 If you’ve been in the doula world for more than five minutes, you’ve probably seen other doulas posting about their vendor booths — complete with pretty banners, matching tablecloths, and bowls of candy. Maybe you’ve been tempted to sign up for one yourself. But before you spend your hard-earned dollars, let’s talk about what vendor fairs really do for a new doula business. Spoiler: most of the time, they’re marketing opportunities, not instant client-generators.The Pros of Vendor Fairs1. Visibility in Your Community Vendor fairs put you face-to-face with dozens — sometimes hundreds — of people. Even if no one books you on the spot, you’re planting seeds for future inquiries. 2. Networking with Other Vendors You might meet lactation consultants, prenatal yoga teachers, photographers, or other birth pros who can become referral partners. Also, don't forget about people that are not in the birth industry at all, but are networkers. Small businesses with a community following are also very important. Those connections can be worth more than a single client. 3. Practice Talking About Your Work Having to explain what you do over and over helps you refine your elevator pitch. By the end of the day, you’ll have a smooth, confident way to talk about your services. The Cons of Vendor Fairs1. They Can Be Expensive — Especially Birth Fairs Specialized birth and baby fairs often come with high booth fees. For a new doula on a tight budget, that’s a big chunk of your marketing funds. And if you don’t get any bookings, it can sting. 2. Flashy Booths Draw More Traffic Agencies and more established businesses often have large, eye-catching displays. A simpler, lower-budget booth can still be effective — but you’ll need to work harder to draw people in. 3. Low Conversion Rates Most attendees are browsing, not buying. You may leave with a list of emails, but actual bookings from vendor fairs are rare — especially for birth services, which require trust and a longer decision process. A Better Option for New Doulas? Small, Local EventsFor many new doulas, small family-focused community events are a smarter investment. They’re usually cheaper, more relaxed, and let you connect with people in a setting where you can have real conversations — without competing with big, flashy setups. Think:
Deb's Final ThoughtsVendor fairs can be fun and help with visibility, but they’re rarely the quickest path to new clients — especially if your budget is tight. If you do them, go in with the mindset that it’s a marketing opportunity, not an instant ROI (return on investment-meaning you will get new clients directly from the event). And don’t overlook the smaller, local events that can give you just as much — if not more — genuine connection for less money unless you have a large marketing budget to do larger events. 
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 Working for yourself as a doula can feel lonely — and let’s be honest, distracting. There’s always laundry to fold, a client text to answer, or a million “shoulds” pulling at your brain. If you’re neurodivergent, it can feel even harder to stay on task when everything competes for your attention. That’s why I’m starting something simple, affordable, and supportive: Monthly Coworking on Zoom — just $5 a month.Here’s how it works: once a month, we hop on Zoom together. We’ll chat for a few minutes, set our goals for the session, and then… we get to work. Microphones off and cameras on or off — your choice. This is basically body doubling for doulas: when you know someone else is working alongside you, it’s suddenly so much easier to focus. Whether you use the time to write social posts, catch up on client notes, or finally tackle that project you’ve been avoiding, you’ll leave knowing you actually moved forward. And at the end of each coworking session, we’ll take 15 minutes for an Ask Me Anything. Bring your questions about marketing, mindset, or the behind-the-scenes of running a doula business, and I’ll be there to support you. One hour of coworking + 15 minutes of coaching. Once a month. Five bucks. Done.Join us, and let’s build businesses that feel sustainable — without doing it all alone. Link to register  So you’ve finished your doula training, picked your business name, made your social pages… and now you’re staring at your blank “Pricing” section wondering: |
Deb PocicaA birth professional, lover of shoes and travel, speaker, trainer, and supporter of doulas and small businesses. Archives
October 2025
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