Do It With Intention | Business & Marketing for Massage and Bodywork Therapists

We've all experienced loss in one way or another in the past few months.

For me, the past year has been a difficult time processing the loss of my younger brother, Lance, who passed away a year ago today.

While a death in the family may seem different than the losses you might be seeing in your business, the process of overcoming that grief is universal.

As you listen to this week's special episode and reflect on losses you may be facing in your massage and bodywork business, remember to be kind to yourself, allow the process to unfold, and seek support if you need to.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• The 5 universal stages of grief that you need to honor and recognize when dealing with loss.

• The less-recognized stage of grief that actually plays a huge role in the collective process of understanding the emotional responses to loss.

• Why understanding any business grief you might be experiencing is important.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

I love to hear your questions — what you're thinking about, dreaming about, and struggling with in your massage or bodywork business.

I've been thinking of this special episode for a while now, so I reached out to my students to ask: "What are your most burning questions?"

I envisioned a mini-coaching session, where you would join me on the podcast, but I didn't have any takers on recording your conversations with me. Trust me, I understand the intimidation of putting your voice out there for all to hear!

Instead, I decided to answer some of the great questions many of you have regarding your practices that everyone can benefit from hearing. I can't wait to do another Q&A like this again and hope to have you join me on the show next time!

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• How to create a plan for going forward with your clients, even if you know you need to come from a space of neutral to do your healing work.

• How to decide whether to sell products to make up for lost income so that you continue to be of service to your clients.

• Why I haven't gotten a single massage or bodywork client from social media over my 16-year career and the alternate, best way to get clients in your door.

• An overview of The Bodywork Project curriculum so that you can continue to do work you love and make a good living doing it.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

So often I hear my bodywork students say that all they need to do to improve their business is to get more clients through the door or offer low-priced services.

But here's the thing: people almost never choose a service because of the price; they go where they feel good.

In today's episode, I share stories with my friend and fellow women's business coach, Wendy Batten, about how customer service is merely an expectation, but customer experience is what will set your business apart.

Wendy shares her wisdom and expertise from working with clients on their customer experience and how individualized connection can make or break your business.

Listen in to hear how Wendy's retail expertise started with a hockey team, and later developed into the successful business she runs today.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• The secret to a customer experience that will keep your massage or bodywork clients coming back for more.

• Why connections to your customers right now, even if your business isn't open, are so important to sustaining your clients for the long haul.

• The questions to ask your favorite clients so that you can attract even more of your ideal customers.

• Reasons why working with someone who has done what you want to do and can provide you a community to learn from is the perfect recipe for catapulting the business side of your practice to success.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Let's face it — it can be overwhelming to be an expert in your modality AND run your own business.

Trust me, I understand the challenges to this balance.

In today's episode I chat with Ramona Rice, owner and CEO of DeStress Express Massage Therapy and Spapreneur, about her experiences working with spa practitioners both in the practice room and out.

Taking control of your massage or bodywork business outside of your hands-on work, whether you're a solo practitioner or manage a team of experts, will allow you to step into your power as pro and CEO of your business.

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• The one metric that will allow you to have the clarity to live a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

• How focusing on results, not modality, in your marketing will help potential clients envision you as the solution to their problem, so that they see working with you as a no-brainer.

• The importance of setting and sticking to office hours, as you would client appointment hours, so that the business side of your massage or bodywork practice will thrive.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

For most of you running your own massage or bodywork business, just hearing the word selling can make you cringe! Time and time again it's the most uncomfortable topic for my students to tackle.

But what if sales were presented in a way that echoes the service mentality so essential to the bodywork industry; sales aren't about you, they are about doing something with and for someone else.

On today's episode, I sit down with sales coach and my spirit sister, Nikki Rausch, to learn more about how to confront your uncomfortable feelings around sales so you can be of better service to your clients.

Nikki helps us understand that if you are not making sales, you have a hobby, not a business.

Listen as we discuss how to take that uncomfortable feeling around sales and translate it into conversations that will allow you to show up authentically and with confidence.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Understanding that the sales conversation is not about you, and how re-focusing the conversation on your clients will help both you and the client have a more comfortable sales conversation.

• The concept of Relationship Selling and how offering your services to your clients is the best way to show up for them.

