myspaclassifieds.com

Recent Updates RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  admin 6:41 pm on February 6, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: build a massage business (2), get more massage clients (2), massage (6), massage business, Massage Therapy (5)   

  How to Automate Your Massage Business 

  There is only one of you and hopefully lots of them.  If you are a massage therapist with your own practice, chances are you are in need of new ways to streamline your business adminstrative processes.  Your time is best spent in session,working-out knots and  relieving tension, not sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen.  Unfortunately, you cannot simply ignore phone work, appointment setting, marketing, and client follow-up.  These are necessary tasks for your business’ success.  However, for most small massage practices  outsourcing work or hiring an assistant is cost prohibitive.  The solution?  Leverage the power of technology to automate your massage business as much as possible by doing the following:

  • Create and Maintain a well-designed and Informative Website -In today’s market, having a website is not an option.  It is a necessity.  Clients assume a “successful” business will have a web presence and of course you do not want to disappoint them.  Your website should provide an accurate overview of your services.  Whether or not you include a price  list is a matter of preference.  Most spas and therapist do.  Keep in mind, many clients will make a decision to schedule an appointment with you based on the types of services you offer and at what price.  Include your available appointment times and instructions on how to schedule a session.  An FAQ section with the most common questions (i.e What to bring to a session?  Are credit cards accepted?  What to expect during the first sesssion? etc.) will allow you to address clients’ concerns easily and effectively
  • Online Appointment Schedulers – Booking a first time appointment with a new client can sometimes take upwards of thirty to forty-five minutes.  New clients often have questions.  Of course you want to take the time to answer their questions and make your clients feel comfortable.  Whether it’s through your websites FAQ’s or if it’s specific to a medical condition, when they come in addressing client concerns is necessary.  The interactions you want to avoid  are clients sharing with you the details of their busy schedules and the explanation for why they want to come Saturday at 2:00pm instead of Saturday at 11:00am.   With an online appointment scheduler clients can peruse your availability and schedule their appointment accordingly.  If they need to reschedule that can be done easily online without the shame and stress of them calling in speaking with you.  Not only do online appoinment schedulers help you to automate your massage business but it empowers your clients, as well.
  • Virtual Phones – No one wants to sit in an office and wait for a phone to ring.  Chances are if you are in your office you’re in session and if you are not in session you are out marketing, running errands, or taking care of personal business.  With standard business phones your best option is to forward your number to your cell phone.  If you are running your business off your cell phone, you’re forced to have two cell phones, one for business and one for personal use, or you run the risk of mixing business calls with personal calls - not a good thing.   The better solution is to use a virtual phone.  For only $4.88 a month you can use the virtual phone service of phone.com and project a professional image to your clients.  Your calls can follow you anywhere.  You have the option of an auto attendant, unlimited voicemail boxes, call screening, call transfers, after-hours greetings, etc. 
  • Email Marketing (Using AutoResponders) – Following up with clients after a first session could not be easier if you use an autoresponder.  Autoresponders allow you to pre-type messages for clients, save them within your account, and then schedule a time to send them.  The software does the rest.  So for example, you could set up a campaign that automatically sends out a welcome email to all new clients, then sends a what to expect e-mail two days before the scheduled appointment, and a follow-up email the day after a session.  Are you running a special or want to wish clients a happy holiday?  You can send an email blast (using a pre-designed graphic template) to your entire client list.  It’s easy to stay in touch and follow-up with clients when done the right way.
  • Texting Sevices – Lastly, effectively keeping in touch with an ever mobile client base is essential to automating your massage business.  Clients need to stay informed and connected.  What better way than their cell phones?  (Most people will not leave home without them)  With e-mails, websites, virtual phones and online schedulers you are relying on the client to take action in order to receive your communication.  They must check their email, browse the internet or call a number.  With texting you are able to bring the communication directly to them.  No extra steps neccessary.  Do you need to remind a client of an appointment?  Text them.  Want to inform them of your referral program?  Text them.  Need to advertise your Valentine’s Day special?  You got it…text them.  With free texting services like textmarks.com, you can get the word out to hundreds of clients at once and focus your energies more on providing the best massage experience possible, not chasing down clients.
   

  Reply Click here to cancel reply.

