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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.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Give Your Online Scheduler Some Personality!


Did you know you can customize the look of your online scheduler (microsite) with Bodywork Buddy? Add your own text, choose massage images from our library, or even add your own images!

Signup for the free 15 day trial, no credit card required :)


Saturday, November 28, 2015

*NEW FEATURE* Online Client Intake Forms


Start 2016 out right with a paperless practice!

We've recently launched the new feature of online client intake forms in Bodywork Buddy. You can now email clients their form to fill out securely online and already have it attached within their client file in BWB.

There is a default form you can use, but you can also edit and create your own custom forms from within your account. (dashboard > clients > client intake forms > edit.)



Add, delete, or edit any fields you want and click save. Hover or click over the blue "actions" button to open a preview of what your client will see.



Clients can fill out their form (securely!) from any device with an internet connection: desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Their info will then be connected with their client file in your BWB account under the medical history tab, and also at dashboard > clients > intake form > main.

When a new client is scheduled with you, you'll have the option to send them an intake form. You can also send an intake form to existing clients anytime from within the client's file > actions > send client intake form.

This feature is still in Beta which means we're doing some fine-tuning and there will be more cool aspects to this feature to come.

We would love to hear what you think!

Monday, November 23, 2015

Member Spotlight: Rosibel Kersjes


Today's Bodywork Buddy member spotlight is Rosibel Kersjes of Kalamazoo, Michigan. 



Q: What inspired you to be a massage therapist? 

A: A friend of mine offered me the opportunity to become an Esthetician and work at her spa. I soon realized that my favorite thing about  doing a facial was giving clients a shoulders, neck and face massage. However, I personally  never had a massage before, so I scheduled my first massage. I could not believe how great I felt afterwords!! By then I was convinced that I was going to become a MT.


Q: How long have you been doing massage?

A: 5 years



Q: What is your favorite thing about being an MT?
A: It is helping people find physical, mental and even emotional relief. It amazes me how somebody can come in my office looking tired, drained, sad or worn out and leave looking refreshed and happy. I also enjoy learning about the human body, we are all similar and unique at the same time, which makes my work always interesting. We are definitely "wonderfully made."



Q: What do you feel is the most challenging issue for massage therapists?

A: If you run your own practice like myself, I would say that the most challenging issue is to find the balance between being an exceptional therapist and  a good business person. You have to take CE classes, read literature, do research and study  in order to become skillful at your craft while doing marketing, accounting, secretarial work and so on. 



Q: What advice would you give to other MT’s to help build their business?

A: Be passionate about what you do. Human touch is very powerful, your clients will be able to feel through your touch if you love what you do. Your hands will tell them, without words, how much you want to help them...whether if you care or not. 

I find that the best way to remain passionate for what we do is to get bodywork ourselves. It is amazing how getting a good massage can make you fall in love with your profession again.  I also recommend taking CE classes to become a better therapist.  If you combine compassion with great bodywork techniques, the results will be happy clients who not only will continuously book appointments but refer more clients to you. 

Finally, take the time to listen to your clients and make sure that you address their needs. Remember to be flexible and adaptable. Be humble and willing to accept honest feedback and constructive criticism.




Thursday, November 19, 2015

How To Tell if Your Client Received Their Email Reminder


Like most online schedulers, Bodywork Buddy sends automated email reminders to your clients for their upcoming appointments.

Unlike most online schedulers, Bodywork Buddy includes an email log so you can see when emails were sent and even when they were opened by each client.

To see if your client received their email reminder, go to dashboard > account > email services > scroll to bottom "sent email history". Here you will see the most recent emails sent from the system in your account.

If an email is labeled "sent", it hasn't been opened yet and the date/time stamp indicates the time it was sent. Once an email is opened, the status changes to "opened" and the date/time stamp indicates the time the client opened it. It also lists the type of email sent (appointment confirmation, appointment reminder, testimonial request, etc).


You can find the email logs for each client from within the client file as well.

