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

Now more than ever, it really is so important to know where you stand with your money.

When money doesn't flow the way it usually does — for any reason — you need to be prepared. For a lot of bodyworkers, COVID-19 came as a scary wake-up call when the ability to work hands-on with clients was taken away.

In this episode, I sit down (virtually, of course) with Laura Cook, a business finance strategist for women entrepreneurs. We talk about how financial clarity will help you to decide the next logical step for your business, no matter what's going on in the world.

There is no better time than RIGHT NOW for bodyworkers to be intentional with their money. Laura is incredibly grounded and even I left our conversation feeling calmer — I hope you do, too.

Plus, Laura shares how old she was when she won her first art competition...can anyone say "child prodigy?"

Building an Intentional Practice — Your Business Finances:

• How to utilize the financial runway tool to better understand your current situation and empower yourself through action steps, without fear and anxiety.

• Ways to increase cash flow even in unforeseen circumstances that limit you from seeing your clients face-to-face, so that you can support your people and keep your massage or bodywork business going during tough times.

• The best ways to communicate with your clients to understand their current needs in order to come up with meaningful, creative ways to serve them digitally.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

People are looking for your services...will they be able to find them?

Because so many bodyworkers deal with fears around visibility, they avoid putting themselves out there and lose potential business.

In this episode, I chat with Theresa Reed, aka The Tarot Lady, about how she overcame her own fears about marketing herself, and grew her business to a level where she could stop overbooking herself and start being present for her clients.

Whether you deal with the same fears or are just ready to be intentional about how you market your bodywork business (or you're curious about tarot reading), this episode is for you.

Plus, Theresa shares why she spent three days in jail...and what unexpected item made her the self-proclaimed "Queen of the Jail."

Building an Intentional Practice — Your Marketing:

• How the marketing industry has changed to favor quality over quantity, and how you can make the most of it through genuine, personal relationships with your clients.

• What to say to people when they ask for free services, and why it's so important to charge a premium price for a premium service in order to find your ideal massage and bodywork clients.

• The importance of consistency, and how you can practice marketing as a habit so that you can build a brand while still being time-efficient.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

As bodyworkers, we constantly ask ourselves about our intention — for a session, client, modality, or sequence of skills, but almost never for our massage or bodywork businesses.

If I asked you right now what the intention for your practice is, would you know?

It is just as important to have an intention around the business side of your practice as it is to have one around the work you do. I know that this can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you've never thought about the intention of your business, so I'm here to help.

In this episode, I lay out the step-by-step framework to build an intentional business in the way that is right for your specific offerings.

After all, you can't get where you want to be if you don't know where you're going — if you're unsure, let's figure it out together. Take a listen!

Building an Intentional Practice — Your Business Framework:

• The very first question you need to ask yourself in order to build a clear vision for your business without wasting time and money.

• How to research best practices and business foundations without getting stuck in an endless Google search for the next shiny object that won't actually help you get more clients.

• When it is time to evaluate what is working and what isn't in your massage and bodywork business, and when it is time to try again so that you don't waste your time or give up too early.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

I always tell my students that building your own massage or bodywork business is some of the deepest personal growth work that you'll ever do. And some of the time, it can be extremely uncomfortable.

In my last episode, I talked about creating online offerings to not only fill income gaps due to the Coronavirus, but also to prepare your business for the future when you might have an injury, or just want to go on vacation.

I received a lot of feedback about how scary it is for many bodyworkers to be on camera, so I invited Holly Gillen, founder of Holly G Studios, to share what she has learned from 12 years in the video production industry.

Her advice will empower you to get through this new period of personal growth so that you can show up for your clients in front of the camera.

Plus, Holly shares what she's been making for the past 6 months that unknowingly prepared her for quarantine...after you hear how easy it is, you might be ready to try it, too!

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Holly's definition of "business cinema" and the key elements that you need to include in your videos in order for them to be effective, efficient, and profitable.

• Proven methods to overcome your nervousness and fear of visibility so that you can grow personally and continue to serve your clients via video when you can't see them face-to-face.

• The four pillars of pre-production and the questions that you should ask yourself before you press record to make a video with intention and purpose that isn't too long.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

There is power in planning.

Personally, I love to plan, and part of the reason COVID-19 has been so difficult for me is because I've had to deviate from my regular plans.

But for some of you who don't love to plan, this might have served as a wake-up call about how important it is to not only have a plan, but also to have a variety of offerings.

An online offering can help you fill an income gap right now, and also be a safety net in the future in case you get injured, ill, or just want to take a vacation!

The Bodywork Project students saw so much success with my program for creating online offerings that I decided to share the information with as many therapists as I could. Take a listen!

