I’m a new Massage Therapist. What do I do?
February 242010
I just completed my coursework for massage therapy and have been working independently. I want to eventually start my own practice. I have been doing outcalls for the most part since I don’t have my own place yet. The majority of the people who contact me want a "happy ending" and it’s getting really frustrating. I advertise online in the therapeutic section but they still ask. Are there any other therapists that know where else I can advertise?? And to the market who really wants a REAL massage??
Advertise through the vitamin stores, health food coops, gyms and other places geared towards us health oriented individuals.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Advertise through the vitamin stores, health food coops, gyms and other places geared towards us health oriented individuals.
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February 24th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
First, I suggest taking any listing you have in the yellow pages out. I won’t list with them until they get rid of the listings of "masseuse or masseur." Get in contact with your local healthcare providers – doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc and get your name out there as a licensed and certified massage therapist. You may be even able to contract through them for space and referrals. I’m an Independent Massage Therapist and I contract through my old boss who owns a physical therapy clinic.
You MUST tout yourself as a MASSAGE THERAPIST. And make it clear that this is therapeutic work you’re providing. In your client intake, make this as clear as possible, even if you have to put down the phrase "for health and wellness only" or something to that degree.
Something else to consider – continuing education. Find something that interests you that will make you stand apart from the general massage therapist. My degree is in Sports Medicine, and I state that on my cards and listings.
Make your own website – I use Yahoo’s own Site Builder. (and no, they’re not paying me to say that, I actually use it! )www.massagebymeghann.com) Feel free to browse my site and get some ideas.
Hope this helps
Also…you can get listed though the certification board or national association. I’m on NCBTMB’s and AMTA’s listings
References :
Experience – I’m an ATC/L, CMT
February 24th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
My advice, if your eager to avoid that, is not be a massage therapist. I kid, I kid, seriously though seek out the single mom crowd. They are always hustling and bustling. Good money, and a solid demographic for your services.Also if you meet a few who you get along with they can become reliable customers who won’t always ask you to jerk them off at the end
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February 24th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
I hate to say it but it something that you have to deal with. It surprises me how up front men are with what they are looking for on the phone. It used to bother me to turn away business. My belief is you need to act like an adult dress professional and use medical terms…such as my medical office, medical massage, glutes, penis etc. I have learned that over time I don’t need to act like a hooker for business. There are a lot of people who need my help, and I’m not here for thrills.
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February 24th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Yellow pages are fine to advertise in but don’t use Craigslist. They are being known for prostitution.
Get your own office and set up a regular business where people can come into your office. You can usually find a room to rent or share with other massage therapists or health care people.
Get a website that is optimized for the search engines and write down as much as you can about massage and what it does so people will come to trust you just from your website. Submit your site to Google Local Results (free). You have to get your site to show up for ‘massage, your city’ on the first page.
There are really tons of things you can be doing to promote yourself.
References :
http://www.massage-career-guides.com/massage-business.html
http://www.massage-career-guides.com/massage-websites.html