Marketing? Business? What does either of these things have to do with massage therapy? Let me tell you.
When I started my business, there were no Massage Envy operations to work for. I had to market my assage Business and build my own clientele. I started Networking before Networking groups were a thing. Every community meeting, every childcare class, if there was a function, I was there. I made up flyers, I taught classes, I marketed myself to gyms, to chiropractors, and to doctors. I offered my massage services to local sporting events and I worked for Judges, Entrepreneurs and everyone in between who was forward thinking enough to understand that massage was a great way to recover from strenuous activity and to keep stress at bay.
People like to put each other in neat little boxes, but life doesn’t let us be just one thing. Sometimes a football player is also an artist. There are firefighters who cook and sing, there are mothers with Ph.D.’s who are staying home and rearing children. I would venture to say that virtually every one of us can do more than one thing and to it well.
If you own a small, or any sized business, you are always representing that business. Every time you write a blog post, every time you interact with a client, even going to the grocery store of the bank. Networking and marketing are a part of who you have to be to grow your business.
Don’t get me confused, though. I am not talking about selling. I am talking about marketing. Marketing is where you offer information about what you do. Selling is where you ask people to purchase your product or service.
I have met people who are constantly selling everywhere they go. People tend ot avoid them. But If you are simply going about your business, perhaps wearing a name tag or a monogrammed shirt with your logo on it, then you are marketing your business, or the business your work for.
Today, I still have my massage business, it’s my calling. But I also perform various marketing duties for other companies. Why? Because I like it and I am good at it. I have been doing business for a number of years here in Brevard County. When I started, I used to know everybody, now I know everybody and their children and grandchildren.
I promote business’s Facebook and Instagram pages, I write blog posts for my company and others, and I meet with other business owners and offer them advice on building their brands and promoting their services.
Valentina Boonstra
