How to Start Your Astrology Business

Advocates have defined astrology as a symbolic language, an art form, a science, and a method of divination. Though most cultural astrology systems share common roots in ancient philosophies that influenced each other, many use methods that differ from those in the West. These include Hindu astrology (also known as "Indian astrology" and in modern times referred to as "Vedic astrology") and Chinese astrology, both of which have influenced the world's cultural history. Growing an astrology business requires many of the same techniques people use to grow most home-based businesses that provide personalized services to clients. As with growing any business, if you look to the tactics used by other successful astrologers -- and business owners more generally -- you can gain valuable insights for increasing your customer base.

Astrology Business Instruction

Finding a Niche

Astrology businesses are numerous and competitive. The American Federation of Astrologers, founded in 1938, is now a global organization. Astrologers intent on thriving in a crowded field frequently select a narrow niche and mine it for clients. One example is the field of business astrology, which specializes in helping a business choose good astrological days to begin new projects and take other crucial actions, treating the business as if it were a person, and using a natal chart based on the day the business was started.

Studying Successful Astrologers

To draw potential customers, successful astrologers often develop an online presence, give interviews and write articles about the systems they use. Susan Miller's Astrology Zone website attracts an estimated 6 million visitors each month. Miller recommends writing e-books on astrological topics as a good promotional tool. Another successful astrologer, Rob Brezsny, noticed that many astrological forecasts were somewhat depressing and deterministic. His well-known "Free Will Astrology" website and email newsletter have attracted many clients, because Brezsny specializes in finding the most optimistic spin on weekly astrological trends, encouraging clients to view themselves as free agents in the universe.

Free Services

Some astrologers suggest providing a modest amount of free astrological services to draw clients into exploring more complex paid options. Fei Cochrane, founder of an astrology teaching program and an astrology software company, suggests in an online essay, "How to Run an Astrological Business," that astrologers offer a free reading to their friends and free lectures to community groups. Cochrane notes that new astrologers are sometimes obsessively afraid of donating any services, but she has found that giving a few free services is one reliable way to expand her paid customer base through word-of-mouth referrals.

Spin-off Projects

The spread of the Internet has enabled astrologers to find more clients by branching out into spin-off projects. Prior to the growth of the Internet in the late 1990s, many astrologers could interpret charts, write astrology books, produce astrological software, design sun sign jewelry and create other products, but few attempted to do more than one thing because of the burdens imposed by expensive computer technology and costly print media advertising. The Internet has made it much easier for astrologers create spin-off products and market them from a central website. Astrologers who lack the skills to produce a particular product can partner with other astrologers to offer it through affiliate links on their respective websites. For example, Llewellyn, one of the oldest metaphysical publishing companies in the United States, now provides an affiliate program which gives astrologers commissions in exchange for links to Llewellyn products placed on their websites.

References 

• Astrosoftware.com: How to Run an Astrological Business
• Entrepreneur.com: How Do I Advertise an Online Astrology Business?
• Ladies Who Launch: Susan Miller, Astrology Zone
• Kevin McCorry Astrology: Business Consultation -- How Does It Work?
• How to Start a Home-based Online Retail Business; Nicole Augenti
• Free Marketing: 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business, Online and Off; Jim Cockrum
• How to Start Your Astrology Business