  You must be logged in to post a comment.

• 

  admin 1:38 am on February 3, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: massage (6), massage career, Massage Therapy (5)   

  Secrets to a Long & Prosperous Massage Career 

  You do not have to experience burn out.  You do not have to retire in four to five years due to low back pain, carpal tunnel, or some other repetitive stress injury.  You do not have to struggle financially, working a full-time day job while moonlighting as a massage therapist.  The truth is, with the right preparation and planning you can have a long and prosperous career in massage therapy. 

  The first step is to start off with a firm foundation.  Picking the right massage therapy school is critical because your initial education determines your philosophy and attitude towards bodywork.  Understanding the fundamentals of Swedish massage, body mechanics, draping, anatomy and physiology, pathology, and business is important to your long-term success.

  Once you graduate and begin working, either independently or for someone else, self-care is extremely important.  Using proper body mechanics during every session will protect your body from injury and allow for longevity in the field.  Making sure to keep your body in great shape by eating right and exercising  is a must.  A personal yoga practice is a perfect way to keep your body flexible and strong while renewing your spirit. 

  Remember as a therapist you need to be nurtured as well.  Regular massage is extremely beneficial.  If a trip to the local spa is too costly find a fellow therapist and trade off.  The extra benefit of  this is that you can receive feedback on your work from an experienced colleague.  You will improve your skills while “paying” for your much needed massage.

  Although massage therapy techniques do not change frequently clients’ needs and preferences do.  Where at one point, clients preferred Swedish or relaxation massages the trend today is more therapeutically focus.  Deep tissue, Sports, Trigger Point Work, and Neuromuscular Therapy are the more popular types of requested massages.  Asian modalities, such as Thai-yoga, Shiatsu, and Acupressure are becoming increasingly popular.  No matter your focus, as a professional therapist, you will want to make sure you are always learning and building new skills.  Take at least one continuing education course each year.  Most massage schools offer National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork approved Continuing Education courses.  Check with your local school or on NCBTMB’s website for a current listing of available classes.

  Lastly, look to diversify your skills and offer complimentary services to your clients.  Many massage therapist combine other areas of expertise such as personal training, group exercise, yoga, skin care, life coaching, energy work, and aromatherapy to their practice.  Clients that are interested in the benefits of massage therapy are often interested in natural healing, as well as other personal care services.  What better way to ensure a long and prosperous career than to offer the full spectrum of services that your clients desire? 

  Partner with other professionals.  Create a referral system so that you can adequately meet the needs of your clients while keeping them in your network.  Because it’s more than twice as hard to get a new client than to maintain a current one you should place a high focus on client satisfaction.  Keeping your clients happy is the ultimate secret to a long career.  Happy clients equal returning clients and referring clients:  the two ingredients needed for a professional prosperity.

   
• 

  Michael Leonard 12:45 am on January 26, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: exercise, personal trainer, workout   

  Work Smarter NOT Harder 

  So, it’s time to get off the couch and actually start doing something…physical. Chances are you probably haven’t lifted a dumbbell since before the first broadcast premier of American Idol, and that spare you’ve been carrying around for the past seven years has slowly inflated into a fully functional backup. The most important thing is that you’ve made the decision to get off the couch and finally do something about it, and bring your sexy back. Now that you’ve peeled yourself off the comfy couch, let’s get dressed and ready to head out and face fitness destiny. Choosing the right gear is just as important as choosing the right fitness program to achieve your goals.

   One piece of gear that most often fall under the necessity radar is a heart rate monitor. Using one could shave valuable personal time off your workout, and make the workout itself not nearly as grueling. All heart rate monitors come with setup instructions, which basically is required for calculating your proper target heart range. You’d be amazed at how quickly you hit your target heart rate zone when you first start working out after being dormant for a while. Workout in your target heart range for a minimum of 10 minutes, and up to 30 minutes, at least 3 times per week.

   If your workout involves running, walking, or jogging, choosing the wrong footwear could end up being your Achilles heel. Start with the basics, wear the right shoe engineered for the task at hand. Shoe manufactures spend millions of dollars, and an equal amount of time is dedicated to perfecting the perfect shoe for your sports activity. Brands such as Nike, Rebook, and New Balance are few of the industry leaders. Buy the correctly engineered shoes for the task at hand. Buy running shoes for running and walking shoes for walking.

