone, not less.

One of the challenges I have found with getting together with other professionals in my community is simply finding TIME.

I highly recommend exploring a handy alternative to meeting in person and that is “meeting” online and / or by phone, using simple (and often free) screen-sharing software and conference lines. The advantage to this is you eliminate travel time and can participate from your home, car, office, etc., plus you don’t need a baby sitter or have to leave your family. This also expands your ‘territory’ so that practitioners in isolated towns can join in.

As a connected group of practitioners, you have the ability to offer the public free informational Teleconferences (or Webinars, which is my favorite!) where all the practitioners have a few minutes to present information about a specific topic (e.g. “Natural Treatments for Arthritis Pain”, or “10 Natural Ways to Eliminate Insomnia”, etc). Or you can create a “series” where each practitioner has their topic on a separate date.

People on the call often “self-select” the practitioner they want to follow up with, so it is a great way to educate the public and attract new patients, who really want to see YOU. And once again, teleconferences / web meetings leverage everyone’s time.

It’s a fantastic win-win! Practitioners get new patients without “selling” and the public gets valuable information. This is called Educational Marketing or Attraction Marketing and it’s a natural fit for holistic health care practitioners who are turned off by slick advertising. And did I mention… It’s all FREE!

Once again, thanks, Dan, for sharing this important concept. Everyone wins when we join forces as collaborators instead of competitors.

Peace,

Lisa Hanfileti, LAc

Another benefit to working together: many holistic health practitioners are sole proprietors, which can be very isolating. Collaboration results in community building and helps everyone feel more connected.

When people of similar professions come together you get wonderful community groups like farmers’ markets and festivals. Why shouldn’t bodyworkers have a similar thing?

Also, bodyworkers speaking for each other makes one heck of an impression on your clients. When you and your marketing partners (the ones you trust to do good work) introduce each other to your clients, you are giving each other your stamp of approval, an implicit sign of trust in each other. Your clients will know they have a back up. They won’t feel like they are hazarding their time, money and health on an unknown therapist if you are ill, on vacation or if your next booking is too far out for them. Joining forces with another bodyworker takes confidence and trust, but it is a strong way to show your clients that your main concern is their health and comfort.

For joint venture ideas check out: http://www.naturaltouchmarketing.com/blog/marketing-matters/2008/06/create-healing-arts-tourist/

Way to be progressive Dan and Tara!