So you want to have a successful Reiki business, hunh, its really not that difficult, but there are some things you need to bear in mind and I’d like to take this opportunity to share a few of them with you.

First, my credentials to do so. As you may (or may not) know, Reiki is just a hobby for me. I don’t make any money from it, and I don’t intend to. I make a living as an English Teacher here in Japan where I also moonlight as a Marketing Consultant, which I’ve been doing since earning my MBA in Marketing several years ago. Like many English teachers in Japan, I was enjoying great success in teaching English and so I struck out on my own and started my own language school, the Purple Dolphin Language Academy, without realizing the importance of understanding the business side of things. Having a PhD in teaching English was not enough… business was good, but it could have been a whole lot better if I knew more about it, so I went back to school and received an MBA for my efforts. I began with consulting for friends with schools far enough away from my own to avoid competition and, as a result of their prompting, have since branched out as a Strategic Marketing Consultant.

Perhaps I’m a bit biased towards the marketing side of things since my MBA is in Marketing, while I realize the importance of management, accounting & economics, I truly feel the key to success in any business lies in its successful marketing, if that’s done right, everything else will fall (virtually) effortlessly into place. So that is what I’d like to take a look at today… Marketing in Reiki.

The best place to start is a careful review of my post on Strategic Reiki, since this contains an explanation of one of the most important marketing tools… the SWOT Analysis. That analysis lies at the root of any successful marketing plan and while I suggested using a SWOT to make the best out of your Reiki practice it is also invaluable in making the best out of your Reiki business. That simple report will give you all the ammo you need to wage war on your competition… in a nice way.

OK, now that you’ve completed your SWOT Analysis you’re ready to hear my Captain Jack story. If you haven’t done your SWOT Analysis the story won’t make any sense to you so I recommend you do so.

There’s a fisherman I know living in New York who is one of the most successful fishermen in the world. His friends call him Captain Jack and he makes more money single-handedly with his simple rod and reel than most of the big boats with their big nets and fancy radars and dozens of fishermen. When asked how he does it, he said “its easy if you just follow two simple rules“. These two simple rules just happen to be the secret to any successful business… and a successful Reiki business is no exception.

RULE #1: Go where the fish are.

Many of the big fishing boats are too large to maneuver in shallow waters and/or would rather use their wiles trying to get the fish to come to them. Captain Jack knows the importance of going directly to where the “expensive” fish are. In terms of your Reiki business this refers to location. If you are trying to run a successful Reiki business and you are located out in the boonies, you will have a much more difficult time in getting your clients to make the trip out to see you, as opposed to your being located in the middle of a big city. The choice of city is also important as some cities welcome more esoteric arts more warmly than others.

Marketing involves doing research to find the best location for your Reiki business. This is where the market research comes in and unless you do that research you won’t know where you should be. Maybe its in the local mall, maybe its out next to the hospital or esoteric bookstore, maybe its out near the college… go where the fish are!!!

RULE #2: Give them what they want.

Many of the big fishing boats prefer to use whatever bait happened to be on sale that week with little concern for the preferences of the fish. Captain Jack does some market research to find out exactly what it is that they prefer… and then he gives it to them. Generally speaking, local fish want local food… which is why they chose to live in that particular location in the first place. San Francisco fish don’t cotton to New Orleans worms… no matter what the sale price is.

How many business do you know of that seem to know what’s best for you and try to sell you what they want with little concern for what you want? With the exception of Microsoft there are not many businesses that can get away with that on any sustained basis. Marketing involves doing research to find our exactly what your intended clients want. This is the second part of your market research. Maybe they only care about low prices, maybe they want massage, or perhaps they expect training along with their treatment… whatever it is… give them what they want!!!

As Captain Jack said, following these simple rules is easy, but its amazing how many businesses fail to do so and as a result.. fail. A well thought out SWOT Analysis and adherence to these two simple rules is really all it takes to get you off the ground and running. I could write volumes about advanced marketing applications and heuristics for running a successful Reiki businesses, and perhaps someday I will… but in the meantime, these ought to be enough to get you going. Best of luck to you and enjoy the fishing!!!

For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!