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Elizabeth Fletcher Brown
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Archive for Elizabeth Fletcher Brown

Do You Want A Successful Sports Massage Practice? Part 3

by Elizabeth
September 18th, 2008

man_getting_massage_260.jpgWhy should they choose you?

So you know who the ideal clients are for your sports massage practice, and the specific problems they would pay to have solved. But why should they choose you?

If you have done a good job of answering the previous two questions (see past two posts), you are already well on your way, because:

  1. By focusing on a clearly defined segment of the sports massage market you will be setting yourself up as an expert in that area.
  2. By addressing a prospective client’s biggest challenges, it shows that you really understand them. Then, naturally, they will want to know if you have a solution that works.

In your marketing materials you can also increase the chance that they will choose you by telling them:

  • How you would address their problems.
  • The experience you have working with other athletes in that market.
  • Specific results some of your clients have achieved.
  • The kind of clients you’ve been able to help who have similar problems.
  • Any rewards or recognition you’ve received.
  • How your services will affect the quality of their sport and their life.

By mastering these things you will be well on your way to creating success in the exciting field of sports massage.

Categories Getting Massage Clients
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Do You Want A Successful Sports Massage Practice? Part 2

by Elizabeth
September 15th, 2008

runners_athletes_260_border.jpg What do they want and will pay for?

What specifically are your ideal sports massage clients looking for? What problems do they have that you could help them with?

Let’s delve a little deeper here. Let’s say you work with runners who want the competitive edge. It may be true, but not too exciting to put on a business card or brochure.

But what if you overheard one of your clients say to another, “I’m so tired of always coming in second… I’d so love to cross the finish line first for once.”

Now, do you think that is something that they want and will pay for? Absolutely! So try to get past the obvious clichés and get inside the head of your ideal prospective massage clients. Find out what they really want.

And if you don’t know, do some research and ask them. Then use this in all your promotional materials to attract more perfect clients.

Categories Getting Massage Clients
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Do You Want A Successful Sports Massage Practice? Part 1

by Elizabeth
September 12th, 2008

Knee_injury_250.jpgOnce upon a time focusing your practice on sports massage was sufficient to make you stand out. However that is no longer true, unless you are the only sports therapist in your town or city.

So in this, and in upcoming posts, I’ll be sharing with you three things you need to know to be successful in this growing field.

1. Who do you work with?

You might think this is a bit obvious. But saying that your target market is athletes is not specific enough to help you attract an abundance of your ideal clients.

You need to delve a little deeper and ask yourself what type of sports massage practice you would like to build, and who would be the most rewarding athletes for you to work with.

For example, is there a specific sport that you feel connected to? Are you a runner, a skier, a golfer? Do you love dance or practice yoga? Have you always been fascinated by sculling or rock climbing?

Or have you considered working with a specific segment of the population? As the baby boomers age there’s a growing demand for therapists who really understand the unique challenges that “mature” athletes face. Perhaps your passion is working with athletes with disabilities, or weekend warriors, or with elite athletes?

Is there a particular injury that you have expertise in working with? Maybe you really like working with athletes who have knee injuries, or carpal tunnel, or back problems.

Of course, if you have a big enough population to draw from, you could narrow your market even further, for example, swimmers with shoulder issues, or skiers with ankle injuries.

And don’t worry about getting stuck in a narrowly defined field. When I lived in Kona, Hawaii I focused my practice on working with triathletes training for the Ironman. When the word got out about my massage successes, I began getting calls from NFL football players who were coming to Hawaii in their off season to recover from injuries. So don’t worry about getting bored!

Categories Getting Massage Clients
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Buying an Electric Massage Table?: Watch Out For Hidden Shipping Costs

by Elizabeth
August 9th, 2008

Massage_table_unloading.jpgWhen I was shopping around online for my electric massage table I was surprised to see that there was quite a variance on price when it came to shipping and handling costs.

These tables are heavy, (as you can see it took two guys and a trolley to move it) and so the shipping costs can be considerable. There was one vendor that I was considering buying my table from as they had it listed for a little bit less than competing sites.

But their web site said that after I placed my order I would be contacted by a representative and told the shipping method and cost.

That seemed a little dodgy to me so instead I called the company before I ordered. Good thing too – the amount they wanted to add for shipping was very high.

I did a bit more research and found my table at another site where the actual table was a little more expensive, but they were running a special and the shipping was FREE!

That saved me a couple hundred dollars! So if you are looking for an electric massage table do shop around and look for special packages.

By the way, my dog JJ wasn’t too excited about the new table, but he LOVED the box.

jj_on_table250.jpg

Categories For Clinic and Day Spa Owners, Massage and Money, Tools of the Trade
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Do You Like Flat ot Tilted?

by Elizabeth
August 5th, 2008

everest_flat_250.jpgIf you are thinking about buying an electric massage table, do remember that some tables are flat, just like a traditional massage table, where the whole table lifts up in one piece.

callistoga_massage_table_250.jpgBut others have the additional flexibility of moving in sections, so that you can position the client even more precisely.

Our last electric table had three sections that moved independently, which was really nice.

