Welcome! I’m thrilled to have Clara Cohen with us, a seasoned acupuncturist, educator, and the founder of AcuPro Academy, where she creates East Asian Medicine and acupuncture content for practitioners worldwide. 

With over 10 years of experience teaching online, and a combined 700,000 social media followers, Clara’s passion for empowering acupuncturists shines through in her courses, books, and free resources.

In this episode, we talk about: 

• Why success requires business skills, not just clinical expertise
• Why standard office procedures (SOPSs) are key to success
• How to make marketing and social media work for you
• Three tips for getting started with video
• Pricing on your website
• How to stand out online as an acupuncturist
• And more

I hope you enjoy this episode with Clara!

SHOW NOTES:

• Clara's website: acuproacademy.com
• Facebook: @acuproacademy
• YouTube: @acuproacademy
• Instagram: @acuproacademy
• Pinterest: @acuproacademy
• TikTok: @acuproacademy
• Bluesky: @acuproacademy
• X (Twitter): @acuproacademy
• Marketing Breakthrough Session with Michelle - $49

This episode is sponsored by my new online class, Grow Your Acupuncture Practice with AcuYoga, which is on sale for 20% off this week!

This strategy is one of the few marketing methods that pays you to promote your practice while getting in front of warm leads. You’ll learn how to:

✔️ Increase your visibility in your community
✔️ Build trust naturally with people who are already interested in health and wellness
✔️ Seamlessly transition attendees into paying patients and
✔️ Form valuable partnerships with local yoga studios

This is a warm, community-centered marketing strategy that benefits everyone involved. Yoga studios love it because it offers a unique class experience for their students—so they’re likely to say YES to collaborating with you!

The course includes a complete step-by-step strategy and marketing templates to bring in new patients from AcuYoga classes.

And right now, it’s just $39 until Feb. 25th. The discount code is already applied on the checkout page. 

Click here to learn more and sign up today!

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Shayna Woods, the CEO of the bookkeeping and accounting firm, Prosperity First. 

Shayna is unique in the accounting industry because she brings a holistic view to financial strategy and business growth. She blends traditional accounting practices with mindset coaching and emphasizes joy and ease to help entrepreneurs thrive. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

• How mindsets can impact our progress in the real world
• How to balance a respect for the numbers with an awareness of your personal needs and goals
• Why prioritizing yourself first as a business owner leads to greater success 
• How accountants often let the scarcity inherent in their training color their advice to their clients
• The concept that money loves joy
• And more

SHOW NOTES: 

• Shaneh's website: ProsperityFirst.com
• Shaneh's Substack @shanehsworld
• Follow Shaneh on Instagram @shanehsworld
• Marketing Breakthrough Session with Michelle - $49

🩵 Today’s episode is sponsored by Jane. 🩵

Before we jump into today’s episode, let me take a moment to introduce Jane — the clinic management software and EMR that I use in my practice.

Change is a normal part of clinic life — maybe you’re expanding your team, introducing new offerings, or growing your patient list. As your clinic evolves, it’s important to have an EMR that not only supports those changes but also grows with you.

Jane’s new Balance, Practice, and Thrive pricing plans offer flexibility, allowing you to easily switch from one plan to another depending on your current and future needs.

There’s no long-term commitment, either — just simple month-to-month payments that let you focus on running your clinic. And with every plan, you get features like 1:1 telehealth, email appointment reminders, and unlimited support.

Visit jane.app/pricing to find a plan that fits your needs, starting at $39 a month in the US. And when you’re ready to get started, use my code ACUSCHOOL1MO at sign-up for a 1-month grace period on your new account.

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

Welcome back! Today I’m talking with Dr. Krystal Couture, licensed acupuncturist and doctor of physical therapy. 

Krystal is known as The Pelvic Acu and she teaches pelvic health acupuncture through her online classes, as well as in person for her advanced certificate program.

Her goal is to spread awareness of how powerful acupuncture can be for pelvic health, so that more of us can help this underserved population of patients.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why acupuncturists are the perfect practitioners to help with pelvic floor concerns
• What marketing helped Krystal grow her own practice, especially after relocating her office
• Being willing to try different marketing strategies to see what’s a good fit
• Adjusting your marketing message until it really hits home with your target audience
• Building community as a marketing strategy
• And much more

Hope you enjoy this episode with Krystal!

SHOW NOTES:

• The Pelvic Acu: Online Classes and In-Person Seminars
• Instagram @thepelvicacu
• Krystal's Free PDA Class: Introduction to Pelvic Acupuncture (1 NCCAOM PDA)
• Marketing Breakthrough Session with Michelle
• Register for Brad Whisnant's Portland Seminar in March

🧠 Today's episode is sponsored by Brad Whisnant Seminars. 

