Big Bear
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I used to be a licensed massage therapist. I worked for a Chiropractor for a while and also had my own business in a beauty salon.
If you are not fortunate enough to be exposed to these opportunities, you can take out small advertisements in your local newspaper. Make sure you say how much you charge per hour and what type of massage it is that you do.
I offered gift certificates during the holidays, and that was an hour massage for twenty five dollars at the time. Of course prices have gone up.
You should network with other therapists, and advertise in beauty salons, the yellow pages, and let local Chiropractors and other therapists know that you are open for business.
You could also offer chair massages as a start and let people know that you do full body massages.
Sometimes local sports teams also are looking for a team therapist. Keep your eyes and ears open ! |
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kat
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I had the same issue when I finished massage school. I concentrate on Sports/Deep Muscle Massage. The first thing is what do you want your clientele to be like? I really wanted clients that viewed massage as part of their healthy lifestyle rather than those who wanted to be pampered.
I chose not to work in a salon or spa. I decided to work in health clubs. I prefered ones with a large bodybuilding community. These are people willing to spend upwards of $50. a week on supplements and sports drinks. Therefore they are more likely to spend the money on massage. You let this guys know that it will improve symmetry and recovery time between workouts and thats what they want. Also...depending on the size of the client I would often have to schedule them for extended appointments. Heavyweight guys cant be finished effectively in an hour.
After getting associated with a gym. I went and offered a free massage to each of the personal trainers at the gym. After those initial massages the referals kept coming. If a trainer gave me many referals I would often reward them with a free massage (say for every 5 new clients).
If there was a gym memeber that was a competition winning bodybuilder...(Mr. New Jersey) ..I would give them a free massage. It would only be for a half hour. The others often think what the winning guy does is gospel. I also would give chair massages at the local and state-wide bodybuilding comp. Before I knew it I was requested by people in the bodybuilding community who didnt even belong to the gyms I worked with. They know I understand what they want to achieve & they knew I know Kinesiology so they would ask my advice on stretches and even injuries. I would always spend a few minutes networking with people in the gym prior to any appointments.
Obviously this group of people are more difficult to massage. The fascia and muscle fibers are intense and you have to make sure your body mechanics are strong in order to protect your hands, arms and shoulders from wear & tear.
Hope it helps.
PLEASE DO NOT advertise in a paper. You will be solicitated as if you were a prostitute. You may get yourself in a bad situation. I learned this the hard way. |
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Whiteboard Guy
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You might want to try to hook up with a local chiropractor. You should also join your local chamber of commerce. They have a lot of networking events that could help you a lot.
Good Luck
Me |
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answers4questions
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I have actually just started a massage therapy business. I am renting a room in a building from this lady.
I have made tons of flyers- went door to door, sent letters to local nursing homes, home health care, and hotels.
I am also networking with a fitness club that doesn't offer massage services.
I look forward to trying to find a few doctors/ chiro.s as well to network with- i've heard that helps Extremely well!!! Just haven't experienced it yet.
If you decide to start your own business don't sign a lease until your inspections, etc have been completed- waiting on that crap to happen cost me 3 monthes of my lease without getting any clientele in. And if you sign a lease to work or start a business- be sure everything is in there! Don't trust anyones word when it comes to business- i've learnt that.
Other things i've heard to try- just haven't had time to try yet is offer free massages for people who bring in so many referrals, or offer discounted prices for people buying massages in bulk.
And most of the time your liability insurance you have to carry while practicing will have helpful handbooks, web material to look over. I have ABMP - it's great and doesn't cost that much. |
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Alissa
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Have a friend sponser a massage party. They invite 6 friends and you give them each a half hour massage. The guests have to pay but the host gets theres for free. |
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bensmom2007
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General networking rules: Friends, family, co-workers, friends of friends, etc. Never under estimate anyone...everyone can provide at least one great client! Best wishes! |
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nutshack1
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Well, many people have given excellent answers to this question so far, and I don't know if I can be of help.
