6 Successful Ways To Market to Existing Clients In Your Massage Therapy Business

Marketing to clients can be a challenge, especially when you have no been trained to do so. Many therapists have been “trained” in the field of massage therapy but when it comes to marketing so that we can get clients in the first place, many of us are at a complete loss at what to do and how to do it.

Here are some tips I’ve put together to help point you in the direction of gaining new clients faster.

1. Communication with your existing clients. Staying in contact with your existing clients is very important. People forget about you if they have not been for a while for a number of reasons that usually have nothing to do with you. Set up an email system to stay in touch with them on a regular basis, such as once a month. Or perhaps you can send out a newsletter about Massage therapy and the benefits to the client. This simple thing reminds your clients that you are available for them when they need you. And don’t forget to contact them about specials around Christmas time or Valentines Day.

2. Be personal. If you want your massage practice to be the first thing they think of when they get up in the morning with that aching shoulder you need to form a good relationship with that person. Get to know them, almost like a friend. A great way to keep yourself fresh in that persons mind and make them feel special is to send them a card on their birthday with a special gift inside. It doesn’t have to be a free massage or anything expensive. It might be something like a gift voucher for an extra 15 minutes on their next treatment.

3. Reward Your Best Clients. Its time we started letting our best clients now how much we value their business. Our best clients might be those who come every week, or fortnight, or even once a month. You know who your best clients are because they are regular, pay on time, refer you their friends, respect you and follow your advice. You can set up a reward system where your best clients get to enjoy some free service sometimes, or perhaps you send out a gift to them to let them know how valued they are. They might even like something else that’s not entirely related to massage such as two movie tickets on their birthday, or a pack of essential oils, or a gift certificate to a book store if they like to read for example. Make sure you do find out what they like first. No point getting something they will not like! And you will know what they like because you will listen during your time with them.

4. Get Rid Of Complaining Clients. Not every client is the client you want. There are some people that no matter what you do, complain, wine, whinge and generally cause problems for you. This can be extra difficult if you are a sole practitioner working from home. If a client is a pain in the neck and every time you see them its more pain and stress for you then get rid of them. You DON’T want a massage business with people who don’t respect you or complain at every tiny thing. Cleanse your massage business of troublesome clients, your practice will thrive in the long run.

5. So How Was It? By asking your clients how you can improve is an excellent way to not only improve your massage treatment but it also helps you work out what your clients are thinking. Once you know what your clients are thinking you can put together expert marketing campaigns based on what the needs and concern of your client market is. Not only will you be seen as taking on an honourable sense of responsibility on your clients eyes, you can find out what message to use in your marketing.

6. Following up with clients. You can't expect to have some one come for a massage and then that person come to you for the rest of your days as a massage therapist. If only it was that easy! You will always need to remind your clients to come and have massage treatment with you and this means regular contact. You spent a lot of time learning massage therapy, now comes the marketing to gain new clients and keep them. Having a lot of clients requires a lot of effort, but over time you'll reap the benefits of a steady stream of repeat clients and referrals if you view marketing and client contact as just a part of your business as the massage itself.

I wish you the utmost success in your practice. If you apply these strategies in your massage business at least once a month you may notice the same thing I did in my massage business: a significant increase in client numbers over just a few months.

Good luck!
Amy Roberts