My goal as the National Director of Career Services for the National Massage Therapy Institute (NMTI) is to provide quality Massage Therapists to our employer network. In the 2011-2012 academic year, over 80% of our graduates were successfully placed in careers in Massage Therapy and related fields.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average earning potential for a Massage Therapist is higher than many other allied health careers, and Massage Therapy careers are expected to grow at rates higher than the national average. At NMTI, our training has grown with the industry via feedback we receive from industry experts and our Advisory Committee members. In 2012, we added more than thirty additional hours of test preparation to our curriculum to ensure that our students and graduates will have the tools necessary to become successful in their chosen career field. This test preparation training has become even more important as a number of states—including New Jersey, one of the states we serve—introduced or increased licensing requirements in 2012. We also added Neuromuscular Therapy to the core curriculum of our day and evening programs, training that is designed to give NMTI graduates an advantage in the professional marketplace.

National Massage Therapy Institute (NMTI) has set aside a special day, May 21, 2012, to celebrate our students. As a way for NMTI to thank students for all of their hard work, dedication and commitment to our school, we want to show our appreciation during this exclusive event. If you are an NMTI student, we cordially invite you to join us and bring your family and friends to attend this Student Appreciation Day event:

What:  NMTI's Student Appreciation Day
When:  Monday, May 21, 2012
Time:  3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Where:  10050 Roosevelt Boulevard, Suite B, Philadelphia, PA  19116

What's Happening at the Student Appreciation Day Event

There will be lots of exciting things going on at this extraordinary event. First and foremost, we want to show our appreciation for our dedicated students, and thank the family and friends who support them. This is an ideal occasion to connect with your fellow classmates, as well as NMTI faculty and staff. There will also be refreshments, a variety of fun activities, potential employers, prizes and more. Here are a few highlights of the event:

Being driven by success, my goal as the National Director of Career Services for the National Massage Therapy Institute (NMTI) is to provide quality Licensed Massage Therapists to our vast employer network. I have a unique problem in trying to achieve my goals; I continue to have more job openings than I do therapists to fill these roles. Graduates of NMTI are getting hired en masse, we enjoy strong graduation rates and our Virginia graduates enjoy success on the national certification exam higher than the national average – and yet we still cannot accommodate the needs of our employers.

Massage therapy continues to grow and evolve as a career, and here at NMTI, we continue to evolve right along with the industry via feedback we receive from industry experts and our Advisory Committee members. Never in the history of our school has achieving state licensure been more important. At NMTI, we have added more than thirty additional hours of test preparation in our curriculum to ensure our students and graduates will have the tools necessary to become successful in their chosen career field.

Our graduates are experiencing life-changing success in their new careers. Not only is massage therapy in high-demand but the average earning potential, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is higher than many other allied health jobs.  At our Falls Church, Virginia location alone, I have access to more than one hundred open positions currently, even though I’m on pace to achieve more that 80% placement in our current cohort. Many of these job openings are with the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States, Massage Envy. In the DC Metropolitan area alone, Massage Envy has over 30 locations, and they continue to grow. This DC region is the number one district in the country for Massage Envy, and in 2011, owner’s Stephen Vereb and Henry Kim were awarded Massage Envy Multi-Unit Franchisees of the Year.

PLANNING FOR YOUR RETIREMENT FROM MASSAGE THERAPY

Attention Massage Therapists, the time to start planning for your retirement is now!  No matter if you’re a new massage therapist or have been practicing for a number of years the key is to start saving early.  Here are some helpful steps to saving now:

1. Create a budget – Include how much you make on a monthly basis, what your monthly financial obligations are and what you will do with the remainder including how much will be allocated to retirement.1
2. Start Interest Bearing Accounts – Putting money into these accounts will not only help you save portions of your income but the interest will grow your money for you.  Designate a portion of each paycheck to be placed in an interest bearing account. 1
3. Start Investment Accounts – These include mutual funds or money market accounts that will be safe vehicles for your retirement funds. 1

For more information regarding saving for your retirement, visit examiner.com. To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