   A great way to burn fat in a relatively short time and still have both an efficient and effective workout is to use a technique called Interval Training. Interval training involves a period of high exertion, and then followed immediately with a short cool down period. The interval is immediately repeated for 10 to 30 minutes with a rest period in between each set. Interval training is very time specific; therefore you would need a way to monitor your progress.  Use a waist watch if it has a second hand, or a seconds display. If you don’t already own an appropriate wristwatch, you’ll have to go out and purchase one. Most heart rate monitors are wristwatches and will work just fine otherwise, go out and purchase a stopwatch. Stopwatches are perfect for interval training because all of your stop and start controls are right at your finger tips. The stopwatch also allows you to start and stop your interval workout at will without relying on waiting for your second had or digital seconds to have to get to an even number for your computing convenience. When you buy a wristwatch or stopwatch make sure it’s waterproof. Although interval training can be done indoors it’s almost always done outdoors and sometimes the weather can chance from dry to wet in a heartbeat. Getting waterproof equipment also helps to eliminate one more excuse from your reasons of why you aren’t out there getting physical.

   
• 

  admin 4:21 am on January 25, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: build a massage business (2), get massage clients, get more massage clients (2), massage (6), massage clients, massage customers, Massage Therapy (5)   

  Get More Massage Clients Part II 

  They’re out there.  Potential clients.  People who, as you are reading this article, are travelling through cyberspace looking to connect with a qualified professional such as yourself.  You don’t believe me?  Read on.  The question is not IF they’re out there but HOW can you find them.  Simple.  One of the easiest ways to get more massage clients is to post on the ever popular classifieds sites.  There are numerous free online classified sites that offer a health/spa/beauty services category that you can post to.  Luckily for you it’s  not necessary to post to all of them.  More is not neccesarilybetter.  Focus should be placed on the more poplular sites:  Craigslist, BackPage, MySpaClassifieds, and Kijiji because these sites will yield the best results.

  To Get More Massage Clients use the following steps:

  • Create an Account (if possible) - Both Craigslist and BackPage allow you to create and maintain an account that will permit you to easily post, edit, and delete your ads.  You will need a valid email address to set up your account.  Nothing fancy is needed.  A standard yahoo, gmail, or hotmail account will do.   However, My Spa Classifieds nor Kijiji offer an account login feature.  You can post an ad by clicking on the post an ad or post a free ad button.  Once you have submitted your ad, a verification link will be sent to your email account.  Check your email, click on the link, and voila your ad is posted.  For these two sites you can edit and delete your ad by revisiting the e-mail link.
  • Choose An Attractive Title – When a potential client is perusing the online classifieds in search of a service they see only the title of the ad.  If the ad gets there attention they will then click the link to view the entire ad, so make sure to pick a good title.  If you are running a special, advertise appropriately (i.e. “Special – 1 Hour Professional Massage ONLY $45″).  If you have a particular skill mention it in your title (i.e. “Now Offering Pregnancy Massage”)  Remember the point of the title is to get the reader’s attention and motivate them to click your link and view the entire ad.
  • Add a Picture – As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”.  Don’t just tell them what you do, show them.  Include logos, if you have one.   Pictures of your location or of yourself are appropriate.  Also using stock photos from fotolia will help spice up your ad.  Search for “massage” and you’ll get pages of beautiful massage related pictures.  You can purchase the rights to use one of the those pictures for as little as $1.00.
  • Emphasize that you offer “professional services only” – On some of the classified sites, especially Craiglist, you will find unsavory “massage” ads.  People will advertise sexual massage services under the therapeutic and/or beauty section.  Make it clear to viewers what type of service you offer by using the terms “therapeutic”, “professional”, “certified”, and “licensed”.  There are too many legitmate clients out there to waste your time responding to someone who has the wrong idea in mind.
  • Make sure to include complete contact information – Wth Craigslist, BackPage, MySpaClassifieds, and Kijiji you have an option to include your phone number and/or email address or you can opt to have an interested visitor contact you through a proxy of some type.  All of the aforementioned sites offer various options so that you can be reached without having to reveal your personal e-mail address, if that is what you choose.  Which way is best?  My recommendation is that you try both ways and see what works for you.  The important thing is that you don’t forget to include at least one method of contact for your visitors.
  • Post often – The classified sites present the ads in a list form with the most recent ad on the top of the list.  When you post an ad your Title link appears at the top.  That is until someone else posts and pushes your link down.  The higher you are to the top, the more visibile your ad is.  Posting every couple of days will keep your ad fresh and on the top for as many people as possible to see.

