According to Paula Curtiss, Founding Director for Healing Hands School of Holistic Health (HH), “The client’s perception of you and your business begins the moment they enter your massage room or clinic. If you want a successful massage practice you must conduct yourself professionally at all times. This means:
- Have regular and convenient practice hours, that include one or two evenings per week or weekend appointments to accommodate clients who work a day job.
- Build your business by engaging in practice building activities such as distributing promotional materials, attending community events, social media marketing, networking, e-marketing and snail mail campaigns.
- Schedule one or two networking lunches with either other professionals or services representatives that may be able to refer business to you, and you to them. (Hair & nail salons, Gyms, Yoga Studios, Chiropractors, Doctors, Gynecologists, etc.)
- Remain available by telephone, email, and/or via automated scheduling online and strive to return all telephone calls within twenty minutes or be prepared to lose a potential booking, or worse, a client.
- Set your cell phone’s notification so your clients can reach you immediately for an urgent appointment.
- Establish a reasonable massage fee schedule that describes both the services that you provide and the fees you charge for each service. (i.e.: $60 for an hour massage, $75 for Pre-Natal and $90 for a 90- minute massage.)
- Create an online presence in the form of a website that promotes your image in a positive, professional manner and offers clients a little information about you and your qualifications (professional profile) as well as a menu of your services, fees and/or retail products being sold and testimonials from satisfied clients.
- Create a positive social media presence to establish “Top-of-Mind-Awareness” and refrain from posting anything that could negatively impact your reputation.
- Create and maintain Client Intake Forms that capture client health issues and potential contraindications as well as treatment notes and plans.
- Be sure your massage room is clean, neat and free of any offensive odors.
- Ensure that all linens are freshly washed and that all pillows, bolsters and supportive wedges are sanitized regularly.
- Stock the massage room with a box of tissues, hand sanitizer, and small garbage can.
- Dress for success. Women should refrain from wearing low cut, backless, sleeveless, or otherwise revealing blouses. Best bet: Yoga pants & plain colored polo shirt
- Find a way to make your massage services stand out above others in the area. Consider specializing – Relaxation, Sports, Thai, Energy-work, Neuro-Muscular, Deep Tissue.
- Consider enrolling in Healing Hands School of Holistic Health’s Structural Analysis or Neuromuscular therapy classes to learn a system for assessing posture, providing massage therapy, giving take home exercises. Clients who understand the value of the services you provide will keep their appointments and refer others.
Serving residents through three regional campuses, HH is considered a trail-blazer for Holistic Health Education in Southern California. To date, HH has prepared more than 7,000 students for rewarding careers in Massage Therapy and can do the same for you! To find out more about our 80+ Massage and Holistic Health classes, visit us at www.healinghandsschool.com or call us at (949) 305-2722 in Laguna Hills, (760) 746-9364 in Escondido, (858)505-1100 in San Diego.