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Bodywork Buddy Blog

Bodywork Buddy: business management software for the solo therapist that keeps you organized and makes tax time a breeze.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Benefits of Online Scheduling


online scheduling
Visit Bodywork Buddy for a free trial of online scheduling.




As a follow up to this article I wrote for massagemag.com about online scheduling, I'd like to hear about your experiences with this technology.


  • How has it helped your massage business?
  • What other benefits have you noticed with offering this convenience to your clients?
  • What creative ways have you used your online scheduling to generate referrals or gain new clients?
  • What would you tell other therapists who are hesitant to offer their clients online scheduling?
If you don't yet offer online scheduling, I'd love to hear why not and we can discuss those concerns in another post.





Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling
She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Friday, April 27, 2012

Promote Yourself for Mother's Day


Mother's Day is only a couple of weeks away...  but it's not too late to ramp up some marketing for your massage business!

Here's a great idea from Essential Massage Therapy:

They sent out an e-newsletter to all of their clients that included this Mother's Day Contest.


Enter to Win!


Visit our facebook page and post on our wall a Mom/Daughter or Mom/Son picture telling us why Mother's Day is special to you. Share with your friends and have them vote by commenting on your photo "I vote for you". The 2 Fans with the most votes will each win a ONE HOUR MASSAGE! All photos and votes must be posted by midnight, Wednesday, May 9th. We are looking forward to seeing all of your submissions! 


This contest is a great way to get more LOCAL Likes to your Facebook page - friends of your clients will be stopping by to vote.  These could be potential new clients!  Everyone will be tuning in to see who wins... you could also use this as a chance to remind everyone that Mom will love a gift certificate (if they don't happen to be the winner of the free massage!).  Essential Massage Therapy has a listing of Mom's Day Massage Packages just to the left of this contest on their newsletter - brilliant!

*Thanks to Essential Massage Therapy for letting me share this great idea.

Do you have another creative marketing idea for Mother's Day?  Comment here what has worked for you in the past, or what you're trying different this year.




Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling

She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Google Personal Search


Have you noticed that when you search for yourself on Google, your site is pretty high up on the list?  Google customizes our search results when we are signed in to any Google account.  Sites you have visited often will appear higher in the search results.

It used to be the easiest way to turn off that personal search was to type in &pws=0 at the end of the URL search results.  This turns off the personal search results and will show you what the rest of the world will see when they search using your keywords.  While this method still works, there's now a much easier way.

While signed in to google, you will see this image in the upper right corner of your search results page-



You can toggle back and forth between the person icon, and the world icon.  If you click on the person icon, you will see your personal, customized results.  If you click on the world icon, you will see the results that everyone else sees.

You can also click on the settings icon, and go in to change your personal search settings.  But with this handy little toggle button, it's easy to switch it back and forth for your searches.

No need to sign out of Google, open a new browser, repeat search.  No need to call all of your friends and ask them to search for you so you can find out where your site shows up for everyone else.

This is a fairly new feature... one I obviously wasn't aware of when I posted about the &pws=0 tip just a few days ago on Facebook.  That's the amazing thing about technology - it is always changing!






Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling

She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Monday, April 23, 2012

How to Lose Clients and Alienate People

online scheduling
Massage software with online scheduling

Don't you just hate it when your schedule is full of clients and you're in demand?

Here's a quick tutorial on how to thin out your schedule so those pesky clients will leave you alone.


  1. When a client asks for deep tissue. give them reiki.  Or, when they ask for a relaxing Swedish massage, try for "death by effleurage".
  2. Keep your massage room at a refreshing 64 degrees.  (this will feel especially great on bare skin with some cold massage cream.)
  3. Talk non-stop through their massage.  Especially if your client seems to keep their answers short and doesn't engage in conversation - take this as a que to talk more about your life.  Throw in as much drama as you can for entertainment's sake.
  4. Talk about hot-button topics like religion and politics.  (First, feel out the situation and make sure your client has strongly opposing views to your own.)
  5. Notice the non-verbal clues that you are using too much pressure.  Do not adjust your technique.
  6. Gossip about your other clients.
  7. Call up clients and tell them in detail that it's an emergency they make an appointment, because you need some quick cash to bail your boyfriend out of jail.
  8. Constantly reschedule their appointments on a whim.
  9. Take about 3 days to return phone calls and emails.
  10. Enjoy an aromatic lunch right before your client shows up for their massage.  (Think tuna fish, popcorn, fried chicken, etc.)