1 examiner.com

INSTANT INSPIRATION: MASSAGE THERAPIST MAKES A DIFFERENCE

The Calgary Herald’s article entitled “Blind Athlete Inspired to Help Others”, introduces us to Kevin Kaminski whose vision began to deteriorate at just 14 years old.  Kaminski is a massage therapist and the owner of Mountainview Massage Therapy.  Kaminski is also an inspiring athlete who has competed in Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind events for over 20 years.  After retiring from his main sport of “goalball”, Kaminski felt it was time to give back to the organization that helped him so much over the years. He started “The Sight Night Fun Run” in 2010 and has since raised an unbelievable $85,000 for ASRAB.  National Massage Therapy Institute encourages students to give back to the community and has taken part in a variety of community service related volunteer events.  To read Kaminski’s full story click here.  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS RECEIVE MASSAGE FROM FATHER-DAUGHTER PAIR

Jenni and Curt Millar bring new meaning to “bring your daughter to work day”!  Curt Millar began working as a sports massage therapist for the Washington Capitals hockey team in the early ‘90s.  At this time, Jenni would often join her father at work.  After being exposed to the benefits of massage therapy and the career opportunities available for sports massage therapists, Jenni’s interest was piqued.   Now as a father-daughter duo, Curt and Jenni both work together to provide wellness to Washington area professional sports teams with the healing power of massage. To learn more about sports massage therapy or our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

*http://laurel.patch.com/articles/millar-assists-the-washington-capitals

EX-JOCKEY TURNS TO CAREER IN MASSAGE THERAPY

A former U.K. jockey, Nathan Willmington, has been nominated for the JETS award for his initiative to become a sports massage therapist and fitness coach.  This “Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme” (JETS) award has been designed to acknowledge jockeys who have made valiant effort and given much forethought to developing a career after their racing days are over.  Nathan is proud of his career, recognizing that sports massage is beneficial to overall physical and mental health, strength, rehabilitation and development.  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

* http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/sport/9340971.Ex_jockey_Willmington_is_up_for_JETS_award/

TRAGEDY LEADS TO MASSAGE THERAPY SUCCESS

After suffering from severe back pain resulting from a serious car accident in the 1980’s, Carolyn Calvacca turned her accident into a positive lifestyle change.  As a means of treatment for her back injuries, Calvacca received regular massage therapy.  In attending these massage sessions, Calvacca was able to resume a healthy and active lifestyle.  This inspired her to then study massage therapy herself and help others.  Calvacca is now owner of White Lotus Massage and Yoga in Hauppauge, NY and admits that while opening up her own business was never a big dream of hers, she has always “enjoyed making people feel healthier and that it feels like an accumulation of her life has lead her here”, to owning a successful massage therapy business.* To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

* http://smithtown.patch.com/articles/massage-therapist-flexibility-leads-to-new-career

THE AMTA'S "WORKING IN A FRANCHISE ENVIRONMENT"

In November 2011, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) released its winter addition of the career success guide.  This guide gives budding massage therapists a sense of what they can expect from working for a massage franchise, including wage and benefit information, employment and massage industry outlook and helpful resources.  To review the newest AMTA career success series newsletter “Working in a Franchise Environment” click here.  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

MASSAGE THERAPY'S GROWING PRESENCE IN THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT

According to a September 2011 survey of 714 hospitals nationwide, alternative therapies including massage therapy, meditation, relaxation training, homeopathy and chiropractic care have a growing presence in U.S. hospitals.  The survey indicated that 42% of hospitals now offer these alternative options (up from 37% in 2007)!*  The survey also found that 65% of hospitals offer these alternatives as pain management, referencing that massage therapy in particular is valuable in alleviating pain and stress in cancer patients. To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

*http://www.nctimes.com/ap/national/article_8fb2b83f-0420-53e9-b64a-e168a939495b.html

MASSAGE THERAPY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE - SPREADING WELLNESS

A lot of people attend massage school because they like helping other people, feel rewarded and fulfilled aiding in fixing the aches and pains of others, and are genuinely caring people. It seems that each month we come across a new story about a massage-related business donating money, or giving back to society. 

