Business & Marketing for Massage

Taking On More

Business & Marketing for Massage /

Recently I wrote about how busy November was going to be for me. Between several massage CEU opportunities, teaching an engineering class at UAH and Thanksgiving, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. This, I suppose, is why while at the AMTA-AL Chapter Fall Meeting I accepted the position as Website/Social Media Committee Chair. Obviously, I’m being facetious. The point being we all take on more than we can chew sometimes.

For a year I have served on this committee as a Social Media Liaison. Essentially that means that I have managed (played on) our AMTA-AL Chapter Facebook page. I think I’ve bitten off quite a chunk in agreeing to take over management of the website and bulk email program. It’s okay though, I love to learn new things and it’s a challenge.

For now I’m trying to integrate these new responsibilities in to the existing rhythm of my days. I can’t yet tell how it’s going. I may need to make a list. If you find that it becomes quiet here you’ll know that I’m busy trying to get and keep all the plates spinning. It won’t take long.

Sharon BryantHarvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

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Is Your Website Pinteresting?

Business & Marketing for Massage /

If you don’t know about Pinterest yet, I will just apologize up front for introducing you to the crack of the Internet. I am hopelessly addicted to Pinterest and have finally found a way to justify that addiction.

Using Pinterest for Business Purposes

Recently I started a Pinterest board for Massage CEU Central. In creating and adding to that Pinterest board I have noticed I often run into the Pinterest error, “There are no pinnable images,” or find random images that don’t represent the website.

Imagine my horror when I came home to the Harvest Moon Massage Therapy website, mashed the Pin It button and found that I had a pitiful selection of images to choose from in pinning my own website to the Massage CEU Central Pinterest board. So I decided that I would write a blog post about how to improve your “pinnability” to Pinterest.

How to Make Your Website More Pinnable

The simplest answer to making your website more pinnable is to put beautiful images on your site. As a massage therapist who blogs as the main site format (on a WordPress.com platform at that), that means using more images in the posts themselves and making sure there’s an image widget in the sidebar. Apparently images inside other types of widgets don’t get indexed by Pinterest. This might have something to do with iFrames, which I don’t understand, but from what I can understand if you put an image in an iFrame, Pinterest ignores it.

Not having a lot of time to create my own artwork and having less than rudimentary skills with Photoshop, I have chosen initially to begin linking in a thumbnail of my headshot with my signature line for each post. Perhaps in the future as I develop more custom artwork for Harvest Moon Massage, I will begin using those randomly in posts.

A few don’t’s when creating pinnable images on your website/blog, they can’t be smaller than 80 x 80 pixels or Pinterest ignores them. There’s that iFrame thing I was talking about earlier and apparently Pinterest also does not know what to do with background images and therefore again, ignores them.

Have I Been Pinned?

Here’s something interesting. If you want to know if you’ve been pinned on Pinterest, go to “http://pinterest.com/source/yourwebsite.com” I can see from checking http://pinterest.com/source/harvestmoonmassage.com that I have some work to do.

So, I hope you’ve found something helpful here. I’m still formulating a marketing strategy for Pinterest. For now though,
Pinterest Button
 
 
Sharon BryantHarvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

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AMTA – Alabama Chapter 2012 Fall Meeting & CEUs

Business & Marketing for Massage /

AMTA Alabama YellowhammerAMTA – Alabama Chapter will be hosting three events for massage therapists during the Fall Meeting

Massage Mingle

First event is Friday evening, November 2nd beginning at 7pm. Hal Richardson will be speaking at our very first Massage Mingle. It will be a casual, loosely structured fellowship for massage therapists. No RSVP necessary, but if you’re a Facebook junkie, RSVP at AMTA – Alabama Chapter Massage Mingle event.

3-D Manual Therapy: Legs, Ankles, and Feet

Our CEU  event is Saturday, November 3rd. I am guessing registration starts around 8, but I’ll clarify when I know more. RSVP at AMTA – Alabama 3-D Manual Therapy: Legs, Ankles, and Feet and with Ron at 205-655-2193.

We are very excited to bring Hal Richardson to our November meeting in Huntsville. He just returned from London where he was an official member of our Olympic team. Please join us for six hours of great bodywork to help all of your clients and yourself.

*** 3-D Manual Therapy is a method of soft tissue manipulation that combines a variety of myofascial techniques, movement & stretching with minimal to no lubrication. This seminar will show how this work can be used for injuries such as sprained ankle, IT Band syndrome plus quad, hamstring & gastroc strains. These techniques can be used with athletes at sporting events as well as your clients in the clinic.

