Do you use social networking to market your massage practice or spa/wellness business?

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Permalink Reply by Donna Whitton on July 13, 2009 at 8:40pm

I recently started using Facebook to connect with current and hopefully new clients. I created a Facebook Fan page and keep business updates posted. I know some may post open appointments with a discount if a client books from seeing it but I haven't done that yet.
I set up a linkedin page then never got back on it.
I did have a twitter account for my business but haven't updated anything on it for a while mostly because I feel pulled in alot of directions by what I already do. Besides, most of my clientele are aware of and use eNewsletters and may even have a facebook account but wouldn't bother with twitter.

I may get back on these again sometime; but for now the Facebook page and my attempts to put out a monthly newsletter keeps me busy enough.

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Permalink Reply by Felicia Brown on July 14, 2009 at 6:27am

Thanks Donna!

Facebook is one of those tools that is fun and easy to use. I love the fact that I can post links, start groups, publicize events or classes and share pictures, quizzes, games and other applications that my friends, clients and colleagues may enjoy. My blog and Twitter account are actually linked to it now too so that new posts are automatically shown in my profile and FB friends can sign up to follow right in their accounts. I also love that I can keep up with so many others lives, moods, photos, etc in one place, especially people that I don't see or talk to on regular basis.

One reminder about FB and other social media, especially when you are using it to promote your business: remember everything you say or share has gone global. Avoid the temptation to say everything that is on your mind or to use it as a place to dump or vent. I have seen some updates that were questionable (talking about being drunk, depressed, broke or hating their boss, co-worker, etc.) These seemed out of place to me especially if being read by one's clients or potential clients!:-)

Thanks for connecting with me on FB and telling your story!

Felicia

Donna Whitton said:

I recently started using Facebook to connect with current and hopefully new clients. I created a Facebook Fan page and keep business updates posted. I know some may post open appointments with a discount if a client books from seeing it but I haven't done that yet.
I set up a linkedin page then never got back on it.
I did have a twitter account for my business but haven't updated anything on it for a while mostly because I feel pulled in alot of directions by what I already do. Besides, most of my clientele are aware of and use eNewsletters and may even have a facebook account but wouldn't bother with twitter.

I may get back on these again sometime; but for now the Facebook page and my attempts to put out a monthly newsletter keeps me busy enough.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Josey - Parsons on July 14, 2009 at 10:49am

I do actually, and have been very successful with social networking. And you are so right about what you post and say, it's all strictly business.

Intuitive Touch Bodywork

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Permalink Reply by Michael A. Granda, LMT on July 16, 2009 at 4:13pm

Hello Felicia,
I use Facebook to Connect with both new and current client. I think it is a powerful tool (as are other sites you mentioned) to market your skills and to educate clients. It is however a bit of a double edge sword..in that it takes time to monitor and update but if managed properly it is a very good use of your 'downtime'. Stay Well.

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Permalink Reply by Felicia Brown on July 17, 2009 at 4:42pm

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone. If you can share any specifics about what you do with these different applications that would be great!

For example, my colleague here in Greensboro, Joel Tull, posts his available appointments each morning on Facebook and usually fills up his empty slots. I generally use FB and Twitter to share links from my blog or of articles I've written (or find helpful.) This week I also posted an animated video blog on both of those as well as on my blog and on YouTube.

Although my goal is actually to help and reach new prospects and current/past students and clients for my continuing education classes and/or consulting services, the principles are pretty much the same as they would be for promoting my massage practice.

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Permalink Reply by Felicia Brown on July 19, 2009 at 6:55am

Great point, Matt. I can really appreciate your point of view. As I always teach in my marketing classes, you need to find what marketing techniques or tools work for you and then remain consistent including those. For some people, just sitting down in front of the computer is stressful, and as such, are not a good fit for using Facebook, Twitter or other social media to engage their prospects and clients. Others may have a target clientele - such as the elderly - that have not embraced the Internet as much as some younger folks have. Again this makes social media somewhat inappropriate as a marketing tool. And admittedly, getting online can sometimes drain away your time as distractions abound! But as more and more people are embracing these applications/tools and using them to stay in touch, I am really glad to be "in the know" and able to utilize them.
:-)
Matt Murray, Lmp said:

I spend my energy with face to face networking and getting my website to the top of search engines, Socal networking sights seem to take up to much time and energy for me. The more I can have the business run its self the better.

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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on July 19, 2009 at 7:39am

I use all of the above, and MySpace as well, although it's way behind FB and Twitter. I have an article, Tap into Social Networking, in the July/August issue of Massage & Bodywork Magazine. The digital version is available to everyone, not just members of ABMP.

I try to Tweet every morning, and I'm on FB a lot. Huge community of MTs and bodyworkers on both, and I find that I am getting as many people signed up for my CE classes from FB as I am any other form of advertising.

Twitter is so effective. Many mornings while I'm having my coffee and Tweeting for 10-15 minutes, I watch in real time while people start following me on the spot. It's really a great tool.

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Permalink Reply by Felicia Brown on July 19, 2009 at 8:05am

Thanks Laura. I think that is so cool that you're getting students from Facebook and hope to have the same kind of success as I get back into the teaching circuit more full-time. I am still a once a day or so Tweeter...just don't have that much to say right now. But as I have noticed by following you, perhaps repetition is the key rather than always saying something new.

Your article is great...another one of our mutually appreciated topics. I suggest everyone read it and also invite you all to come to my class at the World Massage Festival next year where I will be teaching a class: Smart Marketing with Social Media. Click here for a complete list of instructors and classes (which of course includes Laura as well as our colleague Gloria Coppola and one of my former instructors, Claire Marie Miller.) It's gonna be a lot of fun!

Laura Allen said:

I use all of the above, and MySpace as well, although it's way behind FB and Twitter. I have an article, Tap into Social Networking, in the July/August issue of Massage & Bodywork Magazine. The digital version is available to everyone, not just members of ABMP.

I try to Tweet every morning, and I'm on FB a lot. Huge community of MTs and bodyworkers on both, and I find that I am getting as many people signed up for my CE classes from FB as I am any other form of advertising.

Twitter is so effective. Many mornings while I'm having my coffee and Tweeting for 10-15 minutes, I watch in real time while people start following me on the spot. It's really a great tool.

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Permalink Reply by Felicia Brown on July 24, 2009 at 1:53pm

So this week I decided I wanted to try using Facebook to fill in a few gaps in my massage appointment calender. I posted a few available times and the ones I wanted to fill most I offered a small discount. I got one booking off of that effort - $80 more in sales from a few seconds of typing. I also added two appointments by emailing clients that I have not seen recently and/or that have outstanding gift certificates. Pretty cool!

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Permalink Reply by Crystal Dawn Suovanen on November 19, 2009 at 12:19pm

So funny you posted this because I just wrote a blog about how to Increase Your Clientèle with Facebook Ads.

I use Facebook exclusively because it's where the eyes are!

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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on November 19, 2009 at 12:39pm

Absolutely. The July/August Issue of Massage & Bodywork Magazine contains my regular business column, Business Side, and that particular issue's column is about Social Networking.

You don't have to be a subscriber. M&B graciously allows everyone to access their digital version.

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Permalink Reply by Sue Rexford on November 19, 2009 at 3:57pm

So being a first time Small business Facebook user, do you suggest a Facebook page for your business instead of a Facebook group?

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