Positive Buzz: How Word of Mouth Can Make or Break Your Practice

The term “word of mouth” is thrown around a lot in the massage industry—but what does it really mean? To get good word of mouth, a therapist needs to pay attention to all aspects of her practice, both inside and outside the session room. Word-of-mouth buzz—either positive or negative—is unavoidable, so it’s best to pay attention and go for the gold.

by Sue Painter

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Web Wonderful: 17 Ways to Promote Your Practice on the Internet

Whether you offer online client scheduling, run an Internet referral service or sell products online, knowing how to market your Web site could mean the difference between failure and success.
by Joe Dysart

Real-Life Advice

MASSAGE Magazine readers share their best ideas for running a successful practice.

BODY & SPA

Floral acupuncture

A Practice That’s Built to Last:

How to Achieve Career Longevity
According to industry leaders, the average number of years a massage therapist stays in practice is two to three. Yet, some people stay in the massage field for more than 20 years. What sets those people apart from therapists who have a hard time making it?
by Cherie Sohnen-Moe

Online Tools for Client Scheduling
How to Put an End to Phone-Tag and Boost Your Bottom Line

One of the most frustrating paradoxes of trying to build a thriving massage practice is that the more clients you work with on a given day, the less time you have to answer the phone and book future clients. This is where tools that allow clients to schedule their own appointments online come in.
by Kirk Keeter

Get a Job!
7 Steps Toward Acing Your Massage Interview
From the Article:
"So let's look at what can happen in an interview massage to make this studio owner want to hire ou or put her clothes on and run. Even if you hae a job, you may notice some of your own habits here; as professionals it's never to late to improve our work."
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Spa Massage News

• Spas combat BlackBerry Hand
• Spa and travel networks forge alliance
• Worlds largest onboard spa
• Medi-spa news service
• New degree combines hands-on, business skills
• A spa job at your fingertip
• New spa blog teaches online marketing

Lessons Not Taught in School
The most rewarding client I ever had is someone who will neer walk in or out of my office, will never refer me to family and friends, will never pay me a dime. You see, she wa a hospice patient at the center where I volunteer.
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Research Reports
Principles of high-quality research

RESEARCH MATTERS

• Use of lumbar massage unit while driving reduces muscle fatigue;
• Short sport massage not effective for delayed-onset calf muscle soreness;
• Mechanical massage improves fibromyalgia symptoms

Be Well: Therapist Self-Care

• Time Out we all need a break, but how to take it?
• The Six Tastes
• Natural menopause relief
• Releasing the Pectoral Muscles
• Her pain is not his pain
• Your Turn
• Precursor to osteoporosis?

SEEDS OF SUCCESS
Where to put your advertising dollars
by Charlotte Versagi