Free Massage Music

Here's a cool site for some massage music:
restingbell.net is a site of creative commons ambient music.  Creative commons means it's FREE for you to use this music.  You can download any of it to use in your massage practice.

Pretty cool, huh?  Which ones are your favorites?

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

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Facebook & Clients: Stay Professional With Lists

A few weeks back in a post about why politics & massage don't mix, I mentioned the benefits of using the Facebook List feature.  I was going to write a post about how and why to use lists on Facebook to maintain your professionalism when you have friends, family, AND clients on your Facebook.  But then I came across this article by Gary Wagnon that breaks it down perfectly.  So I thought I'd share.


Having a Facebook Split Personality

By Gary Wagnon


Maybe you are Bruce Wayne by day and Batman by night. Or just maybe, you're clients and colleagues know you as Professor or Your Honor, but your high school classmates know you as "HotRod". Nothing is more comforting to hear than, "Hi, I'm Dr. Hotrod Smith and I'll be operating on you today."

Facebook is the great connector. We reconnect with classmates we haven't talked to in years. With them, we relive memories, embarrassing moments and teenage milestones. Plus, it's fun. But sharing that picture of ourselves may not exactly further our professional image. I'm sure lots of us have those past skeletons (like streaking the quadrangle in college), but we don't exactly put them on our resume.

Enter the new Facebook Friends lists. Facebook launched their expanded Smart Friend List feature this week. With this change, your friends can now be categorized into four pre-defined categories, Friends, Family, Acquaintances and geographic location. You have always had the ability to create lists but the process of posting to a specific list was cumbersome and obscure. Today it's prominently displayed next to the share button on your status update.

When the Friends Smart List feature launched, it automatically assigned friends to your local area list. It also assigns some family members to the Family group (although I had to add a couple of my immediate family members. They were in the "List suggestion" section, which made it easy to add.) You will have to initially add people to the other lists. In the beginning, it may be a little time consuming, but if you add new friends to lists as you confirm them, it will be much easier.

Maintaining Your Two Personalities


I frequently hear clients and social media students ask, "How can I keep my business and personal life separated?" Smart lists make that very easy. But more than that, it can be a good practice to enhance your marketing message. Chances are, your friends may not be the least bit interested in your business marketing content. And when your professional connections are "eavesdropping" on your conversations with friends, they probably won't be able to follow along or even be interested. Either group may tend to filter out your updates since they aren't pertinent to them.

A better practice would be to target your updates to the group of friends it is directed to. Create a list of professional or business friends and post only business related content to that group. Meanwhile, create another list of friends that you post your personal updates to. Each list then sees content they should be interested in and will be more attuned to each post you make.

There will be some friends that will fit both categories, so assign them to both. They won't receive duplicate posts, but they will receive posts anytime you update either list. Some of your content will be appropriate for everyone. In those cases you can post to Friends and everyone will receive it.

One thing you should know about Smart Lists. When you post to a list, there is an icon on the "Like Comment" line below the post. The icon will either be a globe (Public), friends or a cog (lists). By mousing over the icon, you will see a message that shows what the update was shared to friends, friends of friends or the name of the Smart List. For that reason, you may want to be cautious with your list names.

List can be useful in many ways, such as announcing local events. What other ways have you used the list feature?


Gary Wagnon is the Sensei of the Ninja Marketing Dojo, a comprehensive online marketing course designed to relieve the frustration business owners and manager face when trying to understand online marketing. Using a martial arts model, students will build on foundational principals, mastering each level before advancing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Wagnon
http://EzineArticles.com/?Having-a-Facebook-Split-Personality&id=6583524


image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Series: How To Set Your Massage Referral Program on Fire / Part 2

Last week I posted the first in this series to rev up your referral program for your massage business.  The first tip was to ask for referrals.  Did you ask some clients for referrals this past week?

Let's move on to the next step.

