Signature Program Blog

Marketing for Wellness Practitioners: Three Important Reasons to Create a Signature Program

Let’s talk all about signature programs – what they are, how they create more stability within your wellness practice & how they help your patients get better results.

For those who are new here, welcome! 

As a longtime entrepreneur & clinician, I know how much time & energy goes into building a thriving wellness practice, and I absolutely love coaching practitioners on this journey. I’m a big believer in finding what works for you & your business, because no two paths are exactly alike. 

But… how do you find what works for you??

You explore your options! 

And that’s exactly what we’re doing today. We’re diving into the realm of possibilities for your wellness practice by talking through the ins and outs of signature programs. 

So cozy up & let’s chat about it 😉

What is a Signature Program?

To answer this question, it’s best to start with what a signature program is *not*. 

A signature program is not the most traditional business model used by health & wellness practitioners. It’s not your standard “fee-for-service” model where a patient books an appointment and essentially trades money for time. 

Instead, it’s a higher-ticket transformational program that lasts an average of 2-3 months. Instead of focusing on how many sessions are included, you’re now marketing a transformation. 

A signature program is marketed to a very specific person – your ideal patient! 

And, it typically solves one burning problem, whatever that might be:

  • Overcoming anxiety & irritability
  • Healing from digestive issues
  • Thriving through menopause 

The reason it’s called a “signature” program is that it’s meant to be your specialty… something you’re known for. Just like your signature on a piece of paper, it’s intended to be the same each time, and represents your unique process for getting transformational results. 

Now that we’ve ironed out what a signature program is, let’s chat about what makes them so great.

3 Benefits of a Signature Wellness Program.

The reason a signature program is so valuable is that it helps create sustainability + profitability in your practice, both things I want for you as a thriving practitioner! 

It’s no secret that burnout runs rampant among clinicians & healthcare professionals, and part of the reason for this is that people are running a business model that is not sustainable.

So… as you’re thinking through the right business model for your practice, here are some benefits to the signature program model. 

Signature Program Benefit #1: More Intimate Relationships

Now we’re going to start off this section talking about money, but it relates back to patient relationships so stick with me here. 

We all have certain financial goals that we need to meet in order to pay our bills, take care of our families, and have a little fun in life! 💃

With a traditional “fee for service” model, you’re going to have to see a higher number of patients each month in order to meet your financial goals. And, this higher volume naturally leads to less intimacy with your patients. Each time you see them (which may be quite sporadic), you’ll need to refer back to your notes, catch up about what has happened (or, not happened) since the last time you saw them, etc…

Now, compare that to a higher-ticket 3-month program where you see the same ~10 people week-after-week, building on your relationship over time as you partner with them on their transformative health journey. 

To really bring this to life, let’s crunch some numbers. 

For simplicity, let’s say your financial goal is to make $10,000/month. 

You could have a signature program priced at $1,000/month including supplements with a 3-month commitment, in which case you’d need 15 active clients per month. 

Or, you could go the traditional “fee-for-service” route at $150/hour, and require over 66 single appointments to meet that same $10,000 monthly goal. 

It’s a very different experience & day-to-day routine for you as the practitioner, so take your time thinking about this. 

Signature Program Benefit #2: Better Patient Results 

“The Transformation is in the Transaction”

I honestly can’t remember where I heard that phrase, but it’s stuck with me. It’s referring to the fact that people are more inclined to put in the work when they have made a sizable financial commitment. 

When there’s more skin in the game, this leads to:

Better 👏 Patient 👏 Results 👏

When you’re charging a low single appointment price, there isn’t as much commitment from the patient. But, when they decide to invest in a higher-ticket signature program, they are far more likely to remain committed!

Signature Program Benefit #3: Built-in Word-of-Mouth Buzz 

Signature programs are typically not covered by insurance in the same way that single appointments are, so your marketing strategy would need adjusting if you choose to venture down this path, however they do come along with built-in word-of-mouth buzz. 

Let me explain.

When you are in the business of selling transformations, and your clients are getting the results they’re after, word spreads quickly.🔥

And you know what that means? 

Free marketing for you! 

When word gets out that you helped Sally resolve her menopausal symptoms, or helped Susan conceive after she thought she couldn’t get pregnant, or helped Dan shed 20 pounds, those turn into powerful stories that get shared over and over again, at no cost to you. 

I know it can be scary to step outside the insurance model, but with a little support and the right marketing strategy in place, you can actually far exceed what you could make in the traditional “fee-for-service” model. 

A little more risk, sure. 

But also more income & impact potential 🌟

Get The Marketing Support You Need To Launch Your Signature Program.

I hope this has sparked some ideas for you! 

If you’re still not sure what your signature program would be about, check out my recent blog post about choosing a niche, because that’s a prerequisite for launching a successful signature program. 

And, if you’d like to chat, I offer a no-charge consultation where we can see if we’re a good match to work together.

Ronda Nelson

Hi, I’m Ronda Nelson and I help wellness practitioners grow thriving, profitable practices that allow them to work with ease, live a life they love and make an income they can be proud of.
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