When you finally graduate as a certified massage therapist, it can feel like the hardest part of your new career is over. However, if you’ve chosen to go into business for yourself, you’ve got some interesting challenges ahead. To make sure you’re ahead of the game, add the following five points to your to-do list:
1. A COVID-Safe plan
If you’re reading this article, then you’re likely in a region of the world where massage therapy is permitted (or set to reopen soon). However, there are likely still precautions you need to take to protect both you and your clients. Stock up on hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and other medical supplies online to ensure you have the best of everything.
Create a clear plan outlining the practices you will follow and the safety measures you and your clients need to adhere to. Ensure this information is available on your website, and talk your customers through it when they book. People tend to be forgetful, so it helps to also include the details in their booking confirmation message.
2. A user-friendly website
Some people can get away with running your business entirely through Facebook nowadays. However, there’s a sense of trustworthiness and professionalism to be gained from establishing a beautiful website.
Have a professional photographer capture some headshots and scenes of you at work, and hire a professional website copywriter to handle the words. While Facebook forces you to conform to its style, you have the freedom to fully express yourself on your website, allowing you to control the first impression you make on clients.
3. A marketing strategy
Most (if not all) massage schools include a business component in their courses. So, you most likely have a business plan prepared and ready to go. What many new therapists overlook is the development of a solid marketing strategy.
This involves a lot of soul-searching so you can come up with key points that set you apart from other therapists in your area. These features will become central to the personality you develop for your brand, and in turn, the way you market yourself. From here, you’ll need to dedicate some time to researching and developing a killer marketing plan for your business.
4. An emergency plan
Your intake form should include a section where patients list any allergies they have. However, your client may not know they’re allergic to an ingredient in your essential oils until they come into contact with it.
To this end, it’s worth having a well-stocked first-aid kit and a plan in place for the most common emergencies you’re likely to face as a therapist. These include both massage-specific emergencies and those likely in your building and general locale. For example, if you live in an earthquake-prone region, you’ll need to factor that in. Being able to respond in a calm, decisive, and timely manner if something goes wrong could save lives (and your business in the process).
5. Those little extra touches
Have you ever opened a package to find a cute little gift from the business you ordered from? Or perhaps you´ve been served coffee at a café with a tiny complimentary cookie on the side? These special little extras come at barely any cost to the business, but the effect they have on customers is profound. In the world of massage, these extra little touches are even more meaningful. People visit you to treat themselves, so if you surprise them with more than they expected, you’ll win customers for life.
Take these five tips to heart, add them to your business plan, and you’ll be setting yourself up for success.
Interesting related article: “What is a Startup?“