My sister is a massage therapist, and one thing she does (in addition to working with her regular client base) is to work with patients who are on disability, who therefore have their bills covered by the state. Granted there is a great deal of additional paperwork involved, however it has become a wonderful way for her to network with other therapists, and she is able to pick up clients peripherally (i.e. a relative of the patient, or friend, etc.) on many occasions.
At least one person mentioned getting in with a chiropractor, and that is very true. Also try an acupuncturist, maybe a D.O. (doctor of osteopathy), and/or a joint or muscle specialist. You may also want to think about approaching people like high-school or college football, baseball, etc. coaches, martial arts instructors, dance teachers, what-have-you, to see about drumming up business among their students.
Hope this offers some insight. |
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WhosThatGirl?
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get some business cards (you should already have some though) do some networking out area gyms. connect with chiropractors. |
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Machell
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have people that you have given massages to to recommend you to thier friends and family |
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Z
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Many good awnsers here, although I say definatly working for a place and building up experience and a clientel outside of work is the best way (Have a few friends that do this, and recommend this as well)
Although, there is one thing I don't see emntioned here I figured I'd bring up... (not trying to insult your intelligence)
But definatly make sure when you are getting new clients you make sure that they know what kind of massage you are offering. My roommate (a massage therapist who now is freelance) would always talk to the person before making the appointment to make sure they weren't looking for something "extra' know what I'm saying? Lots of sickos out there these days,.. it pays to be careful ;)
Best of luck to ya! |
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Insurance Pro
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Every successful business in the world does one thing that always works to get business. They ask for referrals from their current happy customers. FOr example: give a massage. After it is done ask the customer if they liked the massage? If the customer says NO then you SUCK. But if the customer says "Yes". Then you need to ask the customer for the names and phone number of at least one other person who might need a massage? Pretty much everyone can give you at least 1 referral. However, most people can write down the names and phone numbers of at least 5 people. Plus what a professional prospector does (and all salespeople including YOU) is ask the person making the referral to first call his/her friends, tell them how great of a job you did giving them a massage, and asking their friends to call YOU. That is the best referral. However, another method is for them to tell their friends to be expecting your call. Though in my opinion if your customer can get his/her friends to call you this sale has a 99% chance of being closed. Which means YOU get paid! |
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andi
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Give really good massages! |
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tric_tex
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Many massage schools will allow recently licensed/certified therapists to schedule appointments with them, especially if you are one of their graduating students.
Offer discounts on first time massages.
And for steady repeat customers, give them a discount or free massage for recommending new clients to you and for their repeat business.
My MT would give me an extra half hour with no charge once every 10 massages. Or she would give me a hot rocks massage or reflexology massage. |
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elidet_reyes
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One of the most effective ways I have worked with are business to business. I'm assuming you have business cards already!
First, create a package of where you can come in on a Friday and offer massages to a company.
For this to work, you will have to contact a business with at least 10 people.
You package can be:
15 minute massage for $15 or something to that effect and say you will be available to the company during 11 and 1 on location.
This is great for companies that realize they need to pamper their employees but you might get repeat business every week.
You can advertise, but its cheaper to create packages for business and you get more money in the long run.
It's direct marketing. Your return on investment is better if you call a company and offered your services.
It's a numbers game. You will call ten companies, and one will say yes. That's all you need to get your business off the ground! And for the 9 others that say no, call them once a month to see if they want your services.
I worked in advertising for a long time, and now I am a publisher, so trust me, calling on prospects is better. Some people get shy and would rather advertise, but don't wait for the phone to ring. |
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alexsie9
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Encourage any client that you do have to advertise for you by word of mouth. Maybe give the current client and any future client they bring $5 off their next massage session. Just a thought |
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audrey_halley2004
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Word of mouth.
Business cards pinned on bulletin boards in local stores, beauty shops, barber shops etc. |
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Yasso Prince of Egypt
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Word of mouth mainly.
