I've had a lot of success via gumtree. Mainly because the ad titles appear high up in google searches -which is the holy grail of finding clients. I put my website link near the top of the ad, which prompts people to click through and this has definitely cut down on the dodgy calls. also, after you've been up there for a while the people who want other things get to know your ads and the calls decrease.
I also NEVER answer calls from witheld numbers, so I don't get many dodgy calls. In short - I'm a big fan of Gumtree and am prepared to take the rough with the smooth, as in the long run they've got me loads of clients.
Quote from GuruHolistics (sorry I don't know how to do quotes properly):
"All my massage ads have led to dodgy calls, here is a text book call
"um, are you the one that does massage?"
and I reply "yes".
"oh right, so what TYPE of massage do you offer?"
and I list them.
pause
longer pause
"and what else?" they ask
"oh, I also offer reiki, crystal healing, and facials" I reply.
"well, I want a relaxing massage, can you do that?"
"Yes, I am a trained aromatherapist so once I've done a consultation to find out what oils I will use...."
they usually interrupt
"right, well can I book an appointment for today?"
"no, I'm fully booked today"
"oh right, I'll ring back".
one man stated that he wanted just his buttocks and groin massaged."
HA HA This made me laugh so much as it is EXACTLY the same as what I get - makes me feel sooo much better knowing I'm not the only one. On a positive I had a really nice male client today who got my details from Gumtree and told me he was relieved to find a professional therapist for a proper massage as the previous ones he'd called from Gumtree were all offering sexual services and he just wanted a massage! It's nice to get the opposite for once :p
I have advertised facials and haven't had any response whatsoever.
Erm... that one could lead to some odd calls too! :rolleyes:
I tried Gumtree in the past but only got timewasters (including one who woke me up one night to ask what time I closed!) so I gave up. Maybe I should try again.
Perhaps it is more to do with location as well?? I am in hampshire and like i said i have had quite a few clients from gumtree.
I think i will copy you yoga yoga though and put my website address further up in my ad.
I may have a play around with my ad this weekend and change the title slightly, i did change the title from a previous one, but am thinking the other title was better and less ambigious!
A cautionary tale
I use Gumtree a lot and did post a few guidelines for those using it on another thread. It is a pot pourri of the genuine, alternative and the sex industry. The key is knowing how to use it. It is a HUGE potential resource, but you need to cut through the weirdos. Sadly the hassle from them is sometimes sufficient to stop people using it, although in my experience much of the sexual massage has been migrating to Craigslist.
A few ground rules for those responding to adverts:
(1) Stay away from those advertising "tantric"/"sensual" massage as their services are generally directed elsewhere. There ARE a few genuine tantrika, but they rarely advertise on such fora. Similarly "tip to toe" seems to be code for more than you might bargain for. Anything about "putting a smile on your face" almost certainly is!
(2) Generally avoid those therapists who describe themselves by reference to their appearance and/or other personal data which is irrelevant to the service they provide (eg "oriental" or "attractive" etc).
(3) Google the telephone number to check against multiple different adverts and/or against someone with no internet history. Take care if the telephone number if interspersed with dashes or stars- this is generally to prevent googling.
(4) Anyone who works very late into the evening or who offers only one hour services at a very high hourly rate is generally offering something else.
(5) Take care if the therapist does not at least post her/his first name on any advertisement. If they only take calls on mobiles and do not want emails, that is often a contrary sign.
(6) Emails posted early in the day seem to be a better resource than those placed in the evening.
Hope helps .....
we have our clinic advertised on gumtree, which is CLEARLY a genuine practice for those viewing our website, as we offer life coaching, physiotherapy, food allergy testing etc etc, but this does not stop the freaks from getting in touch asking if we offer extras to our massage, one was quite explicit today, so I presume these weirdos get their kicks from just telephoning or emailing their requests. We did have a client last week that left half way through the treatment, only to ring 10 minutes later to ask the therapist if she would go to his hotel....the same person made an appointment a few days later, only to walk out when we sent a male therapist to treat him....he had come from gumtree.
We have had a few genuine people attend our training workshops, and one or two come in for treatments, but the vast majority have been oddballs.
...the same person made an appointment a few days later, only to walk out when we sent a male therapist to treat him....
Ha ha, the look on his face when the male therapist walked in must have been priceless! 😀
Hi guys. I have decided not to continue advertising on gumtree anymore, especially after all the ads i have seen on there today. Was debating whether to put my ad back on there and was horrified at the number of ads on there offering a service of a sexual nature. There was perhaps only one in twenty that was a proper therapist! I haven't had many seedy calls from there but it sounds like i have been lucky!
Ha ha, the look on his face when the male therapist walked in must have been priceless! 😀
that is brilliant:)
A typical way I have found a guy coming via gumtree will greet me is
"can I have more information" or "can I have some details" in a quiet and seedy voice. No hello. No reference to what exactly he wants information on. Just the expectation of sexual release.
Has anyone else heard this?
One guy gave me a whole story about how his doctor told him he had a pelvic imbalance and so needed deep massage to his perineum and the muscles around his anus - yer right mate!! LOL
Ah, we love you gumtree
I too have posted on there quite a bit. Had a lot of dodgy calls but some really genuine ones too and have become regulars. So I see it at the moment as if I get one genuine client and 10 dodgy ones then I feel it is worth it. As some other posters have said I know now from the first few lines of the telephone conversation if they are dodgy or not so just tell them a direct no and put the phone down.
Thank god, I thought it was only me getting hassle from gumtree ads. Am new here so its a huge relief for want of a better expression to hear these tales. Have had one genuine client from gumtree though that was worrying as it was a guy(and I'm a male therapist with the same name and qualifications as another advertised masseur on gumtree also in Nott'm who works naked and offers extras) I screened him quite thoroughly on the phone, reiterating that I was based in a respectable herbal store/therapy centre in the city centre. He was ok with it so I took his booking. When he arrived at the store, I was with another client so the shop owner did a bit of digging and questioned him herself. It turned out that he had been on the receiving end of some of these sex worker massages, quite innocently and was relieved to have found a male therapist who was not gonna charge him for a happy ending. He was a great client and has since become a regular