4 unique marketing ideas for your wellness business

You might remember that, in 2020, we were all living through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.

Andrew and I were living through that pandemic in a 400-square-foot studio apartment in downtown Boston.

Up until March of 2020, we were both gym rats who found solace from the craziness of the city (and, if I’m being perfectly honest, each other) in the weight room.

But once lockdown started, we were…locked down.

No more gym.

No more solace.

What were we to do?

What we did was get creative.

I’ll give Andrew full credit for turning our car into the city’s best outdoor gym. And me credit for turning our bathroom into my at-home office while he trained clients in our living room/bedroom/kitchen.

Getting creative was what got us through a super difficult time and actually made it sort of fun and memorable—we still hear from neighbors how hilarious they thought our car-pushing antics were.

In your business, getting creative will accomplish the same objectives…it will help you stand out, differentiate you from the pack, and make you memorable in the eyes of potential clients.

Keep reading for our top 4 unique marketing ideas for your wellness business.

(Number 4 is my personal favorite that skyrocketed my clinical nutrition practice!)

Unique marketing idea #1: Jump on trends

If you know anything about our agency, you know we can be a bit skeptical of wellness trends.

Accuracy, not trendiness, is our hallmark.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use trends to your (evidence-based) advantage.

Keep a close eye on the news; is there a topic you can write a blog about, create a practical infographic about, or post an opinion about on social media?

Ultimately, you want to use the momentum of the trend to get your business—and your informed take—in front of new eyes.

As a wellness business owner, topics like new drug releases, food recalls, or mold and other “sick building” signs found in army barracks are topics you can (and should!) comment on.

Why?

When there’s buzz around a topic, searches online (including social media platforms) for that topic increase. (You can uncover popular searches with tools like Google Trends.)

People want more information.

They’re looking for perspective.

And media outlets like NPR and NBC want expert opinions.

Publishing content that’s relevant to both your business and the trending topic is one of the best ways to show up in those searches, drive traffic to your website, and maybe even end up as the featured professional in a news story.

ALL good things for your business.

Unique marketing idea #2: Gamify

Why are games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections so (soooo) incredibly popular?

Simple. They’re engaging and fun.

Take a cue from the widespread demand for that moment of I won!-derived dopamine that games elicit and gamify your marketing.

How does this look in real time?

The most common example is the rewards program we’re all familiar with like, your 10th cup of coffee is free with a completed punchcard.

And while this strategy is effective (as witnessed by my misplaced anxiety at not caring about my license or credit cards after losing my wallet a few months ago, but rather being completely distraught about not getting a free matcha latté because my near-completed punchcard was in there!! 🤦‍♀️) it’s pretty played and doesn’t translate well to wellness businesses.

For you, interesting forms of gamified marketing include:

• Quizzes (like this super-compelling “Are You in Perimenopause?” quiz offered by Experience Wellbeing)
• Social media contests featuring an interesting question participants have to answer in the comments (“What was the most awkward time you’ve had a hot flash?”) that offer a valuable giveaway (like your favorite supplement stack) and team you up with other clinicians to cross-promote your practices
• Trade tired challenges or boot camps for a niche-specific scavenger hunt that sends participants on a digital search for the most out-there solutions to their symptoms (while you supply the right way to address their problems with a low-ticket offer)

The rules of this highly effective form of marketing are: Make it fun, provide participants with practical, helpful info, and be sure the game effectively funnels participants into the next step of working with you.

Click here to start your free 7-day trial of the Market Your Wellness Biz Monthly Membership if you want help stepping up your unique marketing game.

Unique marketing idea #3: Get controversial

Check out this recent social post on how much I hate Fall.

Yes, the season.

Yes, I hate it.

Why would I ever post something so fight-inducing on Instagram?

A few reasons, actually.

One, it’s true. I hate Fall.

It lets our audience in on my life and, for better or worse, lets them get to know me a little.

Second, controversy is attention-grabbing and, with the right hot take, fun.

This works especially well on social media where comments, even comments disagreeing with you, boost your content and put you in front of more people.

In wellness, of course, the list of controversial topics is seemingly endless.

So choose a heated stance that:

• Truly is your opinion (like why most detoxes are trash)
• Truly helps your audience (they save time, money, energy, emotional and mental unease, and possibly dealing with a nutrient deficiency thanks to your two cents)
• Keeps you professional (don’t go low—provide great info, but naming names usually isn’t necessary)

Unique marketing idea #4: Switch it up with snail mail

In a world of non-stop digital input (have you noticed that even gas pumps have built-in screens featuring marketing videos?), snail mail is making a comeback.

And it makes sense.

When one strategy becomes commonplace, busy, and exhausting to clients, it’s time to switch it up and avoid advertising blindness. (Yep, that’s a thing.)

I know what you’re thinking: How?

The best way to stand out from the onslaught of emails in your clients’ inboxes and nonstop social media ads is by showing up in their real mailbox with a service like Send Out Cards, Postable, or Cardly.

Quick story: One of our Market Your Wellness Biz members sent us a Send Out Card to thank us for helping her with her business goals.

Even though I’m the one who turned her on to the technique and know how impactful it is to get a personalized piece of mail, I was still so touched by the card that it’s been front and center on my kitchen counter for the past 10 months.

I love that simple, heartfelt card!

And your clients will, too.

You can send thank yous, checklists, or even free fridge guides in the mail.

This one differentiating step will stick in their minds and show off your expertise and how much you care.