  Follow these steps and you’ll find yourself consistently bumping into those massage searching cyperspace travellers.  I hope you’re ready!

   
• 

  admin 1:47 pm on January 22, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: massage (6), massage therapist credentials, Massage Therapy (5), masseur, masseuse   

  How to check the credentials of a massage therapist 

  Ok.  So you want a massage but you don’t want to do the whole spa thing.  A colleague of yours told you about a friend of his that went to this wonderful massage therapist or maybe you were browsing one of the popular classifieds site and came across a therapist that was offering a reduced rate.  How do you know if this therapist is qualified?  How do you check his or her credentials?

  There are a lot of individuals that advertise their “massage services”.  Calling themselves “massage therapists”, “Bodyworkers”, “massage practitioners”, “masseurs”, and “masseuses” it can become very difficult for the consumer to interpret what the different delineations mean.

  Most states require massage therapist to acquire a license to practice.  These states will restrict the use of titles such as “massage therapist” and “massage practitioner” to those who have met the requirements of state licensure.  Please be advised that “masseur” and “masseuse” is almost never used to indicate a licensed professional massage therapist and has a somewhat sexual connotation.  Be wary of those that label themselves as such.

  The first step in checking the credentials of a massage therapist is to check with the state licensing board.  If the state you reside in requires state licenses for massage therapist you can visit the licensing board’s website and search by name. Most of these sites will also allow you to search for any complaints against a licensee.

  The second step would be to check the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).  The NCBTMB credential verifies that a practitioner is both knowledgeable and skilled at his or her craft.  To become nationally certified, a practitioner must demonstrate mastery of core skills and knowledge, pass an NCBTMB standardized exam, uphold the organization’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, and take part in continued education.

  You can verify that a practitioner is a nationally certfied massage therapist by using the search feature of NCBTMB’s website.  Consumers can file a complaint against a professional on this site as well.

  If you are in a state that does not require state licensing or the National Certification Exam your next best way to check the credentials of a massage therapist would  be to ask the therapist for a copy of their massage diploma or transcripts.  Don’t be ashamed.  You want to make sure the person working on you is qualified to do so.  Massage is a natural healing art that most associate with relaxation and an increased feeling of well-being.  When performed by a skilled individual with the right intent you can reap the numerous benefits of this therapy.  However, when performed by a under qualified individual those benefits probably will not be experienced and possibley even worse injuries may occur.  Massage therapy effects the entire body, not just the muscles and joints.  Individuals with certain health conditions or injuries should avoid massage or receive only specific types of massage from an appropriately trained professionl.  So, as you see all massage therapists are not created equal.  If you are looking to use the services of a massage therapist that you haven’t been to before make sure you slow down and take the time to check their credentials.  You’ll be happy you did.

   
• 

  Iris Shaw 12:52 pm on January 21, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: become a massage therapist, careers in massage therapy (2), massage (6), Massage Therapy (5)   

  How to become a massage therapist 

  Do you desire to help others?  Does the thought of placing hands on another with the intent of facilitating healing and stress relief appeal to you?  Are flexible hours, rewarding compensation, and a positive job outlook top priorities for your career choice?  If you are like so many that answered yes to the above three answers, a career in massage therapy may be for you. 

   Over the last ten years, the need for skilled massage therapists as well as the interest in becoming a massage therapist has increased.  Whereas, before massage was mostly a second career choice or side gig for stay at home moms or “peace loving hippies” now massage therapy careers appeal to the masses.  Because massage therapy is  a perfect blend of art and science it seems that individuals from such diverse life experiences are drawn to it.

  So if you are interested, what do you need to do?  There are three basic steps to becoming a professional massage therapist.  I assume you will do your research about the industry (Continue reading articles like this and visiting websites) as well as,speaking with successful massage therapist.  In other words make sure you have decided this is something you want to do before you get started.  Agreed?

