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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.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Early Bird Pricing for New Massage Client Attraction Boot Camp with Gael Wood

June 1-30, 2017 New Massage Client Attraction Boot Camp

Hey there!

I wanted to let you know about a great deal for early birds registering for this massage marketing program. Today is the last day to get this deal, so if you're in need of some help with your massage business, check it out!

Last day of early bird pricing!

Sign up for Gael Wood's New Massage Client Attraction Boot Camp June 1-30, 2017 to develop your massage marketing foundation, put your business on the map, get new clients on your table, and BUILD YOUR MASSAGE BUSINESS! Tons of bonuses and live Facebook group support only available June 1-30.


SIGNUP NOW!



Tuesday, May 16, 2017

New Microsite Themes, An Editor, and Bears, Oh My!



We're excited to announce some new designs available for our online scheduling microsites as well as some other cool features and updates to the microsite area!

There are now 11 color/theme choices for your microsite. We've also added an editor to the main text area of the microsite - this means you can now add your own links, images, bold or italic text, etc in your main text.

This makes our online scheduling microsite more customizable than ever! Combined with the ability to choose a video, upload your own images or use images from our library, and add your own text, you can truly make your Bodywork Buddy online scheduler reflect your personality and your business.

Interested in creating your microsite to match the design of your website completely? We do offer individual designs as well. Contact us for pricing and details.

Not sure if Bodywork Buddy is right for you? We have a risk-free 15 day trial. I'm a licensed massage therapist myself (still in practice, btw). I get it. It's hard to switch over to a new system, or to take the plunge away from your paper book. That's why we offer the trial and will also import your client list for you. We also have amazing customer service, if I do say so myself! ;) I'll be here along side you every step of the way if you need me.

Try it free.

Oh, and I was just kidding about the bears. Don't worry, there are no bears.



Friday, April 21, 2017

Staying Healthy and Motivated Throughout the Year

Staying Healthy and Motivated Throughout the Year


Photo Credit: Pexels, Pixabay


January has come and gone, and maybe your resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle has gone with it. Whether you’re just hitting a roadblock or if you completely fell off the train, you can still get back into gear. It’s important to implement a plan you can upkeep throughout the year. It’s all about finding the right balance of exercise routines, resting and recovering, and listening to your body.


Caring for Your Body

Instead of setting monthly goals, set goals for two or three month at a time. You can still set small target goals to reach so you’re motivated by seeing progression. Taking small steps is important because trying to take steps that are too big can be overwhelming, demotivating, and keep you from reaching your goals. Once you’ve reached your two or three month goal, do it all over again. If you don’t succeed, try setting even smaller target goals, like every week.

Many people search for a certain diet trend to try to achieve their weight loss goals, but those trends sometimes eliminate things our body really needs, such as carbs or fats. Instead, aim to eat as clean and balanced as possible. Consume non-processed foods, low amounts of sugar, foods that are naturally low in fat, and small amounts of good carbs. Carry these choices over when you eat at restaurants too. Also, be sure to eat in moderation and don’t overeat at meals.

When planning your daily meals, include plenty of fruits and vegetables and high-fiber foods. Eat a variety of foods to ensure your body gets all of the nutrients it needs. Don’t forget to stay hydrated. This doesn’t just apply to working out; it’s important to drink water throughout the day. Lastly, getting an adequate amount of sleep is crucial. A lack of sleep can reduce your energy levels and affect the way your body grows and repairs.


Switch It Up and Cool Off

Regardless of how long you workout, exercising three to five days a week is enough for a healthy lifestyle. Remember to keep your exercises balanced by switching up the type of exercise, as well as the volume and intensity. This is to prevent over reaching and causing injury, and it’s especially important if you decide to workout more than five days a week.

For example, walk your dog (or if you don’t have one, take on some dog walking clients) on the weekend, lift weights on Tuesday and Friday, and go for a swim on Thursday. These different exercises work a variety of muscle groups and change up the intensity. Yet, they all offer you healthy training to help you reach your goal. Remember that participating in outdoor activities is great but depends heavily upon the weather, so have a plan for indoor activities in the summer when it’s too hot or in the winter when it’s too cold. You don’t want rain or snow sabotaging your exercise regime.



When you’re working out, be sure to listen to your body. If you need to rest, take a break. This also means taking a day off if you need it. Taking a day off doesn’t mean sitting on the couch and watching TV. Instead, practice yoga or get a personal massage. Personal trainer Tyrone Brennand says yoga has provided him with unbelievable improvements, mentally and physically. It’s also helped him improve other aspects of his training.


Worth It

Sticking to an exercise routine and practicing clean eating aren’t always easy, but the rewards are definitely worth it. To avoid getting bored or burnt out, challenge yourself with different routines. After a few months, you’ll be surprised and inspired by what you’re capable of achieving, which is the real beauty in becoming a healthier you. Enjoy your new healthy lifestyle and feel good about healing your mind, body, and soul.






Author: Paige Johnson



Sunday, April 2, 2017

Ultimate Massage Therapist Biz GIVEAWAY



Sign up for this awesome bundle of FREE massage business tools valued at over $300 and enter to win the Grand Prize!

Share your personal link for more entries!

Free Gifts:

  • Marketing Mistakes That Could Be Killing Your Massage Business ebook by Tim Cooper – $17 value
  • Corporate Chair Massage Ekit from Rebecca Brumfield of Badass Bodyworkers – $97 value
  • The Ethics of Working with People with Cancer 1.5 CEU Online Course with Laura Allen
  • 4 Promotional Videos for Posting on Social Media! from Cindy Iwlew of Bodywork Buddy – $80 value
  • Marketing Your Massage Business on A Budget webinar from Gael Wood – $27 value
  • 10 Social Media Images from Gael Wood – $50 value
  • Creating Your Massage Marketing Materials webinar from Gael Wood – $27 value
Sign up for the bundle

Grand Prize Giveaway

1 winner will be selected at random.
Sign up for your chance to win!
Once you sign up, you’ll receive a personal link to share the Giveaway with your friends. The more you share, the more entries you earn toward winning the grand prize!

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Inspiration to Blog for Your Massage Business



I admit, it took me a while to realize the benefits of blogging for business. I had always heard that we should be blogging, but I didn't really grasp the "why" until after I had started.

Have you been thinking about blogging, or maybe just wondering why it's a good idea?

Let's break it down.


Why Blog?


  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
    Blogging helps your site get found by Google and other search engines. Every time you write a blog post, it's another indexed page on your site. More indexed pages means more chances of showing up in search engines and driving traffic to your site. New content on your site signals to the search engines that your site is active and worth checking in frequently.

  • Educates
    Blogging is a great opportunity to educate clients (and potential clients) on the benefits of massage, any special services or offerings that you have, and overall wellness information.

  • Establishes Authority
    Your current clients probably already see you as an expert in the field, but that fact will really be driven home when you regularly blog about wellness and massage. New clients will be put more at ease seeing your expertise from your blog posts. It's easy to forget that some of the information we know after being a massage therapist for X amount of years isn't necessarily common knowledge to clients and potential clients.

  • Fosters Relationships
    Creates a two-way conversation with your clients, helping to build a relationship with them before they even step foot in your massage studio.



What To Blog?

  • Think over your past week in working with clients. What are some questions you were asked? This is a great source of blog topics and material.

  • Wellness tips and/or products.

  • Spotlight different services you offer and explain the benefits of each one. (1 service = 1 blog post.)

  • Youtube videos showing self-care tips - just add your own commentary and there's a great, informational post! Here's one that I used recently during cold & flu season, and several clients thanked me for it:



My Results From Blogging



  • After writing and publishing a post to my website, I create an email campaign to my client list and paste in the entire blog post. (My main goal is for clients to read it, but if my main goal was traffic to my site, I might only put the first paragraph of the post and then link back to my blog. Or, you could still drive traffic to your site by including the entire post and then asking them to comment on your blog.) I end the email with any openings in my schedule coming up soon, and a link to my online scheduler. These openings always get filled after my email goes out.

  • Many clients have mentioned that they love my emails about the benefits of massage and thank me often for them. Just this morning at yoga class, I saw a client and she thanked me (for about the 4th time) for sending these emails.

  • I've sold more product and have been able to educate my clients on how the products I carry can help them.



How To Get Started



  • You don't have to have some fancy blogging software to get started with reaping the benefits of blogging right away. Many website services include a blog option (Weebly, ABMP's free website, etc.) Or you can use a free service like Blogger.

  • If you have trouble thinking of topics, start with the first month's posts before you publish any of them so that you get the ball rolling.

  • Choose how often to post and stick with being consistent.

  • Email your clients / mailing list your blog post. Encourage them to comment on the post and link back to the blog.

  • If you have openings you need to fill, include those in the bottom of the emailed posts to clients.

  • Add an image! Canva is a great option to create an image for your blog posts. It's a free service and you can legally use those images on your site.

  • Have a friend proofread it if spelling and writing are not your strong suit.

Do you have a blog for your massage business? Share it in the comments, you may just inspire another massage therapist to start their own blog!





Cindy Iwlew is a licensed massage therapist and cofounder of Bodywork Buddy Massage Software.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

My Favorite Shoes To Wear For Massage





I used to work barefoot (for hands-on massage, not to be confused with doing barefoot massage), and while I loved it, my body did not love standing on a hard floor all day with no arch support.

Because I also do ashiatsu, I needed shoes that could easily be slipped on or off as well as easily cleaned and sanitized throughout the day if needed.

One of my clients told me about Oofos* sandals. I LOVE THESE SANDALS. They are perfect for working in. I just keep them at my office as my work shoes. My back and knees are so much happier since I've been wearing these!

Have you found an awesome pair of shoes to work in? Let us know in the comments.


best shoes for massage therapists to wear



*Thank you for supporting our small business. Profits made from retail sales / affiliate links are reinvested in caffeine for our developers for Bodywork Buddy so we can continue to provide you with the best services possible.

Friday, March 3, 2017

Minnesota AMTA Convention


Bodywork Buddy water bottles spotted at Minnesota AMTA convention last weekend! Thanks to Erin Howk for battling a blizzard to get the bottles into the hands of these AMTA members. :D