If you are good! |
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Sunni
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The good way I found is to contact chiropractors in your area and give them $10 off certificates for new clients and see if the might pass them out to their clients. You might offer to give those chiropractors a freebie if they send 5 new clients your way. Another thing you can do is if you have a massage chair you can go do on site apt at local offices of you friends most people love the on site thing because it gives them a chance to get the massage without the whole personal boundaries issues. |
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AverageMom
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I know that many doctors' offices are offering alternative pain/therapy solutions, such as massage, to their patients. Try calling a few well-established offices in your area and see if you can interview with them. You can also call local area day spas and work on a contractual basis. Call some well-known businesses...some of them offer their workers massage therapy along with having a fitness club in their business. |
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FL LMT
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First, congrats on getting your certification.
Your best means of getting your name out there is through the people you touch. If you provide them with healing, wonderful massage, they will talk. How to get those people in to start with? First, get some of your friends to come in. Make sure you put your business cards at establishments where someone who's spending money will pick them up (restaurants, coffee shops). If you have a chair, you can put up flyers at some of these same places offering to bring massage into the office. Offering some enticing discounts (reduced price or free massage for a referral) will usually snag you a few more people, as do gift certificates. And, if there is a local massage group or alternative medical community that you can tap into, do it! You will be networking with people of like minds. Massage therapists won't necessarily refer people to you, but doctors, chiropractors, and other healers certainly will.
If you're not a member of one of the major organizations (AMBP or AMTA), join!! They'll send you some helpful guides on how to build your business.
Best of luck along your path! |
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orchid2800
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Well darlin, If you recently took classes in Massage Therapy, your school should have given you a few ways to collect Clientele in your Clinical and Business Mods of the course.
But here are a few other ideas,
Advertise in the newspaper, internet(craigslist under Therapeutic),
Make up some business fliers and pass them around to your local markets and Health and chiropractic offices
Business cards work well to, you can go to www.VistaPrint.com to design and order your cards, or go to www.HP.com click the search the site browser and type custom business cards and you can use one of the preset card designs and just make them your own and print them out your self if you have business card paper, Be creative, Be optional, Be assertive, Be likeable, Be informative, and Make brochures to have a short bio of what you do and your availability, and prices. |
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Becca24
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Fliers. Free coupons. Word of mouth. Best friends. |
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Bena
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rub elbows with the rich and famous |
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lauryns33
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get yourself a kit to make some business cards.....have friends and family hand them out to co-workers. you could do cold calls on high density office buildings to try and set up appointments to meet with building management about possibly renting a board room and having a free try for office workers. word of mouth is a great form of advertisement. |
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Lisa C
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first you make your business cards, then you give them to people. get your office prepared for business. you'll be surprised what comes about from word of mouth. be there waiting your phone will ring for incoming business ahead. |
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#1 Buckeye Fan!!!!
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Start working for a local spa. We have a few that have several massage therapists. That way you have a dependable income and you can build your clientele at the same time from there. Once you get a good number of regulars, then you can branch off into your own business and bring them with you. Then they'll tell their friends, and you'll grow from there. Good Luck! It's a growing business and has become very popular. Sounds like you've gotten into the right profession! |
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Jamie G
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Advertise Advertise and Advertise. After you have some word of mouth comes in second. You have to do a good job and everyone will tell everyone about you. |
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Patrick M
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start by making business cards with your name and business on it. that way people will know you are really interested in what you are pursuing. then i would put your business in the phone book because a lot of people look there for good business. also, think about going to some home tours and home shows and opening a booth. |
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Littles
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I know of someone that works at a Chiropracters office. The first time she gives you a massage its for 10-15 mintues for free. After that you can try and make future appointments. Also word of mouth threw family and friends is a great way. Good Luck |
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Divad
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Build your netwoirk first. Advertise yourself by giving free services. If clients find your services to be superb, word-of-mouth will increase your client base. Focus on the needs of the client and provide EXTRA, value-added services that others could not offer. |
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spyblitz
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Quality, Cleanliness and Value |
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