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• A step-by-step outline of what you need to do before you create your online offering so that you can save time and focus on your strengths.

• The specific question you need to ask yourself in order to get crystal clear on what you want to offer to best serve both your current clients and potential clients.

• How to engage virtually with your clients to remind them how much you care and figure out what they need from you while they can't receive hands-on work.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Anyone else feel like every day is a month long right now?

Things have been really turbulent lately and everyone, including myself, is on a bit of an emotional roller coaster.

Try to remember: we're all in this together. But we all respond to trauma differently.

I've seen all kinds of responses from bodyworkers as we try to deal with the changes in our business.

But right now there are two things that we can all do: offer and accept help. Bodyworkers tend to naturally offer help, but struggle to ask for it, so I'm sharing some tips. Listen in!

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• The importance of reaching out to your massage or bodywork clients individually with a personalized message and a super easy tool that you can use to remind each of them how much you miss and value them.

• How to give your clients the opportunity to pay for future appointments now, and how to set that up online so that they have a way to support you (because many of them want to!)

• What you need to remember in order to respond to feelings of shame, embarrassment, and fear with humility and gratitude no matter what is going on in the world.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Being proactive means "controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened."

And I nearly always encourage bodyworkers to be proactive. But right now, there is a lot going on that is out of our control.

I truly do have so much love for each of you — not only for listening to this show, but for the way you show up and serve people as bodyworkers.

I am holding each of you in my heart as the world continues to change by the minute in new and scary ways. I want to show my love by helping you, so I recorded an episode to give you 3 things you can do today to empower yourself and continue to move forward with your massage or bodywork business.

This Week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Productive ways you can physically process trauma in order to shift your focus toward being proactive and take back control of your business.

• How to figure out your cash flow needs in a non-terrifying way so that you can keep the lights on for now and prepare to hit the ground running when the dust settles.

• Opportunities for your people to pay you even when they can't physically receive your services so that they can support you in ways that are meaningful to both of you. 

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Let's all take a deep breath together. Seriously — stop reading for a second and do it. 

In...out…Good.

If you haven't heard it yet amid all the panic, let me be the first to tell you: things are going to be okay.

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a planner. If you could peek into my Google Drive, you'd see that I have podcast content planned out weeks in advance (#TripleVirgo).

And that love for planning is a huge reason why I'm able to run my business on my preferred schedule - take days off, enjoy living at the beach, etc. BUT, there are times, like what we're going through right now with COVID-19, that none of us can plan for.

Don't worry, I've got your back! I recorded a new episode that will help you decide what is best for your massage or bodywork business right now so you can move forward without fear. Take another deep breath, and then give it a listen.

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Your number one priority during stressful times for yourself AND your clients, and how to use the skills you already have as a bodyworker to get it done.

• How you can intentionally watch the news to get the information that is necessary without overloading your system so that you can stay in the know without becoming stressed and overwhelmed. 

• Practical steps you can take right now to meet your clients' needs, whether you are physically seeing clients or not, in order to keep income flowing and show your people you care, even while social distancing.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Things are getting crazy out there.

People are worried, anxious, and confused about Covid-19, and you may be seeing the effects of that confusion in your massage or bodywork business.

It can be scary, and it can be frustrating, but you don't have to let the fear get the best of you or your business.

In this special BONUS episode, I share ideas for connecting with your clients during this crisis, so that you and your business are in good shape to weather whatever may come in the next few weeks and months.

I've also included links to some resources you can use TODAY to reach out and reassure your people. Please use them as a starting point to create and personalize your own client communication.

Remember, we are all in this together. Don't lose heart.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos

Let's talk about the elephant in the room…

Money.

WHY as bodyworkers do we feel guilty charging for our services? Why do we think we have to lose our gifts for the sake of financial security?

You've heard me say it all the time — you do great work in the world, you deserve to make a great living doing it.

This week, I unpack the money insecurities that so many bodyworkers face and get real about the massage and bodywork therapists who are making $100,000 a year (or $1 million, or whatever amount you WANT to be making).

This week on the Do It With Intention Podcast:

• Sacred Poverty mindset and why I absolutely disagree with it for therapists who want to provide the best possible service to their clients (which I'm guessing is YOU!)

• A breakdown of the numbers - done by Yours Truly, who has an English degree - in a way that is easy to understand so that you can get realistic about what actions will be required to meet your financial goals.

• The one thing every single one of my clients who has made over $100,000/year is doing, and how doing it can change every area of your business for the better.

Resources from this episode:

• Grab your free practice-building resources here!

• Check out my website

• The Bodywork Project

• YouTube massage business videos