One Year to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice by Laura Allen is another must read for every massage therapist. Laura Allen is a well known author and teacher of massage. She is also involved in the massage profession in many ways serving on the NC Massage Board, active member of AMTA. Her previous book Plain & Simple Guide to Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Examinations is a great tool for all massage students to help them pass the massage exams. She authors a few blogs online at Massage Magazine, Massage Today’s Women In Bodywork Business and has her own blog - lauraallenlmt.com where she openly addresses the many political issues facing the massage profession. She is the owner of a very successful massage clinic -Thera-ssage – employing many health care providers in NC which is an area hit hard by the economy. You can also find her on Facebook.
The book takes you though the many steps of starting a business from defining your goals and budget, choosing a name and your marketing materials. There are many great examples of how to find avenues to connect with other businesses and build referral relationships. She talks about them all! Here is a partial list of some of the chapter titles: Parades, using your car, using a massage chair, adopt a highway programs, creating press releases, getting a grant, getting published and many more!
The best piece of advise she gives in the beginning is to just try some of the things that she lists instead of saying things like “I can’t do that” or that isn’t me. Getting over your fear of promoting yourself is done by just taking it step by step and learning from your successes and failures.
Thanks for the suggestion.. Ordering a copy today..