In November it was reported that Biotone, one of the leading massage and spa industry suppliers, has donated $15,000 to the Massage Therapy Foundation, in support of its community service efforts. 

You can read more about this donation and the specific events that it will support by clicking here. To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

PARTNER WITH LOCAL CHARITIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF YOUR MASSAGE BRAN AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Massage therapy is being more prevalent in the mainstream healthcare community. As a professionally trained massage therapist, you have the power to enlighten your local community on the values of a professional massage. Why not give back to your community while promoting your brand at the same time by partnering with local charities, athletic events, or gatherings? Here are a few ideas for how you can increase massage awareness in your community:

                1. Free massages after a local race

• Offer to setup chair massages at the finish lines of your local races. You can give away massages for free to the runners, and hand out special coupons/offers for them to visit you at your business. This will serve your community and promote your business. 

               2. Donate blood and get a massage!

• You can team up with a local blood donation event and give all donors free massages after they give blood. This is a great way for each of the donors to be thanked for their help and to help them relax after the blood drawing. Again, this is a win-win for both parties, and it could be great for your business to associate yourself with a local blood donation organization.               

                3. Free massages at local food bank

FROM PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TO MASSAGE THERAPY

Kannard "KJ" Johnson is a six-foot, nine inch former professional basketball player that was a stand-out college player at Western Kentucky, a draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA, and a eight-time champion in Europe during his 12 year career overseas. Back injuries unfortunately shortened and hindered his playing career, but his injury was also his first introduction to his second career, and real passion in life: massage therapy. 

Johnson's story was recently featured in a local NBC news affiliate, KDLT in South Dakota. He worked in Las Vegas for 17 years before returning to his hometown of Sioux Falls where he took a job at Healing Touch Massage Clinic. Johnson couldn't be happier with his second career, despite it being such an unlikely career move for a former professional basketball player.

"It's a great way for me to help other people whether it's de-stressing them or helping them with injuries,  just to make them feel much better and be able to function much better throughout their day,” he said."My career has been great.  I love it.  It was a process that I had never saw myself doing. This is a new adventure for me.”

To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

You can read the entire article on Johnson by clicking here.

CONSIDERING A CAREER IN MASSAGE THERAPY?  RECENT NEWS STORIES AGREE THAT IT'S A GREAT IDEA!

Massage Therapy is one of the fastest growing careers in the country. Despite the economic woes of the past 5 years, massage therapy is one industry that has continued to grow - more and more doctors are prescribing massage therapy as a means to treat aches and pains and more and more Americans are turning to alternative medicines. There have been some powerful features over the past year that have highlighted the growth in the massage industry. Here are links to some of those stories:

•  Bloomberg Businessweek
•  US News & World Report - Best Careers in 2011
•  US Bureau of Labor Statistics

If you are looking for a rewarding new career with high growth potential, then massage therapy might be right for you. Contact NMTI today if you want some more information on our massage program. To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIStudentClinic.com.

BIRTHDAY CARDS & HOLIDAY CARDS - KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CLIENTS!

Isn't it nice to get a personalized birthday card from a local business that you frequently visit? As a massage therapist, building trusting client relationships is crucial to maintaining and growing your massage business.  Make sure you know all your client's birthdays so you can send them cards each year. Also, holiday cards are another great way to keep in touch and to show them that you care. 

You can also use this opportunity to start sending special offers through the mail - send your clients free massages on their birthdays, 50% off for special holidays, big deals for Valentine's Day couples massage, and more! Get creative - people love getting birthday and holiday cards and they love special deals even more - why not combine the two? To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIStudentClinic.com.

THE TOUCH OF WELLNESS BLOG BY MASSAGE ENVY & THE VALUE OF STARTING A BLOG

A new blog worth following is the Touch of Wellness Blog, powered by Massage Envy. The blog normally makes about 1 post per week, and covers a wide range of topics that relate to massage therapy, healthy living, and the general wellness community. The blog can be found at www.touchofwellnessblog.com. 

Whether you are thinking about going to massage school, you are currently in massage school, or you are a past graduate who works in the industry, you should learn as much about your industry as you can. Reading blogs and following some of the national leaders in massage therapy are a great way for you to stay in the loop. 