Referral Fire Starter Tip #2: Set Up a Successful Process

In an article in a sales magazine, a successful veteran sales manager stated that when his team received stacks of business cards and leads from the marketing team after a multi-day trade show, the leads often sat on the salesmen’s desks, or ended up in the garbage. What a waste! Hundreds, if not thousands, of leads – left to shrivel up and die. Just imagine the unclaimed revenue for that company…

If you don’t have a process set up to handle your incoming referrals, you might be committing the same referral crime. Here’s how to create a successful referral process:

1. Map it out. You ask your client for a referral, and you get one. Now what? If you get the name on a card or sheet, where does that go? If you get it via email, what happens with that information?
   A pile of papers scattered throughout your massage studio isn't likely to result in a fired-up referral program.
   
   Grab a large piece of paper or a mind-mapping software program and go step-by-step through your process. Start with the request for a referral and keep asking yourself “Now what? Now what? Now what?” until you’ve worked the entire way through your process and that referral has now been converted to a client.  Have a planned process to send each referral a postcard offering a discount off their first session, or some other enticing introduction to your business. 
   
   Also include a plan to easily track who referrals come from.  As I mentioned in the best thing I ever did for my massage business, this can be as simple as index cards in a recipe box.
2. Look for problems. After you’ve implemented your process according to your map, give it a month or so and then revisit it. Are referrals being held up at a particular step? Are things going off-track? Figure out where and why, and figure out how you’re going to fix it.
3. Refine. Times change and people change. You decide to close your Twitter and Facebook profiles. You revamp your entire massage business… As a result, you need to revisit and refine your process as your business changes and your client profile evolves. Everything might still be okey-dokey, but you may need to adjust things to accommodate how referrals are coming to you, or how you’re contacting referrals.

Processes can seem stilted and, for some people, boring. But getting it down and getting it right is a critical step to making your referrals pay off. 

Do you already have a process in place for referrals?  What has worked well for you?

Be sure to stop back next week for tip #3.

Series wrap up in case you missed it:
Part 1

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

Entrepreneurs: How To Beat Stress [Infographic]

Here's a good infographic on beating stress at the office, specifically for entrepreneurs.  It's a great thing to share with your clients on your fanpage or your website (easy ways to share at the bottom) - adding in, of course, that MASSAGE is a great way to beat stress!





What are some other tips that you would add in to help beat stress?

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

Series: How to Set Your Massage Referral Program On Fire / Part 1

Remember my post a few weeks ago about the best thing I ever did for my massage business?  Implementing a referral program really got the word of mouth advertising working for me.  I thought we could detail how to really get referrals working in your favor.  So this post is the first in a 10 part series on how to set your massage referral program on fire.  Every Monday for the next 9 weeks, I will have another post in this series.  Each week, work to implement ideas from the series and see what kind of difference you have in your massage business in 10 weeks!

No matter what the business, the number-one source of  new clients is through referrals.

Experts say that clients received via referral cost less to convert, are more likely to become regulars, and are more likely to refer you even more business! As a result, no massage therapist who is serious about growing their business can afford to overlook this lucrative source of new clients.

In this series, I’m going to cover ten tips that will have your referral program skyrocketing. Even if you just implement one or two of these suggestions, you’ll experience an almost immediate increase in the number of clients heading your way.

Ready to get started? 

Referral Fire Starter Tip #1: Ask!

It’s disappointing how many massage therapists tell me they don’t regularly receive referrals from their existing clients.  But when I dig a little deeper, the reason becomes clear: Most times, they’re not asking for referrals!

You might believe that if people are happy with your massages, they’ll naturally tell others. While this is sometimes true, it’s not necessarily so. There are three main reasons people don’t refer friends and acquaintances, even when they’re thrilled with the service or product they received:

1. Laziness. Most of us are lazy. We don’t go out of our way to do something unless there’s something in it for us.
2. They forget. Out of sight, out of mind. Once they leave your massage studio, they forget about you – unless there’s something that brings you to top-of-mind again.  (Which is why you should be keeping in touch with them in between their massage sessions.)
3. No one asked them to! It sounds crazy, but just asking someone to refer you can increase the amount of referrals you receive. All you have to do is ask.

