The Story
We moved a gun safe last weekend. Don’t ask. It’s like a weekend sport out here.

As usual, this odd chore got me thinking about you and how you market your massage practice.

There are several ways to go about moving a 1200 pound box. I am firmly in the Find Someone Else to Do It camp. I really don’t care if it’s a locksmith with forklift and trailer or five college kids with a case of beer. It’s 1200 pounds; here, let me write you a check.

But my husband will not make a decision without exploring all angles of the situation.* Matt got on line and found several innovative ways people have moved gun safes. These range from brute force to golf balls to 2″ PVC pipe.

My Point
This is where I started thinking of you and your massage / bodywork marketing. Just like moving a gun safe, marketing takes planning.

“What Are the Options?: Massage marketing lessons from moving a safe.” continues »

I got an email recently asking for suggestions on getting in to see human resource directors.

There are dozens of books with suggestions and cover letter samples for marketing your massage practice to businesses / corporations. Rather than rehash what’s already out there. I thought I’d call a couple business HR directors in the area. I want to know what it would take for them to meet with a bodyworker.

How Hard Can It Be?
Shouldn’t be a problem, I thought. I’ve met these directors. I’m not asking them to hire or contract with anyone. I just want information.

“Hello? Human Resource Directors? Hello?: A brief attempt to market massage to businesses” continues »

Joel from Bodywork Dynamics in the UK sent in a series of questions to the Ask Eileen page. If you’d like to read Joel’s entire entry, scroll to the bottom of Ask Eileen and see where Joel has been and where he is going.

Folks, Joel is asking for your input, so belly up to the comment box and give the fellow your thoughts.

Defining Your Niche
“So I started [building] my own site (just one of the skills I’ve picked up) and hit my first wall because I would like to do so much; how do I define my niche? I am qualified to teach yoga, martial arts, tai chi and shiatsu.”

“Joel Asks You … and Eileen: A new guy builds a website” continues »

Okay, so Beth King sent me a monster email asking about contacting health care providers and asking for referrals. The last couple entries have addressed letters of introduction and resources for examples.

This entry is about marketing to and educating doctors about massage after you’ve sent out the formal letters.

Engage Your Clients
You should start by looking at your clients’ HCPs anyway. These are medicos who have already seen the effect of your work. Your clients have most likely mentioned you to their doctor. Capitalize on that. Start with them.

“Marketing Massage to Health Care Providers: Roll up your sleeves and get in there” continues »

Beth King sent in three good questions recently. The second was about introducing yourself to doctors.

“We’re told in school and publications to introduce ourselves to the doctors in the community, get them to send us referrals.  HOW?  Make an appointment and while I’m sitting there with my shirt off, tell him I want him to send his other patients to me?  It’s not like I can drop off a box of my hands and a pile of notepads and say ‘Here, free samples!’”

In this entry I’m going to talk about writing the letter of introduction. We’ll cover other ways to market your massage practice to doctors and other health care providers in the next entry.

“Introducing Yourself to Health Care Providers: Tips on writing a letter of introduction” continues »

Beth King is a massage therapist in rural-ish Missouri. She is also an entertaining massage marketing question-asker. Here’s part of an email she sent recently:

… howdaheck do I phrase a letter — “HiYa Doc, lemme tell you how wonderful I am!” just doesn’t sound like it would get the results I want.  Though laughter is good for you, they say!”

People struggle with phrasing letters. It’s dicey. You want to show your personality yet be clearly professional.

When you write an introductory letter to a member of the medical profession, you are often asking for a favor — for their time, for their support, for their faith in you.

“Introducing Yourself to Medical and Wellness Practices: A Review of Business Mastery Supplemental Software” continues »

As a society, we expect immediate results. All crimes and social blunders are solved in an hour. The guy gets the girl in 90 minutes. We get hot water on demand and popcorn in three minutes. And health practitioners call back within 45 minutes. Right?

Hmm … Maybe not.

As a single practitioner, you are not always able to call people back or return emails within the hour. Sometimes not until the end of the day. The idea of losing a booking or potential client has just got to stick in your craw.

“Refresh Daily: Keep marketing by keeping your massage clients in the loop” continues »

When a new client comes for their first appointment, they need to be able to find you easily.

Decent signage and clear directions are how you are going to get them to you. This is the most basic of massage marketing basics. Some would argue it isn’t even marketing. But if your directions are muddled and your sign is an a weency little thing tacked at the bottom of a huge hairstyling salon sign, what kind of impression are you making on your new clients?

Flakey, cheap and without pride. I’m pretty sure you’re not any of those things. But how is a new client to know?

“Be Seen, Be Found: Basic basics for marketing your massage practice” continues »

When a potential client visits your site, you have about 5 (five) seconds to tell them what they want to know before they go somewhere else.

In the last couple few entries I’ve focused on the importance of knowing who your ideal clients are and what they truly want.

Of course they want to know how to contact you, where you are located, that you are professional and what your fees are.

Truly the first thing they want to know is how your work is going to better their lives.

Tell them first thing.

You can be very matter-of-fact and say:

“Why You Should Book a Session with Me: Marketing massage on your website” continues »

In my last entry I talked about making a list of what your ideal client is like. My little list read: “wears jeans and t-shirts, hikes, gardens, tries to eat well, demands a good cheeseburger and beer on occasion, shops at the local market, etc, etc.” This was fine until I realized it read like a personals ad.

Cool! Because when you market your practice, you are basically running a personal.

Or, maybe it’s icky. Do I really want to compare marketing your massage practice to a personals ad? I mean … really?

Well, yes. I do.

“MT Seeking Ideal Clients: Courting the massage clients you want” continues »