If you’re serious about learning Master Tung acupuncture, don’t miss A to Z ~ Point Alpha to Point Omega, a three-day live seminar with Dr. Brad Whisnant in Portland, Oregon, March 13th-15th. 

This is his only live training of 2025, designed to help you gain full competence and mastery of the most effective and reliable Tung points for clinical success. 

Dr. Whisnant treats 100+ patients a week, has authored eight books, and has taught over 100 seminars worldwide. 

Seats are limited! Click here to register now.

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

In this episode, I sit down with Gen Drummond, CEO and founder of Hummingbird Clinical Consulting.

Gen brings over a decade of experience helping medical clinics improve accessibility of care, enhance patient outcomes, boost retention (for both patients and staff), and combat clinician burnout.

Before becoming a consultant, Gen worked as a registered nutritionist and served as the clinical director of the practice she co-ran with her father, a medical doctor. 

Today, she’s known for her deep-dive approach to helping clinics align their business strategies with their core values, so they can grow sustainably, stay purpose-driven, and ultimately help more patients.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Strategies to prevent no-shows and improve patient retention
• Building trust with patients before they step into your office
• Conducting a practice audit to make better decisions for 2025
• Why authenticity and sharing your story are still crucial in marketing
• How to start building a legacy for your practice today
• And so much more!

SHOW NOTES:

• Hummingbird Clinical Consulting website
• Free webinars hosted by Gen on the Hummingbird Clinical Consulting website
• Follow Gen on Instagram @hummingbirdclinicalconsultants
• Visit our sponsor, AcuHub, to learn more about virtual receptionist services specifically for acupuncturists

Today's episode is sponsored by AcuHub.

AcuHub provides remote receptionists specifically for acupuncture practices. I use AcuHub in my practice and I absolutely love it. 💙

With AcuHub, you can rely on a dedicated one or two US-based, highly trained receptionists to answer incoming calls and inquiries, schedule appointments on your  EHR software, onboard new patients, and answer questions specific to your practice.

AcuHub offers month-to-month services with no contracts or termination fees, with rates between just $5-$8 per hour depending on the size of your practice.

Save time and money with your own dedicated Acuhub receptionist. If you have questions, you're more than welcome to email me about my experience with AcuHub at [email protected].

Visit Acu-hub.com to learn more.

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

This week is all about what marketing didn’t work as well as I hoped to grow my acupuncture practice in 2024.

I also share what marketing I plan to carry forward into 2025, based on this review of what worked, what didn’t, what took too much energy, etc.

If you missed last week’s episode, #91: What Marketing Worked to Grow My Acupuncture Practice in 2024, click here to listen.

In this episode, I talk about:

• How landing a segment on local television wasn’t the silver bullet I hoped for
• What I could have done differently to make that local TV segment more successful
• Why a recent postcard marketing campaign was a bust
• What it takes, generally, for postcard marketing to succeed
• Which marketing strategy worked well last year but left me feeling burnt out—and is now on pause for 2025
• Why repetition and consistency are always necessary for successful marketing
• My marketing plan for 2025

Show Notes:

• Watch my segment on local television

💜 Today’s episode is sponsored by The Pelvic Acu, Dr. Krystal Couture.

Dr. Couture specializes in teaching acupuncturists how to effectively treat pelvic pain and dysfunction through both online and in-person classes.

Did you know that 32% of women and 16% of men experience pelvic pain or dysfunction? Unfortunately, many are only offered pharmaceutical solutions that mask symptoms without addressing the root cause.

As an acupuncturist, your expertise lies in identifying the source of dysfunction and crafting a treatment plan that brings true, holistic healing—not just symptom relief.

Dr. Couture offers a range of pelvic care classes, from introductory sessions to advanced training, including a comprehensive pelvic care certificate program. You’ll learn pelvic anatomy, pathology, needling techniques, draping, and so much more.

In 2025, she’s hosting five in-person training weekends. And if travel isn’t an option, there are over a dozen online classes available, so you can start offering pelvic care acupuncture in your practice right away.

Her courses are NCCAOM, Florida, and California approved, and she even offers a free 1-PDA credit class—an introduction to pelvic care for acupuncturists.

Click here to view her courses and start transforming how you treat pelvic health today!

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

This week on the Acupuncture Marketing School Podcast, I’m sharing the details about what worked well in marketing my practice in 2024—and what I learned along the way.

