Massage Therapy Marketing Ideas

Learn all about these marketing ideas for a massage therapy business:

• Social Media Promotions
• Upgrade Your Website
• Establish Yourself as an Expert
• Partner with Other Local Businesses
• Hold an Open House
• Do a Public Demo
• Offer a Corporate Package
• Create a Flyer
• Email Your Client Database
• Loyalty Marketing for Massage Therapists
• Social Media Accounts to Follow to Improve Your Massage Therapy Marketing

Whether it’s improving clients’ mental health by helping ease the stress of a busy working week, or providing pain management to patients of healthcare providers, massage therapists play a vital part in keeping us healthy and happy.

Since the industry’s COVID-19 recovery began, 90% of massage therapists reported being back at work ¹ – having prepared their premises and appointment schedules to cope with the necessary changes to their day-to-day work.

So, if you’re ready to capitalize on the industry’s recovery boom but need a little help filling up your diary, check out our massage therapy marketing tips for use both online and offline.

Social Media Promotions

Your social media accounts present a great opportunity to create buzz for your promotions. Track down a unique hashtag or one that’s trending and add your presence to the conversation. Give an exclusive discount to people who like your Facebook page. Do a Twitter raffle, where everyone who retweets you is entered into a prize drawing for a discount or free service. Or why not create a YouTube video with a short demo and share it.

Upgrade Your Website

According to the AMTA, 80% of clients find their massage therapists through the internet. ² If your online presence is lacking, it might be time to give your website the ‘wow’ factor. Maximize your local profile with a Google My Business listing, and create (or get help creating) a website that’s easily navigable, useful and loaded with details about your business, including opening hours, prices and promotions.

Establish Yourself as an Expert

Another great use for your website is creating regular content using a blog, where you can establish your expertise in the wider industry. Write about trending topics, industry news and tips to top up your customer’s wellbeing. 

Partner with Other Local Businesses

Marketing a massage therapy business can be tough if you’re struggling to get your voice heard in the local community. Find other businesses that promote health and wellness and partner up with them on your next promotion. Chances are your target customers overlap. Or do a demo in a health-food store in return for welcoming them into your space to offer samples and give out coupons.

Hold an Open House

Welcome curious customers to your workplace to serve up an idea of what you do. Provide healthy refreshments, give out discount coupons, offer demos and mini treatments. You could even create a Groupon campaign for a sampling of treatments. Promote your special day with fliers at neighboring businesses, on social media, and through community calendars. Extend invitations to community groups that would benefit, such as a local exercise club.

Do a Public Demo

Set up a small booth at a local business and give 10-minute talks on the benefits of reflexology with a demo. You could ask for a spot in a health club, health store, bookstore, coffee shop or even the mall. Volunteer to be a guest speaker at the local library or at a civic group meeting or teach a class at a community center. Have brochures and coupons to give out, as well as a promo item with your logo. Offer a discount for anyone who makes an appointment on the spot.

Offer a Corporate Package

You shouldn’t expect a company to send its entire workforce to your place for the day – but setting up shop in a (suitably private) area of their office is a great way to ensure regular business, meet new people and potentially get referrals. Contact businesses near you and offer a group rate for employees or offer to come in and do a demo during a “lunch and learn” series or company health fair. 

Create a Flyer

Get creative with a flyer that lists the health benefits of massages and reflexology, plus a coupon for a trial of your services. Get it placed prominently at local health clubs, health food stores, juice bars, and the like. Think about where your potential customers hang out and get your massage therapy marketing materials in front of them.

Email Your Client Database

Combine your massage marketing content to potential customers with guides such as “how to reduce stress” or “how to naturally heal headaches.” Provide links to helpful content both on and off your website. That way, you’ll increase your value to customers and have them looking forward to your content. Show your personality and make a connection. 

Loyalty Marketing for Massage Therapists

Getting new clients is important when offering your services as a massage therapist, but it’s even more important to keep them coming back. Loyalty marketing works by building strong relationships with clients and giving them incentives to continue scheduling appointments with you and not someone else. These loyalty marketing ideas for a massage therapy business can encourage your customers to book massages on a regular basis.

Cultivate relationships

To get repeat business and encourage loyalty from customers, your communication should span further than the door they enter and exit during appointments. Engage with clients through email and social media – it’s better to interact on a weekly or even daily basis. Share facts about the benefits of massage, ask questions, and offer promotions, contests, or raffles to give clients a chance to win free or discounted services.

Massage loyalty card

One of the easiest ways to keep clients coming back is by giving them the opportunity to earn free massages with a loyalty card. After a certain number of paid massages, they can cash in the card for a free one. 

Encourage clients to pay for massages in advance to earn free services. For example, if they pay for 10 massage services in advance, they automatically earn one free. Since the services are paid for, clients will come back, and you can work on building a strong relationship.

Massage referral program ideas 

Referral programs are a great way to drum up new business while creating loyal customers in the process. Word of mouth advertising is free and helps build your reputation. Let clients earn discounts on massages for each referral, and then offer a free service after a certain number of referrals.

Start a VIP membership program

Long-term membership programs are beneficial to you and your clients. Your clients benefit because they get discounted rates on services in exchange for booking a certain number of massages in a given time. As a massage therapist, your VIP memberships earn a steady stream of income that you can count on for six months, a year, or however long the agreement period lasts.

Social Media Accounts to Follow to Improve Your Massage Therapy Marketing

It’s easy to tap into a fountain of ideas to help you get the word out about your massage services and products. You just have to know where to look. Here are 10 social media accounts to follow for the latest information on massage marketing trends, ideas, and resources for your business:

1. MASSAGE Magazine 
   A one-stop source for massage and bodywork news, articles, videos, products, and community discussion.
2. U.S. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small Business Administration offers news, tips, and resources for the small biz community. 
3. American Spa MagazineA long-time source for spa owners for industry tips, news, and trends.
4. Small Business TrendsArticles and posts from the Small Business Trends family of publications offering marketing tips and resources for entrepreneurs.
5. American Massage Therapy AssociationAMTA is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, students, and schools. Posts include industry trends, massage marketing tips, and new techniques.
6. ClinicSenseThis brand works with small massage clinics to improve their management, marketing and client retention strategies. 
7. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)A collection of resources and support for massage therapists, students, and educators. 
8. Groupon Merchant We can’t wrap this post up without a little plug for our own social media account. It’s the best way to find our latest videos on massage therapy marketing, business strategies, and more.

Sign up to Groupon Merchant today and find like-minded businesses focused on growing their customer base, with access to deals, business advice and much more.

Sources:

1. https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-industry-fact-sheet/
2. https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-industry-fact-sheet/