I Think You Should Vote For... (aka: Why Politics & Massage Don't Mix)

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.”

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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 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. www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Creative Lighting for Your Massage Room

Remember the beautiful homemade artwork featured in Massage Pin-Spiration?

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 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.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

The Best Thing I Ever Did For My Massage Business

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.

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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 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.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Poetry, Massage and... Naps?

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 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.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Summertime = Opportunities To Promote Yourself

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!

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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 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.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Sweet Feat

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.

Thanks for the great suggestion, Marissa!

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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 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.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com

Implementing Protocols: A Follow Up to The Late Client

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. "

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(I encourage you to read the entire post at Living Earth Crafts.)

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 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.  www.BodyworkBuddy.com