Hard to believe?  I've actually had all of these things happen to me as a client.  Some were experiences with other personal businesses, not massage - but they did all happen, nonetheless.  

OK, so... *disclaimer alert : I don't actually want you to do these things.  

Oh, and?  Dump that boyfriend.  You deserve better.  Trust me on this one.



Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling

She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Friday, April 20, 2012

Accepting Credit Cards to Increase Your Massage Business



Are you accepting credit cards in your massage practice yet?  If not, you should be.

There are many benefits to accepting credit cards.  It’s a known fact that people will spend more when they can use credit cards.  There are also several other advantages for your massage business.

I’ve heard many therapists express concern over the fees associated with processing credit cards.  The pros far outweigh the cons, in my opinion.  The processing fees are simply a cost of doing business.  You’re offering your clients a convenience.  Don’t look at the fees as money you’re losing, because you’ll likely reap many other benefits of accepting credit cards - including making more money. 

Consider the gains:

      Improved professional appearance. Accepting credit cards legitimizes you as a professional and helps to build trust.

      Convenience to your clients. It’s important to make it as easy as possible for clients to pay you. They will love the flexibility of being able to pay with credit cards.

      Lower risk (checks can take days to clear - or NOT clear - and the risk is on you.   Credit cards get accepted or declined immediately).

      Higher sales.  Not only will clients get massages more often and likely tip more, but also buy gift certificates, packages, and products.  Credit cards increase impulse purchases.

Also keep in mind that many clients use debit cards for everything.  Just because someone is using a card doesn’t mean they are using credit or spending money they don’t actually have.  (In case this is a concern for some therapists.)

According to Visa, over the past 10 years, people's use of electronic payments like credit cards and debit cards has increased by 400%.

A lot of credit card programs offer cash-back or other incentives for every dollar that a consumer charges to their card.  People who are enrolled in rewards programs will go out of their way to pay by credit card in order to accumulate rewards.

It’s easier than ever to accept credit cards.  With companies like Square and Intuit, you can get setup for free and be ready to swipe cards within a couple of days with nothing more than a smartphone or tablet.

Do you have a concern about accepting credit cards that I didn’t address here?  Leave a comment and we can discuss your concerns in another blog post.

Do you already accept credit cards?  What are other benefits that you’ve noticed in your own massage business?



Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling.
She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007. 
www.BodyworkBuddy.com








Wednesday, April 18, 2012

When Good Websites Go Bad / Part 1



You can have a beautiful design to your website, but if you do the following with content - you might have a website that has gone bad.

The following is a list of common mistakes.  Berin Iwlew (co-owner and chief software architect of Bodywork Buddy) has also weighed in on this article, as he is the web expert.  Me?  I'm no web expert, but the following are annoying at best - for any visitor to a website.
  • Each page is a "wall of text".  Especially the home page.  There's so much text that after one glance, visitors are instantly overwhelmed and don't bother reading any of it.
  • There are no pictures or anything visually pleasing.
  • Stolen pictures or content from other sites.
  • Not only someone else's pictures, they're hot-linked.  Don't think this will go unnoticed.
  • No call to action to visitors.
  • 50 different fonts.  And font sizes.  And colors.
  • Talking flash graphics, pop-ups, or the windows that pop-up behind the browser.  Or pop-ups that prevent visitors from leaving the site.
  • Same content and look since 2008.  The site is never updated.
Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Unfortunately, with the popularity of CMS sites (content management systems) it's waaaaay too easy for people to turn a basic site into a train wreck.  But you don't need to be a web designer to avoid these common mistakes.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this post which will detail how to remedy these mistakes and get the most out of your massage business website.

What other traits do you think make a less-than-effective (ahem...Bad) website?







Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com






Sunday, April 15, 2012

7 Habits of Highly Successful Massage Therapists


  1. They are dependable.  They aren't flaky with their work schedule.  They commit their time to their business just as if they were working a 9-5 job (not necessarily those hours, of course).  But they keep a consistent work schedule, and they don't cancel because it's a sunny day and they'd rather be gardening.  They only reschedule in the event of illness or emergency.  They are their own boss, and they ACT like a boss by making attendance at their job a priority.

  2. They continue their education.

  3. They value themselves and understand that they can't help ANYBODY if they can't even pay their own bills.  They charge accordingly.

  4. They are open to feedback and take it as constructive criticism - and then act to make the needed improvements.

  5. They have a niche market.

  6. They continually work on marketing their massage business.

  7. They realize there is enough business for everyone.  They see opportunities for learning from other MT's and embrace a network of colleagues - rather than get competitive and territorial.

