Massage Marketing Rebellion

Massage Growth Indicator?

Watching KTVU Channel 2 this morning in the SF Bay Area I heard a brief announcement regarding the 100 top job growth companies in the US. Interesting that the number one job creator on the list is The Scooter Store. A quick check in CNN Money confirms the results.

Is it possible that the growing need for employees at The Scooter Store may be a massage growth indicator?

Certainly it is a nod toward the growing needs of the baby boom population. We've heard mention of this niche for years, and as a massage growth indicator, it looks as if the timer is ripe, and massage therapists may get busy!

Zero Gravity Chairs is a bit of a misnomer. It actually means they provide zero compression of the spine when reclined.

Not So Obvious Massage Trends

How many of you are checking this out on your Blackberry, on your laptop over a cup-o-java, or on your PC or MAC in your home or business office?

How many of you Twitter, Facebook, Outlook, Blog, RSS, Linkes In, Search, Oodle, Google, Chat, Vimeo, Tumblr, email, YouTube, B2B or Ustream?

Are we still talking massage?

You bet, and there's more to come.

As you read this post, Massage Therapy can be found on every avenue the web has to offer. What a shift from the day's when I graduated from massage school.

Yes, business has changed and we've changed along with it, and that's a good thing . . . if we use it to our advantage.

Following are example's of trends that massage therapists can expect more of.

Online Video:

• Massage Techniques
  
• Removing a Headache

Blogs:

• Massage Geek
• Massage Therapy Online

B2B:

• Able Hands
• Really Knotty Backs

Membership Site:

• Massagespace
  

Twitter:

• go to twitter.com and sign up, then search "massage" to find MT''s and massage businesses
• Better yet, go to search.twitter.com and put in the word "massage" or "massage therapy"

Massage Yellow Pages:

• massageyellowbook.com/  Free Massage Therapist Listings

All of these networking sites and skills are a viable way to promote your business and your brand. Which of these call to you? Which of these are you using? Which upcoming networking trends are you aware of? Will you be a user or a utilizer?

Love to hear your feedback on this one!

Snipet of AMTA's 2010 Massage Therapy Industry Research (Massage Magazine)

The American Massage Therapy Association released a portion of its 2010 massage therapy industry research this week.

Among the results:

Today's massage therapist is female (85 percent); in her late 40s, and most likely to enter the massage therapy profession as a second career. She is probably a sole practitioner, charges an average of $63 for one hour of massage, and earns an average wage of $45 per hour for massage-related work (include gratuities). She sees an average of 44 clients per month. Eighty-four percent of massage therapists provide Swedish massage, followed by 77 percent who provide deep- tissue massage, 49 percent trigger point, and 45 percent sports massage.

Also among the results:

• In 2009, the average annual income for a massage therapist (including gratuties) who provides approximately 16 hours of massage per week was $37,123, compared to incomes in 2006 of $28,170 for full-time health care support workers; $27,190 for full-time medical assistants and $23,290 for occupational therapist aides.

• While massage therapists work in a variety of work environments, sole practitioners or independent contractors account for the largest percentage of practicing therapists (96 percent). Thirty-eight percent work at least part of their time at a client’s home/business/corporate setting or their home, 25 percent in a health care setting, and 23 percent in a spa setting.

• Eighty-three percent of massage therapists started practicing massage therapy as a second career.

• Sixty two percent of massage therapists say they would not want to work more hours of massage than they presently do.

• More than half of massage therapists (54 percent) also earn income working in another profession.

• Of those massage therapists who earn income working in another profession 26 percent practice other form of bodywork, while 22 percent work in health care and 21 percent work in education.

Later this month, the association will make available for purchase the full report based on its yearlong research. For more information, visit www.amtamassage.org.

Read Also: Massage Trend

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Americans Spent $33.9 Billion Out-of-Pocket on Complementary and Alternative Medicine

From NIH:

"Of the $33.9 billion spent on CAM out-of-pocket, an estimated $22.0 billion was spent on self-care costs—CAM products, classes, and materials—with the majority going to the purchase of nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products ($14.8 billion) such as fish oil, glucosamine and Echinacea. U.S. adults also spent approximately $11.9 billion on an estimated 354.2 million visits to CAM practitioners such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, etc.

To put these figures in context, the $14.8 billion spent on nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products is equivalent to approximately one-third of total out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs, and the $11.9 billion spent on CAM practitioner visits is equivalent to approximately one-quarter of total out-of-pocket spending on physician visits."

Read the full article here.