A great way to build a name for yourself in the industry is to start your own blog. These position authors as authorities in the blog's subject area, attract an audience, and serve as a starting point of conversation.

What are some of your favorite massage therapy blogs? Share your insight in the comments! To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

MASSAGE THERAPY ORGANIZATIONS TO KNOW

Whether you are currently a massage therapist, or training to be one, it is crucial that you know of the major massage organizations in America. Below is a list of the biggest ones, with a link to the website of each.

1. American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
2. National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
3. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)

In addition to these national organizations, there are also regional and state groups that are worth exploring. Visit these websites, become a member of the organizations, and get your name out there in the massage world. Membership in these national groups will give you more exposure, validate your business, and help you network in the massage therapy community. To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

BUILD A CLIENT LIST TO BUILD A BUSINESS

Every client that comes to you for a massage should provide you with his/her basic contact information (name, phone, email). You should then take this information and enter it into a database so you can manage all of your contacts, and follow up with clients for marketing and retention. The only way to market to your clients and increase your business revenue is to build a client database and actively market to it.

There are some great tools out there to help you with contact management. You can use Google Mail & Contacts to keep track and email your clients, and this is a free service to get started. Google Mail also lets you categorize your clients into different groups, so you can send more targeted emails.

If you have a bigger business and feel you can invest a little each month in contact management, there are some extremely powerful CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) tools out there that were created for this exact reason.

Whether you are a new business owner or if you have been around for years, the importance of contact management is the same; it is imperative that you manage your contacts wisely.  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

REFERRALS, REFERRALS, REFERRALS

A great source of business for any business is through referrals. It doesn’t matter if you run a home improvement company, a retail store, or a massage therapy practice. Your clients are the ones that know you best; they keep coming back because they enjoy your massages, trust you as a therapist, and are comfortable with the relationship you have built. Your clients are also a perfect source of new clients.

Give it a shot: the next time you have an appointment with one of your most loyal clients, simply ask him/her if they know anyone who might want to experience a massage with you. Offer them a discount like “If you refer someone to me I will give you 50% off your next massage”; you will be surprised how much business you can get out of referrals. If this starts working, you can setup a basic referral campaign. “Refer a friend or family member to my practice and I will give you both 20% off your next massage”. People love saving money, and you can gain more clients by offering discounts. Give it a shot, it can’t hurt to ask!

To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

BUILD AN ONLINE PRESENCE TO GAIN EXPOSURE

The internet has a lot of free sites where you can build a professional profile to promote yourself and your massage business. Below is a list of some of these sites that can help you gain exposure, and potentially grow your business.

1. Linkedin – The King of professional networks, Linkedin lets you create a profile with all your important information and search for/connect with friend, family, clients, and potential clients.
2. About.Me – It’s all about you. Similar to Linkedin, but more personal. Still a great resource for massage therapists looking to gain exposure.
3. SkillSlate – Build your professional profile, acquire/post cliet testimonials, and show up in searches. This is another site that you must join.

The best part of all of these options? They are 100% FREE.

To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

LOOKING FOR MORE CLIENTS? ATHLETES NEED MASSAGES!

Great markets for massage therapists to tap into are the athletic communities. Athletes work out their muscles more than most people and as a result have more fatigue, strain, pulls, and soreness. As a massage therapist you know the value of a massage and the amazing impact it can have on a person’s body. Whether it’s a sore back, legs, or shoulders, massage therapy can help eliminate the soreness and tightness that results from strenuous athletic activity.

The next question is: How do I acquire athlete clients? Visit and contact your local gyms, health clubs, athletic centers, and sports leagues; offer your services and give them a great price. Once they see how valuable a massage is, they will want you to keep coming back.

To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

ARE YOU HIRING?  MASSAGE THERAPY SCHOOLS ARE CHURNING OUT QUALIFIED GRADUATES

If you operate your own massage therapy business, and are looking to hire new therapists, I would reach out to your local massage therapy school. A lot of schools have large Career Services departments to partner with employers to place graduates. Basically, these departments will do the research for you and hook you up with interviews with new massage therapy graduates.

