Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/434495
Family and friends are usually happy to let you practice your new skills on them. Then, introduce those skills to trusted clients and invite honest feedback before reaching out to a wider client base. Let clients know you are always learning to make their massage the best you can. If they know their already- amazing massage therapist is making an effort to get even better, they are likely to keep coming back and not look around for somebody else, or be tempted by a temporary good deal somewhere else. Not all techniques can help every client, but at least inform everyone about your latest training by mentioning it on your website and social media, in email newsletters, and at clients' appointments. Educate the Public You may find your own enthusiasm for massage will increase if you spend more time sharing that enthusiasm with others. Many people get their knowledge of massage from the media, which often overlooks the details and paints an inaccurate picture of what we really do. When you tell people in the general public what you do, are you met with surprised looks or perhaps an inappropriate joke? How many people understand what you do? Step up to combat this perception and get involved in actively educating the public. This is also an opportunity to meet people in your area and let them get to know you. Seek out local groups and events where you can be a speaker. Public speaking gets easier each time you do it, and you may even find you enjoy it. You have probably found many people have the same questions about massage. Make sure potential clients can find the answers to those questions on your website, whether in writing or in a video. Include FAQs in email updates to your clients. Discuss those FAQs in your blog, if you have one, or use them as a starting point to create a blog. If you can, contribute to a community publication. Be your town's massage myth buster and see if public interest in massage increases—and your own interest along with it. Volunteer Most massage therapists and bodyworkers have a giving nature. Put that quality to use with some volunteer work. You can team up with other local massage therapists. If you normally work on your own, this can reduce isolation, give you an opportunity to get to know some of your colleagues, and make you feel more a part of a team without the pressure of competition. You might make new friends or create a valuable community connection. Volunteering also lets you get away from your own problems for a while. Helping others makes you feel good, and when you consider your problems from a new perspective, you may discover they are not so bad after all. There are plenty of options for volunteering. Some volunteer events and organizations are aimed at fundraising, some at providing services as a reward or thank-you, and some as a way to help people cope in a difficult situation. Pick a cause you believe in supporting, such as an illness or medical condition, a social problem, a thank- you to veterans, or a local community cause. You are not limited to volunteering your massage skills. Use your other talents as well. Use your business or technical skills, help organize or plan, drive somebody somewhere, cook— the list goes on. Get involved with something you like to do and have some fun with it. Do it for the sake of giving, and you may find you receive much more than you give. You may discover new opportunities for your business. Being at an event can increase your visibility in the community and demonstrate the benefits of massage to those who have never experienced it. F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 53 Insider Tip! Looking for an easy way to communicate with clients on a regular basis? Body Sense magazine is ABMP's digital magazine for health-conscious consumers. Body Sense is designed to educate consumers on the lasting benefits of frequent massage and the value of stress management. If you're an ABMP member and have created a website through us, Body Sense is automatically loaded onto your website each quarter. To check out an issue, visit www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com. HOW TO KEEP YOUR JOY FOR BODY WORK