Busy people forget to do all sorts of things that make a difference to their health. My hygienist says that lots of patients claim they don’t have time to floss in the summer!

No time for massage

In last week’s post, I shared the results of the question put to massage clients, “Why haven’t you returned for massage?” from the ABMP 2011 Consumer Survey. I wrote about ways to help clients who said they had stopped getting massage due to cost.

This week, let me dive into the question of busyness. When asked why they hadn’t returned, a full 25% of respondents said they were too busy to fit regular massage into their schedules. That’s a lot of people who feel they can’t afford the time for something they value.

If you have either the luxury or the necessity of sticking to limited hours, that’s how it is. But if you need to fill more slots in your schedule, think about where you can flex. Open up your evening schedule until 8 or even 9 one day a week. Or offer hours on Saturday and/or Sunday, say, twice a month.

What hours would work best?

Survey your massage clients — include some who used to be regulars but who haven’t come in for a while. Call or email them. Tell them you are considering adding hours, and ask them if they would be interested in getting bodywork in the evening or on weekends. Give them a choice of hours when you would be willing to work. For example, would they prefer Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, or Saturday mornings?

Think out of the box

What if you offered 45 minute appointments at the noon hour for clients in close proximity to your studio? Or, space permitting, could you get an additional therapist in your office to cover those coveted 5:00 appointments?

Bodyworkers, the ABMP survey showed that this is clearly a concern for clients — and one you can address. Let us know your ideas. What else can MTs do to get busy clients in the door?