While asking for referrals doesn’t have to be complicated, there are some guidelines that will make your request more likely to be successful:

1. Ask at the right time. Right after your client has received a great massage is the perfect time to ask for a referral. The experience is fresh in their minds, and they’re more likely to have a strong positive emotion.  You can imagine that asking for a referral from someone who hasn't gotten a massage in months is probably not going to have the same impact.
2. Ask when you’re having personal contact. When your client is in front of you or on the phone with you, or when you’re wrapping up a series of personal email exchanges is a great time to ask. That personal interaction increases the chances of a positive response.
3. Ask specifically. “Do you know anyone else who might be interested in our services?” is a great question, but even better is, “Who do you know who might also be stressed out and could use some relaxation?” is better.

Asking may seem uncomfortable at first, but practice makes perfect. Do it enough times, and it will become a natural part of your interaction with your clients– with fantastic effects.

Have you been asking your clients for referrals?  Did you notice an increase in your business once you started asking?

Stay tuned for next Monday's post for tip #2.  And if you're not already, subscribe to this blog via email or RSS feed so you're sure to see the rest of the series!

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

Credit vs. Debit Cards [Infographic]

A while back I wrote about Accepting Credit Cards to Increase Your Massage Business.
That post spurred an interesting discussion recently on our Facebook Page.

I find this topic very interesting.  I saw a big increase in my business when I started accepting credit cards.  And now, a large percentage of my clients (54.8%, to be exact) pay with plastic - whether it's credit or debit.  (Unfortunately, I don't have the % of credit vs debit).  But this number definitely makes it worth it to accept cards in my practice.

What are your thoughts?  Do you use a debit or credit card in your own life?  Do you prefer businesses that offer the convenience of accepting your cards?  Or do you prefer to stick to cash only?

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

Help Support Massage Therapy At The Paralympics

Source:  http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/

I'm sure you've noticed that the 2012 Olympics are going on right now.  But did you know that on August 29 the Paralympics begin?  The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy.  








To get an idea of how awesome this is, check out this video.

Cindy Iwlew (left) & Paralympic Massage Therapist Jennifer Tamang (right).

My friend and fellow massage therapist, Jen Tamang, will be volunteering her services at the London games.  She's going to honor us with a special guest blog post afterward sharing her experience with us!

Parkview Shoppes business owner has been selected as a specialist volunteer to represent the Kalamazoo area at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England.

Along with other health professionals from around the world, Jennifer Tamang, Owner and Licensed Massage Therapist of Balance Massage & Bodywork, has the privilege once again to work with the elite athletes at the Paralympic Games as a Sports Massage Practitioner on the Olympic Medical Team.   Jennifer was handpicked through the rigorous selection process by the London Games Organizing Committee based on her qualifications and experience with massage therapy since 1997.                         

The 2012 London Olympic Games will be held July 27 – August 12 with the Paralympic Games held August 29 – September 9. All the 2012 Olympic volunteers are known as a “Games Maker”. Most of the events have been specifically modified for the Paralympic Games. These athletes compete in events such as seated volleyball, goalball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, tandem cycling and boccia ball to name just a few of the 21 sports associated with the Paralympic Games.  With nearly  5,000 athletes representing 152 countries, the Paralympics are the second largest sporting event in the world!  

                                   

The Sports Massage Practitioners will be providing therapeutic massage services to the athletes with the goal of repairing and prepping their muscles to help optimize performance. The Paralympic athletes present a unique challenge to the Sports Massage Practitioners as they may be blind, in wheel chairs or missing limbs.  It’s awesome to listen to the incredible stories of how these men and women overcame their disabilities from sporting, congenital or military injuries and then go on to compete against like-minded athletes on an international scale.        

                                            

This will be Jennifer’s second international volunteer opportunity with Olympic Games the first experience came at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.  The Paralympic Games unfortunately tend to receive only condensed coverage and the athletes do not receive much recognition as world class athletes due to their “disabilities”.  They are nothing less than extraordinary, though!

