Shade
Are you reading in person? Do you have an office?
I'm going professional and need some advice
UrbanBramble
If you have a blog link it to your website and do "daily draws" that are general. Blog about decks or spreads you like. This lets people know you are serious and knowledgeable about your craft. Maybe consider a newsletter that is sent out to all your regular clients, and give clients a discount for referring new clients.
Clockwork Ghost
I read in person over email - people email me a specific question and I respond with an answer. I also have a facebook page where I do a daily card, and my website carries the same card each day too. I used to have a blog linked to Google+, but found it didn't get much traffic, and have discontinued it - these days I use my website as a blog of sorts.
Clockwork Ghost
Great minds think alike! I've been sending out a weekly newsletter for the last couple of weeks. Let me know your email address and I'll add you to the distribution list if you like
LupaGreenwolf
If you're concerned about getting paid for readings after doing them for free, here's how to frame it:
I've had twenty years of experience and I've done thousands of readings on a variety of topics and queries. Situations in my life have recently shifted to where I can read professionally, and I am now the proud proprietor of [business name]. My rates are [blank]; however, if I have read for you in the past year, please contact me at for a special introductory rate.
If people give you trouble for charging for readings now, remind them that you've been generously offering them for free for twenty years, and your skills have long since been well-honed enough for you to charge, but you chose to wait until factors in your life aligned to where you felt you could make that next step. You should find that a lot of people, even those you read for free in the past, will be happy to compensate you for your skills and experience.
I've had twenty years of experience and I've done thousands of readings on a variety of topics and queries. Situations in my life have recently shifted to where I can read professionally, and I am now the proud proprietor of [business name]. My rates are [blank]; however, if I have read for you in the past year, please contact me at for a special introductory rate.
If people give you trouble for charging for readings now, remind them that you've been generously offering them for free for twenty years, and your skills have long since been well-honed enough for you to charge, but you chose to wait until factors in your life aligned to where you felt you could make that next step. You should find that a lot of people, even those you read for free in the past, will be happy to compensate you for your skills and experience.
Holly doll
It's all word of mouth usually...
If you have more than one deck, & after getting the relevant permissions - most deck designers are incredibly kind & giving - scan the cards & post readings & links to the designers on your site - using that particular deck for one month. Do something like a daily, a weekly, monthly spread. It keeps people interested & if you post links to the designer, they get sales or a larger fan base as well. Offer different incentives each month for loyal clients, you'll find your base will increase as word of mouth spreads - very few can resist telling someone else about the great deal they got...
While its great you've read for free, I've found people really respect those services they need to pay for. Know your worth - both financially, & the time & study hours you've put in; as well as your experience dealing with many clients over that 20 years . Sure, you may lose some who "expect" free readings, but then if you lose them - how much did they respect the service you offered...?
If you have more than one deck, & after getting the relevant permissions - most deck designers are incredibly kind & giving - scan the cards & post readings & links to the designers on your site - using that particular deck for one month. Do something like a daily, a weekly, monthly spread. It keeps people interested & if you post links to the designer, they get sales or a larger fan base as well. Offer different incentives each month for loyal clients, you'll find your base will increase as word of mouth spreads - very few can resist telling someone else about the great deal they got...
While its great you've read for free, I've found people really respect those services they need to pay for
. Know your worth - both financially, & the time & study hours you've put in; as well as your experience dealing with many clients over that 20 years . Sure, you may lose some who "expect" free readings, but then if you lose them - how much did they respect the service you offered...?Clockwork Ghost
This is a very good point - over the last few years I've picked up a fair number of 'sponges' who expect endless tarot readings for nothing, and offer nothing in return. I have absolutely no problem doing readings for friends, and it helps me practice new spreads as we can then discuss whether the spread worked, if the answers were accurate etc, but there are several people who simply say 'do me a reading for this, then do me a reading for this, and when you have a moment, a reading for this'. They also tend to not be there when I want to talk about something myself, or they quickly excuse themselves if I try to engage them on any topic other than their endless questions.
One person I've been talking to for the last few months actually defriended me and blocked me on Facebook because I asked that she not pester me for a free reading at 2am. Some people will just treat you like a computer algorithm if you let them, I guess.
Clockwork Ghost
Great advice, thank you. I own 141 decks at the moment, and have another four on the way. I'm also saving up for a relatively rare deck to add to my collection, and should be able to buy it within the next couple of months. Although I have so many decks, I only use one to read with. Many of my decks are signed - I even have a signed silver bordered H.R. Giger deck, as he is one of my favourite artists. I had a look online, and the deck was selling for upwards of $500 in some circles, this made me seriously consider getting the collection insured.
I asked Patrick if it was okay to use the art from the Deviant Moon on my commercial site, and he doesn't seem to mind. I asked him about using the art on my page when I was reading for fre, and he had no problem with it - I have a link to the Deviant Moon tarot page there. I'm definitely going to consider using several decks - giving a customer an option may be just what I need. I'll pick out maybe ten decks and post a card like the Ace of Swords from each deck.
Thanks again for all your advice.
Holly doll
danieljuk
make sure you promote and describe what are your reading strengths Clockwork! you have years of experience doing free readings, what readings do you like to do the most? what is your technique? I would describe my reading style as empathetic and gentle, I like to do readings which solve problems. I would try to think about what angle do you want to promote, are you readings psychic in nature or to the point or counselling? People look for different types of readers! Think if you have an "expert area", I have seen online people who are specialists in love readings or career and business, that type of thing or just love general readings!
I think your prices are fine, if you start to get regularly customers, slowly increase them. A reader I was going to regularly was about your prices and then readings became mostly about $40 (nz) but now they charge insane prices. I am out, I am not paying over $100 for a reading from anyone. you might want to do a first time offer, you get 25% off the first reading or the first reading free, you want people to keep coming back! or if you refer a friend to me you get a free 3 card reading. some people do great loyalty schemes! think about what will make people want to get more than one reading and come back
all the best with it clockwork
I think your prices are fine, if you start to get regularly customers, slowly increase them. A reader I was going to regularly was about your prices and then readings became mostly about $40 (nz) but now they charge insane prices. I am out, I am not paying over $100 for a reading from anyone. you might want to do a first time offer, you get 25% off the first reading or the first reading free, you want people to keep coming back! or if you refer a friend to me you get a free 3 card reading. some people do great loyalty schemes! think about what will make people want to get more than one reading and come back
all the best with it clockwork