Demonstration followed by practice on each other will help you be comfortable & confident using 3-D Manual Therapy when you return to your office. Wear comfortable clothing to allow access to your legs & feet preferably workout shorts.

The workshop will be held on Saturday and lunch will be included.

AMTA Member : $ 120 Everybody else :$ 150
To register for class contact Ron at 205-655-2193 or joganics@msn.com

AMTA Alabama Chapter Fall Meeting

The Fall Meeting will be Saturday, November 3rd at noon. Come join us for lunch at the AMTA Alabama Chapter Fall Meeting and find out about all the new and exciting happenings with your AMTA Chapter. RSVP at AMTA – Alabama Chapter 2012 Fall Meeting.

All events will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Huntsville South/Redstone Arsenal. If you need a room, contact Elle at 256-881-4170 to make a reservation.

Our chapter is re-energized and making lots of changes. Come find out about all the exciting new opportunities. Hope to see you all there this fall!

Sharon BryantHarvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

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Singing Like a Bird

Business & Marketing for Massage /

In my never ending quest to maintain an online presence, I occasionally try new things. That’s why I reluctantly signed up for Twitter, three years ago. It didn’t go well. I didn’t understand it or how it could be useful and therefore, I didn’t really like it. I’ve felt guilty ever since.

I don’t know if you follow Harvest Moon Massage over on Facebook, but I tend to keep that updated on a more regular basis than here on the blog and recently, as in Tuesday, I decided to bite the bullet and figure this Twitter thing out.

Now, I am not claiming to have it all figured out, but I think I’ve successfully hooked my Facebook page to my Twitter account and vice versa so when I post to one it goes to both! And I finally got my profile picture to update so you know it’s me at a glance. Progress, people. I know there’s more, but baby steps. Woo hoo!

But on to what you actually need to know. My Twitter username is @SharonB013 and I’m tracking #HarvestMoonMassage. So go follow me and be sure to use my hashtag when you tweet about how fabulous your last massage was.

Oh, and notice that I’m adding a Twitter button in the sidebar for Other Places to Find Me Online —>… fancy…

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It’s A Toe-riffic Deal! – A New Press Release

Business & Marketing for Massage /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

It’s A Toe-riffic Deal!

Decatur, AL – March 15, 2011

Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology has entered into a Sponsor Agreement with Logical Marketing Solutions and its affiliate WYAM TV51 of Decatur, AL. Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology is donating two one-hour gift certificates each week to the Alabama Traveller show. These gift certificates will be sold at a discount rate weekly from March 14, 2011 through June 6, 2011. Alabama Traveller airs Monday evenings at 7pm on Charter Cable channel 20 and PCL Cable channel 56.

Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology is Decatur’s exclusive provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy and Ashi-Thai barefoot massage.

For more information about Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology call (256) 603-4596 or visit www.harvestmoonmassage.com.
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A Door Closes And a Window Bangs Open

Business & Marketing for Massage /

Still riding the disappointment from the cancellation of the Body Reading class, I answered my phone Wednesday afternoon. It was the host of a travel show that is produced locally wanting to know if I’d be interested in partnering with his show to get some “free” advertisement.

In actuality it’s a “no money upfront” deal, but it does get me a lot of exposure for a couple of hours commitment each week.

Having never dealt with television before, I was whipped up into the whirlwind of filming. We actually filmed my spot yesterday and it will air for the first time Monday evening with voiceover from the host of the show. I’ll go on the 21st to do my voiceover and I presume it will run with my voice for the duration of the season.

If you’d like to tune in and you’re in the Decatur, Hartselle or Athens area and you have Charter cable, tune to channel 20 (WYAM 51) Monday night at 7pm. You’re looking for the Alabama Traveler show. If you’re not local, don’t worry, I’ll have a video up here as soon as it is ready.

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Severe Weather and Cancellation Policies

Business & Marketing for Massage /

Because I’ve been getting a lot of questions concerning my policies regarding the weather and cancellations, here goes. I’ll be creating a permanent home to collect these soon.

Inclement Weather Policy
I will make every effort to complete our appointment as scheduled, but in times of severe weather I reserve the right to reschedule your appointment. I will call you to notify you of my intent to reschedule your appointment.

Cancellation Policy
You must notify me 24 hours in advance, find someone to take your appointment, or pay a compensatory fee.

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