Promote your business in massage therapy

You’ve obtained the appropriate license and you’ve considered the expenses of starting a massage therapy business. Now you’re ready to be your own boss and promote your business in massage therapy. There are several ways – time-tested ways and new methods – that you can use to build your licensed massage therapy business to build your client base.

Potential massage therapy clients need to know several things before they can even make a first appointment with you. Where are you located? Are you familiar enough with the area to give clients directions to your business, or are you recommending that they search for directions online? Do you accept walk-ins or scheduled visits only? What are your hours of operation? Do you visit clients in their homes? How much does an appointment cost, and what methods of payment do you accept? All these questions can be answered on a website. While using a WordPress blog as your massage therapy website isn’t your only option, it’s an attractive one because a basic version of a WordPress is free.

Is there a community fundraiser coming up? If so, consider donating a massage therapy gift certificate to be auctioned for cash benefits to the charity participating. It will promote your business and make the community more aware of your business.

The vast audience of Facebook users makes it a quick way to spread the word that you're accepting massage therapy clients. Its professionally-oriented counterpart, LinkedIn, doesn’t have as many users and lacks the informality of Facebook. However, LinkedIn is another free way to promote your business and network among other local business owners.

Gift certificates can do several things. When you donate gift certificates, there’s potential to gain a new client. Selling Christmas gift certificates to existing clients allows them to give the gift of massage therapy to others who might be skeptical about it. But perhaps the most compelling reason why you should sell gift certificates is for the financial well-being of your business. The first few years of owning your own business are a struggle to make a profit. Many businesses don’t survive this stage. Selling gift certificates to existing clients – for lower than their face value – offers a savings on massage therapy services while providing a cash advance to you. It’s a win-win for you and your clients.

Is your location easy or difficult to find? How can your signage show potential massage therapy clients that you’re open for business with clean facilities and appropriate, legitimate, professional credentials?

Using very brief messages, licensed massage therapy business owners can use Twitter to advertise a grand opening, renovation, move, holiday hours or special discounts. Best of all, Twitter is free.

Perhaps the most reliable method of gaining new massage therapy clients is word-of-mouth. When your clients are happy, they will tell friends, family and business associates about their experiences. When something has made them unhappy, they will also spread the negative news, deterring potential clients from trying your business and potentially keeping past clients from returning. Giving wonderful service to every client doesn’t mean that all clients will generate a referral for you, but it does mean that your business will gain and maintain a positive reputation in the community.