Although, it is a distinct honor to be chosen as a Specialist Volunteer with the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, each Games Maker provides their services unpaid.  All travel, accommodations and additional expenses must be covered independently by the volunteer.

If you would like to show your support for Jennifer in her efforts to assist these athletes in competing for gold, donations are graciously accepted.  Even a small amount can make a big difference!  Make a donation of $12 and you'll receive this awesome one of a kind pin :-)

If you happen to be in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the Art Hop this Friday, August 3:
Look for Jen and local therapists: Pam Tucker, of Massage Kalamazoo; Sarah Lendardson, of Ambrosia Massage; Stacey MacDonald; and Amanda Brierty offering chair massage to help raise donations.
(They'll be in front of Gazelle's).

 And be on the lookout for a great blog post from Jen after she gets back from London!  Do you have any specific questions for Jen about her experience at the Paralympics?  Leave them in the comments and she can answer them in her upcoming post!

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

Why Aren't Clients Re-Booking?

Are you having problems building return clientele?  Clients not re-booking as much as they used to?  Clients often times will have simply gotten out of the habit of getting massage.  But if most of your clients aren't returning or re-booking, something is not right.

Here's a few suggestions to get you thinking outside the box and getting a different view of some possible reasons.

Receive a massage on your table.  Is your room comfortable?  Did you feel comfortable getting undressed and on the table?  Is your table comfy & cozy?  Does it have enough cushion?   Is there a big ugly water stain on the ceiling right above the table?  (This is how I discovered my ugly ceiling & a creative fix.)  Is the room too cold or too hot?  Is the massage cream frigid on your skin?  Are you staring at dust bunnies and lint balls on the floor under the face cradle?

Receive a massage from a business similar to yours.  (For example, if you work in a chiropractor's office, go to another chiropractor's office.)  What are other's doing that is different from you?  What do you like or dislike about other places?  Visiting other businesses can be as much a lesson in what not to do as it is what to do.

Receive a session from a business that is very different from yours.
(If you work in a private practice, get a session from a spa).  This can be a great way to think outside the box and open yourself up to other possibilities in your own practice.

Survey clients (with an online, anonymous survey) and ask for their honest feedback.
Often times, clients will feel more comfortable giving feedback anonymously and are more likely to be honest.  You might be surprised what you learn.

Take some continuing education classes to get your creative juices flowing.
Don't just signup for any old class because you need some CEU's... find a class that looks inspiring and that will add value to your practice.  I've had many clients comment that they love the fact that I am always learning something new.  Clients who have been coming to me for years are still surprised when I add fresh techniques to their session - they thought they knew all my tricks!  

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here's some of the most common reasons clients don't return (in my opinion):

• The therapist talks too much.
  Be mindful of your client's body language and non-verbal clues.  Are they keeping their answers short... but you keep talking?
  Have you communicated (verbally or non-verbally) to your clients that it's OK for them to be silent during their massage?  Sometimes, clients just need permission.  They might think it's rude to not talk during their massage.  Once given permission, they will often be silent and sink into a deeper state of relaxation they didn't know was possible.
• The massage room is too cold.
  It's a delicate balance to keep the room cool enough for the therapist, but warm enough for the client. I've received a massage before from a therapist who keeps her room very cool.  She keeps a heavy blanket on the client, but the problem is that the body part she is working on is exposed to that cold air, and it's difficult to relax.  I haven't gone back.
  There are some other ways to ensure the client stays warm enough without making it uncomfortably warm for you.  (We'll explore those ideas in a wintertime post.)
• The therapist doesn't deliver the type of massage the client requests.
  If your clients are asking for deep tissue, but you have a passion for reiki and therefore "talk them into reiki" or... just perform reiki when they've asked for deep tissue - don't expect them to come back.  If this kind of thing is happening a lot, it's a good time to re-evaluate your marketing and make sure you've got a clear target market of clients who are interested in your particular services.

