Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
spread the word about your practice By Kathy Gruver Massage therapists tend to be a pretty isolated bunch. We're in our office with one client at a time, or in a spa or health center. Though others surround us, the majority of our time is spent with one person, often in silence. So, what happens when we're asked to introduce ourselves at a mixer, networking meeting, or social event? Here are some pointers to help you be successful at what I call the "schmooze factor." Your Elevator Speech How can you use a 30-second elevator speech to stand out as a professional and attract more business? First, keep it short and sweet. It's called an elevator speech because you need to be able to tell someone riding in an elevator with you everything they need to know about your business before you get to your floor. As a former actor, I have no trouble standing in front of people and introducing myself or doing my elevator speech, but for those of you who are not as comfortable "performing," here are some simple tips that will help. Let's start with the basic introduction. I was recently at a mixer at a physical therapist's office where about 17 of us stood in a circle and went around and introduced ourselves. One introduction went like this: (Eyes turned down) "Hi … my name is Jen … I do massage and um, you know, more relaxing stuff. Um … I guess that's it." Here's how my introduction went: "Hi, my name is Dr. Kathy Gruver. I have a PhD in natural health and I specialize in medical and therapeutic massage. I've been studying for more than 22 years and I love to work with athletes and people with complicated pain issues. I like close communication with whoever referred the client to me, so you can feel confident that I'll let you know how your client is doing if you send them over to me. I wrote my first natural health book last year and, in addition to massage, I work with mind/body medicine and natural health consulting. Please let me know how I can help." See the difference? Now, in a room full of physical therapists who are looking to refer their patients to someone, who are they probably going to pick? How could Jen have made her intro more appealing? First off, unless your name is Sting, Cher, or Madonna, please say your full name. Plus, even if you're just starting out as a therapist, you can expand on your practice and what you specialize in. Her introduction could have been: "Hi, my name is Jen Smith. I'm a new massage therapist in my second year of practice, and I am really attracted to helping people relax by doing lighter relaxing work. My clientele right now consists of all age ranges, but I really like working with older clients. Let me know if I can help." This introduction is much more impressive than the first one. By adding details like your last name and what you like to do, you are going to attract more business. In addition, make sure you are smiling, hold your head high, and make eye contact with as many Go to www.abmptv.com and search for "Your Elevator Speech" for tips on improving your elevator speech.