| If you have just graduated as a Massage | | | | up and follow up with these people or places you |
| Therapist and want to start up your practice | | | | contact. It's SO important to keep tabs on what |
| from home here are some ways you get | | | | your results are from your contact so that you |
| started... | | | | know what's getting you clients and what is not. |
| First of all, let me say that starting from home is | | | | There is no point contacting a swimming center |
| an excellent way to keep overhead costs down, | | | | over and over again over a 4 month time frame, |
| build up a solid client base in the control of your | | | | and leaving brochures there if you get absolutely |
| own environment and there are no traveling times | | | | no clients from that. There's no sense "flogging a |
| to and from work. | | | | dead horse" as the saying goes. |
| Before I give you these important directions to | | | | This is why you must keep tabs. All you have to |
| follow lets look at this first, otherwise you won't | | | | do for this is to write in your special book how |
| be able to do anything: The hardest thing about | | | | many times you have contacted them over what |
| getting starting is developing momentum. This | | | | period of time and whether you got any |
| factor is so underestimated. It's very easy to sit | | | | response from the swim center or not. If you did |
| back and say "it's all too hard" and rely on clients | | | | special offers and incentives to the swim center |
| to come to you without any effort. It can be | | | | over a 6 month period, and gave your "all" and |
| hard because you have to be very self motivated | | | | got absolutely nothing back, move on. |
| and be willing to put the time in to start this | | | | If you contacted the Physical Therapist a few |
| momentum. | | | | times and had two clients from them and those |
| So what are some ways to make this "gaining | | | | clients came back and referred you other clients |
| momentum" easier? | | | | over a six month period, to compare, then you |
| Write down in a special book (blank) that every | | | | know that source is a good source to work on. |
| day you will commit to a minimum of at least one | | | | Perhaps then you can contact the Therapist with |
| hour dedicated to the pursuit of getting clients. If | | | | a thank you card and some incentive for them to |
| you work better with routine, then say to | | | | keep referring you their clients. It might be free |
| yourself "okay everyday, Monday to Friday, | | | | massage, it might be something else. Whatever it |
| between 10 am and 11am I am going to work | | | | is, make sure you do it and give them something |
| actively at getting clients." | | | | they will like. There is no point rewarding them for |
| See how that feels already? Already you have | | | | the business they have given you with a nice |
| formed a picture in your mind of yourself actually | | | | bottle of white wine if they dislike alcohol! Just find |
| doing that. That picture can grow into reality and | | | | out from their receptionist or colleague first. It's |
| form into your life. That mental image is the basis | | | | just a bit of sneaky detective work that will go |
| of getting what you want. It's very important. | | | | along way. |
| The next thing to do is to have a very clear | | | | When do you stop your daily hour commitment |
| picture in your mind of what you want to be | | | | to getting clients? You never actually stop |
| experiencing. In your special book (I call this my | | | | working on your massage business to get clients, |
| "inspiration book" its really a business planning | | | | you'll always be doing it. That's just business and if |
| book, but you can call it whatever name works | | | | you've been in it for as long as I have (since |
| to get you going) you can then ask yourself a | | | | 1994) or for twenty minutes you must realise |
| question: | | | | that the act of marketing is just as important as |
| What are some of the ways I can start getting | | | | the massage itself. |
| clients today? | | | | The more you build up the busier you will be and |
| Your response might be "contact the local Physical | | | | that time you spend may go from one hour a |
| Therapy Center and introduce myself, and leave | | | | day to three hours a week, but whatever time it |
| a brochure or flyer there." It's a small gesture but | | | | is, make should you do it and commit to it. |
| it might lead to something else later.Make sure | | | | Don't worry if you take a bit of time to actually |
| though, that the clients you want to treat actually | | | | gain this momentum, just make sure you commit |
| go to the Physical Therapy Center. No point | | | | to it and follow through. Because the thing about |
| marketing yourself where your potential clients | | | | starting to take action like this is actually making a |
| have no intention of going. I want to make that | | | | promise to yourself and, on a personal level, |
| point as clear as the palm of your hand. | | | | enhancing your self esteem as well. |
| The next thing to do is to make sure you follow | | | | |