Money, Marketing and Soul for Massagepreneurs
Establish a Powerful Online Presence
Feb 1st
If you want to build a successful massage practice in today’s economy, you must have a powerful online presence. In 2010, Pew Research Foundation reported 62% of Americans search for health information online. People are online looking for support and information. If you are not present where people are hanging out, looking for you, it makes it that much harder for your practice to grow.
I know some of us havenʼt reached the digital age and are uncomfortable with the idea that we must be online to build our practices. Online is where people are and all business, commerce and marketing is moving in that direction (this is why newspapers, traditional TV and radio are struggling to survive). Here is my short list of what you need to develop an effective online presence.
1. A blog. Blogs are a wonderful way to post helpful information for your current and prospective clients. A blog that you can edit and update independent of a designer allows you to optimize your marketing and multiple income streams. I suggest a WordPress.org blog that you host independently. You can use a free template or paid theme (for a paid theme, I suggest Headway, check the Resource section of my website for more info.)
2. Active profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great place to network with like minded colleagues. Think of it as an online, never ending networking event.
3. Get a Facebook Business Page. With over 500 million users on Facebook, some of them are bound to be looking for YOU! Be active. Provide value! Check out this blog post for a video tutorial.
4. Twitter. I canʼt tell you how much I love Twitter as a marketing tool! Used effectively, Twitter allows you to communicate your ideas to thousands of people many times per day. At first glance, Twitter may not seem relevant or make much sense to you. Iʼm planning on pulling together a class teaching the ins and outs of Twitter for helping professionals. In the meantime, hereʼs a short video tutorial to get you started. Follow people who tweet ideas that speak to your interests. Many will follow you back. When you feel comfortable, start sending your own tweets. Donʼt worry, itʼs free and you canʼt break it!
What is Hot Stone Massage?
Jan 30th
Hot Stone has been around for centuries in various cultures. It made its debut in the West in the 1990s when Mary Hannigan introduced LaStone Massage to the massage community and to the world. Since then several versions of HotStone have emerged.
The application of heat not only increases the feeling of well-being but also enables the therapist to work more deeply and more effectively with chronic pain conditions. The direct heat relaxes muscles, allowing manipulation of a greater intensity than with regular massage or even deep tissue massage.
Those experiencing a hot stone massage will notice a healing improvement of the following symptoms:
Muscular aches, pains, sprains, and strains
Poor circulation will be improved
Rheumatic and arthritic conditions
Fibromyalgia
MS
Back pain
Stress, anxiety and tension
Insomnia
Depression
Arthritis
Circulatory problems
Want to learn Hot Stone Massage? Check out my on-line course at http://www.onlinemassageces.com/hotstone-massage-description.html
Want to use this video on your own website or Facebook Page?
Just click on the YouTube link in the lower right-hand corner. It will take you directly to this video on YouTube. Click on “Share”. “Click on “Embed”. Click on the size video that you want on your website and grab the embed code. Need more help? Check out my video tutorial How to Upload Video to Facebook and Your Website.
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Hot Stone Demonstration on the Face
Jan 27th
Linda Roisum, CMT demonstrates HotStone Massage on the face.
Want to learn Hot Stone Massage? Check out my on-line course at http://www.onlinemassageces.com/hotstone-massage-description.html
Want to use this video on your own website or Facebook Page?
Just click on the YouTube link in the lower right-hand corner. It will take you directly to this video on YouTube. Click on “Share”. “Click on “Embed”. Click on the size video that you want on your website and grab the embed code. Need more help? Check out my video tutorial How to Upload Video to Facebook and Your Website.
Have a comment you want to add, leave it below.
Embrace Social Media (SM)
Jan 25th
A big mistake I see my clients (heck, other businesses for that matter!) make is thinking that social media marketing (SMM) is not as important as other parts of your business. I say you canʼt afford not to make SM a priority. SM is an extremely powerful tool and itʼs FREE to boot! So youʼll want to take advantage of it. If you donʼt embrace SM, your competition will. If you are resisting it, believe me your competition is right there using social media to connect with their clients…and possibly yours. Youʼre likely not making SM a part of your business because youʼre resisting it. Anything you resists become bigger, but you probably already know that. If you think of social media as if “I have to” vs. “I get to” youʼll never embrace it.
When you resist something, youʼre probably not going to get great results. So hereʼs the deal, just as you put lots of passion into giving massage, put that much passion and energy into your SMM (into the times youʼre on any of the SM platforms and engaging with your clients).
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? The belief that success is 80% mindset and 20% mechanics. The power is how you think about a situation (mindset), not how you solve it (mechanics). Itʼs one thing to know the latest and greatest tips for SMM (and I will be teaching those in the future), but itʼs an entirely different experience when you have values that are aligned with your SM strategy. Those who embrace SMM as an extension of their personality and as a way to penetrate the thoughts, feelings and desires of their audience, theyʼre the successes because theyʼve embraced SM, not resisted it.
This week, let go of the guilt of what you “should” be doing but youʼre not and stop resisting integrating SMM into your business model. Youʼll free up a lot of mental space which allows you to embrace SMM in a new way. How can you turn your SM experience into something you enjoy and embrace? Once you answer this, you will definitely be able to up your game and spend less effort and enjoy the process.
Massage Helps with Muscle Tightness
Jan 23rd
This video explains how massage can help relax tight muscles.
