How to Promote Your Massage Business

So you’ve started a massage business. You’re good at what you do. You offer a great service that people need, but you need more clients coming in. The key to success is learning how to promote your massage therapy business. In this article, you’ll learn how to get the word out in your neighborhood and online.

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How To Promote Your Massage Therapy Business Locally

The best place to start is in your own neighborhood. Begin with people you already have connections with. People are more likely to help people they know, and those people are often easier to reach. 

Network with everyone

‍Get the word out by talking to people about your business. If you’re just starting out, it’s essential to make sure people know your business exists. Talk to your friends and family about your business. Tell the cashier at the grocery store, your yoga instructor and the parents of your kids' friends. Consider joining your local chamber of commerce to network with other business owners in your town. The more people who know about you, the more people will be talking about you.

Reach out to other healthcare providers

‍There’s a good chance the local chiropractor, physical therapist or primary care doctors have patients who need your help. Send out a letter of introduction, introducing yourself and what you do. Send a gift certificate for them to use (or give to their receptionist) to try you out. If you have clients who see a chiropractor for the same issue you’re helping them with, give them a few business cards to pass along - or even ask the client for permission to contact the chiropractor to discuss their care. If you’re a patient, mention the type of people you help at your next appointment.
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Offer free samples.

‍If your business is in a high traffic area, or you have access to such an area, set up a massage chair and offer a free 5 minute massage to passersby. Who passes up a free massage? Hand out your business cards and brochures to those who take you up on your offer. Better yet, have your schedule at the ready, and book appointments on the spot.

Don’t be afraid to approach people.

If you notice someone who looks like they need your help, speak up. If you see someone limping around the grocery store or a soccer mom having a hard time getting up from her seat, offer them some friendly advice. Let them know what you do, and tell them you’re there for them if they need you. This isn’t about selling. It’s about helping.

Get involved in your community.

‍If you don’t have a large circle of connections, a good way to meet new people is to attend or volunteer at community events. While this isn’t directly promoting your business, the connections you make will lead to more people knowing, liking and trusting you.

Partner with local businesses.

‍Reach out to other businesses that serve your target market and create a referral partnership. Ask other business owners how you can help promote their business. The goal is to find ways to help each other. For example, you can offer a discount to members of your local gym, and the gym can promote that discount as one of their member benefits.

Ask for referrals.

‍Ask every single client you treat for a referral. If they were happy with the service you provided, ask them if they know anyone else who could use your service. Some people will do this on their own, but more people will want to help you if you ask them to. Make a game out of it by creating a referral rewards program.

How to promote your massage therapy business online

You can only connect with so many people in person. Building a strong online presence is essential to promoting your massage therapy business. The average person spends nearly 7 hours a day browsing the internet. That means you have A LOT of opportunities to get in front of a lot of people.

Create a website.

‍The cornerstone of your online marketing strategy should be your website. Having a website legitimizes your business online. So, you should create a massage therapy website that promotes your services, attracts your ideal clients and tells your story. Think of this as the home base to all your online promotional efforts.

Paid advertising.

‍If your website doesn’t show up on the first page of search results, you can pay to be in the top spot. The cost of paid advertising varies depending upon the competition for the search term you choose. If there’s a lot of massage competition in your neighborhood, it could be worth paying for the top stop. Few people scroll to the bottom of the page, and even fewer look at the second page.

Email marketing.

‍Collect the emails of every client that you see. This is easily done by adding a spot for email on your client intake forms. You can also set up a link to subscribe to email campaigns on your website. Get in the routine of sending out regular emails to your subscribers that educate, entertain and promote your services.

Social media.

‍Choose at least one social media platform to post on consistently. Share posts a few times a week, and be sure to respond to anyone who comments. You can also use paid advertising to reach even more people. At first, it might seem like no one is paying attention. But, if you keep at it, you’ll gain the momentum you need to reach 100s and even 1,000s of people. Professional massage therapy marketers reccomend promoting your business on social.

Start a blog.

‍Drive traffic to your website by starting a blog for your massage therapy business. Write articles about subjects your clients care about. They don’t need to be promotional, and they need to be interesting, helpful or intriguing. Aim to publish at least one article a month. Then share your blog through email and social media.

There are a ton of ways to promote your massage therapy business. The key is to get your business in front of as many people as possible. Choose a few strategies from this list. Then commit to them for a few months. After that, you can experiment with different combinations until you find what’s most effective and most enjoyable for you.