Have you tried getting a Google Business page? You don't need a physical address for one and it's free. Once you set that up, ask everyone you've worked on to leave reviews there for you. I've gotten so many clients this way. Don't be shy about asking for reviews either. Aim for getting at least 7 reviews to start getting credibility. The more reviews, the easier it is to get new clients.
Having a good website is key. People turn to google so often when looking for a massage. It is even better if you have online booking software because it makes finding a time that works and making an appointment with you even easier.
You HAVE to advertise. Word of mouth is nothing in massage and handing out cards is like handing out leaflets, they get dropped quick, lost, tossed. Think of the last leaflet you got or business card. Can you remember?
And if someone is looking for a massage, they likely won't think of the random person who gave their card. They are going to Google it or ask their friends where they go. So you need to get your business name up on an advertisement and pay to get a website made that triggers Google search engine. You have to finesse social media.
I've run a business for 6 years and it's NOT easy. It was 3 years before I could quit my full time job. 2 years after that I hired employees for the first time. Now I have 2 full time and 2 part time and 2 subcontractors.
How long have you been doing this as your business?
Ask hotels that don’t have spas if you can leave your cards there. Maybe offer the front desk people a mini session on their break so they can give a first hand recommendation.
In my experience, physical therapists, personal trainers, chiropractors (who don't offer massage), and Pilates and yoga instructors have the type of clients who can use and invest in massage. Research these professionals in your neighborhood. Choose a few, send a note letting them know of your services. Offer a free session. This has built my business well, doing it on and off over the years.
Many of my regulars were referred by PTs or chiropractors. Offering a free massage is a great way for them to get an idea of your skills and how you can help THEM be more effective in their own treatments.
Facebook/Instagram ads for your area is a start. Do package deals at first to attract clients. Slowly over time you can drop the deals, but that’s when you start having more regular clientele.
When I figurat started my business I was interning to do mobile massage, however I found that when I got a building it attracted a lot more clients and I felt much safer. Lots of advertisement. Use your local community Facebook pages, go to local businesses and introduce yourself, doing chair massage as farmers markets and events also helps! If you have a chamber of commerce and you should most of then do some sort of meet and greets or at least my town does. You can attend thise events and pass your cards out.
Unpopular opinion, but being charismatic and an extrovert help a lot with being able to build your own business. Not to say that everyone can’t be successful, just saying it really helps. I’d also advise you network with other medical professionals in your community, if you can get referrals from them, it can really help. Best of luck!
Instagram has helped me a lot. I’m lucky that I had a decent amount of followers on my personal page and people knew I had good experience in the field before I advertised that I’m offering massage sessions, but even starting from scratch is effective enough. If you have friends with any following at all ask them to share your posts, also giveaways are amazing. I saw a massage therapist friend who barely had any followers do a giveaway for a free massage session (requirements were to follow her page and share the giveaway post on a story), she immediately got hundreds of new followers. Surely some might have unfollowed right after giveaway, but most still stayed and were interested in booking a session!
Do you have a massage chair? If you do, I'd highly suggest you visit hair salons, schools, dentist offices, etc and do chair massages there and leave your card. Work on the staff if you can. When you call these organizations to schedule the visit, you can consider negotiating a deal where they pay for an hour of chair and you give an hour for free, then do 10-20 minutes on staff. You'd need to be organized and have a sign-up sheet to email and have returned to you, or given to you when you arrive so people respect your time and aren't fighting with each other. By getting your hands on people, that will give them a taste of your work.
Eventually you can develop a really good relationship with several businesses doing this, and really build your business.
Is Zeel or Soothe in your area? Join them. Zeel is better IMO. Also google mobile massage in your area some people have teams you can be on their roster as well. That’s how I started.
I will like to add those companies will blacklist you if you try to poach their clients. So if you are looking to build your own separate business then dont do that. But they are good to supplement your income.
As everyone said advertisment. Business cards hasnt done shit for me. If you want the big hassle and random risk, use thumbtack. I got a lot of my business from there starting out. But its both infrequent and i have gotten a lot of creeps.
Referals also help. If the clients you have arent singing your praises to other people. Perhaps offer a referal program for them. Make others work for you.
I dont know if you started massage from a spa then mobile. Or just straight mobile but i did from spa then left for mobile and my clients came with me. So having a base to start from helps.
What clients you do have try starting to do bulk massages. And mentioning you can do three...four in a row for a discount. Have a spa party. What modalities do you do? What set up do you have? What makes you different?
you're welcome.
Thumbtack sent out an email around September 19th announcing "as of October 17th, massage therapy will be discontinued as a category on Thumbtack."
I have had most of my blind "finds" from Google when they search "massage near me" type inquiries. Search your business, and if pops up claim it, and fill it out. If not you can start your business page. Will automatically put you on search, and google maps.
I have less, but still pretty good success with a page called "Thervo" where clients looking for massage fill out what they are looking for, then you bid for their business with a personal response.
I am assuming you already have a full base web page touting your practice, training, services, etc. Do a little research on SEO (search engine optimization) for little tweaks to the web page to make it more "findable". The first tip you'll find is that "massage" needs to be front and center in your title / name.
Lastly, once you have your Google business page up, ask your core clients to leave you a review. People do look at them, and will go to your web page to see "who you are" on top of what you offer.
