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New Therapist

I'm graduated from massage school in December, and am currently working at a massage studio. But I'm looking at starting my own business/private practice. Any tips on getting new clients? That seems to be the only part I'm struggling with because I'm new to the area in which I'm practicing.

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Permalink Reply by Alicia Dale, NCTMB on May 16, 2010 at 3:21pm

Make yourself visible. If there are events in the area that you can offer 5 minute massages would be a good way to let people sample and get to know you. Talk with the businesses close to you where you open your business and let them know you are planning to open. My office is in a small strip mall that includes a barber, nail salon, and hair salon and all of them display my business cards and send clients my way so get to know the people around you. network as much as possible.

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Permalink Reply by Marissa on May 17, 2010 at 10:20am

Alicia has some great advice. Along with that, I would also barter. Find a stylist, nail tech, physical trainer, etc to do trades with. Win-win. You get to benefit from their services and they get to benefit from theirs. Take their cards, give them yours, and start singing praises of each others' work to get the clients coming in the door. Word of mouth is, by far, your best source of advertising. You may want to set up a regular trade with another therapist in the area as well. That way you can refer clients to each other when they are requesting a modality that you may be unfamiliar with. You should invest in professional business cards and brochures. List your website, if you have one, on both. People like to "see" what they are getting in to before they call. Check with your local coffee house to see if you can leave a display of your cards/brochures. Most of these places have internet access and people will grab a latte' sit and browse or grab a brochure to read while they are waiting on their friends to show up. Good luck!