For many massage therapists, landing the first client is a major milestone. It can also feel like a major challenge. After all, when you’re just starting out in your massage therapist career and you don’t have a client base to build upon, how do you actually get that coveted first client?
Fortunately, it’s not as hard as it may sound. In fact, your massage therapy training, combined with some very basic business skills, will help you attract customers to your business in no time. Here are a few tips for landing your first client as a massage therapist.
Networking with Other Massage Therapists Can Help with Word-of-Mouth Advertising
Massage therapists rely heavily on word-of-mouth in order to find new clients, but this can be a challenge when you’re just starting out in your career. One way you can overcome this roadblock is by developing a professional network with fellow massage therapists. While it may seem counter-intuitive, many massage therapists are happy to send some clients to other massage therapists for treatment. This can be because they don’t have time to take on more work themselves, they don’t serve the same locale, or because they focus on different areas of massage.
To build your network, attend professional events, like health and wellness fairs and networking events, where you’ll have an opportunity to meet fellow massage therapists. It’s also beneficial to keep in touch with your fellow students from massage therapy school. Clients tend to value recommendations about other massage therapists when it is already coming from a therapist they trust. By building up your professional network, you’ll be able to create an effective word-of-mouth advertising strategy.
Working at a Clinic Can Help You Gain Clients After Massage Therapy Training
After massage therapy training, you will have the option to work at a clinic. When you work at a clinic, a lot of the hard work of starting a massage practice is already done for you. For example, you’ll have a room to work in, equipment provided for you, and a company that will do a lot of the marketing on your behalf. In exchange, a portion of your fees go towards that clinic.
Working for a clinic helps you build a client base without having to worry about marketing
Additionally, in many cases, a clinic already has a well-established brand and reputation. That means when you work at a clinic, you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of that reputation. As a result, attracting new clients will be much easier and you can begin building your dedicated client base faster.
Show Off Your Massage Therapy Skills Through Demonstrations
The best advertisement for attracting new customers is simply being a great massage therapist in the first place. Fortunately, with the skills you’ll learn in your massage therapy diploma you’ll already be a well-trained and capable massage therapist. If you can convince people to let you give them a massage, you’ll be well on your way to proving the value of your services. You can do this through demonstration massages.
With demonstration massages, you partner up with a business who serves clients who would likely appreciate a massage, such as a gym, chiropractor, or yoga studio. You then offer free short massages to the business’ customers for a limited time. While working for free may not sound enticing, you’ll be serving people who are likely to be interested in massage and who are therefore likely to turn into paying customers in the future.
Do you want to pursue a massage therapist career?
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