We know that getting massage clients can sometimes be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help you know how to get more massage clients, and how to keep them coming back. We have no doubt that you provide excellent services and we want to see you succeed. Today we’ll share four tips on how to get massage clients and four tips on how to retain them.
Getting New Clients
1. Online Mapping Service
Online is where it’s at. Chances are, your clients are already looking for you! So many people use the Internet to find services that they are in need of. Even if you don’t have a website, you can get your business listed online with Google My Business to get your business on the map. You can also list your contact information and hours of operation.
2. Website, Social Media, and Email Marketing
Similar to getting listed on Google Maps, it’d be wise to consider creating a website for your business. This step may be a bit more time consuming, but it will definitely pay off. Having a website will help you establish an online presence so that potential clients can find all your information in one place. On your website you can list your services offered, pricing, photos of your massage room, testimonials from previous clients and much more. This can also be a good landing place for your business.
Along with having your own website, establishing a presence on social media can help you get more massage clients. Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or other preferred social media platforms, having this can really boost your business online. You can use social media to post pictures, showcase your skills, and network with clients. Doing giveaways can help drive traffic to your pages and get more followers, leading to more clients. You can also link your social media to your website, so that more potential clients can see your website as well.
Another thing to do online to boost your business is to take advantage of email marketing. This consists of sending emails to current and potential clients. To get started with email marketing, you can offer a newsletter or service updates. Some mediums to offer this would be your website or social media platforms. Make sure that your recipients have already given you permission to email them. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your emails. You can do an email series about the health benefits of massage therapy, or offer a free download of a massage therapy e-book, among other tactics. If you’d like to learn more about email marketing, take a look at this beginner’s guide to email marketing.
All of these strategies will help you reach your target audience of clients. With a good variety of strategies, you’ll be able to reach a wide range of clients. Your website will be helpful for people of all ages, social media can help target young adults and email marketing can reach those who may be a bit older.
3. Network Effectively
You’ve heard about the importance of networking. But why is networking so essential in growing a business? One of the easiest forms of networking includes talking to your friends and family to get the word out about your business and ask them for referrals, or anyone who would be interested in your services. Use every interaction you have with someone as an opportunity to talk about and leverage your business. You don’t want to be too pushy, but find a way that is natural for you to talk about your massage therapy business and network for it.
Networking can be done in person or online, but is typically more effective in person. Face-to-face interaction is important for that first and lasting impression. If you don’t have the opportunity to network in person, there are plenty of ways to network online. You can use services like LinkedIn, Facebook groups, online events and more. Over 80 million small businesses worldwide use Facebook pages and 12% of the world’s population is on LinkedIn, according to Tech Jury, which is something you can take advantage of.
A survey done by Moo said that 90% of U.S. business owners stated that using their business cards led them to generating new business. On average, the business cards helped generate more than $5,000 per year in revenue. Have an appealing business card with all of your information on it, and make sure to hand it out whenever the opportunity presents itself. The more natural you can make the networking process, the more likely you’re going to achieve your desired results.
4. Make Sure You’re Insured
You’ve done all this work to get the word out about your massage therapy business and the last thing you’d want to have is a lawsuit. Having insurance is vital to your new business. If you don’t have coverage, you may end up having to pay for any accidents out of pocket. Having an insurance policy in place can protect you from potential legal action if a client gets hurt. Beauty and Bodywork Insurance offers massage therapy insurance starting at $9.99/month or $96 a year and the application can be filled out online in ten minutes or less. Visit the website to see more information on the insurance policies offered. When those accidents happen, you’ll be grateful that you have an effective insurance policy.
Retaining Your Clients
1. Create Package Deals
Making sure your clients stay loyal and that they keep coming back for your services should be a top priority. One simple way of doing this is creating package deals. Begin by putting certain packages together that focus on the result of what your client needs. If you have several clients that suffer from chronic back pain, create a back pain package deal. Creating a special monthly package deal can also keep your clients interested and excited about what you’ll be offering next.
2. Offer a Discount for Advanced Booking
Offering discounts to your current clients is a sure way to keep them coming to you. You can create your own discounts and specials to clients and still make money while doing it. You can also post these discounts on your website and social media to help drive traffic to your business.
An idea for a monthly special discount could be a 75-minute massage for the price of 60 minutes, or 10% off a 60-minute massage with a soothing back rub and mud mask. Whatever discount you’d like to put together for your business, make sure it works for you and that it satisfies your client.
3. Make a Comfortable Environment
Having a comfortable, clean space is essential for the satisfaction of your clients. You can do this by having pleasant smells and soothing music in your massage room. You can even customize the experience for your client. For example, if you have a client that loves citrus smells and classical music, be sure to do that for them when they come in. The little things go a long way. Ask your clients for any preferences they may have and keep it on file. Your clients will see that not every massage therapist goes out of their way like you do, and they’re more likely to keep coming back to you.
It’s imperative that you sanitize and clean the massage table and room so that your clients can stay safe and clean. While your clients are waiting for their appointment, you could have drinks and snacks available for them. You can also offer small samples of lotion and other products that you use that your clients can take with them. If they want larger quantities, you should have those available for sale. (Take note that BBI only covers products used by the massage therapist while providing their services, not afterwards. This means that if a client took home a sample of something or a product sold by the massage therapist and the product caused an injury, that would not be covered by the BBI policy.) This requires minimal effort, but can make a significant difference. Finally, no one wants to get a massage at a hectic, messy or smelly place, so make sure that your environment is top notch and your clients will want to come back. They’ll be sure to tell their family and friends about the wonderful experience you gave them.
4. Fantastic Customer Service
Lastly, keep in mind that everyone appreciates superior customer service. It doesn’t take much to be courteous to your clients, and they will notice the extra effort you put in to making their experience great. Treat your clients with respect and friendliness. Make sure that your clients know that you’re reliable and punctual, and that the quality of your work is consistent. Lend a listening ear to your clients when they need it. Take the time to listen to them and discover more about them. Make sure you understand your clients’ needs and concerns so that you can help them to the best of your abilities. Clients expect you to excel in your work and to keep up with current research and techniques.
You can also offer fantastic customer service by offering easy appointment scheduling, that they can either do in your office or on your website. Invite your clients to reschedule, and you can even throw in those package deals or discounts so that they are even more incentivized to come back to you. You can keep touch points to stay in contact, like offering to add them to your weekly newsletter.
There you have it. We hope this article is helpful for you to know how to get clients as a massage therapist and how to keep them coming back. Review these tips often to make sure your business is continually growing. Check out the Beauty and Bodywork Insurance blog for more tips and information for massage therapists. You can read about how to start a massage therapy business and everything you need to know about massage therapy insurance.
