If you haven’t read about me yet, I’ve been in the massage therapy industry for 18 years—and what I’m about to share comes from real experience. These are tried-and-tested strategies that helped me build a strong, loyal client base.
Give Free Massages
Offer free 10-minute chair massages at community events, school functions, or local networking meetups. Sign up to these events, especially in the summer time. Treat parents, teachers, business owners—anyone who could benefit. Use this time to not only showcase your skills but to connect. Talk to them. Ask questions. Listen. Then, give them your business card or brochure before they leave. The more people you meet, the better for you in the long run.
Personalize your follow-up.
When they book an appointment with you, remember where you met them. Mention it briefly, and strike up a light conversation. Ask about their interests. You’re not trying to become best friends—you’re showing that you remember them and that you’re paying attention.
Massage therapy is not just physical—it’s emotional and psychological, too.
Remembering a simple detail from a 10-minute conversation shows that you care. Most therapists provide a treatment and move on. But if you want to build long-term, quality clientele, you need to build a relationship. That starts with rapport. Because when they like you, they will tell 10 more.
Building rapport doesn’t take much.
A quick chat about their day, or a follow-up question from something they mentioned last time, makes a big difference. Listen actively. And while it’s okay to share a little about yourself, always bring the conversation back to them. Patient-centred care means the focus stays on their needs, their goals, and their experience—not yours.
If you want clients who come back consistently, you need to make them feel seen, heard, and valued. That’s how you build not just clientele, but a community.
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