massage and bodywork professionals
a community of practitioners
How to convince Men to get Massages?
I advertised to get Gift certificates for fathers day to my female clients and several have asked, how to convince their Fathers/Husbands to accept a massage as a gift.
Im asking you seasoned pros, what can I do to convince male clients to come see me, and what can I tell the female clients to get their men into a massage?
Any advice is helpful,
David Beard
BearHands Bodywork
Views: 1548
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Lisa on
-
David, I think it's all in the way you market yourself. You don't want to come across as giving only "spa" type sessions because most guys probably see that as being too feminine. if you offer deep tissue and sports massage, you need to play that up more. I have also found that sometimes you need to have different marketing pieces for different audiences. Make sure the gift certificates being advertised as gifts to men have more masculine terms and images. Remind your clients that most professional athletes have regular massages in order to compete at the capacity they compete. Focus on the benefits for their chronic aches and pains.
-
Permalink Reply by Lara Rininger on
-
About the marketing...you could call it your Weekend Warrior Massage Special or offer a special for Weekend Warriors or Monthly Tune Up...have fun with it. :) Or if you have marketing that is more towards worker's comp type injuries market for that and they will know to come to you, if there are any sports medicine doctors orthopedic specialists in your area network with them, etc that type of thing.
-
Permalink Reply by Marissa on
-
Funny, Lara and I had the exact Weekend Warrior idea, but she beat me to it! :) You may want to do a 20 minute neck and shoulders promo. They can still get on the table, they don't have to undress, you'll wow them with your professionalism and they'll walk out feeling great.... and hey, now that they think about it, that back is a little sore.... maybe my wife can book me another appointment for 45 minutes to do the neck, shoulders, and back?
-
-
Yes I have a male friend and he was a little nervous getting his first massage ever and from me...he only took off his shirt and I gave him a fabulous neck, back and shoulders massage. The point is he is now a weekly regular client and totally comfortable undressing for his massage sessions now...I get that it is probably easier for a male to get a massage from a female than another male and yet I don't think men have a problem with going to a male doctor or other health care professional? Interesting food for thought...
Marissa Macias said:Funny, Lara and I had the exact Weekend Warrior idea, but she beat me to it! :) You may want to do a 20 minute neck and shoulders promo. They can still get on the table, they don't have to undress, you'll wow them with your professionalism and they'll walk out feeling great.... and hey, now that they think about it, that back is a little sore.... maybe my wife can book me another appointment for 45 minutes to do the neck, shoulders, and back?
-
-
actually I use that line a LOT in helping men feel more comfortable about getting massages...the whole doctor thing. it's a perfect correlation to bring to their attention.
Lara Nabours said:Yes I have a male friend and he was a little nervous getting his first massage ever and from me...he only took off his shirt and I gave him a fabulous neck, back and shoulders massage. The point is he is now a weekly regular client and totally comfortable undressing for his massage sessions now...I get that it is probably easier for a male to get a massage from a female than another male and yet I don't think men have a problem with going to a male doctor or other health care professional? Interesting food for thought...
Marissa Macias said:Funny, Lara and I had the exact Weekend Warrior idea, but she beat me to it! :) You may want to do a 20 minute neck and shoulders promo. They can still get on the table, they don't have to undress, you'll wow them with your professionalism and they'll walk out feeling great.... and hey, now that they think about it, that back is a little sore.... maybe my wife can book me another appointment for 45 minutes to do the neck, shoulders, and back?
-
Permalink Reply by David Beard on
-
Hey Ladies, Thanks for all the great suggestions, I do have a massage chair, but the seat has broken, so Its gettin repaired, I Rent a room from a tanning Salon, and I usually do the chair Massage in the lobby when i dont have appointments, I like the Weekend Warrior Idea, or a family package. and the Male Patient/Male Doctor is a good point too... Im guilty of that myself, LOL.
Being that im really still new to this and I have limited space, i dont do "SPA" treatments. I advertise, a swedish and a deep tissue. and then i have, what I call a teaser session which has gotten me some clients, 30 min neck/back/shoulders for $30. When Im done with them, they always want more. and I say well next time you can get a full bodymassage for only $20.00 more. I charge $50. for swedish $60. for deep tissue.