Want to use this video on your own website or Facebook Page?
Just click on the YouTube link in the lower right-hand corner. It will take you directly to this video on YouTube. Click on “Share”. “Click on “Embed”. Click on the size video that you want on your website and grab the embed code. Need more help? Check out my video tutorial How to Upload Video to Facebook and Your Website.
Have a comment you want to add, leave it below.
Hot Stone Massage Demo on the Neck
Jan 20th
Linda Roisum, CMT demonstrates HotStone Massage on the neck.
Want to learn Hot Stone Massage? Check out my on-line course at http://www.onlinemassageces.com/hotstone-massage-description.html
Want to use this video on your own website or Facebook Page?
Just click on the YouTube link in the lower right-hand corner. It will take you directly to this video on YouTube. Click on “Share”. “Click on “Embed”. Click on the size video that you want on your website and grab the embed code. Need more help? Check out my video tutorial How to Upload Video to Facebook and Your Website.
Have a comment you want to add, leave it below.
Check-in to Your HUB
Jan 18th
Now weʼre getting to the “secret sauce” of what will make your massage practice thrive. Today, people have money theyʼre willing to spend, but theyʼre going to be much more selective on where and with whom. Also, people still want a “human touch.” While they can be picky about who they work with, they are still going to be inclined to work with folks who they know, like and trust. This is where your Honest, Unique, Benefit, or HUB, comes in.
Your HUB is the center of your business. It encompasses your interests, training, personality, specialty, income streams, and marketing plan. Here is how I conceptualize your HUB:
H – Honest. As professionals we must be honest with ourselves and the public about our training and skills. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, none of us are good at treating everybody. We are however, excellent at treating some people and certain types of conditions. Take a few minutes to outline your honest assessment of your skills. Which clients do you feel you help best? What issues are you not equipped to treat? This exercise will also help you to more narrowly define your specialty.
U – Unique. While your training may be similar to many other massage therapists, the one trait your bring to your work that is 100% unique is YOU. Your personality, ideas and passions are all expressed in your work. Rather than view this as a liability, I encourage you to highlight your unique attributes within your practice. In a profession where we have lots of competition, what sets you apart will be your approach, style and passion. This will allow those clients who resonate with who you are to greatly benefit from your work together. What makes YOU unique in your work? How can you ethically communicate your unique self to clients in ways that benefit them?
B – Benefit. People chose to work with you because they feel there is a desired outcome. What benefit do you offer? What outcome can people expect? Depending on your specialty benefits can include: better sleep, increased flexibility, improved self esteem, reduced stress or anxiety…
Now your job it to clearly and concisely explain what you do and why it helps. This will allow clients to identify YOU as the person they want to work with.
How Often Should You Get a Massage
Jan 15th
Massage Therapists are often asked “How often should I get a massage?” This video answers that question.
Want to use this video on your own website or Facebook Page?
Just click on the YouTube link in the lower right-hand corner. It will take you directly to this video on YouTube. Click on “Share”. “Click on “Embed”. Click on the size video that you want on your website and grab the embed code. Need more help? Check out my video tutorial How to Upload Video to Facebook and Your Website.
Have a comment you want to add, leave it below.
Hot Stone Massage Demo on Shoulders
Jan 13th
Linda Roisum, CMT demonstrates HotStone Massage on the shoulders.
Want to learn Hot Stone Massage? Check out my on-line course at http://www.onlinemassageces.com/hotstone-massage-description.html
Want to use this video on your own website or Facebook Page?
Just click on the YouTube link in the lower right-hand corner. It will take you directly to this video on YouTube. Click on “Share”. “Click on “Embed”. Click on the size video that you want on your website and grab the embed code. Need more help? Check out my video tutorial How to Upload Video to Facebook and Your Website.
Have a comment you want to add, leave it below.
Deciding on Your Specialty
Jan 11th
The BEST way to build a sustainable massage practice that attracts many clients is to develop a practice specialty. Let me outline the reasons why a specialty niche is the only way to establish a thriving business.
The truth is, when we donʼt specialize we look and sound like every other massage therapist out there. When you are a generalist every other massage therapist in your community is your direct competition.
We are conditioned to work with specialists and experts. We want to work with someone who understands our specific needs. For example, if someone owns a Honda they want to bring their car to a repair shop that services Hondas, not just “cars.” The same is true for massage.
Every person out there is thinking about their specific problem and saying to themselves WIIFM? (Whatʼs In It For Me). People do not stay up at night thinking, “Gee, I really need to work with a therapist.” They stay up at night thinking, “I really need help with my back pain.” When you specialize you can speak to peopleʼs real worries and needs, not some general mish-mash of ideas that donʼt resonate with what they are thinking or feeling.
You are not good at helping everyone. No one is. You will need a specialty to focus your marketing efforts. Ever try to market to everyone? Iʼm talking about adults, kids, couples, older folks, single people, married people…. It doesnʼt work. Your message is too vague, people donʼt see themselves in your message, so they glaze over and ignore you all together. But if you specialize and tighten your marketing to focus on one group of people who can see their needs described on your web site, the right clients will self-identify that YOU are the person they want to work with.
I encourage you to sit down for an hour or so and contemplate your area of specialty. This does take some soul searching and acceptance that by narrowing your practice there will be some clients you do not help.
