Bummed you didn't plan a vacation this summer? Can't take the time to work in a getaway? Consider these reasons why getting a massage is better than taking a vacation. (And then schedule your massage).
No sunburn, tan lines, or skin damage.
You'll smell like heavenly essential oils afterward, instead of like salty sea water, pool chlorine, or stuffy airplane air.
It only takes an hour of your time & a short commute to get there. No long flights involved (usually).
A massage won't break the bank.
You can squeeze a massage in during your lunch break or after work hours. No requesting time off from work. (ok, this could be a con as well as a pro...)
Your shoulders and back will feel nice and loose versus how they will feel after hauling luggage through an airport.
No stress of planning what to do on your vacation. Just lie back, close your eyes, and relax.
No hangovers.
No layovers.
You won't come back feeling like you "need a vacation from your vacation".
No groping from airport security.
What are some of the reasons you would add to this list?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
You don't discuss politics during your massages (or maybe you do, in which case, here's why you shouldn't), so why are you doing it on your business Facebook or Twitter account? Before you offend at least half of your clientele (or would-have-been clientele) with a politically charged post, consider how it comes across. The following is a quote from stevenclark.com.au referencing the message sent from a political bumper sticker on a company car:
“We reserve the right to treat anybody who doesn’t agree with our political opinion as a lesser customer.” The message is OFF MESSAGE. The message is “Our brand is political. Our brand takes sides.”
I think Steven has a good point. (And according to his qualifications, I believe he must know a thing or two about marketing). I don't care if your politics happen to be in alignment with mine, businesses mixing politics is my #1 pet peeve. Especially when it comes to massage. Even if we're in agreement, politics never evoke feelings of relaxation. It is the polar opposite of the goal of a massage business. I'm not talking about your personal Facebook or Twitter accounts here. (Although, if you have clients on there then the same rules apply - blog post coming soon on the benefits of using Lists!) But your business account is not the place for politics. (Unless you're posting about legislation that directly affects the massage industry, or sharing a neutral news report on legislation.) In short? Keep your posts relevant to massage therapy, and save the politics for heated discussions with your relatives at holiday get-togethers.
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Here's another gorgeous idea from Pinterest. The original pin includes this in the description: use tall canvas, apply stickers, decal, etc., and spray paint. Remove Decals; hang white lights behind it. (I haven't tried this... if you have, I would love for you to send a pic for everyone to see how it turned out!) This would be a great addition to your massage room, yes? Do you have creative soft lighting ideas for a massage room? Share what's worked well for you in the comments.
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
One of the best ideas I ever implemented for my massage business was a referral program.
I offered a "refer 3 friends, get a free massage" program. I put a sign up in my massage room, as well as placed around my studio. Signs like "want a free massage? Ask me how!"
I was amazed at the response. I got a lot of new clients from this program. But actually ended up giving away only a handful of massages. Very few times did 3 new people come from 1 client.
I definitely recommend having an organized way of tracking your referrals. It can be as simple as index cards in a recipe box. Have a card for each client who has referred to you, and list the clients they have referred. After 3 (or however many you decide to make it) - offer them their free massage and mark it on their card when they received that massage.
*Shameless Plug: if you use Bodywork Buddy, there's a referral tracking feature built in. When a new client comes in, you can record who referred them. Then look up a client file at any time to see how many people they have referred.
Do you have a referral program? How has it helped your massage business?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Remember writing haiku poems in school? Here's a little prose I wrote about client cancellations.
While this is all in fun, I did find this great list of massage haikus that are quite lovely. And what an awesome idea this therapist had. According to the website, she traded massage for a poem in an informal research project to study individuals' perceptions of massage and inner states of being catalyzed by massage. You can read all of the poems at her website ArtistryOfTouch.com. Feeling poetic? Write & share your massage haiku in the comments below. (Reminder: the syllables are 5,7,5.)
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
This recent blog post from Earthlite - Spreading the Love - got me thinking...
Summer time can sometimes mean a slow down in business for MT's. What a perfect opportunity to get out there with your chair and market yourself at some events!
Donating your time can really help your business. Even if you don't immediately see results from it, you will meet new people and get your hands out there. Also, don't discount the importance of the practice of speaking to people and promoting yourself. Each event you are at - you're meeting new people and telling them what you do. If you have any reservations about talking yourself up - I'd definitely suggest doing as many of these events as you can. Nothing makes public speaking and networking easier than practice, practice, practice!
I look back on some of the events that I have done in the past, and I would have to say that is the #1 benefit I got from doing them - it made me better at speaking and promoting myself. I got more comfortable and gained more confidence with each event I worked.