  Now that you are ready let’s begin:

  1. Attend massage therapy school  - Every state has specific requirements for the number of massage education hours you must complete.  The hours range from 200- 1000.  Keep in mind more isn’t necessarily better and less isn’t necessarily best.  Do your research.  Look for schools that are accredited by COMTA (Commission on Massage Therapy Schools) and ACCSCC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).  Schools with these distinguished credentials have established themselves as leaders in massage therapy education.  They have agreed to be held to a higher standard of accountability and professionalism.  COMTA and/or ACCSCC accreditation doesn’t guarantee that the school you are looking into is a great school but it’s a good start.  Ask questions.  Speak with the faculty and staff and most importantly speak with current students and past graduates.
  2. Become Nationally Certified – Thirty-five out of fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia, use the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Exam as a part of the State licensure process.  The cost of the exam is $225.  Once certified, you will need to participate in approved continuing education courses in order to maintain your credentials.
  3. Get your license – Most states require massage therapist to obtain a state massage therapy license that is issued by a specific board (usually a massage therapy or nursing board).  For those states that have yet to implement that requirement you will most likely need a standard business license, especially if you are self-employed.  The best way to learn about the specifics of getting your local license will be to inquire of your massage therapy school.  As the rules continue to evolve, massage therapy schools are usually the first to learn of the changes.

  So, that’s it.  To become a massage therapist you must attend a state approved massage therapy school, become nationally certified (in most states), and get your local state, city, or county license.  Once you have completed these three task you are well on your way to being able to pursue those dreams you originally had of having a rewarding career that would allow you to help others through touch.

   
• 

  Nicole Harris 10:15 pm on January 18, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: careers in massage therapy (2), how to get a massage job, how to get a massage job while still in school, massage jobs, massage school   

  Ways to land a massage job while still in school 

  You should wait until you have graduated from massage school, passed the National Massage Exam (NCBTMB), and have your state license before applying for a massage job, right? WRONG!  During these tough economic times it is important that you get an early jump on your massage therapy career.  Waiting and waiting until everything is lined up just so may leave you with months of “free” time on you hands.  The massage therapy education that you invested in will pay off if you take the proper steps.  Use your time as a student wisely.  Use the collective efforts of your school community to prepare yourself  and to land a massage job while still a student. 

  First begin by deciding what type of job you want.  The field of massage therapy offers so many opportunities.  You can pursue employment on a cruise ship, in a day spa, salon, doctor’s office, physical therapist, or for a professional or ameteur sports team.  What interests you most?  Speak with your instructors and career counselors to get a better understanding of which job opportunities would best match your interests, goals, and skillset.

  Next, begin working on your resume.  Maintain a professional image by submitting an appropriate cover letter and resume to all jobs you seek to be considered for.  On your resume highlight any previous relevant experience.  (i.e. receptionist work done at a spa, medical knowledge, or hosptiality experience)  If you lack professional experience, focus more on your knowledge of the modalities taught in your program.  Employers want to know what type of bodywork you can perform.  Make it clear to them.  Don’t forget to include the experience you gained in participating  in student clinic.  Detail the number of hours and amount of clients you worked on.

  Search the web for job opportunities in your area.  Most schools have a Career Services Department that will have a list of available jobs.  Once you have finalized  your resume start submitting it to your jobs of interests even if you do not meet all of their desired qualifications of the job.  You never know how flexible an employer is willing to be until you ask.  Plus, you will want to practice interviewing for massage therapy positions.

  Stop by local spas and salons simply to meet and greet.  Introduce yourself and leave a resume behind.  Employers are looking for polished go-getters.  Be proactive and let potential employers know when you’ll be ready for hire.  Network with other professionals.  The best jobs I’ve ever landed where those that I already had before stepping foot in the interview.  The referral from a colleague made all the difference.  Join professional organizations, such as AMTA and ABMP.  These organizations will provide you with the liability coverage that most employers require but most importantly will establish you as a serious candidate.  So start early. Decide what type of work you want.  Solicit the help of instructors and other professionals.  Submit as many resumes as possible and interview. interview, interview.  Practice makes perfect.  With a little determination you should have no problem landing a massage job while still in school.

  mchapman is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
  • 

    mchapman 7:01 pm on January 28, 2010 Permalink

    This has pointed out a few more ideas of how to aquire that 1st job hopefully a lot sooner. It would be best to have a job waiting on you and know bills will be getting paid once school is completed.