In time you will build a nice rapport with the school and your hiring will become easy. It’s a win win situation; the school has a partner to place it’s graduates, and you have a nice streamline of talented, and qualified, therapists. Do a quick Google search and you will find a list of local schools to reach out to. If you are in the Washington DC, Philadelphia, Wilmington, or Egg Harbor Township areas, the National Massage Therapy Institute is probably the resource you are looking for!  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

LOOKING FOR MORE BUSINESS?  DON'T SHY AWAY FROM DEALS AND SPECIALS

Everybody loves a good deal. It’s a great feeling to receive a product or service and feel as though you got it at a discounted rate. This is definitely true in the massage therapy business as well.

A great way to keep your clients happy, and coming back to your practice, is to offer them deals and specials throughout the year. Major Holidays are obvious times to employ this strategy, but it’s also smart to be creative.  Here are a few ideas for you to think about implementing at your personal massage business:

• Tax Season: everyone is stressed during tax season; give your client-base a discount and help them relax.
• Summer Time: When the summer starts, school is over. That means more time with the kids, which can result with more stress and worrying. Help your clients prepare for a long summer of 24/7 parenting!
• New Year: Once the Holiday season and New Years is over, it’s time to go back to work for a lot of your clients. This is a perfect time to give your customers a discount. With the New Year comes new stresses.

Be creative; put yourself in your customers’ shoes. When do you need to relax the most? It is those times that a nice special or discount could be perfect.  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

HOW TO ESTABLISH YOUR MASSAGE COSTS

A major part of starting any business is establishing the fees for your services. This is no different for massage therapists as price points can decide if a potential customer chooses you or a competitor. The price for an hour-long massage can range from $30 at a local school clinic to $150 at a high-end spa; where does your business fit in to this spectrum?

Do your research

The first step in establishing your fees is to research your competitors. What other options are out there for potential customers? How much are other massage therapists charging? These are questions that you must understand before setting your fees.

Reach out to potential clients

Once you have an idea for what similar businesses are charging, you should reach out to members of the local community and ask them what they pay for massages. If the majority of the people you speak to say that $100 is too much for a 60-minute massage, then you know that you should decide on a cheaper price point.  This is also a great way to network with potential clients; people love honesty and transparency, and you can gain their trust early.

Don’t be afraid to change

If you decide on your price and things aren’t going as well as you would have hoped, it is OK to lower the prices. If $75/massage isn’t producing as much business as you had expected, then lower it to $60. You want to get the customers in the door, and let them experience your massage. You may need to sacrifice total revenue at first to establish a strong client base. It will be worth it in the end.

KEYS TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL MASSAGE BUSINESS

A lot goes into building a successful massage business. You need training, practice,  passion, and even some luck. The items below are also crucial to building a prosperous massage therapy business.

• Start Short-Term, Think Long-Term

Every business has a beginning, and it will likely be the hardest part of your professional life. When you start your business it is imperative that you develop and think about a long term plan. Where will you be in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? Expect for your business to grow, don’t hope for it. Plan ahead; your business will grow faster than you think.

• Develop a Marketing Plan

Marketing takes experience, insight, and planning. If you have none of the three, have no fear. There are tons of free resources out there to help you develop a simple, and cheap, marketing plan. One of our previous posts outlined some of the best marketing initiatives that you should do in your massage business. Take our advice: develop a marketing calendar, and do your research; there are a lot of clients out there looking for massage, you just need to help them find you.

• Only Hire Employees That You Trust

As your business grows you will need to make difficult decisions in the hiring process. One thing to remember is that if you can’t trust someone, then don’t hire them. You need to surround yourself with the best people possible, and that you can fully trust, to ultimately build a successful business. Whether it’s your receptionists, therapists, or IT support, your employees need to share the same passion as you.

TOP WAYS TO FINANCE YOUR MASSAGE BUSINESS

Are you looking to start your own massage therapy practice, but don’t know where to get financing? Opening your own business costs money; take a look at the list below of the best ways to finance your business.

