How to start an intuitive business.
Tips from a pro.
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Jet back 20 years. Imagine saying you were a healer, intuitive or Tarot reader. Mention Himalayan salt caves, Reiki, craniosacral. People — those not curious in alternative methods — would think you were crazy. Even acupuncture was viewed with suspicion!
My, how times have changed.
To preface, it’s valuable to note that I’ve worked as a healer/Tarot reader for 20 years, now exclusively online. I’ve read in wellness centers, street fairs, stores, hair salons, restaurants, parties, bookstores, homes, cafes, parks. I’ve taught classes/events in different parts of the country. I’m trained in Reiki (master level) and did hundreds of sessions. I hosted one of the earliest Tarot podcasts and published my first Tarot memoir in the baby days of ebooks. I’ve used several social media platforms, though I deleted all accounts years ago.
So yah, I’ve been around. What was once a desert is a crowded landscape of healers/readers now. Here’s how you separate from the pack.
You must give hundreds of hours of free sessions and have strong mentors to guide you.
Otherwise, you are not ready for the public and will fail. No matter how gifted you think you are. Prodigies practice more than most.
Spend time in therapy/holistic wellness and heal childhood traumas.
This is the most crucial tip. Otherwise, you will project your issues onto clients who will unsurprisingly mirror the same wounds. You will burn out and the last thing this industry needs is another unhealthy healer.
Be clear and simple in what you offer.
One service or a plethora? Keep descriptions clear and simple. Describe services so clients understand and book. Make it idiot-proof. Sure, you can be mysterious but may just end up with mysterious weirdos.
Envision the perfect client.
Who is your perfect client? The more you imagine the energy you’d like to experience in the form of a client, they will appear. Positive? Open? Enthusiastic? Envision the ideal session. Otherwise, all kinds of people will appear — virtual or online — with as many moods and behaviors. Perhaps you’d like that trial by fire. There will always be challenging clients, but the ideal experience is up to you to imagine,
Location.
In person, virtual or a mix? Most centers will charge a split of 25/75 or so. If you invite people into your home, be very careful because each client is a unique pair of shoes. They’re going to carry in all kinds of things, some of which will be difficult to eradicate. Plus, they’ll know where you live. Consider renting an office with a professional address or go online.
Be flexible and approachable. In other words, a real human being.
Clients want to be seen, heard and understood. They want to feel love and positive energy. They don’t need mumbo-jumbo, woo b.s. When you are real and approachable in a fake world, clients will flock to you like bees to nectar — and invite friends!
Market yourself in a way that works with your nature.
I’ve done the things — paper flyers, ads, books, events, the socials. I’m at a point of luxury now to read only past clients and referrals. However, as a newbie, it will be tough to gain clients word-of-mouth. It depends on cash flow. If you can float months/years or have a supportive partner, then you can indulge in a careful build without marketing.
Otherwise, utilize the unbelievable amount of tools at your disposal which were not there when I started out. A website is a must, though some do it strictly through social media. Up to you. There’s YT, TT and other video/social platforms. Substack. Networking. Conferences. Podcasts. Biz cards. Write a book and give it away. Create a free course. Zoom chat. In-person reads at a center. There are so many ways to get your name out there.
Your absolute best marketing is a great session — every time.
You may have the best marketing plan/team, but it all start and ends with you. You must give a great session, every time. One and done clients are fab practice but to sustain a biz for decades, it’s reputation and referral. Give a great read and you will be referred. Women are wonderful marketers because there’s always a friend quietly looking for a reader. Your biz is a concentric circle: 1 offs become returns who become referrals who become returns who become regulars and the 1-2 offs return. You’ll have great connectors who bring tons of clients and the stalwarts. By the 5-10 year point, you’ll only need a certain percentage of your list to book to have a solid biz. If you tire of consults, try group events and passive income streams.
Keep rates commensurate with experience level.
Overcharging will not bring many clients and the ones who show may not be the perfect fit. Be realistic about rates. There’s no ageism in this work: clients trust readers with years of experience. Don’t under/overcharge. You can always raise — it’s a better look than scrambling to reduce. Offer discounts/packages. Everybody loves a discount!
Take time off to relax and book a healing for yourself.
Wellness for a healer is a non-negotiable.