• 

  admin 7:24 pm on January 17, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  Tags: massage (6), national certification, national massage certification, ncbtmb   

  Guaranteed Ways to Pass the National Massage Therapy Exam. 

  You gotta do it.  In thirty-five of the fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Exam is used or recognized in statute or rule.  Possessing NCBTMB credentials is one of the most effective ways to establish yourself as a serious and credible professional.  Unfortunately, too many massage students and professionals experience some sort of anguish in anticipation of sitting for this exam.  Will I pass?  If I don’t can I take it over?  Should I take a prep course?  How much of the asian modalities will it cover?  Should I get hands-on experience before taking the exam?  Questions upon questions are asked as fear causes many to procrastinate or decide to avoid the exam all together.  This is foolishness.  The NCBTMB exam is passible and actually realitively easily when you prepare for it correctly.

  • Start Early – The most important thing you can do is begin.  If you are a massage therapy student start now.  Don’t wait until you graduate or until a potential employer tells you that the NCBTMB is a prerequisite for employment.  Begin reviewing practice questions daily.  This way you understand the format of the questions and you get comfortable with the process of elimination.  This will also help you identify areas that you may need to pay special attention to in class.  If you are a practicing therapist in a state that has yet to make the exam a requirement it would be in your best interest to start studying for it.  They don’t call it the NATIONAL Exam for nothing. It’s speculated that all states will eventually adopt the NCBTMB exam as a part of state statute.  Why wait until the last minute?
  • Study Effectively – Take the time to understand the structure of the exam and the subject matters that it covers.  You can visit NCBTMB’s websites for details or contact the nearest massage school for more information.  Knowing what to focus on will help you make effective use of your study time.
  • Find a Study Buddy -  Why be a loner.  Partnering up with a buddy will help keep you motivated.  You can bounce ideas off of each other and help in clarifying complex topics.  Connect with your instructors as most have already passed their exam.  Ask them for advice and for study tips.
  • Set a Date – The best way to achieve a goal is to set a date of completion.  Agreeing to take the exam in four to five months is not good enough.  Set a specific date (i.e.Saturday  June 26, 2010) and stick to it.  Give your self benchmarks throughout your study program.  For example, mastery of anterior and posterior muscles of the legs by February 21, 2010.

  In preparing for the NCBTMB exam it may seem like there’s so much to know but if you start early and focus on each subject matter separately it won’t seem so overwhelming.  Use study questions from various review guides and websites to gauge your progress.  There are several sites that offer practice exams.  Many massage therapy schools offer review sessions for current students and graduates.  Participate!  Most importantly believe that you can do this.  Set your mind to it.  Start today and in no time you’ll be among the thousands of distinguished massage therapists that boasts the NCBTMB credential.

  edawson is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
  • 

    edawson 3:34 pm on January 24, 2010 Permalink

    This takes away your excuses for not taking the NCBTMB exam.

• 

  admin 11:33 pm on January 15, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment  

  Get More Massage Clients Part I 

  Chances are, if you are a self-employed massage therapist you will never have enough knowledge, experience, or clients.  Success in not guaranteed.  You must always be willing to learn more, do more, and attract more.  Committing to the ongoing process of professional education and practicing your craft regularly will allow you to get more massage therapy clients and if managed properly will lead to your ultimate success.

  The first step to getting more massage clients is in covering the basics:

  Market to the People You Know and to the People They know – Because massage is such an intimate service clients prefer to receive this therapy from professionals they already feel comfortable with.  Remember just about everyone can benefit from a therapeutic massage session.  It’s your job to help them come to this realization.  Explain to them the benefits of your work and the availability of your services.  People that receive an endorsement from someone else are more likely to try your services.

