ARTICLES OF ASTROLOGERS CAROLE DEVINE « MARKETING AN ASTROLOGICAL BUSINESS »
ARTICLES OF ASTROLOGERS CAROLE DEVINE « MARKETING AN ASTROLOGICAL BUSINESS »
Newsletters .
This is expensive , but it ' s powerful in reminding your clients that you are there . Sometimes they don ' t remember that you ' re there for them until you give them a nudge . I don ' t directly " market " in the newsletter anymore . I used to give them deals like half off a second chart if you order one at full price , but I think that cheapens our image . Doctors don ' t do it , so I don ' t believe we should either .
Now it ' s much less expensive than it used to be because of electronics . I send the great majority by email now , and then I store it on the website so that back issues are available . If you want to see them , the URL is ww . devineadvantage . com . I try very hard to make the newsletters interesting , relevant and in-depth so that clients can be subliminally instructed in the language . This and the parties have been the most effective marketing tools .
Website .
It goes without saying that any business that is going to be taken seriously MUST have a website . It is so important , it ' s worth hiring an expert to do it for you . I ' ve been extraordinarily fortunate in finding good people without even trying . Just look at websites to find out what is more your style and go for it ! PayPal is also a good option for online orders . It ' s the best decision I ever made .
Teaching .
Many people specialize in this , but it is here I must make a statement . I ' ve met hundreds of astrologers and aspiring astrologers , and sad to say , many were so inept , they didn ' t even know enough to know how much they did not know . A couple examples of this : In California there was a practitioner who went through a litany about planets in houses and signs . When I asked about aspects , he said he had not " studied those yet ." However , he ' s taking money to do charts for the public who do not know better . In a southern state within the last two years , I met an aspiring astrologer who considered himself as competent as I was ( he said so ), who showed me his notebook with his " discovery ." He had found that if he drew lines between planets , they made patterns . He showed me a grand trine , T-square , etc ., but he said , proudly , he didn ' t have names for them yet . He actually believed he had discovered aspects !! The state of our preparedness to do the job is appalling . Doctors would not be allowed to practice if they were as unprepared as our own practitioners . Unskilled , we can do as much mental damage as they can physically !
Astrology is a huge body of knowledge , and knowing only a part of it can be very damaging to not only your own practice , but to our reputation as a whole . It is no wonder we are not taken seriously when we call ourselves professionals without the credentials . I think the best thing we all could do is to learn what it takes to truly be competent and pass credentialing exams . Then we are prepared to teach .
NCGR has a new study guide that can give you a detailed synopsis of what it takes to be truly professional . I ' ve patterned my own correspondence course around this guide .
When you teach or lecture , record what you say . By duplicating yourself you can make more income . I recorded a class in Florida between 1992 to 1995 and now market it all over the world . I even sold the Japanese rights to it . With careful planning and good equipment , you can do this too . I ' m about to do another updated one all over again on CD because I ' ve learned a lot in those years and would do it a bit differently now . Never rest on your past . Life is always moving forward with new ideas and challenges .
Publish .
Whenever you have a good idea , it ' s wise to write it down and develop an article . Even if you ' re rejected a few times , keep trying . Editors will get to know you if nothing else . Offer to write for a local small publication . I wrote a column in Florida for more than a year . The newspaper suggested syndication . I sent copies of the columns to colleagues for endorsement , and this effort led to a column in the Mountain Astrologer between summer of 1994 and winter of 1995 / 96 , if I remember the dates correctly .
Do you have an idea for a book ? If so , and you don ' t consider yourself a writer , you can do two things . One is to join adult writing classes in your community , or you can get a ghost writer . Many people who have knowledge don ' t feel competent to write , but there are many students who are good writers and could use the extra income .
Advertising .
It ' s a good idea to advertise in astrological magazines , even if it ' s just a small ad . You may not get much response , but it puts your name out there over and over again . It has generated requests for my demo tape of my course , which has led to new students , so I ' ve found it profitable , but not for clients . The only ad that worked for that was a local one in a metaphysics newspaper that was an " infomercial ." It was a half page that amounted to an article . The publisher suggested a " first time " coupon with a discount . I did it , but probably wouldn ' t again .
Groups that Teach .
I joined the VIRGINIA SPEAKERS ASSOCIATION many years ago , not that I thought I ' d be doing a lot of speaking , but to learn to do it well , just in case . They taught day long seminars about the craft of being a professional in the field . It was not cheap , but what I learned was enormous . They taught how to develop products for sales " in the back of the room ," how to assess the speaking accommodations in the room ( sound , equipment , etc .), how to contract for the engagement , humor , technique , and a host of other skills . Toastmasters , of course , is another that teaches .
30 КАРЬЕРА АСТРОЛОГА | 2 2012