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Marketing Ideas for Doulas and Childbirth
Educators
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Set up a booth at
Birth and Baby
Fairs (La Leche League, Welcome Wagon,
Mother/Baby) |
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Brochures at
local health clinics, chiropractors offices, health units, massage
therapists, acupuncture, any health professional
places. |
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Brochures at
baby stores, furniture stores (with cribs, etc.), real estate
agencies, open houses, food stores, health food stores, bookstores,
maternity clothing stores, children's clothing, kids/maternity
consignment stores, anywhere a pregnant woman would
go. |
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Mother Care
publishes a small local newsletter that I originally intended for my
own promotion, but it has grown over the last two years and is quite
profitable. A great PR tool! |
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Open House or
Picnic-in-the-Park on Mother's Day or any day to thank past clients
and share the benefits of Doula support with interested
parents-to-be that you could pass out to your past clients and to
prenatal classes, friends, acquaintances,
etc. |
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Send thank you
cards or letters to supportive (or even not so supportive) doctors
and nurses. Also supportive siblings, parents, etc. would be honored
to receive a note card from you. I sent one to my clients 16 year
old daughter who was so incredible during her mother's birth of her
sister... she is seriously thinking of becoming a midwife after
attending her mother’s birth. |
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Thank you
cards or gifts for each client... and there are hundreds of things
you could do, think of something you do or like that you could share
with your clients. I make a small cross stitched sampler with babies
name, birth date, time, weight and place on
it. |
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Give a small gift or even a thank you note to
anyone who refers clients to you, previous clients, doctors, nurses,
childbirth educators, and other doulas. |
Promote
International Doula Month in May
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Have a picture with your local mayor to promote Doula
Month |
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Send press releases to the
papers |
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Celebrate
an Open House or
Picnic-in-the-Park during May to thank past clients
and share the benefits of Doula support with interested
parents-to-be that you could pass out to your past clients and to
prenatal classes, friends, acquaintances, etc. |
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A series of
"teaser" classes on "Do you need a doula?", "Comfort Measures for
Childbirth", "Dads and Doulas" etc. |
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Hold
a "Birth Plan Workshop," a free (or you can charge) two hour
workshop that is "sponsored" by your organization or
company. |
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Inservices at
hospitals and clinics, get to know the head nurse at the hospital
(or head of L&D). This I have found to be so important because
who deals with most pregnant mom's? The nurses at the
clinics! |
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Honour your
local midwives! Take them out on Midwifery Day (May 5) or any
time. |
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Bring food for the nurses at the hospital you are
working at. Nurses often do not get regular breaks, especially in
Labour and Delivery, and as such often go without eating regular
meals. Nurses can be so important in how our clients are treated,
and they are so often looked over when the praise is handed out
after the birth… especially when they do so much of the work!
Suggestions I have heard are home baking like cookies, fruit bread,
or a fruit basket. Even a box of doughnuts can be a wonderful
treat! |
Copyright Mother Care 1999. Written by Connie
Banack, CD.
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