Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
your public image One of the challenges facing Choose Wisely massage therapists is conveying As a businessperson, you have a responsibility to present yourself in the best light. Clients and potential clients should see your professional side rather than your not-so-professional side. With that in mind, please choose your email username wisely. Someone with the username mrhotstuff@myabmp.com may leave a misleading impression. Remember, your actions speak volumes to your clientele. a thoroughly professional image. Some segments of the population still see massage and bodywork as a luxury item. Others think of some practices as too "New-Agey." And then there are those who believe massage is a euphemism for sex. Layered on top of these perceptions is yet another image that small or home-based businesses may not be stable, trustworthy, or professional. Given the challenges of overcoming these public perceptions, conveying your high standards, ethics, and professionalism is important not only for you, but for your fellow practitioners. Projecting a professional image is a tangible reflection of your commitment to educate the public on the therapeutic benefits of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies. Find Your Name Creating a public image begins with a business name. The moment you name your practice, you stop being a person who provides bodywork and you start being a bodywork business. This needn't be the legal name of your company, but can simply be a d/b/a (doing business as) name. If you don't have a business name, choose one carefully. Many practices tend toward either the clinical (Center for Neuromuscular Therapy) or high-end recreational (BodyWorks Spa). Some choose to narrow their target market (For Women Only); some simply identify themselves by location (Southside Wellness Center); even others list specialties or credentials (Chi on Broadway, or John Doe, CMT, LMT). Once you've settled on a name, create a logo design for your company that communicates the image you want to convey. For a few hundred dollars, you can get top-notch designs from a professional graphic artist. Typically, the artist will take your ideas and create a rough drawing of several different designs for your feedback and approval. The design should be incorporated into everything emerging from your business—letterhead, website, mailing labels, business cards, fax sheets, business checks, and signage. By its very ubiquity, the logo design brings a sense of consistency and stability to your practice. a voice mail box. Likewise, you will find more and more people who wish to contact you by email. Others will want to find out more about your services from your website. ABMP provides members with a free email and website account. Dress For Success Neither your profession nor current fashion demands you wear a dress or suit at work or away from it. Even so, when you are in a public context and representing your profession, you will hopefully take your cues from the standards set by your peers in the business and professional community. Conveying a professional image is one small way you can help extinguish some of the negative stereotypes still attached to the profession. Get Wired Get Involved If you work from home, get a separate phone line for your office. Nothing will tarnish your professional image faster than answering a business call with "Hello?" Always answer the business phone by giving the name of the company, your name, or both. Avail yourself of some of the business line extras offered by your local telephone company—especially Finally, get involved in the community. Teach classes, workshops, and seminars; do volunteer work; and generally establish yourself as a good citizen. In addition to rounding out your resume (and your character), community involvement establishes who you are and what you stand for through actions, which do always speak louder than words (or logo designs). SPH