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Find A Massage Therapist
Dec 8th
Find A Massage Therapist
How Do I Find Thai Massage Kapiti.mp4
Massage Therapists: Marketing and Building Your Practice
When you graduate from massage school and pass your certification exams, you are finally ready to join other massage therapists out in the world of spas, chiropractors’ offices, cruise ships, or in your very own practice. But as a novice, you need to make a name for yourself with effective marketing practices. As a beginner, it can be confusing to understand best practices about marketing and massage, but if you follow some tried and true methods, you will be able to maintain integrity while most effectively promoting your practice.
Traditional Marketing for Massage
So, first things first – have a set of professional business cards printed. From your local copy shop to a variety of online printing companies, you have dozens of options for low-cost, attractive cards for marketing. Massage therapists typically include their name, contact information, modalities, and licensures so potential clients know how to reach them, can check their certification if necessary, and understand their specialties. It is important to check marketing requirements for your state.
- Starting off by giving a set of cards to family and friends is one of the best things you can do for marketing. Massage therapists should use their personal network, since these are people you trust, and likely they will know to only pass cards to people they trust. Always keep at least five cards with you at all times. Even if an individual does not make an appointment, they may have a friend who does. Think about how you found out about your hairstylist, mechanic, or plumber – likely, a friend passed along their card to you and now you use their services.
- Not all marketing is good marketing. Massage therapists need to be professional, and think before passing their information out. Would you give your address to a stranger at a bar? No? Then why would you give your card to a stranger at a bar? Think about the circumstances and environments while marketing. Ensure that massage clients understand the professional, therapeutic nature of your massage so that there are not any unwelcome misunderstandings.
- Internet marketing is a quick, cost-effective, and easy way to promote your business. Start a website of your own (even if you work for a business, it can be a good way to attract customers) about your background, modalities, hours, and professional affiliations. Include a link to your site in the signature of your email, and on your business cards.
Networking and Professional Affiliations
You should be a member of a professional organization such as AMTA, or ABMP. Do you know that they offer unique job boards and resources for marketing in massage? Often, when people are looking for certified or licensed massage therapists, they will visit these sites to find someone professional and accredited. For example, imagine that someone in your town is looking for a massage therapist who specializes in deep tissue massage, and they do a local search for massage therapists in their area. By updating your complete profile with all necessary information, it is likely that they will call you for an appointment, because of your professional affiliation.
When starting off, one mistake in marketing that massage therapists tend to make is forgetting that they are at the bottom of the totem pole. As a beginner, you are competing with therapists who have been in the business for years, or even decades. It takes years to become a bonafide “expert” at something, so continue to expand your knowledge base. There are thousands of other massage therapists in your state – find what sets you apart, and develop it to become a true professional.
Promotions and Incentives
For many people, massage therapy is sometimes seen as a luxury, and they might be more enticed to make an appointment if they receive a discount. This kind of marketing by massage therapists is an excellent way to bring in not only clients who are new, but who may be new to massage therapy altogether. Here are some tips for managing a promotional campaign:
- For first time clients, provide a discount of 10-20% off of their first service.
- After the massage, let them know that for every new client they refer, they will receive 15% off of their next massage.
- If you would like, perhaps begin a program where for every five new clients they refer, they receive one free massage.
- To manage referrals and track marketing, massage therapists often write “Referred by [the client's name] – 15% off” in their appointment books so they can keep track of how many new clients come in based on the recommendation of existing clients.
In this way, you are promoting ongoing rewards for the development of your business, rather than consistently giving discounts and undervaluing your service while remaining stagnant. Your clients will appreciate the fact that they are saving money and being recognized, and your clients will continue to spread the word about your practice.
Focusing on Individual Service
Less obvious than traditional marketing, massage therapists need to always focus on providing top-notch service to their clients in order to generate word of mouth marketing through recommendations. Your clients are not only just paying customers, they are people – people who know when you are only in it for the money, who know when you are distracted, and who also know how to book an appointment elsewhere when they are not receiving the high level of service they expect. Remember – a good recommendation might bring in one or two new clients, but a bad recommendation is guaranteed to drive away potential clients. This is an example of negative marketing for a massage practice.
That said, good massage therapists (beginners and experts) not only focus on short-term objectives, like making clients feel better on that specific day, but they also think of the big picture and work with clients on long-term goals. Think about stretches or exercises you can recommend to help patrons feel more comfortable between appointments. For example, if a client has arthritis, perhaps mention that low-impact exercise such as swimming or yoga can be helpful for joint maintenance and reduction of discomfort. By showing that you truly care and have their long-term health in mind, your clients are more likely to feel comfortable with you and will not only come back time and time again, but also perform the best type of marketing for massage therapists – recommendation by word of mouth.