Did I immediately see more clients on my schedule the next week? Not necessarily... but I look at it this way: marketing yourself is a marathon, not a sprint. (Don't panic, no actual running is required!)
But the things do you today can have an impact far down the line in your massage business.
What events are you planning to attend this summer to promote your business?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Sometimes summer time can bring some... harsh feet to your table. Barefoot, flip flops, gardening, etc. all create special foot conditions that might not be so glamorous on our tables.
I recently read a thread on Facebook discussing these issues and how to best deal with them.
I absolutely love this idea from fellow therapist Marissa Macias: She keeps a "funky foot" box at the end of her table. In the summer time, this service is added to every session. The box consists of baby wipes to wipe down the feet, followed by Sacred Earth Botanicals Foot Cream that is scented with lemongrass and peppermint. According to Marissa, the lotion actually makes the foot softer to work with, and it smells amazing.
I like to use a rice cooker full of moist washcloths to add a hot towel treatment to the feet. A few drops of essential oils makes it even better. (I'm partial to peppermint or Olba's Oil blend.) And now, thanks to Marissa, I plan to add in some Sacred Earth Foot Cream, too. Do you have a special foot treatment or particular product you like to use?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Remember our discussion a couple of weeks ago about The Late Client?
Living Earth Crafts wrote a blog post about implementing protocols to handle such situations and help train your staff.
LEC says:
"To my mind, one of the best ways to prepare your staff is to offer them scenarios (for late clients, certainly, but also for angry clients, emergencies, and so much more) and to allow them to practice how they’ll respond. This gives them the opportunity to practice in a non-threatening environment, but it also gives you – the spa owner or manager – the ability to set official protocols in place. "
What a great idea! Preparation could really be key in dealing with these situations when the arise.
Have you practiced dealing with possible client scenarios with your staff or even by yourself? How did you go about implementing protocols?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
The hot weather has arrived! I read a recent discussion on Facebook about using hot stones during the warm weather months... while some therapists may choose to stop using hot stones in the summer, you could add in some "cooling" add-ons for your clients. (I think these could pair well with hot stones, or be just as lovely on their own.)
Chilled eye pillow, cucumber slices or cooled tea bags over the eyes
Chilled towels for the back at the start of the session
Refreshing flavored water offered to clients after massage (See A Muscle Therapist's Thoughts for some creative ideas!)
What kind of summer add-ons do you like to offer?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Using your own photos for your massage website is a great idea. (Remember When Good Websites Go Bad?) But when you're putting your own pictures out there, it's a good idea to watermark them so that others can't use and claim them as their own. What is a watermark? It's a recognizable image or pattern used to identify authenticity. While you can create your own watermarks in Photoshop or Paint.net (I sense a video tutorial on this coming soon!), there's also several sites where you can watermark your images for free. Below are two I use often.
Select the file you want to watermark from your computer.
Upload to the watermarking site and follow directions to enter text for watermark.
Download watermarked image to your computer.
Quick & easy!
Here's a photo that I have watermarked as an example.
Have you already been watermarking your images? What are your favorite tools to do so?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
I used to work in a salon/spa. It was a beautiful place. The problem? It was designed by the owners, who had never even had a massage in their life.
The massage room was back by the break room. The entire place had beautiful ceramic tile floors. Beautiful, noise-carrying, ceramic tile floors.
During every massage, not only could I hear the conversations happening in the break room, but the constant sound of the hair stylists high heels clicking on the tile floor. (How they could work all day on their feet in heels is beyond me! But that's a whole 'nother blog post...)
The noise drove me nuts. But never mind me... the real problem? It was bothering my clients, too.
While I didn't end up staying there long enough to bother with trying for a solution, I figured there are many other therapists out there in possible similar situations.
While I'm no expert on soundproofing, here's some ideas on how to semi-soundproof your massage room, or at least make the noise less noticeable. (Without breaking the bank.)
I like the concept in this video. Remember, you don't have to do every wall, or every part of the walls, to make a difference.
I know what you're thinking... why would I want foam covered walls? But, you could get creative.
One solution to hide the foam is these awesome curtain panels from IKEA. This therapist has a layer of blue fabric in the back, and then a few decorative panels in front for a cool look.
Both the curtains and the curtain panels would not only hide the foam, but add texture and visual interest to your room.
If you don't want to do the foam/cover up approach and don't mind investing a little more material and labor, another way to do some soundproofing is with Green Glue. Their site includes suggestions for soundproofing existing walls by adding a layer of drywall after using Green Glue.