If you've examined the above and don't recognize yourself, yet you're still not getting clients re-booking, there is one last thing to consider as a reason why clients didn't rebook:

Nobody ASKED them to!

What are your thoughts?  What do you think are common reasons clients don't return?

*Thanks to fellow therapist Ginger for the idea on this blog topic!

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

4 Free Facebook Timeline Pictures

Our latest poll revealed that many of you would like more Facebook timeline pictures for your massage business page.  So... Here you go!  These are the exact size you will need for your timeline picture.   Here's a review of How to Install a Facebook Timeline pic in case you need it.  

If you like these timeline pictures and use them, we'd sure love it if you would 'like' us or share some of our posts on Facebook, or share this blog with your massage friends, retweet us, etc.  (Easy ways to share on the right column of this blog.)  Thanks!

                                                                                                                   

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

Tips To Focus Your Marketing

After my recent post on The Worst Thing I Ever Did For My Massage Business, a fellow therapist asked me to elaborate on how I got my "in" with the large corporation in my town.

For starters, I didn't approach the company itself.  In fact, they already have a massage therapist on contract in their fitness center (offering chair massage only).  But I happen to know that a lot of their employees never use the fitness center, and therefore might not even be aware chair massage is available there.  

Here are some tips that I would recommend for building your clientele within a certain company.  This is assuming that you already have a few clients within this company.  Which is pretty likely if they are a large employer in your area. 

• Focus on a referral program and getting the word out to your existing clients who work at the company you want to build within.  
  Have signs up in your office and send out postcards promoting your referral program.  A monthly e-newsletter that includes info on your referral program and an easy way to forward or share that info is also a great idea.
• Word your referral program to accentuate what is in it for the client.  
  "Want a FREE massage? Ask me about my referral program!"
  Whatever your referral program, make sure you are thanking your clients for any referrals they send your way.
• Project positivity.
  Whenever a client asks how business is going, respond with:
  "Great! But I can always take more clients, do you have any friends who would be interested in my services?"
  You don't want to come off sounding desperate or hurting for business.  No matter how slow business is, never let that on to clients.  But also be careful to not give the impression that you're so busy that you can't take on new clients.
• Make sure your clients know you're available for on-site chair massage in their office and for personal parties.  
  (Signs in your office, list it on your menu, promote it on your website.)
  Even though the company I'm referencing has their own MT in the fitness center, I regularly had clients want me to bring my chair to their department for special events.  This is a great way to get your hands on all of their colleagues who would be great potential clients!  They are also more likely to become a client knowing that Anne from Accounting gets a massage from you once a month.  (I'm not suggesting you tell them this, of course, but Anne will likely tell them when you're there).  So unlike regular chair massage events, this scenario is more likely to turn chair clients into table clients.
  Remember that your clients probably socialize with their work colleagues as well, so being available to do chair massage at personal parties is another great way to meet more potential clients within a certain company.  I did chair massage for about 3 hours at a party several years ago for a good client.  I gained 5 awesome, long-term clients from that party... clients who are still coming to me today.  (this was a paid event, by the way... I'm not suggesting that you give chair massage away).  It's all about what events you're working and who you're likely to meet at those events.
• Reach out to them in their world.
  Many companies in the corporate world have an intranet that includes an e-bulletin board where employees can post things.  You can have a client (whom you trust) post an ad on the bulletin board.  A great way to do this is if you have an email newsletter, or an email special, and they can simply post that info and link back to your website and encourage people to schedule online (if you offer that service).  Or create a specific digital graphic ad to be posted - don't just make it text.  Keep in mind the clientele you're targeting and make sure it will be appealing to them.  For example, make sure it's more classy and less cutesy for an upscale clientele.  Maybe offer some kind of promotion specifically for employees of that company.
• Use testimonials.
  Collect testimonials from your current clients within the company in question.  Ask for their permission to post their testimonials on your website and in your brochures - including their name and profession.  Having a testimonial from the VP of their company can give you tremendous credibility.
• Know the company culture of the corporation you're marketing to.
  This will help you customize your marketing to them, and also tailor your services to them.
• Have a privacy policy in place
  Post it on your website, in your massage room, etc. to assure your clients that their visits and anything said during them are confidential and will not be shared. (You should adhere to this regardless).  Some clients will be hesitant to refer colleagues if they think any information about their visits will be shared.  Keep in mind that the corporate world is very different from the massage world.  It can be competitive and cut-throat.  Something that might be totally normal for us could be perceived as vulnerability within their company culture.  Your clients will appreciate knowing their visits are confidential.  