 Body Back Buddy List Price: DescriptionThis popular design reflects years of feedback from massage therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists. With 11 therapy knobs, the Body Back Buddy stimulates in between muscles and pinpoints trigger points for a more finely-tuned treatment. Engineered to be lightweight, strong and easy to use. Combines the best of the Body Back Buddy features for those who want the ultimate self massage tool. Overall length is 25 . Comes with a free 12 page instruction booklet. Directions: Hook the Body Back Buddy massage tool over your shoulder or around your side to treat hard to reach areas of the back, neck and shoulders. Hold it comfortably by the handles or the frame so that the therapy knob touches the affected muscle. Push away from your body with your lower or outside hand while guiding the therapy knob with the upper or inside hand. This leveraging technique creates self-directed pressure to the targeted muscle. You can also use the Body Back Buddy to apply healing pressure to many other parts of the body such as your legs, arms, feet, chest and hips. Its versatility allows you to approach each muscle from many angles in creative ways. Since there are hundreds of ways to use the Body Back Buddy, take a moment to experiment and find out what works best for you. Use it standing, sitting, lying down or with a partner. Place the therapy knob on the sore muscle (trigger point) and apply what you consider to be a comfortable amount of pressure. When this muscle compression is released it stimulates a therapeutic response. Pressure preferences vary from one person to another deep and intense or gentle and relaxing. However, only apply as much pressure as you feel comfortable with. More pressure is not necessarily better! Ten to thirty seconds is normally enough time to elicit a therapeutic response in the muscle. Features
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Eligible for free shipping!  Master Massage Massage Table Warmer List Price: DescriptionOur Massage Table Warming Pad provides adjustable levels of comfortable and therapeutic heat for clients. This pad is used in professional massage therapy practice, as well as home use. The elastic straps keep the pad snuggly in place during every massage session, and provides a uniform distribution of relaxing warmth across the table. This polyester/cotton blend warming pad is 72″ x 26″ and fits any massage table up to 31” wide and 3” thick foam. The Master Massage Table Warming Massage Pad keeps you comfortably warm while your receive a therapeutic massage. This pad can be used at home, but it is also a perfect addition to any professional massage therapy practice. The warming pad creates a cozy environment for added relaxation during any session. And with the elastic straps, the pad stays snuggly in place even during a rigorous massage. This warming pad is 68 x 26 inches (LxW) and fits most massage tables. Features
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 Master Massage Professional Portable Massage Chair List Price: DescriptionThe chair’s aircraft aluminum frame enables a total weight of only 17.4 pounds, yet it holds up to 1,000 pounds static weight, 300 pounds working weight! The included luggage style wheeled carrying case is an exclusive and makes transporting this chair a breeze. A comfortable layer of our famous Small Cell foam covers all cushioned surfaces, including the chest bolster (included), and every surface of this amazing chair is adjustable for a perfect fit! The convenient Session Pouch (included) allows the safe storage of eyeglasses and jewelry. Features
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 LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Unit and Muscle Stimulator System with Carrying Case, Electrodes, and Battery Included List Price: DescriptionMaximize your pain reductions and muscle stimulation with our most powerful and effective lg-tec dual combo unit. the lg-tec dual combo tens unit / muscle stimulator has been our number one seller over the last 2 years. it provides you with the “dual” benefits of both a tens unit for acute and chronic pain and a muscle stimulator for muscle pain, muscle toning, education, massage, and rehabilitation. it has 100ma, which is the optimum intensity level – just like in the therapist office. comes with a 5 year warranty and satisfaction guarantee Features
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 OSTER Stim-U-Lax Massager (Model:76103-100) List Price: DescriptionSwedish style massager and vibrator / Professional Heavy Duty / 100% Ball Bearing Construction / Traditional Frame Design / Suspended motor massage action Features
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 Portable Ultrasound Model US-1000 2nd Edition List Price: DescriptionThe Portable Ultrasound 2nd Edition is a therapeutic ultrasound device that generates deep heat through a piezoelectric crystal sound head. Unlike electrical modalities, ultrasound is unique in that the longitudinal waveform associated with sound is not electromagnetic in nature. The piezoelectric crystal converts electrical energy into a strong vibratory sound wave or ultrasound, a sound beyond the normal range of our hearing. Features
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