But the massage table that we really liked this time around (as it matched all of our other criteria) only came with two options. We could get it flat, or with a tilt option.

Earthlite_Everest_Tilt_250.jpgWe didn’t know if we would use the tilt feature that much, but as the difference in price was minimal (all things considered) we chose the tilt option as it allowed us to position the client anywhere from slightly elevated to a full seated position.

As it turns out, I’m so glad we made that choice because we use the tilt feature quite a lot. It’s especially great for when a client is congested, or is uncomfortable for any reason lying flat.

I’d highly recommend that you consider a similar option if you are going to invest in an electric table too.

Categories For Clinic and Day Spa Owners, Keeping Massage Clients, Self Care, Tools of the Trade
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More Considerations When Buying An Electric Lift Massage Table

by Elizabeth
August 1st, 2008

earthlite_ellora_.jpgAs with any massage table purchase, you’ll want to consider the amount of leg room you prefer. For example, my husband does a lot of Cranial Sacral Therapy and energy work from a seated position. So leg room is an important consideration for him.

However, unlike portable massage tables, hydraulic or electric lift tables sometimes have the motor boxed in under the table in a way that reduces leg room considerably. We knew this would not work for us.

Other electric tables have legs that cross in a way that could also restrict your choice of positions when working on a client. For example, sitting at the side of the table could be a challenge.

So if leg room is a factor for you too, do choose your new electric table carefully.

Categories For Clinic and Day Spa Owners, Self Care, Tools of the Trade
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Electric Massage Table Controls: One Set or Two?

by Elizabeth
July 29th, 2008

Some electric lift massage tables come with hand controls, some with foot controls and some with the option of both.

When I was researching tables I didn’t think I would use hand controls, so in the end I chose a table that shipped with one set of foot pedals. My last electric table had two sets of foot pedals, one for each end of the table (or each side if you prefer).

I decided to try it with just the one set, but I made sure before I bought my table that I could add an extra set later if I wanted to.

What I found was that I really missed the second set. The pedals somehow always ended on the other side of the table when I needed them.

So I ordered an extra set of foot controls (if you do this, don’t forget the “splitter” that lets you plug both sets into the motor unit) and I am so glad I did.

I do recommend you get two sets of controls. When you are spending this much money anyway, it’s well worth a bit extra to make your life so much easier.

Categories For Clinic and Day Spa Owners, Self Care, Tools of the Trade
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Choosing an Electric Massage Table: How Low Can You Go?

by Elizabeth
July 22nd, 2008

When thinking about buying any new massage table there are always many decisions to make. You’ll want to consider things such as the table width and length, the thickness of the foam, the color and texture of the fabric, the weight capacity of the table, whether you want round or square corners, what brand you may have a preference for, and which optional accessories you may need.

However, there are additional considerations that are unique to buying an electric lift table. One of the first things you’ll have to decide upon is how low to the ground and how high up you would like the table to go.

For my husband and I, it was more important for the type of work that we do that the table went as low to the floor as possible. It mattered less how high, as long as it had about a 12 inch height range (which is the difference between the lowest and the highest setting).

I found that some tables had more range of movement and some less, but 12 inches seems to be about average.

So think about your clients (do they need a lot of help getting on and off the table, in which case one that goes lower to the floor may be better) and the type of massage that you do (for example, if you do a lot of work standing, make sure you choose a table that lifts up high enough).

So be sure to look for a hydraulic table that meets your height requirements.

But that’s just the first thing… more to come.

Categories For Clinic and Day Spa Owners, Self Care, Success Snippets, Tools of the Trade
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More Power To You

by Elizabeth
July 20th, 2008

power_woman_150by150.jpgIt’s been a long time since I had my massage practice in Kona, Hawaii and bought my first electric massage table (almost 20 years in fact!).

It was not the most comfortable table in the world, that’s for sure. And it was clunky and noisy.

But my oh my… the convenience of being able to adjust the height and position with a touch of a button were well worth it.

One of its biggest drawbacks was its weight – it was HEAVY. So when I left the islands I sadly left it behind (much to the delight of the therapist who inherited it).

My somewhat mobile lifestyle made it impractical to replace it right away, but I missed it so much. Once you have experienced the delights of using an electric table, it’s hard to go back.

When I finally went to replace my hydraulic table a couple of months ago, I was blown away with the selection now available. They’ve come a long way baby! They now come in a huge range of both price and features.

More about that later….

Meanwhile, if you have any comments about the pros and cons (yes there are a few) of using an electric table versus a portable one, do let me know. You can reach me at elizabeth @ massagebusinesscenter.com.

Categories Self Care, Success Snippets, Tools of the Trade
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Hi from the AMTA Convention in Seattle

by Elizabeth
May 2nd, 2008

I’m in Seattle where I’ll be speaking for the next few days at the Washington State American Massage Therapy Association’s Annual Convention.

I can tell I am in Seattle because, whereas hotels in most cities offer robes in the room, in Seattle you get….. an umbrella!

Umberalla.jpg

More convention updates to come.

Categories On a Personal Note
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