If you try any of the above, I would love for you to check back and let me know how it works out for your massage business.

Have you built a clientele from a specific company?  What worked well for you?

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 WORST Thing I Ever Did For My Massage Business

A couple of weeks ago, I posted The Best Thing I Ever Did For My Massage Business, so I thought it only made sense that I cover the other end of that spectrum.

I know this marketing technique has worked for some therapists... but for me, the worst thing I ever did was to run an ad in the local free paper.  (The paper was free, not the ad).  At the time, I was just starting out and working at a small salon.  On the urging of the stylists there, I ran the ad.  For the hairstylists, this had been their most successful form of advertising for their business.  (But I soon came to realize that their only marketing "plan" consisted of an ad in the paper and the luck to be available when there was a walk-in for a haircut.)

I won't go in to all the details of the results of the ad, but let's just say... it did include receiving a 4 page "fan letter" from an incarcerated individual. (No, there was nothing suggestive in my ad, and no, there is not a prison nearby. This just goes to show you the local paper was not targeting potential massage clients.)

I'm literally shaking my head as I write this... but, I didn't know any better at the time.  And what is that saying?  When you know better, you do better.  I learned a lot in the beginning.  (I'm not saying that an ad is a bad idea for every therapist.  Just that for the demographics of my area, it was not the answer I was looking for.)

freedigitalphotos.net

After I realized that my massage business was nothing like a hairstylist's business, I set out to try every marketing idea I came across.  I had long left that salon before finding my most successful marketing strategy through trial and error.  I focused my efforts on a large corporation in my town that I knew employed the kind of clientele I was trying to build, and I never ran another ad again.

Have you had luck with print ads?  If you've had a positive experience with it, I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

What has been the worst thing you ever did for 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

Fear of the Unknown (i.e. Technology)

This post a while back from Earthlite is a great testament to the power of using technology for your massage business.  If you've been hesitant to get wired to help your practice, I urge you to reconsider.

As a follow up to my post a while back about the benefits of online scheduling,
I'd like to address one issue I recently heard from a therapist on why she doesn't want to use online scheduling.
She wants to be in complete control of her schedule and doesn't feel she can do that using online scheduling.
Here are some features that many online schedulers include that do exactly that - give you control over your schedule:

freedigitalphotos.net

• Appointment "requests".
  An appointment request can be confirmed or declined by the therapist.  The appointment is not automatic but simply a request.
• Max days out clients are allowed to schedule.
  Ability to change the settings so your clients can only schedule appointments a certain time frame out - for example, clients cannot schedule until 4 days from now, etc. versus clients can schedule immediately.
• Optimized Scheduling - an optional feature that will only allow clients to schedule appointments that are immediately before or after existing appointments - eliminating gaps in your day.
• Customizable intervals for appointment start times (10, 15, 30, 45, etc) or choice of "stacked" times (1:00, 2:15, 3:30).
• Customizable break times in between appointments (15 min, 30 min, etc.)
• Syncing with other calendars - enabling you to view your calendar from anywhere.  Wouldn't it be nice to view your calendar on your phone instead of lugging your appointment book around with you everywhere?

I understand that online scheduling may not be for everyone.  But if you're afraid to try it for fear of losing control over your schedule, the above features are designed with you in mind - and can actually give you more control.

*Not all schedulers are the same.  Do your research and find what is going to be the best fit for your business.

Are you a therapist who was hesitant to switch to online scheduling, but are now happy you did?  What benefits have you noticed in 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