Tips to Better Marketing and Advertising for Massage Therapists

Massage therapists have been taught that successful marketing attempts are primarily word-of-mouth (WOM) advertising. We are influenced to use advertising tools such as business cards, coupons, fliers, and newsletters to help generate customers. To many, these epitomes are the Holy Grail in becoming successful but much to their disappointment, these efforts fail to generate a sufficient number of customers.

Many advertising tools used by massage therapists are used in a manner that results in disappointment. Learning how these advertising tools should be used in a well thought out marketing strategy is paramount to a successful advertising venture.

A marketing strategy is a planned selling effort that utilizes the most effective advertising tools directed towards a preferred customer. Mistakenly, many massage therapists are taught that everyone will benefit from their services; therefore, everyone is their preferred customer. Although the demand for massage therapy services is increasing, there are still a number of individuals for which massage will not be an option whether it is by choice or health.

Massage therapy customers can be categorized into three primary groups.

▪ Stress and Tension Reduction

▪ Pain Management or Injury Care

▪ Pampering and Self-Wellness

Identifying which category your primary customer belongs will help you to direct your marketing efforts towards the correct audience. Those that are already familiar with and interested in your services will give you the more successful results.

For instance, one massage therapist had blogged that her most successful advertising attempt was through newsletters with a $10 coupon. Whether she was aware of it or not, she aimed the newsletter to individuals that were already within her preferred customer group.

This is even true with whom you choose to leave your business cards. Your business cards are an excellent way to attract customers to your practice. Recognizing where these potential customers are categorized will help you to develop a strategy to lure them to make their first appointment by using the back side of the card. Use it as a punch card for a free or reduced rate treatment, to announce a discount rate for bringing a friend or family member, or as an appointment reminder.

Fliers have long been a traditional method of advertising for massage therapists, even for Phoebe on Friends. Distribution to your preferred customer is the best route for these popular circulars; not on the random windshields of uninterested and environmentally conscience individuals. Get permission from local businesses where your preferred customer frequents and leave them there for interested parties to pick up.

Yes, the many different variances of word-of-mouth marketing are excellent ways to attract customers and even retain customers, if you know the "who, what, when, where, and how" of your preferred customer. Starting with that understanding will save your much time and resources. Try these tips here and begin your journey to a more successful massage therapist entrepreneur.

From providing therapeutic massage and spa treatments to building a massage therapy brand to a local massage therapy chapter, Cherisa Chapa, LMT provides multiple services to the industry of massage therapy through her web site, http://www.chapaenterprises.com .

How Often Should I Market My Massage Business?
This is a question that I get asked on a regular basis. You know that you should do marketing- thats established but the freq...

Getting More Massage Therapy Clients, Without Expensive Advertising - Part 2
In Part 1 I discussed how you can get more clients without expensive advertising by what not to do. And that is not doing gen...

Advertising to Promote a Massage Service
When advertising a massage service it is very important to set your company above the rest of the companies in the industry a...

Appropriate Massage Equipment
Massage, while luxurious and pampering for its receivers, is a serious profession for its deliverers requiring enormous knowl...

The Demand for Massage Therapy Chairs
Massage therapists are in high demand. Consumers recognize the physical and mental health benefits of a good massage. America...

How to Eliminate the Competition in Your Massage Business
One of the biggest mistakes massage therapists make in trying to promote themselves is that they are mostly doing it the same...

The Convenience of the Portable Massage Chair
Human resource officers have, over the past decade or so, began to understand how massage therapy can benefit their employees...

Getting A Great Massage: New Jersey
If you are looking for the perfect massage, New Jersey actually provides you with a number of qualified, excellent massage th...

Massage Marketing Made Easy: A Simple Nine Step Marketing Plan for Therapists and Bodyworkers
Marketing is actually very simple. It involves telling people what you do...over and over and over. The key to successfully m...

Massage Melbourne Style
Anyone can enjoy a wonderful, scintillating, and relaxing massage, Melbourne style, you really need to take an hour or two to...

Sport Massage Therapy
Sport massage therapy is very important to athletes who need to have relaxation and injury related massage to help them stay ...

Getting A Massage: San Diego Offers Many Choices
Those that are looking for a massage, San Diego area residents or not, will find a number of great choices located near them....

Learning New Massage Therapy Techniques For Success
During your career as a massage therapist, you will want to continue your education so you can learn all about new techniques...

Massage Therapy Training
Ancient civilizations used massage therapy as a treatment for many diseases. The therapists were practical people with very l...

Massage For Health Or Entertainment
There are many advantages and benefits to receiving massage therapy. For many years, it has been used to help heal the body,...

Massage Therapy
Massage is defined as the rubbing or kneading of body parts to aid circulation, stimulate nerves or relax the muscles. Howeve...

Guys, Try A Massage - Melbourne Style
Massage Melbourne style is a great way for city guys to relax and unwind, and wash away the stresses and strains, of a heavy ...

Foot Massages
Foot massages are also known as reflexology and were mainly practiced by Chinese therapists. In this kind of massage, therapi...

Demand For Massage Therapists Increases As Interest In Benefits Of Massage Creates More Converts
Projections by the U.S. Department of Labor forecast employment opportunities for massage therapists to grow by 18 to 26 perc...

Massage Therapists Specialize in your Wellbeing
Massage therapy has been around for centuries, and is quite a prolific field. From the ancient Greeks to modern day society,...