• Partnerships – Bring someone in to help you build the business. This can be a friend who will be hands-on, an investor who will simply give money and stand back, or somewhere in between. Finding a business partner will help you finance, and ultimately run, your massage business.
• Bank Loans–You can receive loans from banks, but you will need to put together a full proposal including a detailed business plan. It might sound tedious, but this type of paperwork will actually help you in getting your business up and running.
• Savings – Start a savings account that is dedicated to your business. You can even setup automatic transfers with your bank so that XX amount of money each month is put into this account. Choose an amount that you can live comfortably with, and in no time you will have a growing business fund.

There are many other ways for you to finance your business, so be creative! When there is a will, there is a way. Good luck!

1 futurelmt.com

WORKING AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: IS IT BEST FOR YOU?

As a massage therapist you have the option to either work as an employee or an independent contractor; which option is best for you? To help you out, we have outlined some of the best, and worst, features of working as an independent contractor.

A lot of companies prefer to hire therapists as independent contractors because it saves them money:

• Reduces the amount of paperwork
• They don’t have to withhold any taxes
• They don’t have to provide health benefits
• They don’t have to pay unemployment insurance once employment is terminated
• They don’t have to provide Worker’s Compensation coverage

Basically, it is much easy for an employer to terminate a contract with an independent contractor than it is to fire an employee; there are far less strings attached.

What are the benefits of being hired as an Independent Contractor?

• Autonomy (not attached to one employer, can also freelance)
• Sometimes more money is received for services
• You are disconnected from  business operations; can focus on massage
• You are able to deduct any business-related expenses on your income tax return

To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

1 futurelmt.com/issue2/Employee.php

SOCIAL NETWORKING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

You are familiar with Facebook and Twitter, and have heard about the development “Social Media”; but do you know how to use these networking tools to help grow your massage business? We have outlined some of the top social sites below and have given some tips on how to best use them:

Facebook

Start a fan page with the name of your business, that is the easy part. Include all the pertinent details of your business; name, location, contact information, and a brief description of your services. Once you have a few followers, posting relevant and engaging content will keep your fans interested and connected to your business. You can use Facebook to promote special deals, update your clients, on new developments and to get feedback on your business. Facebook is here to stay, and it is a powerful business tool; create your Fan page today and start seeing the benefits instantly.

Twitter

In 140 characters or less, Twitter lets you broadcast brief messages to your followers. Use Twitter to advertise special deals, link to relevant massage articles, and connect with clients and business partners. Just like Facebook, the hard part is getting started.

Wikipedia

It is free to write your own Wikipedia page and it is a great way to legitimize and publicize your business. Include all important details, give some brief history, and include a link and information to your website.

Flickr

IF YOU WORK IN WELLNESS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK WELL

As a massage therapist you know the value of a good massage; you feel relaxed, refreshed, and healthy. The atmosphere is crucial to a good massage, whether it be the aura in the room, the massage table, the scent, or simply the massage therapist.

Take care of yourself and people will want you to take care of them. Make sure you eat well, exercise, and take care of your body; nobody wants a massage from an unhealthy looking therapist. Wellness is contagious, and as the professional it starts with you.To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE SEEING GROWTH IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS

According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, alternative healthcare methods are becoming more prevalent in hospital settings across the United States.  The Los Angeles times reports that 42% of hospitals in the 714 hospitals involved in their survey “said they offer one or more alternative therapies, including massage therapy, relaxation training, homeopathy and chiropractic care”.1 This is up from 37% in 2007.  A great majority of hospitals incorporating alternative healthcare in with traditional methods of medical treatment claim to be doing so in response to patient request.

In addition, the survey concluded that “65% of hospitals said they offer alternative therapies [specifically] for pain management”.1 The role of massage therapy in pain management at these hospitals is to alleviate pain and stress in cancer patients in particular.  Many hospitals, and patients, have found that recovery is best when a combination of conventional and alternative medicine is offered.  To learn more about our massage school visit www.NMTI.edu.  To schedule an appointment at our student massage clinic visit www.NMTIstudentclinic.com.

1 http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-alternative-medicine-20110908,0,5074014.story