As a disclaimer, remember that I LOVE marketing, so I do a LOT of it. You do not have to do all these things. But I hope at least one idea that I explored this year inspires your marketing for 2025!

Here’s a look at what I cover in today's episode:

• How AcuYoga classes brought in new patients while getting paid to market my practice
• Lessons learned from hosting two open houses—and what made the second one much more successful
• Why email newsletters are still one of the most effective ways to connect with patients (and get them back on the schedule)
• The power of in-person networking and how I’ve made it work as an introvert.

I also share how I focused my marketing efforts to fill another practitioner’s schedule at my clinic—and the small tweaks that made a big difference.

💙 This episode is sponsored by clinic management software and EMR, Jane.

As an acupuncturist, your main priority is caring for your patients, not worrying about rising EMR costs. That’s why Jane has come up with the new Balance Plan, which includes the essential features you need to run your clinic, without any of the extra stuff you don’t.

With the Balance Plan, you’ll get really helpful features like 1:1 telehealth, email appointment reminders, and unlimited customer support. It’s a great fit for new or growing practitioners who are booking up to 20 appointments a month. And the best part is that Jane pays for itself with the cost of just one appointment.

Click here to check out their plans starting at $39 a month in the US. And if you’re ready to get started, don’t forget to use the code ACUSCHOOL1MO at sign-up for a 1-month grace period on your new account.

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

Today on the podcast, I’m excited to speak with Joanna Sapir, a wellness business coach who helps practitioners streamline their businesses to achieve predictable income.

Joanna’s expertise is rooted in decades of experience, including founding and selling a successful brick-and-mortar fitness business and her background as a teacher. 

She’s passionate about helping practitioners step into leadership, implement sustainable systems, and make a bigger impact in their communities. 

In today’s episode, we talk about:

• Building your ideal work schedule around your personal life and not the other way around
• Accepting leadership of your business even if you’re a solopreneur
• A reminder that you can shape your business any way you like
• Boundaries and codependency as healthcare providers
• The difference between marketing and sales
• A really helpful tip for more effective networking
• And much more. 

SHOW NOTES:

• Joanna's website: joannasapir.com
• Joanna's Free Download: Three Powerful Systems that Will Transform Your Practice
• Joanna on Facebook: @JoannaSapirConsultant
• Faire Wholesale for Small Businesses

Today’s episode is sponsored by Faire, the online marketplace dedicated to empowering small businesses.

Faire believes the future is local. As more consumers choose to shop small and support their communities, Faire connects small business owners with the best products from over 100,000 unique brands, making it easy to stock your clinic with high-quality, curated products your patients will love—like wellness gifts, skincare, and more.

With millions of products sold each year, Faire gives you access to bestselling products that complement your services and boost your income.

Plus, Faire’s product database is searchable based on what matters most to you, allowing you to find items that are, for instance, not available on Amazon, eco-friendly, handmade, organic, and more.

This ensures the retail products you offer align seamlessly with your business philosophy and values.

Click here to learn how Faire can help you strengthen your connection with your patients, grow your practice, and boost your per-patient revenue.

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

Today I’m talking with Aurelie Martin, web designer and the founder of Imagi Web Design studios. Aurelie's specialty is helping health and wellness professionals attract patients by optimizing or building their web presence, with an emphasis on creating both beautiful and high converting websites. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

• Making calls-to-action a priority on your website and what types of calls-to-action to use
• Content ideas to boost your SEO and improve engagement on your website
• Why an organized website that tells people what do is key for building trust
• A reminder to look at your website on mobile and desktop regularly to make sure everything is functioning as expected
• Tips for making your website load faster
• And more

SHOW NOTES:

• Aurelie's website: imagiwebdesign.com
• Connect on Instagram: @imagiweb.design
• Connect on Facebook: @imagiwebmarketing
• Imagi Web Template Shop for Wellness Professionals
• Imagi Web Content Planner to Create High-Converting Website Pages
• Missed the Acupuncture Business Planathon? You can catch the replay here for a limited time.

💙 This episode is sponsored by Jane— the clinic management software and EMR that I use in my practice.

Change is a normal part of clinic life — maybe you’re expanding your team, introducing new offerings, or growing your [patient]* list. As your clinic evolves, it’s important to have an EMR that not only supports those changes but also grows with you.

Jane’s new Balance, Practice, and Thrive pricing plans offer flexibility, allowing you to easily switch from one plan to another depending on your current and future needs.

There’s no long-term commitment, either — just simple month-to-month payments that let you focus on running your clinic. And with every plan, you get features like 1:1 telehealth, email appointment reminders, and unlimited support.