My gift cetificates, cards, ads are all very unisex/earthy looking, modern masculine... like my logo following the same color scheme, blues, greens, browns, and black, even my room is decorated in the same colors. I always get complements on my room, and how relaxing and calm it is.
well thanks again ladies for your help.
David Beard
-
Permalink Reply by Las Vegas Massage In Summerlin on
-
~
Hi David!
As a man attempting to work on other men myself, it can be a challenge ;)
Here are a couple of things I've learned...
Yes, men are not quite as 'keen' on having another man massage them. Yet, I've also found that this really isn't the biggest issue or resistence to receiving a massage from another male.
What I've found, as everyone who's already comment on, is to get very specific in your marketing.
Two idea's I've embraced...
First, and again as mentioned already, target your maketing to specific needs of the target market you are going after. Do you work on back pain? Golfers elbow? Knee problems? Find something that your men in your target market want, match it to your skills and compose your material dripping with benefits. Not features, benefits.
Ah, benefits. This leads to the critical point. Most (MT's) are just not going far enough in explaining benefits to the men. You can't just say, "I relief back pain." This doesn't say much. You have to write out exactly what men are thinking.
"Oh, David relieves back pain SO I CAN GET BACK ON MY QUAD. SO I CAN GET BACK OUT ON THE GOLF COURSE. See what I mean? Make it personal. Put this specifically in your marketing/advertising. Do you see how this works?
Yes, the benefits of massage gets them going again, but that's NOT HOW THEY ARE THINKING. They are thinking of their immediate PROBLEM, which is getting back on their quad, back on the golf course, etc., etc.
If one says, "My massage relieves back pain," they say, "So what?" "I can take a pill for that!"
Another exciting opportunity for men is we have to do enough to get them to stop what they're doing and get them to receive a massage, i.e., watching the football game, getting them off the sofa, stop their gardening, etc., etc. That's why it's so important to keep saying 'so what?' when you list your benefits. Ah, but benefits of what? Massage? Not so much....
Another way to look at this is, what do men dislike doing? Fighting traffic/driving, shopping in malls, etc., etc. You can tie this into what they want to do, which is purchase items for their wife/gf, etc., etc. Mother's Day, Valentines Day, their Birthdays, Aniversaries, etc., etc. Do you see how they 'want' to purchase something for their loved one, but don't want to do anything to get it? Once again, Problem/Solution. Problem is actually getting something for their loved one without all the hassles, the solution addresses this immediate problem, getting them a gift certificate in their hands ASAP, not the benefits of massage. Yea, the benefits of massage are nice, but not their immediate problem.
This is the benefit: saving them time and grief, Not the benefits of massage. (Although as stated above, you can go after men with specific benefits of massage as well if you make it personal.)
So, what to do?
Compose your mailer or marketing information to address these issues.
Here's an example of what I mention above in regards to selling holiday gift certificates, yet can be used for just about any time of the year. Just spend a moment thinking of what it is you're doing, who you are marketing to, what they like, dislike, etc., etc. Holiday Gift Certificates
The biggest opportunity is getting them in the door for the first time.
Again, if you are targeting men, ensure you take it a step further with your information, making it personal and loaded with benefits. Also.....
If you're going after the mans loved one, you point out how this gift certificate (or whatever) is convenient for them, a great gift for their loved one, and, add another gift certificate just for them. You can include another gift certificate for a free 15 minute massage just for them, but of course dripping with specific benefits for them. You emphasize how this is a win/win situation for both of them.
For me, this is a process, not a proceedure or just a massage. Get them in the door, get their info off your intake form so you can market to them in the future (their mailing address), listen to their concerns, give a great massage, talk to them afterwards for another massage, if not, mail them a mailer with a new massage package, etc., etc.
I'm out of time for now, so I hope this helps, as it's worked wonders for me ;)
Kris
© 2024 Created by ABMP.
Powered by
