Why Have A Business Specialty?
One of the biggest mistakes massage therapists make when they first decide to go into business, is having no business specialty.
When people start up their massage business, they are often worried that they are either not yet experienced enough to specialize, or that having a business specialty will result in fewer clients.
When people start up their massage business, they are often worried that they are either not yet experienced enough to specialize, or that having a business specialty will result in fewer clients.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Thriving In This Economy
Think about it from your client's perspective. Would you rather see someone who specializes in your particular problem, for instance "weight loss", or would you rather see someone who says their technique can solve anything?The vast majority of people would rather see a specialist, because they assume (rightly or wrongly) that they will know more about their problem and how to help them overcome it.
With the economy as it is, the biggest way to get your massage business to thrive is to have a business specialty.
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What Is A Business Specialty?
If you're going to start up your massage business (or even grow your existing one) the single most important thing you can do is work out your business specialty. Obviously, this has to be something you're passionate about, however, after that you can specialize in just about anything.Your business specialty could be a segment of your target market, such as children, women or men, or it could be a segment of your skills, such as "Hot Stone Therapy".
It all depends on what you are passionate about doing and who you are passionate about helping.
Marketing and Your Business Specialty
Your business specialty is the basis for ALL your marketing. Without one it becomes extremely difficult to tell people "what you do".A lot of people start their massage business thinking that provided they give great service, then their clients will refer them to others and they'll build their practice that way.
I fully believe in referral marketing - it is one of the best ways to get clients! However, if you can't tell someone exactly what you do, how do you expect your clients to tell their friends?
The Basis Of Your Business
I've heard loads of friends tell me about a fantastic session they just had with someone. When I ask what it was, they come out with something like "well they were really gentle because that is what's going to get my lymph flowing better". Now while this makes sense to them, it's far from inspiring Joe Public to try out this person's services.After all most of the public haven't a clue what 'lymph' is and why you'd want to it to flow...
On the other hand, if they'd said something like "they helped me lose 10 pounds just by doing some really gentle massage". How many people do you think would now be motivated to try those services?
Having a business specialty really is the basis for everything in your massage business.
It gives you the rock solid foundation your massage practice needs for long terms profits. Without one, you're literally just shooting in the dark and hoping to hit something.Branding Books
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Dear Reader...
Let me know whether this helped you in your business...
Please share your thoughts below on this lens and any other business ideas you'd like to see a lens on!
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MaximumCRM
Mar 9, 2009 @ 6:19 pm | delete
- Great tips. Just rated your lens 5 stars. Would love you to visit mine.
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CreativeArtist Feb 14, 2009 @ 3:29 pm | delete
- I like how you talked about having a specialty; I found it helpful for my own business, Creative Brushstrokes.
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tdove
Jan 19, 2009 @ 5:21 pm | delete
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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kephrira Jan 19, 2009 @ 5:25 am | delete
- nice lens. Thanks for rating my qi gong lens, I'm rating your's in return and I give it 5*
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jpetals
Jan 18, 2009 @ 8:34 pm | delete
- This is a great lens. I'm not a massage therapist, but I can see how they would struggle with this aspect of the business. Well done!
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