So, this cuts down on the noise through the walls... but what about that ceramic floor? It's wise to invest in a rug for you room, with some thick padding.
Also, a soundproof door bottom. (who knew there was such a thing?)
If you're dealing with noise coming from windows, try some acoustic caulk.
Another approach is to create some white noise. Fountains are great for this. Or if you can't do a fountain, stream nature sounds - ocean waves, bubbling brook, thunderstorm, etc. or play an MP3 or CD in a continual loop.
The zenvi face cradle is a great way to have your massage music right at your clients level - so the main thing they will be focusing on is your wonderfully relaxing music.
Have you worked in noisy environments? What worked well for you to cut down on the noise level in your massage room?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Notice how everyone is doing everything from their phones? This includes visiting your massage website. Is your website mobile friendly?
Here's a video tutorial on how to create a mobile version of your website for FREE. (There's also a paid version - very reasonably priced - if you prefer some of the extras like click-to-call and ad-free.) Sure beats hiring a professional for $500+ to create a mobile site for you!
Once you've created your mobile site, remember to follow the directions on the site to setup a redirect so your clients will auto-magically be taken to your mobile site when visiting from a phone.
Did you find this post helpful? What other technology tutorials would you like to see?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com
Things I've learned from my dog that are crucial to running a massage therapy business:
Trust your gut. Listen to your instincts.
Do what you love.
Be open to receiving.
Take sheer joy in everything you do.
Play a little bit every day. (or even a LOT).
When someone crosses your boundaries, let them know immediately.
There's no such thing as too many squeaky toys.
Discover new things and be open to learning more.
Be a good listener
Be authentic - don't pretend to be something you're not.
Thanks & big sloppy kisses to Iggy for these lessons and more.
What have you learned from your pets lately?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling.
Despite having a cancellation policy in our brochures, telling clients when they call, and even taking credit cards for evening and weekend appointments, I would say our #1 issue that upsets clients is if they are running late.
We do tell all new clients to arrive 10 minutes early to "fill out paperwork and use the bathroom so that it does not cut into your massage time" and most do. However, on two occasions this past month, people call to say they are running late 10-15 minutes. Our response, "Ok, just get here as soon as you can and we will have you do the paperwork afterward so you can get the most of your time." Some are understanding, but there are others who ask if they will be cut short.
"Unfortunately, your therapist may be able to go over a few minutes, but she does have an appointment scheduled after you". (We do have 15 minutes in between to change sheets, say bye to clients, etc, not to go over on time.) This sends the client spiraling into why that's not fair, they want to reschedule, etc. I apologize and explain their appointment was scheduled from 10-11, and while the therapist does have some wiggle room, that time was reserved for them. "You were told at the time of scheduling about our cancellation policy. Unfortunately, if you want to reschedule, there is a $30 fee."
I obviously let things slide as much as I can and make it work in the clients favor when possible (and when they are kind about it) but I would be interested in how other therapists handle this.
How have you handled this situation? What has worked well in your practice to enforce a cancellation or late policy? What do you do when a client gets upset over your policy?
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling.
Have you not added a timeline cover pic to your Facebook page yet simply because you haven't had the time to figure out how? Here's a simple tutorial on how to add or change your cover pic.
Go to your Facebook business page. (Or personal page, for that matter).
Click on the "Add a Cover" button.
Click on "Upload Photo". Then choose a photo from a file on your computer and click "open". (Massage pictures and directions on how to save them to your computer are in this post: 6 Free Marketing Posters).
The photo will then appear as your timeline cover pic. You can left click on the pic and drag it into position. Once you have it where you want it, click "Save Changes".
And there you have it. A nice new timeline cover pic for your massage business Facebook page.
I know many of you have already figured this out, but I have seen several pages without cover pics lately, so I thought this little tutorial might come in handy.
Are there other tutorials you would be interested in? I'd love to hear your feedback and ideas for other how-to posts in the comments below.
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, a complete online management solution for independent massage therapists that includes online scheduling.
Check out this cool site where you can turn your resume into an online infographic: re.vu.
You can add any education, previous jobs, interests, skills, etc. and it creates a visual graphic of your story. Choose from several different themes to match your resume to the kind of work you do. (There are several that are zen-like, perfect for massage). You can even upload a custom background.
I thought this could be a neat way to showcase your education and skills in massage. You could post your infographic resume to show clients your experience. The site makes it easy to share on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google +.
Did you make your own infographic resume? Post the link in the comments. I'd love to see it!
Cindy Iwlew is co-founder of Bodywork Buddy MassageSoftware, 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
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