• Nikki's advice on how to make it as easy as possible for your clients to say "yes" to your services, and why booking a client's next appointment before they leave is SO important.

• Reframing the idea of rejection as meaning "not yet" instead of "no," so that you can proceed through the sales conversation with ease.

• Ask the question then zip it; the simple advantage to placing an invitation and leaving space for a response.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

You likely became a bodywork therapist because of your big heart and desire to be of service to others -- and your focus is on your healing modality, not branding or marketing. And rightly so!

But do you need a "brand"? (And what exactly is a brand, anyway??)

On today's episode I sit down with my friend and branding specialist, Sharvette Mitchell, to discuss her expert advice on building your bodywork brand to its full potential.

Sharvette brings so much to the table from creating a cohesive, multi-dimensional brand to her ideas behind a premium customer experience. And she's one of my favorite female entrepreneur coaches out there!

Join our conversation as Sharvette gives you the skills and tools to master your brand and help you build your confidence in all-things-marketing.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• The kitchen table conversation 12 years ago that led Sharvette to discover how her passion and expertise could become a full-time business.

• 3 simple ways to make your branding stand out.

• How taking great care of your massage or bodywork clients enables them to do most of your marketing for you.

• Why having 51% confidence in yourself is the tipping point to successfully marketing your business and YOU.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

As a bodywork therapist, chances are you've considered using discounts or daily deals to get more clients through your doors. But I've seen time and again how massage or bodywork practitioners using this model end up with their businesses under water.

In today's episode, I take a closer look at why the discount model doesn't get you (or your clients!) the results you're aiming for.

By adjusting your mindset and approach, your clients will get great results and you won't need so many new clients to hit your base line revenue goals.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Why daily deals aren't well suited for the bodywork industry.

• 2 misconceptions you teach your clients by offering discounts instead of adding value.

• How to have your clients saying that you're "expensive, but worth every penny."

• My go-to strategies for adding value to my customers' experiences so they keep coming back and do most of my marketing for me!

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

If you're interested in astrology like I am, you know that we are currently in Mercury Retrograde.

What does that have to do with your practice?

The prefix "re-" in retrograde means to go back and look again. As a bodywork therapist this is the perfect time for you to look again at your values and reimagine the vision for your practice.

Over the past few months, many of my students in The Bodywork Project have had the chance to think, feel, dream and reimagine the visions for their practices. I encourage you to take this time to re-create your vision as well.

In today's episode, I'll share with you parts of my journey in clarifying my vision for my practice and how you can do the same going forward -- how you can Do It With Intention.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• 2 key parts in reimagining your vision for your massage or bodywork practice.

• A look at the bottom lines for your business — not just financially — that will allow you to show up in your practice as the person you want to be.

• The clarity that led me to a recent decision to redirect my advertising dollars for my business so that my practice truly reflects my values.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

As the business climate continues to change during this pandemic, seeking out help for your practice is smart.

It's important to remember that asking for help doesn't mean there is something you are doing wrong. Seeking support shows you are a wise and savvy business owner. 

Just like you didn't learn all of your bodywork by yourself, there's no way you can learn all of the business side on your own either.

In today's episode I talk with you about different avenues of support you may want to seek out to strengthen your massage or bodywork business.

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Understanding the difference between a course and a private mentoring program, so that you can make the best choice of support for your unique business.

• Why seeking out coaching and support, in addition to course material, will allow you to tailor the new information to improve your practice.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Whether it's renovating my house or replacing a sink, I think I can do pretty much anything on my own.

This go-getter attitude is probably true for entrepreneurs, like you, looking to make your business a success.

But it won't get you far if you don't have the experience or expertise to see how the whole picture fits together.

One of the greatest lessons I've learned while taking on projects all on my own is knowing when to ask for help.

You may realize you've taken your massage or bodywork business as far as you can on your own. But what should you do next? Listen in to today's podcast to find out when you can do it on your own, and when you need to ask for help.

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• How replacing my bathroom sink taught me the value in working with someone who's been where you want to go and can teach you what you need to know.

• The important distinction between a task and a project, and how that wisdom will guide you to the kind of support you need.

• A mindset shift in realizing the power of viewing your business as a fixer upper to avoid throwing away your time, energy and money.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos