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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, September 5, 2017

6 Ways Essential Oils Will Add Value To Your Massage Business




I know what you’re thinking… MLM company? But I started using doTERRA essential oils a couple of years ago, and have totally fallen in love with them.




I had used another oil company years ago, earlier in my massage career. While I liked the oils, and all of my massage friends were using them, I was completely overwhelmed and didn’t really know what to do with them. There was no education or support, I was just kind of left to my own devices to figure things out as I went.




I’m kind of embarrassed to admit the things I did learn… I melted some plastic containers that I had put a few drops of oil into for adding into my massages throughout the day. (I didn’t want to add the oil to my entire bottle of massage oil, so I thought this was a good solution!) 😂 I was coming down with a cold once, and could have sworn I had heard somewhere that a drop of protective blend on the tongue would ward off sickness. (BTW, it’s a really bad idea.) Of course, this was before the ever-connectedness of Facebook and all of these online resources that we have now. But long story short, I just got overwhelmed and felt like I didn’t have the time to learn all I needed to in order to safely use the oils.



So I quit ordering oils, quit using them, and went happily along my massage career without much thought to them for several years.




Then about 2 years ago, a lot of my clients started asking me about oils… and they seemed to expect me to not only have the oils to offer them, but the education, too. I realized they thought essential oils to be a natural adjunct to my massage business. So I honestly started delving into oils a bit simply to satisfy my clients’ curiosity on the topic.



One of my clients brought me some doTERRA Deep Blue Rub. I thought “yeah, sure.. I’ll give it a try” but thinking it wouldn’t possibly compare to the products we as professional massage therapists have access to, right? Well, I was kind of blown away. I had actually tweaked my lower back the week before this, and was really struggling making it through a day of work. I had never really dealt with low back pain before (HOLY HELL is THIS what my clients have been talking about?!). 😂 But the Deep Blue Rub not only felt good on my low back, but made work bearable that day. I was pretty impressed.




So I started using some of the oils in my practice and in my life, and next thing you know: I’m one of those crazy oil ladies.



I was still afraid to really get too much into the company though, because of past experience with pushy salespeople in multi-level marketing companies. I didn’t think a MLM company could be in alignment with my values. But as I was directed to support and knowledge on the oils from my upline, I started to realize that direct sales is actually a great model for essential oils. Because there is education needed to know how to use the oils safely, buying them from a store or website might not be the best solution. Where do you go when you have questions? Who helps educate you on the products you just purchased? I liked having real people to take my questions to when they inevitably popped up as I started using the oils more.




But I still wasn’t planning on selling oils to clients and certainly not signing them up for their own accounts.



Mostly I was selling a bottle here and there, and creating custom roller bottle blends for clients as an added value to their massage. Some clients had such great results with the custom roller bottle blends that I made to address certain conditions they were struggling with, that they wanted to know more about the oils… and then they wanted to buy more, and wanted to sign up for their own account so they could just order themselves at the wholesale price. In fact, what really opened my eyes was when a client went and signed up under someone else because, out of fear of seeming pushy, I didn’t mention she could sign up under me.


I realized my clients were thirsty for more information on oils, and that I could share that knowledge in a way that is natural to me that still aligns with my values and beliefs. Even if I’m selling a product from a MLM company, this is still my business - and I can do it in a way that works for me. Just like any other retail product that you believe in, you’ll be able to easily share it with clients and they will love what you love.



Here’s some ways I’ve added value to my massage practice using essential oils:
  • Create custom roller bottle blends for clients based on their issues. First bottle is complimentary as a “thank you” for being my client. Refills or additional bottles are $20 a piece.
  • I took a workshop to learn the doTERRA Aromatouch Technique and have that as an available add-on to all services.
  • I add in complimentary aromatherapy in every session (if client desires).
  • I diffuse oils in my studio and leave my office door open in between clients. Almost everyone comments on the wonderful smell drifting down the hallway.
  • I give clients samples to try out at home. The Deep Blue Rub is a popular sample that oftens leads to purchases of the product. Clients love it for muscle aches.
  • I use oil products such as a homemade lavender linen spray as a free gift when scheduling certain services (instead of discounting services or running specials).




A few LMT friends started asking me about how I was using oils in my practice, so I started a FB group for massage therapists interested in incorporating doTERRA in their business. If you’ve been interested in getting into essential oils more, but have shied away from MLM companies out of fear of pushy salesmen, this group may be for you. No pushy up-lines, just me and some other awesome massage therapists talking about oils and our massage business! I’ve found that a lot of MT’s have been confused on the requirements for signing up for their own account and were under the impression that they had to spend at least $200 (or whatever amount) each month to keep their account active. That’s simply not true. There are a lot of different options, and I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about that if you’re interested. Pop on over to the FB group and let’s talk oils!





Cindy Iwlew is a licensed massage therapist who has had a private practice since 1999 and cofounder of Bodywork Buddy massage software.



Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Marketing Your Massage Business in Just a Few Hours a Week {Guest Post by Gael Wood}



We all know that marketing a massage business takes time, money and creativity, and most of us would like to save on the first two. You CAN market your massage business in just a few hours a week, with some planning and focus.


Taking a day every quarter or so, to plan your promotions and marketing themes can save you HOURS in the long run. Knowing what you want to do is the hard part, and it’s easy to hop online because you need ideas and end up completely distracted and confused!

Figure out an overall marketing strategy and go from there. I recommend using printed marketing materials (rack cards, brochures, business cards or flyers), having a clear basic website with online booking, regular social media posts and networking in your local community. That may sound like a lot, but with a good plan it’s very doable in just a few hours a week.

Organize your printed marketing materials and keep them with you in your car. This way you can put them out while you are running your normal errands, and you’ll never inconveniently run out of business cards. Keep some thumb tacks and business card and brochure holders on hand too. You’ll be surprised how many places you can leave your advertising when you start looking for it. It’s a great way to reach people who need a massage but aren’t actively looking for one online.


I’m always surprised at how many massage therapists don’t have a website! Think about it, if you pick up a brochure and want more information, where do you go?






There are some great choices for building your own website, like weebly and wix. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but very doable for most people. Another option would be to pay someone to set it up for you or trade for a few massages. You will probably want to know how to do basic updates for specials and new blog posts. If you don’t have time or don’t want to update your site often, just have basic info, so that it doesn’t get outdated. I know I’m not impressed when I visit someone’s site and the Christmas specials are still up in May!

Social media is probably the most time-consuming marketing activity for most of us. On top of figuring out what to post, creating images and content, and searching for great content, it’s a very distracting place to be! Did you know that Facebook uses some of the same technology that casinos use to keep people at the slot machines? This is why I recommend a post scheduler, like eclincher, sprout social or viral tag to help you to preschedule, and even automatically recycle you content. 

Plan an hour or two a week to sit down and schedule out a few posts a day. 

Be sure to post a variety of content that you think will appeal to your ideal clients. If you don’t have time to create images, blog articles, and look for great content to share, check out the Massage Marketing Content Club by downloading your free samples HERE.

Last on the list is networking! If you are in a formal networking group, like the chamber of commerce, be sure to get events like business after hours on your schedule. It’s easy for these events to sneak up on us, and we end up missing out. If you aren’t in a formal group, check a few out or check your local paper, and even your kids school or your church for volunteer, donating and opportunities to help out and get involved.


Once you get in the habit of marketing your business, you will see opportunities everywhere!



Gael Wood has over 20 years of experience in the massage and spa industry. including day spas, resorts, and office settings, owning a therapeutic massage office, full day spa and currently an out call practice. She has amassed an immeasurable amount of knowledge and expertise in the art of growing and maintaining a thriving massage & spa business.
She now concentrates on educating and training massage and spa therapists in the areas of marketing, business start up, customer service and spa services. She is a NCBTMB approved CEU provider, licensed massage therapist and esthetician. Gael has over 20,000 massage therapists on her social media pages and email list.

Monday, August 28, 2017

What You May Not Know About Facebook Check-ins



You have a Facebook page for your massage business, right? 

Not only is a great way to get keep in touch with clients and reach prospective new clients on Facebook, it's a helpful tool for reviews.

Clients can leave reviews on your Facebook page which can then help sway new clients thinking about schedule a session with you.

But how do you get clients to leave a review on your Facebook business page? One easy tip is to have clients check-in at your business.




Facebook will automatically
ask them the next day to leave 
a review of their experience.   
It doesn't get any easier than that!

First, you'll want to make sure that the ability to check-in at your business is enabled in your Facebook. Then start working to get clients to check-in.

Ways to encourage clients to check-in on Facebook:


  • Have some signs posted at your massage business with a reminder to check-in

  • Offer an incentive like an upgrade to a service or being entered in a drawing for an upgrade or special service or gift when they check-in

  • Partner with a charity

Check-ins increase brand awareness and recognition with your clients and their social circles, but did you know that it also helps your SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? 



Google values and accordingly rates businesses that are seen as trusted providers with a high number of check-ins. It helps to increase the legitimacy of that business and therefore Google will trust it more, which in turn will help your massage business be more visible in search engine results.




Cindy Iwlew is a licensed massage therapist who has had a private practice since 1999 and cofounder of Bodywork Buddy massage software.


Friday, August 25, 2017

SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR GROUPON SUCCESS {Guest Post by Cath Cox, LMT}




I am a certified Groupon geek. 
Using Groupon to build my practice fast has been the single best decision I’ve made for my business. 
But it was one I resisted. I’d heard that only cheap people use Groupon, that they just come in for the deal and never return, and that I’d get so booked with Groupon clients I wouldn’t have space for anyone else. What I hadn’t heard is that Groupon provides massive exposure for your practice in exchange for a highly discounted service, and when used strategically, can create rapid, sustainable growth.

In any marketing campaign, planning is the most critical step. 

Unfortunately, it’s often neglected or skipped entirely. I’ve identified five critical skills and tools to planning a successful Groupon campaign. Let’s take a look at what they are, why they’re important, and how they can make a Groupon deal work for you.



HAVE A GOAL
Before we begin any promotional activity for our practice, we need to be clear about what it is we want to accomplish. “Get more clients” is way too vague. How many more clients do you want? Take a look at the number of clients you average per week now and decide how many more you want to have on the books each week. So if you’re seeing 10 clients per week now and you want to be seeing 25, your goal is to attract 15 more clients per week.

Having a goal allows you to evaluate how effective your marketing strategy is because it can be easily measured. 

It also helps you set the monthly maximum for your Groupon deal. This limit not only determines how many vouchers can be sold per month; it’s the metric used for the algorithm that determines where your deal shows up on the Groupon website. High visibility will sell more vouchers to a more varied group of members. Lower visibility means your deal will only be seen by those searching for massage. The monthly maximum can be adjusted to sell more or less vouchers while your deal is active to give you the best results.


USE A TARGETED DESCRIPTION
Who exactly are you trying to appeal to? It’s easy to fall into the “anyone who wants a massage” trap, but what’s going to really create growth and fulfillment in your practice is serving those who you are the best fit for. If you love and are really good at giving the most relaxing massage in your area, then you want to help people looking for that find you. They’re the ones who are going to enjoy what you offer, want to return, and tell others about you.

Massage is a popular item on Groupon, which can work to your advantage or against you. It’s become a go-to directory for those looking for a new massage therapist because they can try us out without breaking the bank. It can also make it harder for us to be seen among the numerous choices. A targeted description of your deal will set you apart from other massage therapists and make you resonate with those who want your unique skill set.



MAKE IT EASY TO RETURN
Once you get a new client, what do you do to inspire them to become a regular client? Aside from giving an extraordinary experience from beginning to end, clients may need a little financial incentive to visit frequently enough to get great results and stabilize your income. Having an enticing loyalty program, membership or discounted package will increase conversions dramatically. These types of incentives make frequent visits easier and keep your schedule fuller.  After all, isn’t the whole point of using Groupon in the first place to bring in more clients who will keep coming?

In my experience, offering a single session and a package of three in your deal gets more conversions in the long run because those who purchase a package are more interested in receiving massage frequently. Have an expiration date for your package (I use 90 days from date of activation) and stick with it. You can always offer to let them pay the difference for expired sessions (most likely they won’t, so those are free money). Use the pricing of your ongoing program (or special for returning Groupon customers) as a guide to price your deal (anything less than 70% of what they would pay for your discounted services is going to make converting them more challenging). You may not sell as many vouchers with a higher priced deal but you’ll retain more of the clients who buy them.


FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE
It’s human nature to seek immediate gratification. You will make some money from the sales of your vouchers, but using Groupon isn’t about making money from the deal itself. It’s about helping customers who want what you do find you. Getting them to come back is up to you.

Being successful with Groupon requires you to see it as way to attract more clients so you can then blow them away with your awesomeness. You won’t retain every Groupon client, but you most likely won’t retain every new client who hears about you from other sources either. Focus on those who do rebook rather than those who don’t. Keep the big picture of a full, thriving practice in mind. If you can’t get past the highly discounted rate you’ll receive from Groupon for your services, it’s not the tool for you.


USE ONLINE SCHEDULING
If you’re already using online scheduling, I don’t have to tell you how much it streamlines the booking process. If you’re on the fence about trying it, I encourage you to take the leap. Bodywork Buddy offers a free trial period, so you have nothing to lose. Any concerns you have about optimizing your schedule or not having control will be minimized once you experience the freedom from phone, email and text tag you’ll have. It also provides an added convenience that many clients will appreciate, especially when you have an influx of new customers AND you’re busy working so aren’t available to answer the phone. I wouldn’t recommend doing a Groupon deal without it.


I’m not going to tell you that working with Groupon is all butterflies and moonbeams. It can be very challenging because you’re dealing with well-trained salespeople. It’s your responsibility to make the best decisions for your business and not let them steer you toward a deal that won’t serve you. But with a sound plan, it can be an unmatched option for growing your practice faster. Give some thought to what you want to achieve and create a strategy to support that BEFORE contacting Groupon. Then you’ll be prepared to negotiate a campaign that works for you and those who need you to reach their wellness goals.


Cath Cox has been a licensed massage therapist in Colorado since 1999 and is the creator of the Booked and Busy in 90 Days System™. Her mission is to heal the world by inspiring independent massage therapists to build thriving practices of their own so they can work authentically for as long as they desire. She currently provides Ashiatsu barefoot deep tissue massage exclusively in her private practice. You can learn more about Cath and her journey at cathcox.com.