  Be Prepared – Always have your business cards handy and if you don’t have biz cards already get some for free by clicking here.  It is extremely important for you to provide a way for your potential clients to get in contact with you.  Business cards should have your name, phone, number, address (if you have a location) and web address.  Set a weekly goal of how many business cards you will hand out and do it!  If carrying around a stack of cards is too cumbersome for you, consider text cards.  Companies such as CONTXTS allow you to text your business card.  Once you set up your free account, all your potential clients will need to do is send a text message to 50500 and just type in the keyword that you have chosen (i.e. “massagegirl”).  They will immediately receive a text with your Business Name,  Address, Phone Number, Website, and whatever other relevant information you chose to include.  Pretty neat, huh?  Whether you use physical or electronic business cards make sure to use them.  People can’t schedule an appointment with you if they don’t know about the wonderful service that you offer or if they can’t get in contact with you.  Take the time to speak with the people you encounter daily such as fellow gym members, store cashiers, colleagues, church members, etc.

  Use the web – Take advantage of the ability to connect with potential clients through social bookmarking sites such as My Space and Facebook.  Craigslist, Backpage, Kijiji, and My Spa Classifieds are free classified sites where you can advertise your services.  You can choose to post your phone number on these sites or have potential clients respond to you through email only. Also, I recommend Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals newest networking site, Massage Professionals.  This is a great community of massage professionals who are willing to share their experiences and advice with others.  Unlike the aforementioned sites, self-promotion is strictly prohibited.  However, the ability to connect with other like minded individuals makes this site a valuable resource for therapists.

  Promote Your Own Website – Having your own website will allow people to learn more about your services.  Including a biography, pricing information, and appointment availability will answer the common questions potential clients have about you and your services.  With the ease of technology these days creating your own website is relatively easy.  If you don’t already have a site, check out these options.

   
• 

  Iris Shaw 1:40 am on January 14, 2010 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment  

  How to Get Good Grades in Massage Therapy School 

  You’ve finally mustered up the courage to pursue your passion.  You’ve enrolled in massage therapy school.  Now what?  It’s time to buckle down, learn as much as possible, and of course make good grades.  Depending on what your previous educational experinces have been the path to success in massage therapy school may not be evident.  Below are a few helpful tips:

  • Attend Class – The importance of regular class attendance cannot be overemphasized.  When you miss classes, you miss lectures, notes, class discussions, homework explanations, and assignments.  Remember learning happens in the classroom and studying and reviewing at home.
  • Be effective in Class - Use your class time wisely.  Showing up for class is only the first step in making good grades.  Your goal should be to learn as much as possible.  Remember this is your career we’re talking about.  Do every assignment.  Learn how to adapt to different instructors and styles of teaching.  Sit in the front of the class whenever possible.  Be on time to each class and participate.  Your instructors want for your success.  Communicate your needs and aspirations to them.
  • Manage your time well- Being organized and making time to study and complete assignments outside of class is essential.  Proper time managment will ensure that you make the most of your massage school experience.  Set aside time to study and don’t allow yourself to be interrupted.
  • Study Smart- Getting started on your studying is often the hardest part.  Don’t put your studying off until the last minute.  This will only lead to stess and frustration.  Find a quite place to study with minimal distractions or temptations.  Understand your learning style and adjust how you study accordingly.  Visual learners learn best from films, pictures, reading, and demonstrations.  Auditory learners learn best from lectures, discussions, and videos.  If you’re a kinesthetic learner, you learn best when you’re actively involved in the learning process.  Move around while you study, use objects whenever possible, and role play ideas and concepts.
  • Know how to take a test- You can improve your performance on a test by being prepared with needed materials (pen, pencils, paper, etc.)  Get to class early and allow for time to review.  Once you begin the test mark the questions you want to return to because you’re not sure of the answers.    After you’ve gone through all of the questions, go back to the ones that you’ve marked and try them again.  When taking multiple-choice test try to come up with the answer before you look at the choices.  Then read all of the answer choices.  If you’re not sure of the answer cross off the ones you sure are incorrect.  If necessary make an educated guess based on the remaining answers.  When in doubt go with your instincts.

  Abide by these steps and you are likely to have good grades in Massage Therapy School.  Remember your instructors and administrators are there to support you.  If you are facing academic challenges don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Most schools have tutoring as well as an enthusiastic student population who desires to help others.  Make an effort. Be consistent.  Stay committed and enjoy the journey.