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What are ways of marketing your business without the high cost as a newly licensed massage therapist?

There are so many ways to market your services there days, you have social networking, business cards, flyers, billboards and word of mouth. Which form of marketing is leading and why do you think it is most effective. How can you use these marketing tools to help boost your business or even start a new business? Please share what you are doing as a massage therapist to stay booked and busy without going for broke.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Frank J on May 28, 2011 at 8:07am

What has been working for me is a combination of word of mouth and fb. I offer specials on fb and people tell other people about and they make appointments. I send out txts and emails sometime to let people know what has changed and/or something new that I may be offering

Permalink Reply by Dayna Davis on July 31, 2011 at 3:58pm

I have worked in a spa for over a year now and my family is moving to a new area where i'm not known as a massage therapist...so I have rented a room (fully realizing I will be paying out of pocket until my business picks up) and I have hit the ground running putting out flyers and business cards, and facebook. Besides this does anyone know of any internet things I can do. I'm not savy with online advertising but I am anxious to learn...

Dayna Davis

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on July 31, 2011 at 9:00pm

I take advantage of Vista Prints specials (they just did a FREE 7 day shipping and $5 items!)

I am also submitting a Press Release to 3 local papers.

I also made up postcards (Vista Print) that I am passing out for an introductory price for the first massage (you can do 1/2 hour or 1 hour)

I also have given about 8 30 minute massages away. so far only 1 booked, but she has come back and rebooked for next week- and is telling everyone about me, I saw her for the first time about 2 weeks ago, so I am confident I will get referrals.

I also am attempting to use facebook, and 'like'ing local businesses (that I really like) and asking for their support by 'like'ing me. in 1 week I have 19 likes, so it is slow, but I only have 46 friends on my personal account. so maybe its fast. lol hope this helps some

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on August 30, 2011 at 6:29pm

I also joined the local chamber and have been to many local events. I am getting leads and bookings. so it is working.

Permalink Reply by Dayna Davis on September 11, 2011 at 11:15am

I find that giving away 30 minute massages does not work to well and I feel it is devaluing your work. This is what I did, I gave about 30 cards to the salon stylists to give to out to their clients for a free 30 min session however I added at the bottom of the card a the option upgrade to a full hour for $20. I'm not sure how many got the cards but I had and only one client booked from that. She is turning into a repeat client so this seemed like a good thing to do. I have found flyers and word of mouth is working out for me. Also I am finding Scenty and Mary Kay reps and accompanying them to their partys with my massage chair and charging $1 a massage minute. I'm finding just doing things to get the word out and handing people my information is getting work for me. I always ask the person to make an appointment and ask to reschedule after the massage session.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on September 11, 2011 at 2:52pm

I have now had several people receive free 30 minute massages and have 4 regular clients from them and many referrals. So it does work for me. I had my 'grand opening' on August 12 and have had for the last 4 weeks 8/8/ 13/ 8 clients. I have only about 35% actually book my 'free' massages, but that is ok with me, I am still getting referrals from them just for the thoughtfulness of giving them. I only give my free massages to 1- people I have done business with for years (ie: restaurants we love, grocery store clerks, Starbucks employees, ect) and 2- as drawing for events and my open house.

My special with my post cards, were NOT free. they were for the first introductory massage, for $45 ($10 off) and that is a good draw. I only pass them out myself or have local friends/ businesses pass them out. Just yesterday I got another booking from a gentleman who a local business gave one and he called and came in. So those are working too.

My FB is up to 33 likes. lol, so that is growing slowly.

Permalink Reply by Dayna Davis on September 17, 2011 at 1:02pm

When your just starting out like I am and trying to fill my time slots up doing this is a very good thing to do to get the word out...this one client is a repeat client and she has been singing my praises to others so this was a good thing and I will do it again. Flyers has been working for me and is very cost effective also. Thanks

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on September 18, 2011 at 10:49pm

My referrals from my free and introductory massages are really helping too. I have 3 more likes for FB :) two of them had appointments this past week. I doubled my bookings from the start to the end of the week, so that was encouraging.

I have some local businesses I use and love and have for years, that are handing out coupons I provide, I am starting to put 2-3 week deadlines for each coupon. I will update how it goes. I print 6 to a page, with black ink on colored paper.

Permalink Reply by Dayna Davis on October 11, 2011 at 7:56pm

I got the flyer thing down, and it is working ok but can anyone suggest other options not mentioned already? Oh I did run an add on bargainbee.com and that helped..

Thanks

Dayna Davis

Alexandria LA

Permalink Reply by Tiffany on December 3, 2011 at 10:15pm

It sounds like Cassie is working the Chamber thing, which is great...we did a TON of networking to build our practices, and when you have time because your schedule isn't full yet, we've found it to be the best use of that time! :) Dayna, are you also working on the stylists you gave the certificates/cards to? It works really well to work on those potential power partners...they are a little more eager to send you new clients when you've given them a lot of value already. :) Some of our most lucrative referral partners were hair stylists!

We have some tips for getting quicker response from networking here:

http://www.professionalmassagenetwork.com/networking-for-massage-th...

Cassie, we love the half hour free idea, too! The upgrade to the hour is always nice, since then you are getting paid for marketing basically! Have you targeted any specific folks who serve your target market, or a similar population you are really enjoying working with?

I didn't see that anyone is doing a leads group? That can be really helpful to build those relationships with other business colleagues deeper and form partnerships and collaborations with them for the long run! :)

It sounds like you are all totally on the right track!!

Best,

Tiffany

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Christensen on December 7, 2011 at 7:55pm

Hi TIffany,

I tried a leads group, but there aren't any in our area, except for the chambers of commerce, so it didn't work for me.

Plus I am so busy the group was in Albuquerque, a 30 minute trip each way, and an 1 1/2 hour meeting, so I don't have the time to go.

I have about 70 clients in my files now. and keep networking and asking for referrals, I am looking to build a practice of about 300 before I feel comfortable enough to slow down :)

I have done some things I don't feel paid off (advertizing in the newspaper, even inserts, have received no response) the best for me is referals :)

Permalink Reply by Teresa Avelar on May 23, 2012 at 12:09pm

What about creating a yelp deal for new customers, yelp takes a % which is hard, but at least they target in your area, the other thing I would do is talk to physical therapists, chiropractors, physical trainers, acupunturist etc. near your office. Hope that helps.

Good luck.

Teresa

Dayna Davis said:

I have worked in a spa for over a year now and my family is moving to a new area where i'm not known as a massage therapist...so I have rented a room (fully realizing I will be paying out of pocket until my business picks up) and I have hit the ground running putting out flyers and business cards, and facebook. Besides this does anyone know of any internet things I can do. I'm not savy with online advertising but I am anxious to learn...

Dayna Davis