Welcome To Spa Pro's
Spa Pros is a one stop shop for ideas and resources if you are a massage therapist, or a spa professional, designed specifically for those in mind who care. If you are an esthetician or other kind of bodyworker you will enjoy this too.
Here are the
topics:
• E-book of the Month
• Marketing Tip of the Week
• Article of the Week
• Music Selection of the Week
• Educational Resource of the Month
• Business practice for massage therapists
Book of the Month - The Successful Massage Therapist
So
what does it take to be a successful massage therapist? Good training?
A great attitude? Wanting to help others? Interest in good health?
Knowing the secrets of being successful? Wait a minute, I don't remember
seeing that last one in any curriculum.
If you had asked me when I started my carreer as a massage therapist, I would have said "yes" to all the questions, the same way you probably did. That is except for the last one. No one asked that question. And to this day no one is asking. Is that not amazing. Had someone mentioned that there was a subject that was not on the schedule, but that was essential if I was to make it as a therapist, I would have been really grateful. It would have saved me a substantial amount of sweat and tears.
Today I know the secrets of being successful and more than that, I have found systematic ways of applying it to everything I do, and I because I'm passionate about this great profession and want to make sure you stay with it, I'm going to share the secrets of being a successful therapist with you. There is after all, nothing sadder than a massage therapist going back to the profession they once wanted to get away from.
Who am I to give you such an earful? I've been a massage therapist for over ten years and still am. That in itself is a huge accomplishment. Not so many of us are still around after 10 years. Without hanging my flag too high, I want to share with you that I've managed to be successful in a economically depressed environment, on an island without speaking a word of the language, in countries around the globe and as a consultant to one of the world's largest luxury hotel chains to name a few challenges.
Making ends meet as a therapist is not easy. Even in a situation that would seem ideal for a therapy practice. Most therapists can give testimony to that. It's hard. Starting out with the debt of a massage school, building a client base, paying rent, taxes, dues, expenses... and then even once you have made it to sustainable practice you realize that you can't do all those massages every day. Your body is not cooperating any more.
So now what?
Some therapists have made it and are doing what they love, have their bills covered plus some and look forward to every day they can practice. Either with luck, intuition or rare guidance they have reached that breaking point of success.
Even if you think that with hard work, you'll make ends meet, you might be surprised. So rather than relying on luck and intuition, i want to focus on that rare opportunity of guidance from someone who knows the ropes.
Now these are not secrets that are not available to those who seek them. The tricky part is to find them all in one place, applied to a certain profession and put together in a way that makes sense.
The first part of my success secrets are the Key Personal Success Factors and the Key Professional Success Factors. The three personal success factors I have found to be critcal are: Service, Ambition and Professionalism. The three factors for professional success are: Know your work, Run your business like a pro and Focus on sales and marketing. Together they are the six pillars that form a solid approach. Getting into detail would exceed the scope of this article but at the bottom I'll show you how to find out where to get more information.
Next, oh how often have we heard this? A Plan. I figured out long ago that there was a reason that so many therapists or even small business owners don't have a plan: Well, first no one told them that they needed one, the way I'm telling you now. You need a business plan like you need your massage table (or mat for that matter)! And second, there was no format to follow. A line-by-line simple chart to fill in, print out and proceed.
And then there's the Marketing. Oh how we hate the word selling. But what happens if you say the word "sell" backwords? Well that's it. Again that's a chapter in itself. But just realize this: no business, no therapy - no therapy, no relief. If you want to help others, you have to help yourself first - that is help yourself be in business.
I could go on (and I do) but my time is up and I'm out of space.
If you want to learn a lot more about the secrets of becoming a
successful massage therapist as well as
100's of Marketing
Ideas, Generating Additional
Revenue Forms,
Checklists and Much Much More. This is your chance
Do you WANT to be successful as a massage therapist and STAY in the profession?
Here is how: The Successful Massage Therapist for only $29.95
This e-book is written by a massage therapist for you. Get it right now and learn how to avoid what 90% of all failed massage therapists experience.
Marketing for massage therapists. Tip of the week
Connect
with the front desk staff of your local hotels. Tip the concierge if they
arrange a massage appointment for you. How about $5 for each referral?
Make sure they call you before
anyone else. Go the extra mile for them - it reflects back on their service.
If they do not have a spa professional, offer to be their in-room spa
service. Have special flyers for their reception. Address the type of guest
they focus on.
Remember: Safety First! Make sure you follow safety precautions when doing in-room massage.… Let the front desk know when you come in, what room you'll be in and that your will check back with them at for example 4:30 PM. Ask them to send someone to the room if you do not check in with them at the designated time. Call the front desk from the room when you get there. For more tips on developing a successful spa practice and more resources for massage therapists visit our Successful Spa Practice page.
Article of the Week
When we talk about an expanding market in the spa world, how do we know who is coming as a client and what their needs are. This is one growing group of clients we can specifically address: LOHAS. Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) describes a $228.9 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living.
If you find an interesting article you that could serve the community, please email us the link to: editor@spa-pros.com
The easiest way to create business and a successful spa is to know what your clients want and offer it to them. Developing a client profile and understanding the dynamics of different target groups is essential. For those who are interested in a succcessful spa, learning more about this interesting group is essential. As a spa service provider understanding the agendas and issues can help you create a successful spa.
Educational Resource of the Month
As
we speak, Spa College is preparing to roll out a series of workshops
and if you are are a therapist, spa service provider or spa professional
in the spa and wellness industry you will want to check them out.
Visit their web site at www.spa-college.com to
read more about this great opportunity. Spa College intends to
train you as a spa service provider nationally and internationally
to expand the range of services within the scope of work as an individual
massage therapist, esthetician, bodyworker or spa professional in
day spas and resort spas.
The first series in Costa Rica addresses everything from Spa Scrubs to Spa Wraps and much more. Check it out: www.spa-college.com. All the ingredients needed for a successful spa. This is one of the many resources for massage therapists we will be featuring here. If you are an esthetician or other kind of bodyworker this will be very intereting for you too.
Music Selection of the Week
This
is one of my longtime favorites. The first time I heard it I was sitting
on a stone wall in Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera in the Canary Islands looking
out onto the Atlantic ocean towards Africa. So yes, it is deeply anchored
with fond memories, and since then I've never grown tired of listening
to it.
It's all instrumental and just super relaxing but has enough dynamic to keep your subconscious interested. For our massage music portfolio click on our Music Page. Music is part of a successful business practice for massage therapists. It will influence the mood and the mindset. Make a conscious choice of music and as a successful spa make sure you retail the music you play.
Successful Practice Tip of the Month
Connect
with the front desk staff of your local hotels. Tip the concierge if
they arrange a massage appointment for you. Make sure they call you before
anyone else. Go the extra mile for them - it reflects back on their
service. If they do not have a spa, offer to be their in-room spa service.
Have special flyers for their reception. Address the type of guest they
focus on.
Make sure you follow safety precautions when doing in-room massage.… Let the front desk know when you come in, what room you'll be in and that your will check back with them at 0:00. Call the front desk from the room when you get there. For more tips on developing a successful practice you can soon visit our Tips for a Successful Spa Practice page.
Footnote
Whether massage therapist, bodyworker, esthetician or spa service provider, many of the themes here such as marketing for massage therapists or business practice for massage therapists will apply to you as well (with some adaptations). We always like to cross reference and as a spa professional we all interface with the same worlds.