No matter what holidays you celebrate during this season of lights, we hope they are safe and happy.

The staff at Natural Touch Marketing celebrates you!

There’s not too many things that bring more peace to the world than massage and bodywork. You help people let go of their burdens every day — which helps them spread calm instead of stress, love instead of criticism, acceptance instead of frustration. You make the world a better place, and we thank you for what you do.

Here’s a wee gift. Not only are there animals with hats — you get to vote on the cutest, too! Stephanie just had to share this website, and it is a gem. So giggle, and make sure you vote. Click here for one more way to enjoy a little cheer.

All the best as the year closes and a new one begins,

Diana

Animal massage is the latest buzz, or at least one of them, in the massage industry. Although animal massage, especially equine massage, has been around for awhile, more therapists are beginning to specialize in both equine and pet massage.

Resources for animal massage

While we are all animal lovers here at Natural Touch Marketing, we don’t know a lot about this specialty. A web search brought me to the website of  the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork (IAAM) which has a page devoted to state laws regarding the practice updated to 2009. A quick glance told me that many states have no limitations on the practice, and nearly as many require vet referral or supervision. It looks like our state, Washington, is the only one that requires a license. The IAAM also has a page listing  less than ten preferred educators — which you should refer to when looking for training, because there are LOTS of schools out there.

Marketing animal massage

In a marketing search, I found the usual suggestions for building a practice in animal massage — hand out business cards, create your own brochure, maintain a good website and offer special events at pet stores and dog washes. Stop and re-read that last one. There’s nothing better than the opportunity to meet pet owners face to face.

Finally, check out this article that one smart therapist submitted to the magazine Pet Connection. (Click on the link for the Jan/Feb issue, and then to the article “Hands to Paws” on page 4.)

If you do animal massage, I would love to hear from you. How are you building your practice? Are there any marketing tools you wish you had at your disposal? And be sure to take this month’s poll!

(polls)

Hi, I’m the staff writer at Natural Touch Marketing — which means my job is to communicate simply and effectively how hands-on healing can help people. Here’s some ideas on how to talk about what you do.

You may be a craniosacral therapist, Reiki practitioner, reflexologist or other practitioner doing amazing body or energy work. You see fantastic results with your family and friends. But then you hang out your shingle and nobody comes. You try to talk about it, but people nod politely or look at you strangely. Some may even engage with you — but never call.

It’s a challenge
Our customers tell us about their challenges in explaining the techniques they love and practice. “I tried to create my own brochure in the past, but it’s hard to explain Reiki.” “Putting into words the experiences people have with reflexology is hard for me.” And here’s this from someone who is out there doing massage in nursing homes. “The staff at those facilities have to get programs going for the residents, so the Comfort Massage brochures help them understand what I can offer.”

What’s that?
What may be hardest in talking to people is putting yourself in the shoes of someone who hasn’t heard much about what you practice. That’s exactly the place to start. Think back to a time when you first heard about a new body or energy work technique. There are so many new ones, this might have been yesterday! Your first question is, “What’s that?” Then you want to know if it will help and how quickly it could help.

Does it help?
Here’s an example. Not so long ago, friends and customers started emailing me information about EFT (the Emotional Freedom Technique). I had a good first impression — it could help with the underlying stress of many illnesses, and it was an easy technique I could even apply on myself. I tried a little tapping and liked it. I wondered if it could help me feel less tired and experience more energy. If someone appeared on my radar and said, “I’m giving a class on EFT on December 9 from 7 to 9 pm,” I would be very likely to enroll and experience it first-hand.

Keep it simple
Here’s my last, and most important, tip. Even though your potential client wants to know what this thing Reiki (or whatever) is, don’t go into tons of detail. It’s a healing art, it’s gentle, and all it requires is that you sit or lie down in your street clothes. Then tell them about how it can help them.

Examples?
“I’ve seen people’s headaches disappear.” “Clients tell me their injuries heal really fast.” “People come in really stressed, and leave relaxed — and even sleep better!”

Now it’s your turn. Have any examples to share?

My name is Stephanie and I am THE Customer Service department at Natural Touch Marketing. Today in the blog I want to share some ideas on using customer service as a foundation for your marketing plan.

When you couple professional marketing products with good customer service it’s the start of a simple and inexpensive marketing plan.

First of all, realize that customer service can mean a lot of different things to different people — your clients for instance. Customer service looks different when you’re doing it one to one. People know what to expect when they are in public, dealing with a waitress or at a sales counter. With you, they may not be sure.

Good customer service is simple
You don’t have to make customer service more complicated than it needs to be. Good customer service means you acknowledge your clients and treat them with respect. It’s really no more or less than your mother taught you — a firm handshake, a nice smile, good hygiene.

Look at the businesses you patronize. Who gives good customer service? What makes it good? It may be simple things you notice, like a waiter catching your eye and appearing in short order with a menu. If you acknowledge your clients in these simple ways, you can meet almost everybody’s need for good customer service.

Make a good first impression
When people meet you, whether in or out of your studio, be interested and respectful, and know you are establishing your professionalism in a few moments. This is both good and bad. Bad, because you can’t take back a negative first impression. Good, because it doesn’t take all that much to make a positive, professional impression. Acknowledge a person’s presence, and then present yourself and your business with attractive and readable business cards, brochures and other marketing materials. Since I’m the newest person at Natural Touch Marketing, I feel uniquely qualified to say that our massage marketing products are the best on the market.

Hello readers of Eileen’s blog. My name is Kendra and I am the graphic designer here at Natural Touch Marketing. I have been asked to write a little something about what I do here.

Firstly, let me start by saying that designing marketing materials for bodyworkers is not an easy task.

One can not lump all bodyworkers together and assume that a design that works for an MT in a chiropractor’s office in Boston is also going to work for an MT in a spa in Baja. Some prefer a realistic representation of their work and are drawn to anatomical charts and simple, clinical looking materials. While others are really into the deeper spiritual aspect of the mind/body connection and may like seeing whimsical stuff with rainbows and butterflies.

Since most bodyworkers (and receivers of massage) are women, a good portion of our materials have a feminine feel. But oh, we definitely hear from that small percentage of guys out there who are desperately looking for gender neutral and/or masculine marketing materials that better represent them. I totally understand.

Sometimes I hear compliments and praise for something I have designed and it makes me happy knowing that my work is being well received. BUT I also hear complaints. Yes, I know that it doesn’t snow in Key West – I understand that postcards with snowflakes maybe isn’t the best match for you. May I recommend something with flowers?

Believe it or not, we actually write down (and take seriously) every bit of input we get, good or bad. I do my best to keep ALL of you in mind with each brochure or gift certificate I design. I know that not everything will appeal to all of you but I do my best.

Out of all the materials we offer, my favorite right now is the four season collage line. These four postcards look fabulous together and also stand out on their own. I made them to be multi-purpose for MT’s – they can be used as appointment reminders, thank you’s, special offers, or whatever.

The winter design was so popular, I also designed a gift certificate. The purple seems to be a big hit with a lot of people. What do you think? Should I do a spring gift certificate, too?

I look forward to hearing from YOU. What kind of bodyworker are you?
And what sort of marketing materials do YOU need for your business?

Cheers,
Kendra