Untapped or least worked massage market

[ragapple]

Hi
There are soooo many forums, I'm not sure which one to post to. If this question should go elsewhere, please let me know.
I graduated in Oct. What I found is that there are so many massage therapist these days. I have to decide what makes me different from the next person, so I decided to specialize in something. Can anyone tell me of any websites that focuses on untapped massage markets, or for the lack of words lease worked massage markets? My area is small and I'm having a hard time drawing clients, of course not being taught marketing doesn't help either. Which market gets the most response other than spa? I 'm just trying to figure out which direction I need to go in and work it from head to toe Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
http://alternativetouch.abmp.com

 

[rainy]

Seniors & Massage

I don't know of any specific websites, but I believe that senior citizens are a greatly underserved demographic. The benefits of massage for this group are amazing.

 

[Raven]

Thanks

Thank you for responding, that's one I'll do research on.

 

[Ivory]

Some underserved pops from my observations only.

Geriatric
Overweight men and women
Poorer or poverty level
disabled
Single parents


Robyn

 

[Jtvviewer]

Yes, I agree. Geriatric massage is a underserved demographic.

I am not sure how much Hospice work is done - I couldn't handle that type of work personally.

Cancer or Aids specific work

These are all things that I have not been exposed to much at all.

I would suggest you choose a group that you are most comfortable with and want to learn to most about.

As for Marketing - there is a ton of information thoughout the boards about marketing. Sections and in the FAQ.

Best of luck to you.

 

[webjnke1]

I live and work in a moderately sized metropolitan area, and I don't know a single therapist working at nursing homes, or doing on-site massage at hospitals. I agree with everyone else that geriatric massage is very underserved. Also, massage done in long-term care facilities, whether geriatric or not. I also don't see anyone in my city serving specific ethnic groups, like advertising in spanish.

I started doing massage in a long term care facility on medically fragile children in May, I had 3 clients. This month I have 9! The massage is paid by private funds, but someone at the hospital, who is in charge of the children's personal savings accounts accepts my invoice and cuts me a check.

The work there has been so rewarding both spiritually and financially, I'm looking at marketing to the assisted living facilities in the neighborhood. I have done the occasional massage at them, but haven't targeted them. I'm especially interested in mostly bed-ridden clients, so I don't have to haul my table around.

good luck,
Noel

 

[londonism21]

The Dec/Jan issue of Massage and Bodywork Magazine has articles on massage and the eldery and those with dementia.

http://massageandbodywork.com/currentiss.htm

 

[Da Cute Dude]

OK, first thing, I looked at your website, and I think the photo doesn't present a professional image - it's a lovely photo, but doesn't quite project "I am a professional massage therapist".

Have a read of the some of the threads in the website section of the board http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=916 might be a good place to start because that is a abmp site too. The font comments apply to your page (on your page look at the difference between the top of the page and the text found below "Corporate On-Site Massage". You've got no meta eforum.xxx description or keywords (which aren't important to google, but still help other search engines) You should get your title just down to business name, location and maybe phone number. http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=911 is another thread (though the links in there may be to the old board)

>>>> I have to decide what makes me different from the next person, so I decided to specialize in something. >>>> My area is small and I'm having a hard time drawing clients >>>>

Or you could specialise in a modality that no-one else offers. You've mentioned FIBROMYALGIA THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE on your site. Expand on that - benefits, why, who, why you.

The demographic mentioned are probably untapped, but they also tend to be concerned about money - all very well to provide treatment to those with less than average, but for your daily bread and butter you do need some regulars with disposable incomes - massage shouldn't be a luxury, but often is considered that.

I've found pregnancy massage to be a good fall back - while they are pregnant, they are yours, and they will talk about how much it helps. I get a lot of people that heard about me in birthing classes and mothers groups calling - as soon as someone says "my aching back!" someone will tell them how much massage helped them. I know most therapists want to have most clients they see coming back forever more, but I really enjoy the turnover of clients pregnancy massage. (I do other styles of massage, and do have regulars, and some of them are pregnancy massage clients that have continued for years after the pregnancy)

Do you enjoy working with stones, or find the clean-up too much of a pain? If you enjoy stones, promote that more, get more ritual behind it. I've recently started seeing a therapist that only does 2 hr or more appointment - you go in, you get a cup or tea and a foot soak, then a foot scrub, then you get on the table. There is a detailed facial massage as part of the massage. This would totally outrage all the people that say a 60min appointment should be a 60min on the table - her 2hr appointments would only be about 90min on the table, but she prices them as a two hour appointment and she is booked out solid.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks to all. My dad died in my arms two years ago. I actually talked him through it. I use to be a sitter 3 yrs ago for an elderly couple. The wife died while I held her hands, I continued to care for the husband, so one day while I was watching him a nurse came in and she said I should consider working for hospice. I didn't know this would come back to me later. He died as well and yes I was with him in his last days. Hospice and geriatrics may be my calling. I am also loking into caring for fibromyalgia patients. I've had it since 1998 and I neve suffered a flare up the whole time I was in school now that I'm out, OH MY GOODNESS-PAIN. I know first hand what massage can do. The hospitals hee are out being that they have massage therapist already, I've tried. Looks like I have my research cut out for me.

 

[BPDguy]

When someone critiques a website here I always take a peek.
Although the content is fine I would think about reformatting your line spacing. When the page opens it is very hard on the eyes.
Also, toward the end of the opening page, the paragraphs are all misaligned.
Now, I would usually think that you just used a font that I do not have but it would then show up as Arial plain font.

I ditto the idea of changing your pic. It is lovely, and in a perfect world it should not be a problem...the fact is thgough that in our industry we have to work harder at portraying a more professional appearance in photos.
I would have the same opinions if you were a buffed out muscular man in a sleeveless tee flexing his biceps.

Robyn

 

[s0LuT1oN]

Yep. It certainly seems the Universe is presenting you with an opportunity to work more and more hospice-type clients - not everyone can do that. So I would definitely research that.

Suffering from fibro yourself puts you in a unique marketing situation that most therapists don't have. (Interesting that a lot of MTs go into massage as a result from their own pain history.) I'd also research the ins and outs of working with fibro patients because therapy can often change from appointment to appointment.

You also might focus on other very specific pathologies with varying degrees of importance (ie sports related injuries, overuse syndromes, etc.).

The possibilities are endless. The human body needs a lot of attention.

Good luck in your pursuits and keep us abreast of your success.

 

[Harrana]

advice taken

Okay gang, the pic is gone and will be replaced with a professional one. Thanks for the past advice and thanks in advance for other future advice regarding this topic.

 

[rhonda]

Might want to think about targeting the nurses and the nursing assistants that work at the hospitals and nursing homes. Very stressful work and most of the ones I work with love a massage, they just don't know much about it.


Come to think aobut it, our old administrator used to bring someone in for chair massages for th nurses and nursing assistants, everyone loved it but unfortunatley that stopped when she moved out of town.

Another of the wall thought, ever try marketing to EMS workers? Another highly physical and stressful job.

Not sure if these are good ideas or not, just throwing them out there.