Diploma in Learning the Tarot

How to start a
tarot reading
business
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Content
3 Lesson outcomes

3 Introduction

3 Seven insights to get your tarot business started

4 Three myths of starting your own tarot business

4 Marketing strategies for your tarot business

5 Where to read tarot

6 Signs that you are ready to be a professional tarot

reader

7 Top tarot business mistakes

7 References
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Lesson outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Utilise offline and online marketing strategies

Maintain existing clients
Know where to read tarot cards
Determine if you are ready to become a professional reader
Dispel the myths of a tarot business

Practical lesson outcome:

Avoid tarot business mistakes

Market your tarot business

Introduction
A tarot business needs to be run like any other business. You will need a sound marketing and financial strategy, the best
way to succeed is by building a loyal client base. This takes time, nurture, and good service. Here we are going to look at
some key considerations.

Seven insights to get your tarot business started

1. Reading tarot will only take up 50% of your time:
50% of your time will be spent creating content, marketing and engaging on social media etc.

2. Remain focused:
Once you have decided on your social engagement - commit to it. Follow through on your commitments as it shows
dedication and professionalism, whether it’s a bi-monthly newsletter or regular Instagram posts.

3. Have a clear marketing strategy:

This doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. Be clear on what you are offering and how you intend to reach
your market. Be creative and have fun with it! Make sure your marketing material (website, social media, emails) is
clear, easy to understand, straightforward and reflects your services.

View our marketing courses:

Digital Marketing: https://www.shawacademy.com/courses/marketing/online-digital-marketing-course/
Social Media Marketing: https://www.shawacademy.com/courses/marketing/online-social-media-marketing-course/

4. Put yourself out there:

To book appointments, people need to know you exist. Be active and get your name out there, and don’t be afraid to
market your skills and let people know what you’re offering.

5. Value your time:

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Giving away too many free readings is an ineffective business strategy. Once you start marketing, you are a
professional reader and should charge for your time.

6. Do your sums!
Before you start, consider how much you need to earn in order to follow your tarot passion. Tarot is not an intrinsically
lucrative career path. It takes a lot of time and effort to get consistent bookings. Look at your goals, map out how
many clients you’d need to book to meet them, and plan accordingly.

7. Diversify your offerings:

If you only offer one-on-one readings, you will be limited to an income stream that requires your active time and
presence. It may be advisable to add more offerings to your practice. For example, you may want to consider an
additional income like online self-directed courses.

Three myths of starting your own tarot business

The benefits of owning your own business are plentiful: you’re in charge, you can set your own schedule and choose your
own co-workers, and it’s exciting to follow your passion. However, the drawbacks include no paid benefits, no sick time,
and no guaranteed income. It is important to have realistic expectations. Let’s clear up some misunderstandings before
we go any further.

Myth 1: You’ll make lots of money right away:

It takes time to build your loyal clientele; becoming a prosperous tarot reader doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t quit your
day job while you prepare, advertise, and build your network.

Myth 2: You’ll work fewer hours:

This is the biggest fallacy of them all! Growing your tarot business takes a huge amount of commitment, time, and energy.

Myth 3: Clients will be knocking down your door:

It takes time to secure loyal clients and make your services known. Running a successful tarot business is 50% tarot and
50% marketing.

Marketing strategies for your tarot business

Online marketing strategies

1. Build a tarot reading website for your business. For a cost-effective or free site, look at setting up a WordPress or Wix
website.

2. Optimise your website for search engine traffic. Also consider setting up Google Adwords.

3. Set up a Facebook and Twitter page and use it to share tarot articles, videos, insights, tips, and build a community of
like-minded people.
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4. Start a blog and share your insights of the tarot. Or write a guest post for another site and be sure to include your links
in the profile.

5. Contribute and answer questions on tarot forums to build a solid reputation as an expert in the field. My personal
favourite forum is Aeclectic Tarot Forum www.tarotforum.net.

6. Set up a business Instagram account and connect with potential clients. Post insightful comments and contribute to
the conversation to create interest.

7. Write an eBook on tarot to showcase your knowledge and attract subscribers to your email list.

8. Be a guest or start your own tarot podcast. Bring on guests and offer mini tarot readings.

9. Offer a tarot reading to a popular blogger, and if they love it, ask them to write about it on their blog or website.

10. Start a YouTube Channel. Have a look at ALI's Tarot on YouTube.

Offline marketing strategies

1. Leave flyers for your tarot business at local shops, especially new age shops, and alternative health stores.

2. Write a regular article in a new age / spiritual magazine and include your contact details in your profile.

3. Create a local or online meet-up group around tarot. Meetup is a great service used to organise online groups that
host in-person and virtual events for people with similar interests www.meetup.com.

