Massage Marketing Rebellion

Massage Marketing: Massage & Spa Trends

Not new, (this report was written in May, 2010), but interesting none-the-less. What does this mean for massage? I'd love to hear your comments, after reading the article.

Read the article @ http://www.diagonalreports.com/pdfs/spa10us_pr.html

Massage Marketing: The Low Cost, High Return of Random Acts of Kindness

Have you ever heard the saying, "You catch more bees with honey"?

Well there's more to it than just a catchy phrase.

Beside the fact that kindness is an endearing quality of a wizened soul, it is and has been an effective marketing strategy since time began.

We often think of kindness as an altruistic quality, and in business an invitation for disaster or a weakness, yet in a service industry such as massage, interpersonal skills become paramount. Personal service businesses survive on relationship skills, making kindness (not weakness) an essential and helpful marketing tool.

Personally I've always viewed kindness as a strength, and a way to say both wonderful and challenging things with sensitivity so that the message can be heard. As it turns out it is a part of my brand, but I never knew it until some feedback lead me to an article on trends.

It turns out that Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) have found the way to the marketplace via customer competencies, and a growing need for realness from 21st century consumers. Armed with technology consumers can research price, insta-print coupons, and generate the location of the best deal at warp speed. So the 10% off discount is no longer a call to glory, and businesses need a deeper arsenal of tools and skills to stand out in the crowd.

With curiosity as my guide, I looked into this in the form of trend watching and here's what I discovered.

Kindness, generosity and spontaneity are three of the top eleven trends for 2011! In addition, random acts of kindness is listed as the number one trend according to trendwatching.com.

Think about how a customer would feel if their next massage is spontaneously "On the House"! Or perhaps comes with a surprise gift of massage cream, a favorite CD, or a box of chocolates in a beautifully wrapped box with a card expressing gratitude for their business.

Lots of massage businesses already do this . . . and it's kind of like the chocolate on your pillow at a high end hotel. Yet adding a unique or special component that singles out the customer, creates a generosity of spirit, a spontaneous action "out of the blue" so to speak, leaves a lasting impression and when strategically placed, (at the end of a challenging day, during a divorce or end of a relationship, a wedding or birth), your business just may be remembered forever by an even more loyal, more satisfied customer.

Social networking is providing innumerable opportunities to tune into customers mood and lifestyle to facilitate this process. Suppose you read on a text, twitter or Facebook comment that one of your customers has just lost their job. How perceptive and memorable would it be to send off a quick card with a half-hour free stress reducing massage to help them through tough times.

Massage businesses that find ways to attend to and implement generous, spontaneous and random acts of kindness will win customer loyalty, create word of mouth buzz and magnetise the market, and also stand out amongst the crowd of competitors.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of low cost, high return, random acts of kindness is the way you'll feel when you realize what a difference you can make in the life of another. Just another way for your massage business to create value in a stressed out world.

Source: www.trendwatching.com. One of the world's leading trend firms, trendwatching.com sends out its free, monthly Trend Briefings to more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide.

 

Massage News: What's the Deal?

Are you in San Francisco today?

Discovered this great deal on Three Knocks for uTOEpia in the city today! Sign up and take advantage of a terrific deal of $35 for an 80 minute foot, hand and back massage. Hurry - offer has limited time - 38 hours left at time of posting.

Hey, while I've got your attention!

Take massage music with you anywhere/everywhere! Try Pandora Internet Radio on your laptop, notebook or smartphone.

I like to go to the "Nature" station and play it during massage sessions, meditation or even relaxing mood music at home. It's free, and you can also listen to your favorite artists and create your own station. Try it right now at Pandora.com then type in Nature on the "Create a New Station" link.

Trends in Innovation for the Massage Market

Being innovative and a trend setter instead of a follower, is how leaders lead the market.

Today one such massage trend setter rises to the surface. Not only is this an interesting innovative lean, it's perhaps the beginning of mind expansion for massage marketers wondering how they can reach their market in a new and different way.

Granted this technology is (for the moment) only applicable to iPhones, it's still worth a gander to set your creative vibe in gear. Check out Clint Chandler's MyoFinder

About MyoFinder:

The MyoFinder Quiz is a fun, challenging and interactive learning tool designed to enhance one’s ability to accurately identify 7 distinct anatomical regions and the location of 78 critical muscles.

Make your way through our advancing difficulty level system – Rookie, Novice, Master and Guru as you race against the clock and are tested on your ability to visually recognize the desired anatomical structure.

MyoQuiz let’s you review your musculoskeletal anatomy studies, and is available in both the Lite (free) and Full versions of the MyoFinder iPhone App.

MyoFinder is clearly geared toward you, the massage and bodywork professional, but what if you took this one step further, how about apps that stimulate, educate and activate your market? How about a game format that engages the user in fun and education at the same time?

Trends in innovation for the massage market are just beginning to catch the techno wave. What digital, video, or mobile ap product could educate your market, and establish you as a massage market leader?

Think about it!

(Note: I am not affiliatted with this product in any way)

A call for support: San Bruno Explosion and Fire

Just a request for thoughts and prayers for those affected by the PG&E explosion and fire in San Bruno, California. I witnessed the initial fire ball from three cities away and knew immediately every agency in the area would have their hands full for days to come. The size and ferocity of the initial explosion and ongoing inferno was unspeakable . . . just mind boggling.

The local mood is somber and bewildering. It's hard to take in the enormity of what will be necessary for recovery. The Red Cross is requesting financial donations and I am asking for thoughts and prayers.

This is emotionally difficult to contain, and brings up memories of the 1989 earthquake, the Oakland Fire Storm, and the devastation of the Twin Towers September 11th attack.

My heart goes out to the victims and families of, a community in a state of emergency, and all who will suffer from the deaths, injuries, loss of property, and psychological and emotional devastation.

For the rest of you, be well, be safe, and be grateful. Life is precious and fragile.

Best to you,

~ B ~