Co-Creative Marketing – What Works For Me

It was time. It seemed as if all the signs were pointing to opening up a full-time EFT practice. I was nervous and excited all at once. I opened. Clients began to come. And then the global crash happened, just weeks after I had decided that this was going to be my path. How could this work? And then my client list doubled. And doubled again. Even though the economy tanked, and I’m located in one of the most conservative areas in the country, in terms of adjunctive or complimentary medicine and therapies, the practice began to thrive, and continues to do so. I think it is because of a number of things, but primarily because of what could be called co-creative marketing - I also think of it as mystical marketing, or contemplative marketing. Regardless of the label, it works.

First, it is important for me to know that the basics are in place—my website is up and running, beautifully. I feel wonderful whenever I hand my business card to anyone because it is lovely, and it directs them to a site I feel absolutely wonderful about. I post flyers locally, and have an ongoing Google ad running. I am listed in practitioner’s listings. But we all, basically, do those things, yes? What gets us to the next level, that of attracting a solid, steady stream of clients we love and who love us?

There are probably as many approaches and ideas as there are practitioners, but these are the steps I take, over and over, which have continued to provide a wonderful, steady, stream of gifted clients.

Ideal Client Creation

First, imagine your ideal client. Who is she? Who is he? I focus on the way I want to feel in the session once their true self is emergent. I feel delighted and grateful that they are there, and excited about the amazing results they are getting. I have a particular openness in mind—they love this work, feel as if this is their great gift to themselves. They feel fortunate to have found me and find it easy and effortless to pay my fees. They love referring friends and family. They feel as if they have found a life-changing gift in coming to me. I have some ideas, too, about the sort of work or issues I want to work with. So—what rings true for you? What does your ideal client feel like to be around? Be very clear about this. Where do they live? Are they parents? Students? Professionals? Be clear. Write a little biographical paragraph, and end it by saying “and the universe is bringing these wonderful souls to me every (day, week, month—whatever is right for you).“ Tap it in while you are saying it.

Visualization

I know we’ve all heard this a thousand times. Visualize. Creatively. But how? And does it really work? Yes, thank heavens. I use three specific visualization exercises: out of the mists, calendar, and numbers.

I am indebted to my colleague Jade Barbee for “out of the mists” : he told me about it and I use it, and have probably adapted it a bit. I picture a soft, pleasant, foggy mist, and picture my clients walking out if it and over to me—I don’t visualize the whole trajectory. I just see them coming out of a cloudy place and into reality. I usually see them as silhouettes. Heaven only knows why. As you can imagine, I love our banner on EFTfree.net—which shows happy people all in silhouette!

My next visualization tool is the calendar tool. I use this all the time. I look at my electronic calendar, and I picture my appointments all filling up. When I was first starting, I actually put in blocks saying “client,” so that I could see them all filled up when I looked.

And then I use numbers. I have in mind a certain number of sessions I want to appear each week, so I visualize the number and say it internally to myself.

Calculating the Clientele

This flows from the numbers approach, and is really a part of the same idea. I calculated, early on, what income I wanted. I did not do a pie-in-the sky number, but one that could support me with room left over--about the level I was at in my former job. I have a desire to allow this all to build gently so that I don’t get what one colleague calls “vibrational whiplash,” from setting the goal supernaturally high. So. Solid goals, but not outlandish. Then I divided that number by twelve, for the months, by four, for the weeks, and by my fee. That leaves me with what I need in terms of sessions per week, and also builds in about four weeks of vacation. That number becomes my baseline.

In the Body

There are two critical aspects of all of this that I do while intentionally engaging my body. One is the “I’m ready” stance. This will sound really peculiar, so do bear with me. I know where I want to be in terms of numbers of sessions. I then say to the Universe, or God (I kind of veer toward God, but do what you need to) “I’m ready” while squaring up my shoulders, as if I’m stepping into a task physically. It feels very good to do this. At the moment I do this, I release the thought and let the whole thing go.

The other aspect of vibrational marketing that is very tuned into the body is my fear-sensing apparatus. My gut. When I feel a sense of fear, and for me I do feel it in my gut, and a little bit in my chest—a sense of worry and fear—I immediately know that I need to find out what is there, tap on it, and release it. I then move into a positive exercise of some sort—something quick and easy, like the calendar visualization. Or look back at the last few weeks and say how wonderful things have been and will continue to be, while tapping those thoughts and feelings in around the points. This area worth working on with a practitioner, by the way.

Old-Fashioned and Effective

Prayer. I pray all the time. I also have a prayer group that meets every week via telephone. In that group, we have a simple ritual—first we go around to each member, and we each pray for someone else. Then there are a series of short, comforting prayers we say. Then, we go around again, this time articulating prayers for ourselves. I always mention my practice and my clients-to-be.
I know that many people have been traumatized by religion and so in suggesting prayer, I don’t mean to trigger any of that. It is, however, significant to me that I pray every week in the group and on my own, and things flow. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this step.

Let it Go

Finally, just let all of it go. After you practice these things, get up, go on a walk, let it go. All will be well and your ideal clients will come, steadily and with a sense of appreciation.

Lynne Shaner, PhD, is an EFT International Accredited Certified EFT Master Trainer and Advanced Practitioner in Rockville, Maryland, US. She is also a certified hypnotherapist and holds a Ph.D. in the field of Mind-Body Medicine.

From the EFTfree Archives, which are now a part of EFT International .
Originally published on June 12, 2010.