Of course, the list doesn't have to stop at 7... what do you feel are some other habits of successful massage therapists?



Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice since 1999.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Friday, April 13, 2012

How to be a Stressed Out Mess at Tax Time


As a follow up to my post yesterday on "Getting Organized for Tax Time", here's a few tips for those of you that prefer to be more "free spirited".


ddpavumba / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
  • Don't use any type of bookkeeping system for your massage business.
  • Randomly scatter any business related receipts throughout your office, home, purse, and car.  Then host an annual "receipt hunt" and invite friends & family to join in.
  • Make business purchases with several different credit cards, debit cards, sometimes with cash, other times checks - including personal checks.  And don't keep track of any of it.
  • Wait until the end of the year to tally up income from massage sessions. Or better yet, wait until April 14th.  Or even better?  Just guestimate your income.
  • Don't keep copies of tax returns from previous years.
  • Don't consult with a professional.  Decide to do this all yourself - even though you're a massage therapist, NOT an accountant.
  • Prioritize.  Facebooking always trumps bookkeeping.  always.
  • Don't make quarterly payments. It's much more exciting to find out that you owe thousands all at once. And if you don't pay? The IRS will threaten to seize your assets.  THIS is how you bring more adventure into your life!


Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Getting Organized for Tax Time


stressed woman




Are you pulling your hair out getting ready to file your taxes?  Swearing next year will be different?  Next year, you will be organized?  Start working now to be prepared next year.

I love this quote:
Small things, done consistently and in strategic places, produce the greatest results.*
I try to keep this in mind whenever I’m tackling a big project or changing a habit.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture.  Sometimes I tend to think “if I can’t do it all perfectly - right now, then I just won’t do it at all”.  I’ve learned that this thinking is a recipe for disaster.  
Making small changes, and sticking to those changes, can have an amazing impact.


The following are a few tips for starting to get organized.  


tax paperwork
Photo courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
  • Use technology.  There are tons of tools to help you with your bookkeeping.  Take some time to look around and find what will be a good fit for your business.  There are many benefits to using a web-based system - we’ll delve more into the pros and cons of that in another post.
  • Use a separate credit card for business purchases.   Only use it for business.  This makes it much simpler to keep your personal and business expenditures independent.  
  • Enter your income from each client every day - as it happens.  While you are settling up with your client, and scheduling their next appointment - input their payment info into your bookkeeping system so you stay on top of it.  Why wait until you can’t remember or have month’s worth of sessions to record?
  • Set an hour or two aside each month, or 20 minutes each week, to input all of your expenses into your bookkeeping system.  If you keep up on it, 20 minutes is all you’ll need.  Schedule it into your business - just like doing massage, or marketing, or washing linens - this is part of running your business and you should schedule and prioritize it as such.  Have a designated file for receipts to be entered at this time.  Keep a master list of recurring expenses you need to remember to be entered each month like credit card processing fees, rent, linen service, etc. so you don’t forget anything.  Make this time enjoyable by treating yourself to a latte while you work, or schedule your massage or a pedicure as a reward after doing your bookkeeping.
  • Make copies of your tax returns and file them in a handy place. You’ll need to reference these if there’s a question about your filing, so know where they are!
  • Make use of cancellations/no shows.  Use this time to stay caught up on bookkeeping.  Using a web-based system for your bookkeeping makes it easy to use sudden free time for organizing.If you have time to Facebook, you have time to get organized.
  • Small steps.  If you’re overwhelmed, you’re likely to throw in the towel and go back to old habits (i.e. a box with a year’s worth of receipts, or even more adventurous: a “receipt hunt”).  It takes time to implement new habits.  Choose one organizational improvement per month and implement it!  Small changes really add up.
  • Talk to your accountant to get setup to make quarterly payments.    Set this money aside each week and do not touch it.  Create a sub-account in your business bank account to put this money in, so you’re sure to remember it goes to the IRS.  This may not seem necessary when you’re first starting out, but as your practice and your income grows, so will your tax bill.  It’s best to get into the habit of setting that money aside now.
  • Setup a meeting with your accountant to create a full list of what expenses you can write off.  You might be surprised at the expenses you didn’t think of, and every little bit helps.


Are you already an organizational wizard for your massage business?  Great!  Comment below to share some of your tips!


Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

*I found many references to this quote online, but didn’t have any luck finding who actually said it originally.
Photo courtesy of


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Inspiring Others With Massage


You just never know what kind of influence you may have on others.

Massage Therapy
Your touch has a remarkable impact
Photo courtesy of ABMP
Yesterday, I saw a client who I have only seen once before.  She had received a massage from me about 5 years ago.  I do remember her, and I remember that she enjoyed the session... but that is about it.  It didn't appear to be some life-changing experience or anything, and I never saw her again.

Yet, she came in yesterday telling me that massage inspired her to go to massage school, and that she has thought of me often in the past 5 years.  Wow!  She went on to say how wonderful this journey has been for her, and that it all started with that massage.

This made me stop and think: just how much are we affecting people's lives every day, and maybe not even being aware of the significance?  After a while, massages day-in and day-out, it starts to become routine and is our 'normal', and perhaps it's easy to forget how much this massage means to our client on the table.

It was a great reminder to me, and her excitement about massage therapy was refreshing.

Recognize that your touch has a remarkable impact, and you're likely affecting your clients in ways you can't imagine.

If you've been in the field for a while, consider mentoring a student or new therapist.  Not only will you help them grow as a therapist, but they will help you remember the magic in this work.






Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

10 Simple Ways To Wow Your Clients


Sure, you’ve honed your skills and offer a stellar massage.
But sometimes it’s the little things that stand out in a client’s mind differentiating between a great massage and an exceptional experience.   Pay extra attention to the little details and you’re sure to make a memorable impression.

The following are just a few ideas.  This is by no means the extent of what you can do, but rather a starting point to springboard your creativity.  The possibilities are endless!



  1. When a new client is filling out your intake paperwork, offer them a warm herbal neck pillow.  
    online scheduling for massage therapists
    Mother Earth Pillows have beautiful herbal flaxseed pillows that can be heated in the microwave or a hot towel cabinet.  They feel great, and smell like heaven.  Your client has only been in your studio for 2 minutes and already they’re impressed.
  2. Have eye drops in single use vials (found in any pharmacy) available in your massage room where your clients get changed.  Clients wearing contact lenses will really appreciate this.
  3. Put something pretty on the floor under the face cradle.  (I have a pretty bowl with rocks)  Granted, most clients have their eyes closed at this point.  But for those that don’t, they will take note of your attention to every detail.  (It’s just a simple bowl of rocks.  But the effect?  “Wow!  You’ve thought of everything!”)
  4. Put a drop of essential oil on the corner of your face cradle cover where your clients will notice the fragrance.  I’m fond of Olba’s Oil, which is a blend of eucalyptus, peppermint, spearmint, and clove.  It works great for keeping the sinuses open.  Just be sure that your client has no sensitivities to scents.  Also make sure the oil is in a place on the cover that will not come in contact with your client’s face or eyes.
  5. Use a mini-crockpot or bottle warmer to warm your massage cream and oil.  This is especially nice in the winter in cold climates!
  6. Use hot towels or wash clothes to clean their feet.  Don’t have a hot towel cabinet?  Mini slow-cookers and rice cookers work great for this and are usually less than $15.
  7. Keep some stones in the fridge or freezer for those clients who tend to run warm.  (Menopausal women will love you for this!)  Place a cold stone under their neck while supine to keep them cool.  Cold stones are also a nice touch on the sinuses for anyone with allergies and sinus pressure.
  8. Put an herbal eye pillow over their eyes while supine.  This little trick works wonders to encourage clients to relax and quietly drift inward to receive the most from their massage.  
  9. Take notes to remember important information about your client’s preferences and dates in their life.  Ticklish feet?  Your client will be impressed that you remember after only having seen them once before.  Next time Sandy comes for a massage, ask her how her daughter’s wedding went since you saw her last.  These things make a lasting impression!  Keep records of your sessions and make a note of these details.  Scan each client file before they come in that day to refresh your memory. (*Shameless Plug* This is easy to do with Bodywork Buddy Massage Software).
  10. Offer your client hot tea or cocoa after their massage.  You can use to-go cups and lids so they can take it home with them.  If you don’t have a water dispenser with hot water, you can purchase a Hot Shot Water Dispenser for under $20 - all it takes is 1 minute and you’ve got a cup of hot water.

Try implementing some of these ideas and see what kind of reaction you get from clients!

Do you have your own creative finishing touches you add to your sessions? Comment here what has worked well for you.


Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling. She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years, and has been an associate instructor for Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy since 2007.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com