4. Join your local tarot association.

5. Join local small business groups with people from diverse backgrounds and attend regular networking events.

6. Join associations in complementary fields where you have an interest – e.g., astrologers, numerology, psychics, etc.
Build relationships and encourage two-way referrals.

7. Set up a stall at the next New Age fair/lifestyle market.

8. Provide talks and/or demonstrations at your local spiritualist centre.

Managing existing clients

1. Offer your current clients a referral bonus, e.g., refer a friend and get 50% off your next tarot reading.

2. Reconnect with your clients 3-4 months after their last tarot reading to check-in.

3. Mail your loyal customers a personal thank-you note and with any seasonal specials you may be offering.

4. Collect the birth dates of your clients and offer a special discount for a birthday tarot reading.

Where to read tarot:

1. Face-to-face readings
Pretty straightforward! Do consider the safety aspects of having strangers in your home. A quiet corner of a public café
is good alternative, but you may need to make a formal arrangement with the manager. Arrange for your client to
bring cash if you don’t have any payment facilities.
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2. Tarot parties
Tarot parties are great fun and make excellent corporate events. These sorts of readings need to be kept very upbeat!
When working out your fee for group readings, I suggest charging a flat rate for the evening depending on the number
of attendees. Remember the more people participating means shorter readings for everyone. Make sure you inform
the host of the structure of events in advance. Do not forget to give out your business cards to each attendee.

3. Reading tarot at festivals/markets

Reading at festivals and psychic fairs can be rewarding and serve as good marketing platforms. Some people can be a
little embarrassed to be seen getting a reading in a public place, so it is a good idea to create some privacy around
your stall.

4. Online tarot readings

Remote readings by phone or video chat platforms are as effective as in-person readings. When reading for a client
online, you can show the cards to the client over video chat by holding them up to the camera as you speak. Or if
technology cooperates, position the camera above the cards. You can also take a photo of the full tarot spread and
email it to your querent afterwards. In this time of isolation and lockdown, we’re all looking for meaningful
connections and in a way that doesn’t add to our screen-time fatigue. Tarot is a wonderful way to achieve this.

Signs that you are ready to become a professional tarot

reader:
You know how to interpret all 78 tarot cards

It is essential that you learn how to interpret the cards, not just what the cards mean. This isn't about being able
to memorise all 78 tarot card meanings but rather being able to look at any of the tarot cards and connect intuitively with
what it means for a particular situation.

You know your tarot spreads

You need to know how to choose and use the right spread for the question asked. It is advisable to have a couple of
standard spreads up your sleeve – the Celtic cross, the Horseshoe spread for example.

You can weave together a story from the cards

You don’t want to recite the meaning of each card to your client. Instead, you want to read card combinations to uncover a
meaningful story that will truly illuminate your client.

You have experience reading tarot for people you don't know

Reading tarot for strangers is a pivotal practice before you turn professional. It will help build your confidence and expand
your experience as you do not have any insider information, you will have to rely solely on your intuition and tarot reading
skills.
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Top tarot business mistakes

Mistake # 1: Not keeping an email list

An email list is simply a list of emails that you have gathered from clients and potential clients that would like to receive
information, updates, and other details about your tarot services in a digital format that is sent to their email inbox.
An email can get 10 times higher conversions than social media campaigns. Mailchimp allows you to send out newsletters
for free to your email list.

Mistake #2: Giving too many free readings

Be careful about giving away too many free readings. It is recommended that you charge or arrange an exchange of
services.

Mistake # 3: Not having a website

If you run a business, you should have a website. WordPress and Wix are affordable platforms.

Mistake #4: Not having business cards

Business cards are not expensive, and you can start with a minimum number. Make sure you include your website, social
media, email, and phone number on your cards.

Mistake #5: No presence on social media

Develop a presence on Social Media. Join groups, have conversations, learn from each other. Social media can be fun,
interesting, and entertaining.

Mistake #6: Unclear ethics and boundaries

In lesson 7 where we discussed tarot ethics and boundaries. If you resonate with any of the suggestions, incorporate them
into your tarot practice.

References

Biddy Tarot (2020) 78 Ways To Market Your Tarot Business. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.biddytarot.com/78-
ways-to-market-your-tarot-business/. [Accessed 15 January 2021]

Divination and Fortune Telling (2018) How to create a tarot business plan. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://divinationandfortunetelling.com/articles/tarot-reading-business-plan. [Accessed 15 January 2021]

Incandescent Tarot (2019) Insights into Running a Tarot Business. [ONLINE] Available
at: https://www.incandescenttarot.com/blog/2019/10/3/businessinsights. [Accessed 15 January 2021]