Visit jane.app/pricing to find a plan that fits your needs, starting at $39 a month in the US. And when you’re ready to get started, use my code ACUSCHOOL1MO at sign-up for a 1-month grace period on your new account.

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

Today I’m talking with award-winning business consultant Ildi Arlette.

Idli has helped hundreds of clinic owners focus on profitability, growth, and building a positive company culture in the past 23 years. 

She’s also a former clinic owner, a combined medical aesthetics and surgery clinic in a 7000-foot space, which she sold in 2019. 

With industry experience, she has a unique perspective on the inner workings of different types of clinics, and the buying habits of consumers, across North America. 

Today she shares her advice for bringing in more revenue with a Black Friday or holiday event at your practice – whether that "event" is in person at your practice, or a sale on gift certificates that you promote solely through email. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• How events are a signal for our patients, and how to use them
• Why you should focus your efforts on your existing patients, as opposed to spending a ton of time and money on acquiring new patients
• Why it’s important to keep sales or special offers very SIMPLE
• What is a universal offer, and why it’s the best choice if your goal is revenue
• Whether December or January is a better month for promotions at our acupuncture practices
• And much more

SHOW NOTES: 

• Clinic Transformations Program: Use code VIP200USD to save $200 on your enrollment
• Book a private 1:1 call with Ildi
• Text 403-312-7510
• Email Ildi at [email protected]

🩵 Today’s episode is sponsored by Jane — a clinic management software and EMR. 🩵

We all know that choosing the right EMR can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out. You’re trying to juggle both your practice needs and your budget, and that’s not always the easiest combination.

That’s why Jane came up with the new Balance Plan. It includes the essential features you need to keep things running smoothly in your clinic, without the extra stuff you don’t. 1:1 telehealth, unlimited support, email reminders, and more are included, no matter which plan you choose.

So if you’re looking for an EMR that helps you focus on your patients, not your costs, Jane is here for you — just like a part-time assistant.

Plans start as low as $39 a month in the US. Visit jane.app to learn more — and if you’re ready to get started, use the code ACUSCHOOL1MO at sign-up for a 1-month grace period on your new account.

I’ll put the links in the show notes, as always.

And you’re more than welcome to email me with questions about Jane at [email protected].

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

Today I’m talking with Kate Matheson, a business strategist and coach for health and wellness entrepreneurs.

Kate helps practice owners fill their schedules and create a waitlist using business systems and marketing approaches that are productive, genuine, and self-sustaining.

After her own experience with intense burnout that required her to close two businesses in order to get surgery and recover, her focus is on helping wellness practitioners work smarter, not harder, so we can protect our energy while we focus on doing what we love – helping more people.

​In this episode, Kate and I talk about:

• How burnout was brutal but made her priorities crystal clear
• Her experience living in China
• Ideas for getting patients from MDs
• Why any marketing strategy should be reverse-engineered from the outcome you ultimately want to achieve
• Her four levels of social media strategy
• Why she doesn’t think social media is for everyone
• Why getting visible in the established communities of other business owners is a great way to get new patients

Hope you enjoy this episode with Kate!

Show Notes:

• Kate’s website: mathesonandco.ca
• Free Business Strategy Session with Kate
• Follow Kate on Instagram @mathesonandco
• Learn more about our sponsor, Clinic Transformations

This episode is sponsored by Clinic Transformations, the ultimate program for clinic owners ready to reclaim their time, boost profitability, and build a thriving team culture.

If you’re an acupuncture practice owner feeling stretched thin, Clinic Transformations is here to help.

Created by industry expert Ildi Arlette, this program goes beyond the basics. We’re talking a complete roadmap tailored to help you run your practice whether you have a team or work as a solo practitioner. Imagine stepping away from daily chaos and instead leading with purpose, growing your clinic’s revenue, and finally achieving work-life balance.

Clinic Transformations offers coaching, interactive resources, a learning portal with in-depth video training, and templates to fast-track your success. Plus, you’ll join a mastermind community of like-minded clinic owners all on the same journey.

Whether you need guidance on knowing your numbers, considering your first hire, retaining your patients, finding new ones or setting up systems that keep things smooth, Clinic Transformations is where you want to be.

Plus Ildi is offering promotional code VIP200USD to save $200 on your enrollment.

If you’re ready to transform your clinic and actually enjoy the process, connect with Ildi and her team at Clinic Transformations:

• Learn more here: Clinic Transformations
• Visit Book a private 1:1 call with Ildi
• Text 403-312-7510
• Email Ildi at [email protected]

Support the show

Curious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.