Ten Ways to Market Your Massage Therapy Practice
So you want to promote your massage therapy practice? That’s great! Making sure people know about your service and how it can help them is vital to the success of your business. However, there are thousands of other massage therapists out there vying for the same customers, so creating a marketing plan that works takes a little thought and effort. The following ten ways to market your massage therapy practice can help you get started on planning an effective marketing strategy that will be sure to attract new clients and keep the old ones coming back.
Use Google My Business
Online reviews are important for any business, but they’re particularly critical in an industry like massage therapy where word-of-mouth referrals drive so much business. Many massage therapists don’t realize that Google My Business offers businesses a free online profile with which you can upload your contact information, hours of operation, photos and more. Google My Business pages can be linked to a website or Facebook page and used as a platform for online reviews. For example, you could use Google My Business Reviews on your website with something like : See what our clients have said about us on Google! Aside from promoting your practice as a good place to receive massages, you can also use social media sites like Instagram and Facebook to attract new customers.
Increase Website Traffic
One of your main goals is to increase traffic to your website. There are plenty of ways that you can do that. You should start by making sure your website is easy for people to find online. Build links with similar websites and don’t forget about search engine optimization (SEO). Ensure that your business information appears in places like Google Maps, Yelp, and FourSquare so that locals can easily find out more about what you have to offer. Regularly add fresh content—whether it’s an update on news about massage therapy or a new photo of one of your massage rooms—to keep visitors coming back and build trust with local users who may be searching for professional massage therapists nearby.
Take Advantage of Social Media
Let’s face it—most of us are on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you’re not using these sites for your business, you should be. A professional social media account gives your company a voice and a personality—both important for attracting new clients. But don’t just plaster your logo all over social networks—make an effort to interact with other users as well. The more engaging content you produce and share, the better chance you have of building a loyal customer base through social media.
Create a Referral Program
Referral programs are a great way to build your massage therapy practice by having people refer their friends and family. If you have a regular client who enjoys his or her massage, make sure that you take his or her contact information before they leave so that you can send them a referral card (or email, if you prefer). Asking for referrals isn’t tacky – it shows that you appreciate your client’s business and want more of it. Another way to encourage referrals is through coupons; some clients may feel uncomfortable asking for referrals but won’t hesitate to tell their friends about a 50% off coupon!
Always Have New Promotions
You’re already a massage therapist, so you know how much work goes into starting up a business. That doesn’t mean it has to be difficult or expensive. You don’t have to be pushy with potential clients or bribe them with things that aren’t in your budget. In fact, thoughtful promotions can do wonders for your marketing efforts and are worth looking into if you want more clients and more repeat clients. (Most marketing ideas will require a bit of upfront cost, but they can save you money in other ways, such as cutting down on your advertising costs.)
Post on Your Own Website First
Your home is your castle when it comes to marketing your business. If you have a business website, update it often with relevant information about you and your practice. Include content about you, a summary of services offered, testimonials, and lots of pictures. Make sure that all important contact info is prominently displayed on every page so prospective clients can easily find ways to reach out and interact with you—and they will! A business website is just as important as having a professional online presence. If nothing else, make sure your own website has well-written content that reflects what others might see if they search for massage therapist in Google. Most potential clients research online before they invest their time in anything new or different—including scheduling an appointment with a massage therapist like yourself!
Ask your clients for reviews
Post a sign in your treatment room asking your clients for reviews. You can also offer them a discount on their next visit if they leave a review for you. And don’t forget to ask your clients where they go online and offline for reviews!
Leverage Current Relationships
It’s likely that you already have a solid base of clients and regular customers. Perhaps you even have a few people who regularly refer clients your way. Make sure you let them know when your new practice opens so they can spread the word through their networks. Remember: You should never underestimate just how many friends, family members, and existing customers may be able to help your business grow—even if they don’t initially realize it.
Offer a Free Session
Most people won’t know that you offer massage services until they see you at an event or hear it from a friend. The easiest way to increase your clientele is by word of mouth, so reach out and offer free sessions in exchange for testimonials and reviews. Also, talk with your existing clients about their experience; make sure they leave feeling great. And then ask them if they would consider referring a friend!
Advertise in the Right Places
It’s crucial that you have a good idea of your target market before you try and target them with your marketing efforts. For example, if you’re looking for people between 20 and 30 years old, it’s probably not very effective (or cost-effective) to advertise in an industry publication aimed at retirees. Once you know who you’re trying to reach, a little bit of research can help identify some great advertising options for you. It’s also important to remember that different forms of advertising don’t all make sense for every business model.
Time is money. The best marketers are those who are willing to invest as much time as it takes for their marketing efforts to bear fruit. If you’re a massage therapist in need of clients, you have a limited budget and, most likely, limited time on your hands. However, with just a little investment of both time and money, you can generate new business using tried-and-true marketing strategies that deliver results every single time they’re applied.
At Massagebypro, massage therapists get their own professional mini-website with a powerful SEO boost so clients can easily find them on major search engines and Social Media sites. Our unique 5-star Review Portal allows therapists to easily ask for reviews, an important component to grow any business. Members get weekly business tips, social media tools, and support from our Team. We connect massage clients with the best massage professionals in the United States. Find the best massage therapists in these modalities: Swedish Massage Therapists, Deep Tissue Massage Therapists, Hot Stone Massage Therapists, Prenatal Massage Therapists, Sports Massage Therapists, Medical Massage Therapists, Reflexology Massage Therapists, Cupping Massage Therapists, Lomi Lomi Massage Therapists, and Thai Massage Therapists.