This is handy if you've ever wondered if your client received their email reminder, or to find out when the email address you have for a client is not valid or undeliverable.

Email reminders cut down on no-shows and help enforce your policies. (Not to mention that they make you look like a rock star with their professionalism.) Bodywork Buddy emails include an area to add your own text as well as lists your cancellation policies.

Want to try it out yourself and eliminate no-shows and last minute cancellations? Sign up now for the free trial of Bodywork Buddy and we'll import your existing client list for you for free, so you can get started right away without needing to do a bunch of data entry!



Saturday, November 14, 2015

How Do You Find Balance?


I've recently gotten back into doing yoga, and it's been amazing. Over the past few years with doing Bodywork Buddy, I've slowly started spending more and more time on the computer and less time doing the things that fill me back up and take care of myself - like yoga. I didn't realize how much I was really needing this until I started taking classes again.


It's helped me be more in the present, not only in class and other areas of my life, but specifically in my massage practice. I've found myself working more slowly, taking more time in each stroke, and watching the clock less. Even changing up my routines and techniques more while really listening to my client's bodies. Of course, I'd like to say that I alway do this ... but after 16 years of doing massage, the truth is sometimes I'm just on autopilot. 


It's been refreshing to see my work in a new light since doing yoga regularly. I wasn't expecting this result from starting up a yoga practice again, it's been a pleasant surprise. I'm really enjoying my massage work more lately, and I feel like I'm doing better work with my clients.


According to Karina Braun, Yoga will help you as a massage therapist to gain awareness in your body and help you to improve your posture and alignment while you work. Increasing flexibility while helping to prevent injury, yoga can help you do massage for years to come.

What other things do you do to help fill your cup and keep you balanced to be a better massage therapist?



Monday, November 9, 2015

*NEW FEATURES* Canceled and Missed Appointments Reports


You can now generate a report for canceled and missed appointments within Bodywork Buddy.

For missed appointments: from dashboard > reports > missed appointment > date range > generate report.



For canceled appointments: from dashboard > reports > canceled appointment > date range > generate report.

We're currently working to add in the ability to print these reports as well. This should be available soon!

Are you a solo massage therapist looking to make your life easier with your practice? Check out the FREE 15 day trial of Bodywork Buddy and see how we can help you get organized and have more control over your massage practice!

Friday, November 6, 2015

Member Spotlight: Jessie Zarling



Today's Bodywork Buddy Member Spotlight is Jessie Zarling from Sussex, Wisconsin. Jessie owns Relaxing Relief Massage.

Q: What inspired you to be a massage therapist? 
A: I've kind of been doing massage since I was about 9 years old. When I was a kid, my Dad would get a lot of back pain and I would rub his back with this pain relieving gel he had. Somehow I was able to relieve some of the pain he was having. Not exactly the way I would work now, but I think I had a natural knack for it. I also remember giving my cousins massages at my Grandparents' house on my Grandpa's recliner. I have no idea how I started doing it, but I did it all the time, because I wanted to. Going through middle and high school, I thought I wanted to go into PT, but then realized I wanted to go more manual therapy and less exercises. Massage just seemed to be the right path for me.

Q: How long have you been doing massage?

A: I graduated school in November of 2009, so almost 6 years. Self-employed for almost two.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being an MT?

A: I love working with my regulars, and seeing the continual progress we get from session to session. Working for myself is a close second ;)

Q: What do you feel is the most challenging issue for massage therapists?

A: I think the most challenging thing is the way the general public sees massage. There are a lot of people who see the truth and benefits, which is fantastic, but there's still a long way to go for the rest.

Q: What advice would you give to other MT’s to help build their business?

A: I'm still building myself, but taking care of my clients and getting their word-of-mouth has probably been the best thing for me. Don't cheapen yourself by advertising with daily deal sites. In my experience from past jobs, the clients that those attract are mostly deal-jumpers and people not willing to pay your regular prices. Have patience. Rome wasn't built in a day.