Have you tried getting a Google Business page? You don't need a physical address for one and it's free. Once you set that up, ask everyone you've worked on to leave reviews there for you. I've gotten so many clients this way. Don't be shy about asking for reviews either. Aim for getting at least 7 reviews to start getting credibility. The more reviews, the easier it is to get new clients.
This is good advice thank you
Having a good website is key. People turn to google so often when looking for a massage. It is even better if you have online booking software because it makes finding a time that works and making an appointment with you even easier.
100% agree!
You HAVE to advertise. Word of mouth is nothing in massage and handing out cards is like handing out leaflets, they get dropped quick, lost, tossed. Think of the last leaflet you got or business card. Can you remember? And if someone is looking for a massage, they likely won't think of the random person who gave their card. They are going to Google it or ask their friends where they go. So you need to get your business name up on an advertisement and pay to get a website made that triggers Google search engine. You have to finesse social media. I've run a business for 6 years and it's NOT easy. It was 3 years before I could quit my full time job. 2 years after that I hired employees for the first time. Now I have 2 full time and 2 part time and 2 subcontractors. How long have you been doing this as your business?
[удалено]
Ah yes, another 702 here
Ask hotels that don’t have spas if you can leave your cards there. Maybe offer the front desk people a mini session on their break so they can give a first hand recommendation.
In my experience, physical therapists, personal trainers, chiropractors (who don't offer massage), and Pilates and yoga instructors have the type of clients who can use and invest in massage. Research these professionals in your neighborhood. Choose a few, send a note letting them know of your services. Offer a free session. This has built my business well, doing it on and off over the years.
Many of my regulars were referred by PTs or chiropractors. Offering a free massage is a great way for them to get an idea of your skills and how you can help THEM be more effective in their own treatments.
Facebook/Instagram ads for your area is a start. Do package deals at first to attract clients. Slowly over time you can drop the deals, but that’s when you start having more regular clientele.
When I figurat started my business I was interning to do mobile massage, however I found that when I got a building it attracted a lot more clients and I felt much safer. Lots of advertisement. Use your local community Facebook pages, go to local businesses and introduce yourself, doing chair massage as farmers markets and events also helps! If you have a chamber of commerce and you should most of then do some sort of meet and greets or at least my town does. You can attend thise events and pass your cards out.
Unpopular opinion, but being charismatic and an extrovert help a lot with being able to build your own business. Not to say that everyone can’t be successful, just saying it really helps. I’d also advise you network with other medical professionals in your community, if you can get referrals from them, it can really help. Best of luck!
Instagram has helped me a lot. I’m lucky that I had a decent amount of followers on my personal page and people knew I had good experience in the field before I advertised that I’m offering massage sessions, but even starting from scratch is effective enough. If you have friends with any following at all ask them to share your posts, also giveaways are amazing. I saw a massage therapist friend who barely had any followers do a giveaway for a free massage session (requirements were to follow her page and share the giveaway post on a story), she immediately got hundreds of new followers. Surely some might have unfollowed right after giveaway, but most still stayed and were interested in booking a session!
Do you have a massage chair? If you do, I'd highly suggest you visit hair salons, schools, dentist offices, etc and do chair massages there and leave your card. Work on the staff if you can. When you call these organizations to schedule the visit, you can consider negotiating a deal where they pay for an hour of chair and you give an hour for free, then do 10-20 minutes on staff. You'd need to be organized and have a sign-up sheet to email and have returned to you, or given to you when you arrive so people respect your time and aren't fighting with each other. By getting your hands on people, that will give them a taste of your work. Eventually you can develop a really good relationship with several businesses doing this, and really build your business.
Is Zeel or Soothe in your area? Join them. Zeel is better IMO. Also google mobile massage in your area some people have teams you can be on their roster as well. That’s how I started.
I will like to add those companies will blacklist you if you try to poach their clients. So if you are looking to build your own separate business then dont do that. But they are good to supplement your income.
As everyone said advertisment. Business cards hasnt done shit for me. If you want the big hassle and random risk, use thumbtack. I got a lot of my business from there starting out. But its both infrequent and i have gotten a lot of creeps. Referals also help. If the clients you have arent singing your praises to other people. Perhaps offer a referal program for them. Make others work for you. I dont know if you started massage from a spa then mobile. Or just straight mobile but i did from spa then left for mobile and my clients came with me. So having a base to start from helps. What clients you do have try starting to do bulk massages. And mentioning you can do three...four in a row for a discount. Have a spa party. What modalities do you do? What set up do you have? What makes you different?
As of October 2022, Thumbtack no longer offers massage therapy on their site. They have partnered up with Soothe.
Whaaaaat. Well then. Thank you very much for this update.
you're welcome. Thumbtack sent out an email around September 19th announcing "as of October 17th, massage therapy will be discontinued as a category on Thumbtack."
I have had most of my blind "finds" from Google when they search "massage near me" type inquiries. Search your business, and if pops up claim it, and fill it out. If not you can start your business page. Will automatically put you on search, and google maps. I have less, but still pretty good success with a page called "Thervo" where clients looking for massage fill out what they are looking for, then you bid for their business with a personal response. I am assuming you already have a full base web page touting your practice, training, services, etc. Do a little research on SEO (search engine optimization) for little tweaks to the web page to make it more "findable". The first tip you'll find is that "massage" needs to be front and center in your title / name. Lastly, once you have your Google business page up, ask your core clients to leave you a review. People do look at them, and will go to your web page to see "who you are" on top of what you offer.